NobleMag

Elev8 Creates New Online Experience Where Spirituality, Life and Culture Collide; Aetna signs on as launch sponsor
Interactive One, LLC the Digital Connection for Black America, and the leading African American online network, announced today the launch of Elev8, the latest in its suite of content sites powered by the BlackPlanet Universe. Elev8 is a personal empowerment website dedicated to uplifting and enriching the lives of African Americans by offering services, tools, information and community.
"The African American community is uniquely affected in areas such as health, education, and wealth; we quickly recognized there was a void online for accessing information specific to these needs and developed Elev8," says Smokey D. Fontaine Chief Content Officer, Interactive One. "The launch of Elev8 is a natural progression in the development of our online network created to super-serve the African American community. We have partnered with some of the most well respected spiritual leaders, life coaches and advisors on health, wellness and wealth building, to bring the community the authentic information they are seeking and unable to find on other sites."
Elev8 addresses the specific needs and concerns of the Black community providing an ever-present resource to help overcome personal challenges, deepen the bonds of family and promote positive and rewarding lifestyles in a one-of-a-kind online experience. Whether its health issues around weight loss, diabetes, drug abuse or cancer; emotional issues around depression, mental illness or self-esteem; societal issues around racism, the economy and education; or issues with our children around education, affordable childcare, and the opportunities for healthy upbringings, Elev8 will listen, inform and connect.
Elev8's esteemed contributors include Dr. Jamal Bryant, Dr. John Guns, Steve Perry, Melanie Clark and Big Corey Fresh to name a few. These featured bloggers will write on a weekly basis about different topics ranging from health and fitness, nutrition, spirituality to children and family, personal finance and relationships, many times answering users questions and concerns. Iyanla Vanzant, inspirational speaker and author, will contribute with a blog called "Tapping the Power Within," based on her best selling book.
"We are excited to offer our partners an opportunity to connect with African Americans online who are actively looking for resources to enrich their lives," said Keith Bowen, Chief Revenue Officer for Interactive One. "With Elev8 we are providing an online resource for anyone looking to better themselves physically or mentally. We are thrilled to be partnering with Aetna, one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, to make this vision a reality and to provide these services to the African American community."
Elev8 joins the BlackPlanet Universe, the premiere African American social network with over 18 million members. BlackPlanet.com was acquired by Interactive One earlier this year and last week announced the BlackPlanet Universe which unites the social network with its content sites, NewsOne ( www.newsone.com), The Urban Daily ( www.Theurbandaily.com), and HelloBeautiful ( www.hellobeautiful.com).