Today we’d like to introduce you to Briantria Smocks (Bri) and Nakia Montgomery (Kia).
Hi Briantria Smocks and Nakia Montgomery, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Kia- While I have no formal college background, I attended T. G. Terry Elementary where I first realized my love for reading. It was my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Cruz, and librarian, Ms. Boykins, who influenced my imagination and creativity. This is when I began reading literary works by Maya Angelou, Elie Wiesel, Danielle Steele, James Patterson, and most especially my idol, Nikki Giovanni. As I journeyed into middle school at W. H. Atwell, I found a new obsession: WRITING! My passion for fiction and biographies helped me cope through very difficult adolescent years. By the time I entered high school, where I attended David W. Carter, I joined together both reading and writing knowing then that such would be my life’s reward one day. To offset a few missed educational opportunities, I attended my local library which offered a plethora of arts and craft classes for free to lower income neighborhoods. One summer while visiting the Camp Wisdom branch, I was introduced to painting, drawing, and cartoon illustration. This opened my eyes to another level of artistic expression! I was 17 when I became pregnant with my daughter, and I wasn’t even able to attend my prom nor graduation. After being in corporate for over 20 years, I grew a sense of performance anxiety. I walked away from every job feeling less fulfilled than before. I did not begin to actualize my dream of becoming an author until my daughter moved to California in the summer of 2019, but it was really catapulted by my termination from U.T. Southwestern in 2018. I was an executive administrative assistant, and my release from the job, although painful at first, was the wake-up call I needed to do what I love. I was fearful, scared, and battling mental health woes, but right now, I feel that God has placed me exactly where I need to be. All my life’s trials, and there are PLENTY, have led to this moment.
Bri- I wrote a letter in kindergarten declaring that I wanted to be a teacher. I tried to deny my calling a few times, but when I joined the Ready, Set, Teach program in high school, my fate was sealed! Having worked at Cedar Hill High School as an English teacher, I was on fire for my students and my content. To supplement my teacher salary, I would proctor the SAT at St. Mark’s, and the work posted around their campus was stellar, impressive even. I was blown away by the opportunities they were given, and it always made me question my own. For instance, when I enrolled at SMU for college, I quickly became aware of how my preparation was not up to the same standard as my counterparts. I was in gifted and talented courses in elementary school where I attended Nancy J. Cochran and Thomas Tolbert in Dallas ISD. Even at W. H. Atwell., I was in the law program. As we moved and I transitioned to Duncanville High School, I blossomed in theater arts, academic decathlon, and a host of other extracurriculars. I even volunteered on a regular basis. Beginning my sophomore year, I joined Upward Bound and it changed my life…it is even how I met my husband! But despite such experiences and becoming a first-generation college graduate (with two Master degrees), I still felt inadequate until I reviewed my transcript (just two months ago) that I ranked #1 out of 854 students in my Educational Leadership program at UNT-Denton. It wasn’t until I had my first child four years ago, after discovering that I had PCOS, that I became more aware of how grooming our children to have an internal confidence in their academic and social success truly begins as early as possible. My son, Levi, is a model and actor which is why we moved to LA. That 2019 summer is when our startup even became a thought. I had just earned my Principal certification a month prior and I walked away from a potential promotion to academic dean. I had plans to continue in my career, but tremendous setbacks and 300+ job denials turned my world upside down. There I was in an expensive city with no job, my husband supporting us with his hourly Trader Joe’s wage, and a heart full of hopes and aspirations, not quite sure where it would take us. One day while conversing with my mother over the phone, she came up with the idea to showcase my son’s life through her creative outlet, writing. Seeing this as a chance to create generational wealth and bring my mom some joy during a very difficult season, I then paired her desire with my ambition and expertise, and Levi&Toonk LLC launched November 9th, Levi’s second birthday. His continued growth has revealed his aptitude for giftedness which is why the educational component of Levi&Toonk has become a major focus. It is also how we decided to target gifted children of color.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Kia- It has not been a smooth road although I would have loved for it to be. Some of the setbacks I thought would be detrimental to my career are my anxiety and depression. Although I was young when I started writing, I now realize that I had anxiety then and just dealt with it differently. I wasn’t given adequate resources and strategies to address my needs, so it didn’t occur to me just how much my creativity was stifled. As an author and creative person, it saddened me to realize that these struggles were playing tricks on me the older I got. I had writer’s block badly and chronically and eventually my dream fizzled out. Being a single mother to two kids by the age of 19 also put my dreams on hold. Feeling misunderstood contributed to my waning self-esteem and how I viewed my writing ability. People who know me would probably never ever imagine what I’ve gone through, but it certainly impacted a lot of my professional and personal decisions.
