Huami Magazine California Sept./Oct. 2021

Sept./Oct. 2021

Vol. 1 Issue 4

CALIFORNIA

Old Ways Don’t Work On The Driving Course

A Letter From The Editor

It seems like such a long time ago. The moment had arrived for me to become a licensed automobile driver. I was only 16 years old. For the most part, just a little young guy, full of ambition and excited about driving a car. I had enrolled in a driver’s education program at school. The classes were conducted after school for six weeks and included several other soon-to-be legitimate juvenile drivers. We were all ready, but I don’t think anyone was more eager than I was.

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter from the Editor

What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?

On the driving course, there were several cars with an automatic transmission. However, there was only one vehicle that contained a manual transmission (a stick shift). As fate would have it, I was the only student familiar with a stick shift, as I had gained prior instruction and driving experience from a few experienced drivers. I knew the gear pattern and understood how to manage the clutch and gas paddles, and knew how to keep the car powered while doing so. I would choose that vehicle to drive during class.

www.huamimagazine.com

I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.

I appeared to be in a league of my own on the driving course amongst the other student drivers. I handled the curves well, and didn’t run over any of the cones. I managed the straight paths like a pro, and looked pretty comfortable while driving in reverse. I was good, at least that’s what I believed.

One day in class, the vehicle I was driving was at the front of the pack on the driving course. I jumped out the gate fast, and that was my first mistake. As I went around the curves, I used little brakes, and the tires on my car were screaming. “Stop!” That command was screamed through the megaphone held by the driving instructor. He made me park the car and get out for the remainder of the day. I laughed it off while trying to keep my cool amongst my classmates, but on the inside, I was embarrassed. I would eventually drive again and eventually completed the program, but it was clear that I almost jeopardized all of that from happening.

The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.

At the time, I didn’t realize how I had put myself and others in danger by becoming arrogant and comfortable during a moment when I should have been learning and listening. I made the mistake of applying invalid experience in a setting where I was supposed to gain experience to be validated. God showed me on that day, when I try to do things my way and use information or instruction that didn’t come from Him, I am just an accident waiting to happen. Yet, when I do listen and obey His commands, He will qualify me to drive on the roads and highways of life.

Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.

Terry L. Watson

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

Want To Advertise? Send An Email or Call

huami.california@gmail.com (336)340-7844

JKP Photography LLC

Jerry Kelly

Answering The Calling of God

Pastor Shannon Frazier

Charlene Sparks Are you a Destiny Care Taker? Women With Vision has a program just for you. Greensboro, NC.

Todd Gilyard

I’m An Overcomer

Wendell White

Leneiva Head

Cutest Baby Photo He is a real cutey. Introducing Tegan Kennedy.

JKP Photography

By Terry L. Watson

It has been said that beauty lies within the eye of the beholder.

For most professional photographers, their signature is defined by their ability to shoot and edit photos, and just like the human fingerprint, every photographer’s signature is individualized and distinctive. For Freso, CA based photographer Jerry Kelly, he has successfully established himself as an elite photographer. His work can best be described as breathtaking, and his skills have set him in a world of his own.

Jerry has always had an eye for creativity. He has also made a habit of being the first to try some things. He is the first member of his family to graduate from college, and he tried entrepreneurship for the first time when he launched JKP Photography LLC in 2021.

“I started doing photography during my last semester of college. That was back in 2013. I was unsure about my future after my college. I had a job, but I knew it was only temporary.”

At just the young age of 31, the Lancaster, CA native is a father of four and a graduate of California State University, Fresno. In college, he earned a bachelors degree in Philosophy. He is also a former Division 1 Student-Athlete, and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

“I started doing photography during my last semester of college. That was back in 2013. I was unsure about my future after my college. I had a job, but I knew it was only temporary. I purchased a professional camera from Best Buy. As I worked full-time job, I also pursued photography in my spare time. I really fell in love with photography and things started to fall in place,” says. Things moved so fast for Jerry that he left his full-time job and allowed photography to be his primary source of income and hasn’t looked back.

“I’m a wedding and freelance photographer. However, I don’t label myself within one category or in one particular style. I photograph all different types of genres, and many of my clients and subject are very diverse,” he says. JJerry also offers photography and videography services to businesses, family’s, and individuals.

