No mother to guide her, and a father who was always away. She has to deal with the curve balls that life has thrown her, and at times she doesn't think she's strong enough. All she has is her twin brother, Knox, by her side. When things in Kimora's life take a turn for the worse, she doesn't know which way to turn. Kimora's new found confidence comes from an unlikely source, and with her new confidence, she takes life full on. Knox Eldredge, Kimora's twin brother and protector, is a man who means what he says and says what he means. He has a no-nonsense type of attitude. He'll do anything to protect those he loves, even putting his life on the line for them. After an incident gone wrong, Knox has to man up and take full responsibility for his actions, but in the process, hurting the ones who love him the most. Then, you'll meet Prince. A complete ladies man, he has the gift of gab, and the swag of a superstar, but that may be his downfall in life. Loving the ladies isn't always a good thing. A broken heart can turn someone bitter, and Prince will find that out the hard way. Spirit Meyers, she has had a thing for Knox since she was a young girl, but she made a wrong decision that she deeply regretted. She doesn't know if Knox would ever forgive her, but she wants him to. Coming to terms with your actions is sometimes hard to do, and the past has a way of catching up to you. Prince and Knox are the definition of hood royalty. Kimora and Spirit know it feels good to be kissed, but when you're kissed by a hood prince, your life changes in so many ways. Take a ride with the foursome as they experience the changes that life throws at them while finding Love in the process.

    After the divorce, her father relocated from Jacksonville to Miami for work. Kimora's world drastically turned upside down. Even though her father was still a part of her life, she missed him terribly. She was forced to grow up quickly and care for her ten-year-old brother, Kennard, while her mother celebrated her newfound freedom, by running the streets and neglecting her children for men and money. Thankfully, her best friend, Gabriela, was there to pick up the pieces and keep her sane. Neron Lopez was the jock and class clown of ninth grade, and Kimora despised him. It wasn't until she was compelled to work with him for a school project that she began to see a different side of him. Neron and Kimora quickly became an item and were inseparable. He dreamed of marrying Kimora after high school, but his dream was crushed when an unexpected twist tore them apart. Neron tried to move on with his life and forget about Kimora, but a drunken one-night stand at a party puts him on the path to fatherhood. He ultimately ends up with the baby mama from hell. Kimora and Neron can't seem to stop thinking about each other and want to rekindle their relationship but, with a crazy baby mama, is that possible? Follow Neron and Kimora and see if they can find their way back to each other.

    Antwan was the polar opposite of her; charming, outgoing,and popular but that didn’t matter. The two quickly formed a bond and became the best of friends. But what happens when these best friends take things to the next level? Could they risk losing each other forever?Join them on their journey as they grow up in the city of New Orleans.

    He had the best of everything and a bright future lay ahead of him.He escapes death’s hands at a young age, only to get caught up with life. Young, naive and inexperienced, Willie gets turned out by the excitement of the hood.The lure of a lifestyle filled with drugs, hookers and sex continuously consumes him. Lies and betrayal is his norm. Can he change before he loses his picture perfect life or is it too late?Remember, this is just the beginning . . .

    

    She's never understood the reason on why her mother hated her with a passion, but there is only so much one person can take before they break. When she finally releases the anger and rage in her heart, she'll realize that she's a far cry from a normal person. She realizes that the killing comes naturally like any hidden talent, and that she enjoys setting free the evil in her heart . Her mother does everything in her power to stop her from discovering who she really is; the child of the devil...the daughter of Black Ice.

    Author John Gallagher, who has covered urban redevelopment for the Detroit Free Press for two decades, spent a year researching what is going on in Detroit precisely because of its open space and the dire economic times we face. Instead of presenting another account of the city's decline, Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City showcases the innovative community-building work happening in the city and focuses on what else can be done to make Detroit leaner, greener, and more economically self-sufficient. Gallagher conducted numerous interviews, visited community projects, and took many of the photographs that accompany the text to uncover some of the strategies that are being used, and could be used in the future, to make twenty-first century Detroit a more sustainable and desirable place to live. Some of the topics Gallagher discusses are urban agriculture, restoring vacant lots, reconfiguring Detroit's overbuilt road network, and reestablishing some of the city's original natural landscape. He also investigates new models for governing the city and fostering a more entrepreneurial economy to ensure a more stable political and economic future. Along the way, Gallagher introduces readers to innovative projects that are already under way in the city and proposes other models for possible solutions-from as far away as Dresden, Germany, and Seoul, South Korea, and as close to home as Philadelphia and Youngstown-to complement current efforts. Ultimately, Gallagher helps to promote progressive ideas and the community leaders advancing them and offers guidance for other places dealing with the shrinking cities phenomenon. Readers interested in urban studies and environmental issues will enjoy the fresh perspective of Reimagining Detroit.

    Many of these small details are so obvious as to be invisible.

