Social Enterprise & Milestones

Milestones & Achievements

The Beginning: Seeing the Future of Digital Media

In 2009, Founder Lela C. Thompson launched The Power Player Lifestyle Magazine at a time when online influencing was not yet mainstream and the term social impact media had not developed into what it represents today.

One of Lela’s early inspirations was Arianna Huffington and the growth of her online digital media empire. By observing and following the evolution of digital publishing, Lela recognized that independent voices could build their own platforms, audiences, and communities without depending exclusively on traditional media.

Her earlier professional experience, including working within 20th Century Fox Studios, along with her background in public relations, fashion, art, culture, branding, events, and communications, reinforced something important: the online technology environment was becoming the place where media, influence, business, and storytelling would converge.

Encouragement from USC-educated colleagues and business associates further inspired her to build an online environment of her own.

That vision became The Power Player Lifestyle Magazine—a platform connecting community and civic leaders, entrepreneurs, publicists, creatives, entertainment professionals, businesses, and voices across television and film through independent editorial storytelling.

Building a Media Ecosystem

That first publication became the foundation for an expanding independent digital media network and, ultimately, Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation (LEMF).

Over time, Lela’s work evolved beyond publishing. Through relationships with board members, business partners, publicists, nonprofits, creatives, educators, community leaders, corporations, and independent professionals, the vision expanded into education, social impact, technology, workforce development, advocacy, and economic opportunity.

Following the pandemic, the need for digital access, community connection, workforce development, and technology education became even clearer. With nonprofit approval secured in December 2021, Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation, Inc. emerged as a 501(c)(3), creating a philanthropic platform through which years of media, communications, creative-business, and community experience could be transformed into broader social impact.

The Evolution: Key Milestones

• 2009 — The Power Player Lifestyle Magazine: Launched as Lela’s original independent online digital news and lifestyle platform, establishing the foundation for the media network that followed.
• Fab Five Lifestyle: Evolved from Lela’s lifestyle news columns appearing in two newspapers. The concept was expanded into its own online publication, demonstrating an early model for moving traditional editorial content into independent digital media.
• Fashion, Media & Brand Activations: Produced fashion-show and lifestyle activations with FIDM as a partner, alongside The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Porsche, notable fashion companies, jewelry brands, creatives, and additional partners, demonstrating how independent media could connect editorial storytelling, experiential marketing, fashion, business, and community.
• 2016 — Goddess Couture News: Expanded the network with a women-centered digital publication elevating fashion, beauty, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, culture, leadership, and women’s stories.
• 2019 — WEDGEDIN: Further developed the media ecosystem with an intergenerational publication connecting entertainment, sports, technology, business, culture, and emerging voices.
• 2021 — Life Feels Good: Created a dedicated digital environment focused on health, wellness, positive living, lifestyle information, and initiatives designed to help people live and feel better.
• 2021 — Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation: Following the pandemic and years of media and community engagement, LEMF received its 501(c)(3) approval, marking an important evolution from independent publishing into nonprofit social impact.