Whether it’s on location or in a studio setting, Jerry says he can capture memories and moments that people will cherish for a lifetime. He shares that he is inspired by being able to utilize his creativity to bring the ideas of his clients to life.

For Jerry, his success can be credited with his determination to be the very best. “I have worked on my craft everyday to ensure that I can provide the best possible service. I advise anyone who may enter this profession to focus on themselves and not worry about other photographers. If you want to be successful, you must be willing to invest in yourself and put in the necessary time to be the best,” he says.

Moving forward, Jerry plans on giving back to his community more and going back to school to pursue a Masters degree. Professionally, he plans on adding people to his staff and open a bigger photography studio as well. To learn more about JKP Photography LLC, please contact Jerry Kelly directly.

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Allay Psychological Services

By definition, “Allay” (pronounced Uh-lay) means to soothe or diminish worry or fear. For Dr. Reshale Thomas, ensuring this is her primary objective as she leads the way at Allay Psychological Services in Fresno, CA.

Allay Psychological Services was founded in June 2018 and is one of only a handful of Black woman-owned psychologist private practices in the Fresno area. Located in the heart of downtown Fresno, Allay provides high-quality mental health care and strives to reduce stigma toward mental illness and treatment. They also focus on health and wellness and increasing the quality of life in the Fresno community.

Dr. Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in piano performance at Fresno Pacific University. Dr. Thomas went on to Fuller Theological Seminary — Graduate School of Psychology and earned her Master of Arts in Psychology in 2012 and Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry (MATM) in Spring of 2015. Not to stop there, she earned her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) in the fall of 2015.

Dr. Thomas has worked and trained in some of the most underserved communities in Southern California, including El Monte, Watts, the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers, and the Los Angeles Mission on Skid Row. Her training culminated at Philhaven Behavioral Health in Central Pennsylvania. Dr. Thomas’ areas of research and expertise include substance abuse, trauma, resilience, poverty, multicultural issues, spirituality and health, creative arts and wellness, program planning, development, evaluation, and integrated medical and behavioral health care.

While Dr. Thomas is the founder and owner of Allay, the practice’s success is made possible with the help and dedication of three phenomenal employees, Sandy, Regina, and Charles. Its mission is to create safe spaces for people to experience health, healing, and hope. With the help of Reggie, who volunteers, Allay can meet the needs of all its clients.

Allay is committed to enhancing the quality of life in our community through three main objectives: Training, Education & Mentorship of Prospective/Early Career Psychologists, Community Engagement, and Service to Underserved and Underrepresented Populations. In further detail, Dr. Thomas explains, “By utilizing training, education, and mentorship, engaging with our community, we are helping to create a better world by reducing stigma toward mental health challenges and necessary treatment. Our clients leave our office with a greater sense of hope and belief they can nurture the resilience necessary to face life’s toughest challenges, whether in a difficult work or school environment, interpersonal relationships, out-of-home placements, or dealing with aging and chronic illness issues. We can accomplish this by using up-to-date, evidence-based interventions to treat a wide range of mental health conditions and behavioral challenges. Our guiding vision is that everyone in our care experiences the healing, health, and hope they deserve.”

Dr. Thomas shares, “The demand for Allay’s services is often more than our team can keep up with. That means that sometimes I am the janitor, errand woman, secretary, or any other role that I can reasonably fill if the work needs to be done.

As a licensed clinician, Dr. Thomas works with individuals and families from all backgrounds and walks of life to address depression, anxiety, grief, difficult life transitions, aging, and trauma. Dr. Thomas brings a warm, nonjudgmental presence to the therapeutic process. Her clients enjoy her sense of humor and ability to draw from multiple treatment modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, coping skills training, and interpersonal therapy.

“I grew up in an area wherein mental health challenges were not openly talked about,” Dr. Thomas shares. “I initially wanted to pursue a career as a medical doctor. Still, as I watched people struggle with mental health challenges, often suffering in silence, I decided there was another way to aid people in their journeys toward being whole. Becoming a psychologist was a dream, but starting and owning my own business was not initially a part of that plan. Allay was born out of the very real feelings of worry and fear I experienced as a young, Black female doctor. I live in a conservative area that lacks proper access to mental health services, so there were very few job opportunities available for psychologists. Moreover, being a Black doctor in the workplace had its own set of challenges. After two years into my career, I decided to start my practice for myself and other prospective African American psychologists (women, in particular) who might have trouble finding adequate opportunities.”

