Our DISTINCT LIFE INSPIRE DAY for the release of our INSPIRE Shoe Pack with Puma was nothing short of amazing! From 9 am-7 pm, hundreds of people flooded the Foot Locker Detroit Community Store to not only buy the INSPIRE Pack but also to attend workshops that will help them sharpen their skill-sets and individual brands. The morning started with the members of We Run 313 with their last run of the season, as a drone followed their route, they showed Detroit what dedication and discipline truly mean in freezing weather. “Not So Trap Yoga” was exhilarating and provided the guests with the opportunity to practice controlled deep breathing and a series of stretches and mindfulness. Each person left with an exclusive DISTINCT LIFE Yoga mat.
Many guests went home and changed clothes after our wellness-morning that was sponsored by DROUGHT Juice and came back refreshed and ready to attend the afternoon sessions. The afternoon INSPIRE sessions on brand development with Dean Brody, Niles Heron & Stella Safari, songwriting with Earlly Mac, brand collaborations with Ty Mopkins started the day off. Artist Story with Tony WHLGN and a Shoe Design workshop with Eric Lowry provided guests with insight and hands-on experience on what it means to be a Creative.
Angela Yee from the Breakfast Club interviewed our Agency Directors Rick & Yolanda Williams on their journey as designers, entrepreneurs, and their story on running a Family-owned Creative Agency.
Our Mission is always the reason behind everything that we do. To INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, and CELEBRATE culture for the betterment of all humankind. For INSPIRE DAY, the shoes got them in the door, but the message made them stay.
When you hear runners coming down the street, you only hear rhythmic patterns as each foot touches the pavement; you can’t listen to one's economic status, you can’t hear their different backgrounds or vocations. When Joe Robinson and Lance Woods were introduced through mutual friends after running separately for years, they decided to start a running club; We Run 313 that would create a running community within the city of Detroit. The running club helps to motivate others to be disciplined enough to run consistently. Everyone understands that making healthy choices and deciding to exercise is difficult, but when you have over 100 people waiting for you to show up each week, it becomes easier for you to be successful at it. We Run 313 is more than just a running club, it is a community within our community, and we want to embrace them and celebrate them during their last run of the season for INSPIRE Day 2019.
Schedule: 9am-10am
“The Trap part was just to get your attention”-Yolanda Renee
“The day that I started listening to something my Granny would always tell me, “Stop taking things out of God’s hands, things have been looking up.” -Lauren J Williams.
With a background in competitive figure skating, Lauren Williams has been practicing meditation and Yoga since the age of 12. She is an intuitive healer and uses Yoga to guide her students to healing and INSPIRE others to create a deeper connection between the breath and the body. Come enjoy a session with her during INSPIRE DAY and take home a complimentary, custom DISTINCT LIFE X PUMA Yoga Mat.
Schedule: 10am-11am
Hear from two DISTINCT LIFE partners on how you can increase the value of your brand and the importance of leveraging the relationships you have to grow your brand.
Dean Brody
Dean Brody is a strategy & management consultant based out of Detroit, Michigan.
Brody’s primary aim is to make the world a better place operating as a trusted advisor, in both life and business, to founders, leaders, and companies spanning Fortune 500s, technology start-ups, health care, pharma, venture capital, music, footwear, fashion, and professional sports franchises among others.
As one of the senior leaders of Accenture’s Michigan practice of 1,200 strong, Brody helps clients define & execute on strategies to drive revenue growth, enter new markets, and optimize operations & administrative costs. Brody has 20 years of experience in large program and project execution, business planning, business case definition, and process design & optimization.
In addition to being a Partner at Accenture, Brody has a decade long track record transforming lives and businesses as an advisor and mentor. Brody’s advisor formula is two-pronged, targeting first the leadership effectiveness and work/life optimization of the founder, followed by full-fledged business strategy definition. Brody’s mentees have gone to become leaders in tech, venture capital, music, fashion, and design.
Stella Safari
Director of gBeta Detroit and owner of Zapenda, an African-Inspired clothing line custom-made in Congo. Stella moved from the Congo to the United States when she was 8 years old and her mother stayed behind in Africa. Stella leads the gBeta accelerator which provides six weeks of free training to fast-growing companies and has assisted companies like, The Lip Bar, Bogobrush and Detroit Ento in raising over 400K in capital.
Schedule: 12pm-1pm
Grammy Nominated Songwriter/Producer EARLLY MAC is one of Big Sean’s frequent collaborators. His most recent placements include G-Eazy ft. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B “No Limit”, Big Sean & 21 Savage’s “Pull Up N Wreck”, DJ Khaled ft. Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar “Holy Key”, “Raise The Roof” – Kap G ft. Ty Dolla $ign, and Kanye West “Champions”. He has also had prior releases with Dej Loaf, Justin Bieber, Big Sean, etc. Based in Detroit, but frequently in LA.
Schedule: 1pm-2pm
Sign up for our Shoe Design workshop with Eric Lowry. Each person registered for the workshop will receive a 3D PUMA Palace Guard Shoe model that can be customized and painted. Spots will fill-up fast so register today!
Schedule: 2pm-3pm
Tony Whlgn, an artist and designer born on Detroit’s Eastside focuses on unconventional ways to present his art to the world. During INSPIRE DAY, there will be a conversation with Tony about his journey as an artist, the creative landscape of the city of Detroit and an activation where attendees can get a custom printed item with DISTINCT LIFE and Tony Whlgn designs.
Schedule: 3pm-4pm
Founder of The Mopkins Group LLC and experienced Lifestyle Manager, Ty Mopkins will have an in-depth conversation about his experience with collaborating with major brands, the passion and drive behind his own brand and his love and passion for the city of Detroit.
Schedule: 4pm-5pm
In 2018, Rick & Yolanda went on the Breakfast Club in New York to discuss running a business and raising a family simultaneously. On the show, Rick discussed some projects that he was working on with PUMA, and at the time, could not divulge any information on the project. During INSPIRE DAY, this conversation with Angela Yee will be a continuance of that conversation, the purpose, and passion behind the INSPIRE campaign, and the mission of the DISTINCT LIFE. Hear this intimate conversation with the host of the nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, Angela Yee.
Schedule: 6pm-7pm
Come hear an in-depth conversation with legendary artist and Detroit Native, Big Sean.
Schedule: 6pm-7pm
Whether playing at international shows, SXSW or hometown functions, Legendary J. Hearns uses music to create unforgettable experiences. The Detroit-born DJ, TV Producer and Writer uses her passion for music as a tool to curate the perfect vibe in any setting.
