It’s no coincidence that the first issue of Amplify The Sip begins with resilience.
Eleven years after first publishing The ‘Sip magazine, I’ve found myself back where it all began—telling Mississippi stories that matter, but with a deeper vision for what they can do in the world. Through my own twists, detours, and stretches of hard-earned growth, I’ve come full circle to build something I believe we all need right now: a place where stories connect us, remind us who we are, and help us hold onto each other in a world that can feel like it’s pulling us apart.
Resilience is the reason I’m here.
It’s what kept me building The Sip Collective through uncertainty, what pushed me to trust that these stories matter, and what reminds me every day that my strength comes from the people around me. My resilience is people-powered. It’s friends, family, and strangers who become kindred spirits—reminding me that we’re never meant to carry the weight alone.
That’s why this first issue is anchored by two people whose lives have expanded my own understanding of what resilience looks like: Vasti Jackson and Dr. Alyssa Killebrew.
Vasti taught me the power of music and identity over a decade ago, when I listened to him speak of the blues not as an accident, but as a deliberate, soulful choice—flavored with legacy, survival, and that little bit of “bacon fat” you just can’t fake.
Alyssa’s story is woven into my own. We met as teenagers, reconnected as adults, and I’ve watched her build a mental health practice rooted in faith, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves to truly know themselves. She’s shown up for my family with love and conviction, helping us build our own levers of resilience. She is a rockstar — a resilient champion who is using her gifts and experiences with grief and loss to lift up everyone around her!
To tell these stories, I turned to Jim Beaugez—a friend, collaborator, and one of my favorite writers. Jim has a gift for capturing the humanity between the lines, and that’s exactly the kind of storytelling this work demands. We are on this journey to create something lasting—something that amplifies the care, courage, and connection we all need right now.
So, thank you for being here and for opening your heart to these stories and for choosing to Amplify the Sip with us.
Here’s to resilience—yours, mine, and ours.
Cheers, y’all!