Why does Dr. Thomas love what she does so much? It has little to do with her connection to music. “I am a musician at heart, and I love hearing different parts of a piece that can be improvised or even reharmonized. In music, you don’t have to start from scratch or create something from nothing to be great—you can work with whatever you have right in front of you and make it into a hit. As music is resilient, I often think of the therapeutic process in the same way. People get to have their stories— whatever it is, we can keep it. We don’t have to throw anything out, and whatever isn’t working can be rewritten and rearranged into something better and more useful,” she says.

In the future, Dr. Thomas plans to expand her practice and offer more opportunities for both her clients and employees. “In the next year, I’d like to hire more clinical and administrative employees and expand into the adjacent office suite. I’d like to continue that expansion to satellite sites across the city in the next five years. In the next 10 to 15 years, I’d like for Allay to be a household name and one of the top three providers of mental health services in the area,” she says.

I Was Created For Greatness

By Dorjae McClammey

by Mac Royals

Malcolm Allen, better known as Mac Royals is someone you can describe as super talented. The 29-year-old musician who grew up in Wrightsville, Arkansas, is a musician, photographer, videographer, director, artist consultant, and chef.

Music has always been a part of Mac, even from birth. Everyone in his family sings; his mother, father, brother, sister, even his grandfather. He was a part of the children’s choir until his voice became so powerful that he was moved up to the adult choir.

In elementary, Mac started to dabble in different aspects of the arts. He chose to play the violin for a couple of years, with the help of one of his teachers, Mr.Crips. “I loved him to death because he was very stern. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with music the way I did,” he shares. From there, He started writing his own music and falling in love with it more and more.

Unfortunately, his father was incarcerated for most of his early childhood and teen years. Still, Mac kept focused with the help of his community around him, especially his guardian angel, older cousin Marcus Wilson. Marcus was a rapper himself, so he would set up studio sessions for him and his cousin. This was when Mac recorded his very first song at the young age of 13.

To say Mac is talented is an understatement. He described his style of music as “feels.” “I perceive music as power because it can shift an atmosphere any of a room, space or mood. Do you understand how powerful that is, and I have the ability to do that at will,” he says.

The road to becoming who Mac Royals is today has not always been the easiest. There were so many ups and downs, “everybody wants to be a part of the mountain, but nobody wants to be a part of the valley.” His artistry is his everything and he has to live a very transparent life, so he lets people know that it’s not easy, nor is it for the soft-hearted. Mac even states that he’s glad he did not win the American Idol competition he particpated on in 2013, because the individual he was then would not have been able to handle what was to come.

“I didn’t even know that I deserved to be in spaces like this, but I had to be so that I would understand that my creator gave me this opportunity.”

He went through a major depression once he was eliminated from American Idol because he felt that he failed to take care of his family. Once he returned home, he stayed inside for a month. No one even knew he was back. He remained in this state until someone finally sat him down and told him to think about where he came from and what he accomplished. “You won by even getting out of here. You won the moment you believed in yourself enough to try it, even though you didn’t know what was going to happen,” Mac says. He realized he was so focused on the negative that he didn’t even focus on the fact he made it to the top 20. “I didn’t even know that I deserved to be in spaces like this, but I had to be so that I would understand that my creator gave me this opportunity. Learning this allowed me to see a glimpse into what I could be if I just kept working.”

Another challenge he faced was differentiating between real life and artistry. Sometimes he can get so caught up in his artistry that he forgets about real life. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad because in some of those spaces where I forgot about life, I created something so beautiful that when I came back to life, I felt a bit out of touch,” he shares.

I asked Mac what inspires him the most, and the answer was simple “life.” “My inspiration comes from life, and being a musician, I have to find inspiration in life to write about life. The heartache, the love, the anger, frustration. I have to be open enough to write and sing about it all.”

As for the future of Mac Royals, we can all expect big things. While continuing to make music, he plans to drop an autobiography along with a whole new line of products on his website. There, he has all-natural body butters and sugar scrubs, bath bombs, candles, and more available. They are made with his very own formula he calls Royal Honey. Additionally, all of these products are handmade by amazing black women, right in Arkansas.