    Today, however, punishing rents and the increasingly prohibitive cost of ownership have turned housing into the foremost symbol of inequality and an economy gone wrong. Nowhere is this more visible than in the San Francisco Bay Area, where fleets of private buses ferry software engineers past the tarp-and-plywood shanties where the homeless make their homes. The adage that California is a glimpse of the nation's future has become a cautionary tale.With propulsive storytelling and ground-level reporting, New York Times journalist Conor Dougherty chronicles America's housing crisis from its West Coast epicenter, peeling back the decades of history and economic forces that brought us here and taking readers inside the activist uprisings that have risen in tandem with housing costs. To tell this new story of housing, Dougherty follows a struggling math teacher who builds a political movement dedicated to ending single-family-house neighborhoods. A teenaged girl who leads her apartment complex against their rent-raising landlord. A nun who tries to outmaneuver private equity investors by amassing a multimillion-dollar portfolio of affordable homes. A suburban bureaucrat who roguishly embraces density in response to the threat of climate change. A developer who manufactures homeless housing on an assembly line.Sweeping in scope and intimate in detail, Golden Gates definitively captures a fundamental political realignment in America as it plays out during a moment of rapid technological and social change.

    With each growing up on the infamous south side of Chicago without care or guidance from their family, they look to the streets for what they aren’t offered at home – mainly love. When they run into three wild boys with the same mentality and upbringings as them, it sets off a chain reaction of unexpected events that they may not exactly be ready for. The saying love will drive you insane rings true for the brothers Chase, Nature, and Banks. Growing up jumping from group home to group home caused these three boys to come together and claim one another as the only family that they have. Cold to the world and the obstacles that it brings, they simply do as they please and worry about the consequences later. When they run into three beautiful girls after moving into a new group home, they each find someone that they are willing to care about other than each other. The only issue is that the stubborn, self-sufficient girls that they want just won’t quite let them in so easily. What they all expected to be simply puppy love or good friendships grows into strong bonds and territorial behavior over the years. Some want more than the other can offer while others move on to new relationships all together. But when the men are fed up with the games, they decide to take what's rightfully theirs by giving the ladies the only thing they can offer them... love from a real gangsta.

    When Jocelyn throws the idea out there that they should start an exotic maid service, they jump on it. The business takes off with a boom and pretty soon, they’re no longer depending on the government for anything. Instead, they all have a new set of problems. Jewel’s fifteen year old son, Jamal, is smoking marijuana. How can she tell him to stop using drugs when she’s addicted to pain pills herself? Daphne’s sixteen year old daughter, Shirrel, may be a lesbian. What can she do to help her daughter when she’s in denial about her own sexuality? Serena’s seventeen year old son could be on his way to becoming a teenaged father. She doesn’t know how to connect with the three children she already has. Will having a grandbaby make her change her ways? Jocelyn’s twelve year old daughter, Breanna, is sexually active. Has her promiscuous ways rubbed off on her child? These four ladies learn being food stamp bitches is just a state of mind. What’s most valuable and precious are family and true friendships.

    When it feels like the universe is working against her, can Karter keep her head above water? Or, will her constant stress and worrying cost her and Dez the one thing they both so desire, a child? Dez’s first priority is always to protect his family, even when he’s not in the best position to do so. But, with a detective on his back with an ax to grind, can Dez stay a free man? Or, will he have to get his hands dirty one last time to show why he was the king to begin with? “You’ll never make it anywhere in life without a degree.” The words her father said to her still rang strong in Melodee’s ears, even eight years later. Setting out to prove her parents wrong, Melodee focuses on doing what she has to do to secure her future. But, will she allow Dame to step in help, or will her ‘I can do it myself’ attitude run him away? In this final installment, this crew is struggling to keep the family together. But, one thing about the Wright brothers, they always have some tricks up their sleeves, and for the women they love, they’ll paint the town red. Find out why Karter and Melodee are still in love with the King of Chicago.

    Although she’s had her share of downfalls, she continues to be the very best that she can be. Being hurt in the past by her ex-lover only gives her a reason to never love again, until she meets up with Hennessey.After five long years locked behind bars, Hennessey knows that being a drug dealer isn’t something he wants to continue to pursue to get his money up. So, instead he turns his dirty money into opening up furniture businesses. Meeting Keice only motivates him to want to go harder and do better, but that's something that his ex-girlfriend, Camille will not let him do if she's not included.Keice is already scared to love again. However, Hennessey is ready minus the ex-girlfriend issues. With their closest friends sharing this wild journey with them, what will the inevitable bring this unpredictable couple?

    After having her daughter at the tender age of 18, her father tried forcing her into marrying her high school sweetheart Ahmod. Ten years later Ahmod is not as sweet as he once was in high school. Shy is very close to her mother and sister but she keeps certain things from them to keep peace in her home and family life. With her father standards so high for his daughters she tends to just hide from the world until she feels that she is worthy enough to be a preacher’s kid. From her father’s rejection and the rejection of Ahmod, she finally finds the courage to leave him and run into the arms of another man. Ahmod wants his cake and eat it too. With two women in his pocket he feels like he would never get caught. When both of the women leave him, he becomes lost. Once Ahmod finds out Shy is fully done with him he tries his best to run back but is it too late? Ahmod doesn’t think so until it’s really too late.

    Brandy is a gold digger with a capital G! She doesn’t care whose man she sleeps with or goes after. Money was good and business was great until she decides to plot and scheme to set up the wrong person. Tip becomes pregnant, but by who? Her long time boyfriend or the Jamaican man who used to pimp her? Tracy is a good girl gone bad. She is head over heels in love with her first love. She doesn't know about his other life until its too late. Diamond is in love with her high school sweetheart and their relationship is great until she falls for someone else. When Brandy’s diary is found what will happen to their friendship? Will there friendship be able to stand through all the trials and tribulations life throws at them?