Bri- As a professional educator with three degrees, I was uncertain of how to run a business, but I knew how to impact the lives of people and create change. When we began our startup, we were two unemployed Black women asking for a seat at the table. We refused to let our shortcomings or lack of traditional entrepreneurial training keep us from turning our idea into a profitable and inspiring force of nature. We had NO money to invest in our own company, but we had grit and courage. I sought out several free resources and conducted thorough, intense research to learn how to market the brand, create the website, seek investors, understand financials, pitch our business, etc. It has been hard work for us to put in long hours with no guarantee of a payout. Yet, we have so much faith that we are on the precipice of something groundbreaking. So now instead of asking for a seat, we are building our own table.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Bri- My student and family advocacy is genuine. I was the 2020-2021 President of Long Beach USD’s HeadStart Policy Council and held the following roles between 2016 and 2019: SAT and ACT Proctor, (unofficial) Interim English Department Head, Team Lead for 10th grade English, District Curriculum Writer, Evening Credit Recovery Instructor, UIL Sponsor, Senior Intervention Committee Chair, Master Schedule Committee Chair, and Language Proficiency Assessment Chair. I have won awards for my community service efforts like the 2014 Inspiring Young Woman of the Southwest Award presented by the Southwest Jewish Congress. I was district teacher of the month and nominated twice for teacher of the year in just my three short years of teaching. Our business has even gone on to be recognized in local press and initiatives like partnering with Chase and Cardlytics for their LA Black-owned business promotion in February 2021. In March 2020, just a few weeks before lockdown and quarantining, and just 4 months after we launched Levi&Toonk, we were selected as a top 100 small business during FedEx’s national small business grant competition. As Editor in Chief of Levi&Toonk, I now serve as the business manager overseeing editing, marketing (social media), operations, financials, and communications. I am striving to be added to the Forbes 30 under 30 list. There’s still time.😊
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Bri- I am on a quest right now to read books by Black women who inspire me. I just posted an Instagram story about this last night and one of my favorite women, Phoebe Robinson, actually responded! Arian Simone, my Soror and mentor in my head, is another example of someone who keeps me motivated from afar. The following books are those I’ve read in the past year which have kept my spirits lifted during this very tumultuous, yet enlightening and joyful journey.
My go-to for professional advice
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person- Shonda Rimes
More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)- Elaine Welteroth
My go-to for personal growth (these were especially near and dear to me since I read them after the loss of my son in November 2021 and they boosted me out of my grief)
Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business) Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom- Tabitha Brown
Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay- Phoebe Robinson
That’s just the tip of the iceberg! I’ve read work by and watched interviews from Issa Rae, Jenifer Lewis, Gabrielle Union, Ava Duvernay, Lena Waithe and a host of others in the entertainment space who give encouragement to me as I navigate that world with my son.
Kia- As of 2021, I have devoted myself to subscribing to platforms like Reedsy which provides free tips, strategies, and emails for writers to improve upon their craft. They also have guides and blog posts to help self-published authors. I subscribe to daily emails from The Author Incubator as well. I make sure to attend free workshops and networking events to keep me focused during my writing process. Just a few months ago I virtually attended an event hosted at Leimert Park where I heard my idol, Nikki Giovanni, speak! I also enjoy watching Life Therapy with AJ Johnson. Lena Waithe’s show, Twenties, gives me the motivation I need to navigate into screenwriting and directing one day. Those stories are relevant and relatable, and that is always what I want to portray in my own series. My daughter always recommends the books she reads and many of which she sends to me once she is done. Year of Yes inspired me to get out my comfort zone. We listened to Kevin Hart’s audiobook, I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons, and it showed me a REAL work ethic. No matter how big I am trying to get, I must believe in myself and have the passion and drive to get there. I learned that you must work for what you want to last, and it make take YEARS before you get to where you know you can be. The biggest help of all has been going to therapy for the past three years. Now I DEFINITELY recommend that!
Pricing:
- $8.00 for each book in the first collection
- $40 when collection is purchased as a set
- $10 for each book after the first collection
- $50 for each collection after the first
Contact Info:
- Email: leviandtoonk@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.leviandtoonk.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leviandtoonk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leviandtoonk/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4SFksMvoxLqHT3Hc8UYOQ
- Other: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MAmmfgFBPAzeBqnbiTcNaSlQ8yHyxmE3/view
Image Credits
Tawnya Wright and her daughter, Calla
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