Mac shared some advice for those who may follow a path similar to his. “On your journey, there are going to be a lot of people that tell you, what to do, how to do it, and how they believe you should do it, but never allow someone on the outside of the vision to distract you from it”.

To learn more about Mac Royals and his music, please visit his website.

Wendell White

I’m An Overcomer

By Gamal Williams

by Wendell White

“I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-yearsold, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.”

One thing I’ve come to understand about our (African-American) community is that many of us don’t want to be held accountable. It’s normal with us living a certain type of way. Trauma has become normal in the African-American community. The incidence of murder occurs often. There is teenage pregnancy and high dropout rates. Poverty is normal, and I don’t believe that poverty defines our neighborhoods, I think we have a poverty mindset. But I know that we can’t fix this overnight. It took me thirty years to arrive to where I am today, so I have to be patient and keep working. That’s what God wants me to do so, I will do it. - Wendell White

Usually, I start my articles with a poignant quote or Bible verse that ties neatly into my interviewing subject. There was no need to find such a quote for Wendell White. His quote above speaks to the core of Wendell’s mission, to a fundamental change of perspective and purpose rooted in experience, and when it comes to experiences. He has had many.

Wendell was born and raised in the Englewood section of the South Side of Chicago, the “Wild Hundreds,” as Wendell explains. After leaving foster care, Wendell moved into the projects with his mother and family. Unfortunately for Wendell (and many children in inner city, African-American communities), he returned to a world full of drugs and violence. What made Wendell’s situation exponentially bleaker, he didn’t even have to leave his project apartment to find it. His family sold the drugs and contributed to the violence.

“When you’re a child and your watching your mom and family sell drugs, how does someone tell you to go to school and get an education? Everybody around me sells drugs and they are lucrative! My uncle was making $50-60k a day! I was twelve years old, and one day he gave me a bag with over $250,000 to hold for my auntie. He had all the cars, and everyone admired him. I wanted to be like my uncle. When he left, I went into the bathroom and saw all that money. I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-years-old, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.”

Soon after that decision, Wendell joined a gang and quickly realized that gang life wasn’t the glitz and glamour he thought it was. Not only did he learn that he would start nowhere near the level his uncle was, but he was now a gang member in one of the most violent cities during its most violent time in history. According to the Chicago Police Department, from 1991 to 2004, there were 3,422 gang-related murders in Chicago. That’s an average of 244 murders per year. A ghastlier interpretation is this: there was a gang-related murder in Chicago every 36 hours, for 14 years straight. Yet, despite this reality (which is to say nothing of the other violent crimes, drug overdoses, and high incarceration rates), Wendell saw no other way to live. It was all he knew and taught, and turning to his family for guidance offered no respite. Even his own kidnapping didn’t turn him away.

Continued on the next page

“I started making money, big money. We were buying cars, flashing cash, but one day God decided that wasn’t the plan. I was kidnapped, beaten, and left for dead. That was the beginning of my transformation. The person that did it to me was near and dear to my heart; he set me up. But God spoke to me and told me to repent. I was in the hospital for eight weeks, but when I got out, I didn’t know anything else. I was eighteen and all I knew was selling drugs.”

Wendell moved to Milwaukee soon after, and though he had changed locations, his mindset hadn’t. He continued to sell drugs, yet one day, it all stopped, but not through any choice of his.

“One day, my phone just stopped ringing. I was selling drugs every day, all day, then one day, my phone just stopped ringing. I realize now that God has always been with me. HE stopped it. All my money started dwindling away. Then one day, I was coming home, stuck my key in the door, and broke down and cried. I broke, man. I cried for six months. I was depressed, but it was in that depression that I found God. It was all of these emotions and feelings that I had been feeling for years, and it all came out.”

His wife asked him to attend church with her, and though he was still depressed and drinking heavily, he decided to go. Wendell found that some church members had written books that shared their testimony. That inspired Wendell to pen his story, The Devil Thought He Had Me! He has even gone on to start his own mentorship program.

“My mentorship program started when my book came out. It was something that started when I started getting mentored. I joined my church, Unity Gospel House of Prayer, here in Milwaukee, WI. I just see the upside of having a mentor, man. We all need a mentor; we all need somebody to help us navigate through life, not really trying to control our lives, but teach us someone who can hold us accountable. If feel that I can get enough of the men and the youth, if I can just get them and talk to them. Tell them my story and the things I’ve been through. We could make such a huge impact. Not just in the city of Milwaukee or Chicago, but in the world. God gave me a testimony, and I believe God is setting up to give that testimony.”

