Get your tickets for Sept. 25 at Elaine’s Literary Salon — Meet author Andrea Walton and help us raise $500 for the Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation
Monday Morning Magic from Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co. — Join us on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Elaine’s Literary Salon (208 Queen Street, Alexandria VA) for a magical author interview with Andrea Walton, author of “From GED to MBA” and “All the Smoke.” Host Jeffrey James Higgins, a bestselling thriller novelist, will talk to the HR superstar about her journey, books, and the scholarship fund she created to help brown and black girls get to college: The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation.
Click here to meet the 2025 Scholarship winner: Amy Cheung!
About Andrea: “Be the change you wish to see” is the mantra for author and HR exec Andrea Walton, MBA. She is the founder and CEO of the Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation, based in Alexandria, VA, and working with Howard University in Washington, DC, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Who she is: Andrea Walton is a seasoned HR executive, published author, and purpose-driven philanthropist committed to building pathways to education for Black and Brown girls around the world. As Founder and CEO of The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation, Andrea leads with a deeply personal mission, having once been a teenage mother who earned her GED before climbing the ranks to become a Chief People Officer in the biotech and education sectors.
What she does: Since 2020, Andrea has awarded nearly a dozen scholarships under the banner “From GED to MBA,” and recently formalized the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With global partnerships spanning the University of Cape Town and Howard University, the foundation is scaling a bold vision: to eliminate systemic barriers to higher education, one student, one scholarship, and one opportunity at a time. Andrea also leads Concrete Strategies LLC, her HR consulting firm, and hosts the podcast The Table I Built, where she shares unfiltered conversations on leadership, resilience, and equity.
Why she does it: “My work is rooted in the belief that education saves lives. It is true for me, and it is my life’s mission to help others write their own stories. Where we came from creates a foundation. What we do next is up to us.”
Scroll down for more details about Andrea and her books!
Until next Monday: Please be the change you wish to see, and support amazing nonprofits doing the heavy lifting for the brown and black community. — Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and president, Inkandescent® Inc. Inkandescent.us
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Check out Andrea’s books:
From GED to MBA: Defying the odds to win! As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became a teen mom, the odds were stacked against Andrea. “Through my faith, family, and resilience, I fought through,” she explains, and hopes her story motivates readers when the odds are stacked against them. “Today, choose to look doubt square in the eyes and say, I will not quit!” Click here to buy the book.
All the Smoke: From Pain to Purpose Author Andrea Walton has shared her life and educational journey in From GED to MBA. Now, “All the Smoke” details Divorce, Depression, and ultimately Destiny. The native of Pasadena, CA grew up with a single mom, sister, and brother. Like many teens that become pregnant, she was on welfare and dropped out of high school to raise her daughter. At 19, she took the GED and passed, but it took several years before she was ready to apply to college. The first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, she forged on to complete her MBA two years later. She then spent decades as a human resources expert with positions at Nestle, Target, biotech companies, and more. She now mom to three children, all of whom are thriving in Northern VA.
Listen to Andrea’s podcast: The Table I Built. A bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience, purpose, and leadership, in Season 1 of Andrea’s show you’ll find episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. “Each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways,” says the woman who went from teen mom to executive. “I am happy to share hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.” In Season 2, Andrea will interview leaders who have also gone from pain to purpose, and want to share their hard-earned wisdom. Click here to listen.
Want to get an hour of Andrea’s time? In 2020, she founded Concrete Strategies, a HR consulting firm. “My goal is to help leaders maximize their success,” says the fractional leader.
Perhaps most powerful and personal of all: In 2020, Andrea created The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation. Born from lived experience and her unwavering belief that brilliance can bloom in even the harshest environments, Andrea’s foundation is rooted in resilience, equity, and global impact.
She explains: “We invest in underrepresented students—especially young women of color—by providing scholarships, mentorship, and access to education. What sets us apart is our personal connection to the journey. This isn’t charity—it’s solidarity. We exist to remove barriers, build bridges, and help the next generation rise, fully rooted and in full bloom.”
Click here to learn more about it: theconcreterosescholarship.com.
Contact this truly amazing woman: Email: Andrea.Walton@concrete-strategies.com • Cell: 626-233-1409
Jeffrey James Higgins
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com
Find more Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.
Elaine’s Literary Salon
About Elaine’s: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt — a combination of Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo.
“I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins.
The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.