It's July 4th. What's brewing, Sugar?

7/4/2026

July 4, 2026 | Washington, DC

What's brewing this week

Happy Fourth of July! □□✨

I hope you're having the BEST summer so far: sleeping in, catching up with your girls, hitting cookouts, and making memories.

So... y'all know I love a random rabbit hole. □ Since it's the Fourth, I looked up why we celebrate it and ended up reading a speech by Frederick Douglass from 1852. Let's just say... it gave me a whole new perspective on what freedom really means. If you've got a few minutes, it's definitely worth checking out. CLICK HERE.

Now grab your tea... it's time for this week's Sugar Scoop. ☕□ ✨

THANK YOU to all the girlies who joined last Saturday's T3 session!□

We had a powerful conversation about knowing your worth and being intentional about who or what influences your life.

One question had everyone thinking:

"Do you believe what they said about you?"

People will always have opinions, but you don't have to let someone else's words define who you are. Your value isn't determined by likes, followers, or someone else's expectations.

□ Missed the conversation?

Watch the Instagram Reel and listen to the full episode on Spotify!

Summer is officially here...which means...

□ Pool Season:

Looking for somewhere to cool off with your friends?

Most DC pools are FREE for DC residents with:

✔️ A DPR account

✔️ Proof of DC residency

Nonresident day passes are just $4 for youth and $7 for adults.

CLICK HERE to find a pool near you, check hours, and create your DPR account.

□ Summer TEA Pop Ups

This summer, Ask Your Auntea is popping up all over DC! We'll be visiting summer programs, meeting new Sugars, testing fun ideas, and collecting YOUR questions. If you see us around the city, come say hi!

SIP 1: My Sugar, Treasure...

shared that she keeps Malala Yousafzai on her phone's lock screen.

Why?

Because every time she unlocks her phone, she's reminded to stay focused on the future she's working toward.

Think about it...

Who's influencing you every time you pick up your phone?

SIP 2: My Sugar, Farrah...

shared a confidence strategy she uses whenever negative thoughts start creeping in.

She replaces negative self-talk with what she calls an "antidote thought."

Instead of thinking, "I'm probably going to mess this up."

Try telling yourself, "I'm prepared, and I'm going to do my best."

The way you speak to yourself shapes the way you see yourself.

Whether you're dreaming about college, an HBCU, beauty school, trade school, the military, starting a business, or something completely unique, it's never too early to start planning your next move.

This week's tip from Auntea Shelly:

□Free money alert!

If you're a DC student going to college, DCTAG might help cover your tuition - up to $10,000 a year at public colleges or $2,500 at eligible private schools and HBCUs.

The only catch? If you're already getting in-state tuition, DCTAG doesn't apply.

CLICK HERE for more. Your future self will thank you.