By Terry L. Watson

Melton

When you think of professional attire, one may imagine pantsuits and long sleeve shirts. It is deemed professional when the design of clothes covers the body and doesn’t remotely make you seem provocative or alluring. This kind of everyday style can condemn your thoughts. Ultimately, you begin to believe that fashion and work cannot coexist. Makeisha Melton has made it her purpose to challenge this notion.

Makeisha is the owner of Blue Gems Boutique, an online store located in Dublin, GA. Makeisha mixes vogue with sass, and comfortability with white-collar attire, assuring her clients that style and professionalism are not foreign concepts. “I have something for all body types. My collection ranges from two-piece sets to jumpsuits and casual wear, including dresses, t-shirts, and jewelry,” she says.

The idea for Blue Gems Boutique came to Makeisha mind in 2019, but the online store was launched in 2020. By doing so, it helped Makeisha to be able to express her creativity on a much grander scale. “I knew I wanted to do something with fashion. I was like, I think I can do this. I’ve always loved fashion and had an eye for colors and texture,” she shares. “I believed my eye for fashion could help women in the African American community.”

Her creative repertoire shows through her human interest also. From hair school to constant hours of Youtube trials, her pins for fashion and designing grew to the online boutique. It also gave her a platform for what she was born to do. She took inspiration from preppy-textbook looks and IMartha, another fashion boutique, and created unique items for herself and her.

Continued on the next page

“I love when my clients feel confident in it. It means that I have reached my goal of providing comfortability, confidence, professionalism, and compassion.”

Being a relatively new small business, Blue Gems Boutique has been making big waves with women because of its versatility and various size options. It was important for Makeisha to capture the essence of women at work and in everyday loungewear. Her goal is to make her clients feel confident and happy with themselves. “I love that I see people, well women, embracing their body types,” Melton describes as she explains what her line is about. “I love when my clients feel confident in it. It means that I have reached my goal of providing comfortability, confidence, professionalism, and compassion.”

Makeisha is inspired by the kinds of women that she represents and the willingness to get better at what she does. She also loves the opportunity to engage with clients, both new and old, and to be able to show them a side of themselves that has never been seen. “My customers keep me going. The reviews get me super excited. As well as the emails, feedback, and encouraging words from people I don’t even know. It keeps me going. It keeps me level,” she shares.

Of course, every entrepreneur is perceived to be strong and courageous. Still, Makeisha’s biggest challenge was not only surviving the Covid 19 pandemic but also getting the Blue Gems Boutique name out there. “In the beginning, I was worried about being shy and quiet. I’ve never really talked to many people in my hometown, so I was a little apprehensive about networking,” she says. Still, she knew for her business to survive, she would have to talk. Even more, without proper exposure, Makeisha feared that it might not be the right time to start a brand. Her business knowledge was not so strong, but she believed that God had a plan.

In the future, Makeisha hopes to expand her boutique to a storefront. With pop-up shops, and her brand growing on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook, she believes that she will achieve her dreams. The determining factor for Makeisha is that she has a strong will to survive. I will not give up, and I can’t give in. I have to stick to the plan.”

To learn more about Makeisha Melton and The Blue Gem Boutique, please visit their website.

h

“I love seeing people healed in every area of their life. My love for people keeps me excited and continues to challenge me to give more. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset and watching how that creates a positive life.”

By Terry L. Watson

For some, the journey of life can be very unpredictable. Promises are not always fulfilled, and ones’ perception of life can be as isolated and individualized as a fingerprint. For Greensboro, NC native and now Houston, TX resident Shannon Frazier, those details duly describe how life was once like for him.

Today, it is appropriate to greet him as Pastor Shannon Frazier. He is the shepherd called by God to lead the flock of Abiding Faith Church of Baytown, located in Houston. He is also the Founder and CEO of Shannon Frazier Ministries. Not to be stereotyped, Pastor Frazier shares that his heart is set on saving lost souls and advancing the kingdom of God. He is the husband to Shanel Frazier and the father of two sons, Seth and Josiah.

Pastor Frazier grew up in Greensboro, attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., and majored in Music Education. He later moved to Houston and answered the call of ministry. “I believe that I was called to preach at the age of 14, however at that time, I chose not to respond to the call. As a result, I encountered many unnecessary trials and learned many life lessons that I continue to use today. I am a Black American Pastor that believes in embracing every race, creed, and culture with the love of God. I am a third-generation, extraordinary musician who has traveled worldwide playing the piano with Broadway musicals and various gospel artists. I discovered my passion and love for ministry as I traveled and experienced the different cultures and ethnicities,” he says.

Pastor Frazier grew up as a church musician. He describes himself as ardent and always striving to empowering others. That passion led him to leave the music industry and answer the call to pastor. “I love seeing people healed in every area of their life. My love for people keeps me excited and continues to challenge me to give more. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset and watching how that creates a positive life.”

Leading anything in life can be pretty daunting. To be an effective leader, one must be tried and tested. Pastor Frazier has been. “I remember when we first started our ministry, we were young and excited and full of zeal. We had very little knowledge of what we were doing. It was 2012, and God knew that we would really need help. We were setting up and breaking down chairs in a daycare center each week, and many times the only attendees would be my family. We prayed and believed God and trusted that we would have our own building. We also believed that more people would see the vision and help us bring that vision to life. One day, I heard God tell me to take a CD of me teaching to a barbershop. Out of obedience, I gave the CD to the lead barber and told him that God told me to bring this to him. He played the CD in the barbershop the next day, while a pastor of another church just so happened to be there. He heard the teaching and immediately told the barber to get in touch with me. After a few times of that pastor and I connecting and talking, he shared with me that God told him to give me his church. Naturally, I was shocked, and we both began to pray. I was then led to visit the church, and to my surprise, it was grand in structure, a 15,000 square foot building and sitting on ten acres of land. The pastor handed me the keys to the

property, all while God was blowing my mind. We prayed and believed for God to show up, but we had no idea that He would show up like that. We went from setting up and breaking down chairs for one year and three months to having a fully furnished building with over 50 active members. Having faith in God and believing when faced with doubt is how we overcame,” he shares.

Now that his position has clearly been defined, Pastor Frazier has set his sights on leading Abiding Faith Church of Baytown into the direction that God desires. One of his personal goals is to stay connected to Jesus and allow Him to teach him and show him how to continue to walk by faith and defy the odds. “One goal that we have at AFC is to connect with the city of Baytown and provide assistance for students in our community who may be behind in school because of the Covid 19 pandemic. I understand that many children need tutoring and assistance, and we are actively putting together a plan to hire teachers to create an online help center as well as using our facility for in-person learning,” Pastor Frazier shares.

The future looks bright for Abiding Faith Church of Baytown. Having a leader chasing after God’s heart and being committed to serving others is obviously what God had in mind when He chose Pastor Frazier as its leader. This shows that when you are obedient to what God calls you to do, He will make provisions to see it through. To learn more about Pastor Shannon Frazier and Abiding Faith Church of Baytown, please visit their website.

h

Leneiva Head Welcome Home Realty

By Terry L. Watson

by Bobby Quillard

While she might be acknowledged as a successful entrepreneur, Leneiva Head is a lover of people at her core. In her chosen career path of real estate, this quality compliments her tenacity and drive to succeed.

Leneiva is the Principal Broker/Owner of Welcome Home Realty™, a real estate firm based in Nashville, TN. She is a native Nashvillian and Whites Creek High School Alumni. She’s also a scholar, holding several degrees; a Doctorate of Jurisprudence, Bachelors Management/Human Relations, and an Associates degree in Business Management/Small Business.

Leneiva has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and was determined to forge her own path. As a Certified Master Trainer, she found a way to capitalize on her background in training development, design, delivery, procedural and compliance auditing, workplace efficiency, and customer service. In 2001 she summoned the years spent assisting her mother with various entrepreneurial sales endeavors such as Mary Kay, Princess House, and Watkins, and took a leap of faith into real estate.

“Nearly 20 years ago, I simply decided to be the change I wanted to see, so I enrolled in real estate school and jumped in with both feet. Soon, I obtained my Broker’s license, and things began to move fast. In 2009, I stepped out on faith and opened the doors to Welcome Home Realty™ in Antioch, TN,” she says.

Leneiva’s real estate firm handles residential and commercial sales, leasing, and property management. She has served on several industry committees such as Arbitration, Affordable Housing, and Legislation. This year she celebrated the 12-year anniversary of her BBB A+ Rated Real Estate Firm.

As stated, Leneiva has a natural love for people and shares how she enjoys the opportunity to show her clients how to get to a “yes” when everyone else has told them “no”. “At Welcome Home Realty, the focus is on customer care and the client. Our clients seek our expertise to assist with navigating complex real estate transactions. I teach them how to accomplish their goals without the stress often associated with real estate transactions. I accomplish this by providing each client with the knowledge and understanding of what to expect,” she says.

Because of her expertise in the real estate and design industry, she has been featured in print publications, radio, and television shows. She has also served for 14 years as a volunteer education facilitator with New Level Community Development Corporation (NLCDC).

Leneiva uses her knowledge and expertise of affordable housing to list and sell properties for builders and developers who desire to incorporate affordable homes in their build and design plans. In addition to the real estate firm, she owns a travel agency and operates a call center servicing various Fortune 500 companies.

The journey for Leneiva has come with its share of challenges. First of all, she is a double minority, and being so, she found it difficult to obtain funding to start her business. That didn’t stop her, and she responded by being resourceful. As a result, she opened the firm as a debt-free organization. Even more, Leneiva has always drawn from her role as a mother for inspiration. “As long as her son was happy, healthy, and well cared for - that’s all the motivation that I needed,” she says.

As complex as her life is, one might ask why did she invest her time and resources into obtaining a Law Degree. Her response, “My purpose for adding a law degree was to position myself to affect change. I’ve observed a lot of injustice in the family court system and realized that the only way to affect change - once again - was to be a part of the solution.”

Her advice to anyone who may follow in her footsteps is to be sure that you view your plan through a clear lens. “Realize that no one owes you anything. It is up to you to make things happen. When it looks like things may not work out, it is up to you to re-group, take a second look, and find the solution. Never give up. Always plan and always budget, and continue to educate yourself. You must also be forever changing and evolving. This will help you and your business remain ahead of the curve and avoid unexpected surprises that could negatively impact you. It is okay to find a mentor and business advisor, for a trusted advisor is priceless,” she shares.

Moving forward, Leneiva Leneiva will continue operating her real estate firm. She also plans to open and run a successful law firm focusing on family law. To learn more about Leneiva Head, please visit her website.

Kim Alexander

By Ayana Bryant

Often times there isn’t much that can be done to prevent a miscarriage from happening, but have we ever considered how women and families are to recover from such loss? According to the US nonprofit “March of Dimes”, approximately 10-15% of detected pregnancies end in miscarriage, and about 1 in 100 women experience repeat miscarriages. March of Dimes is an organization committed to the work of improving maternal and infant health.

Kim Alexander has positioned herself to answer this question. She is the founder of A Mother’s Luv Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports women and couples who have suffered a miscarriage.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Kim understood early on that her calling would be to help people. With aspirations of becoming an attorney, she attended Xavier University in New Orleans, LA, and studied political science. After deciding to continue her education, she returned home to Wisconsin to receive her master’s degree from Marquette University in Public Service and Administration of Justice. Kim is also a very proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc and has been for the last 15 years.

Ultimately her career goals shifted, and Kim went on to become a law enforcement officer. She truly loves what she does and feels honored to be able to protect and serve the people in the city of Milwaukee and all over the world.

It brings Kim great joy to help others, and she knows first hand how emotionally challenging it can be to experience a miscarriage. “My husband and I had no idea that we would have a hard time growing our family, nor suffer numerous miscarriages. However, after several miscarriages. This devastation revealed something to us that was missing from the health industry; there was nothing given to women to help start their journey of healing,” she says.

In 2018, after suffering the loss of her twins due to a miscarriage, she began to question why weren’t there any support resources offered for people experiencing this? That thought brewed in her mind for about two years until 2020, when she suffered another miscarriage and sadly lost her son. Despite her pain, she knew that something needed to be done. She refocused her energy on creating a nonprofit that would help women cope with this kind of loss and provide information for those who were uninformed on miscarriages. Thus, A Mother’s Luve Inc.

Kim launched A Mother’s Luv Inc. in June 2020. This nonprofit organization’s work is centered around donating homemade care packages to local Milwaukee hospitals for women and families who have experienced a miscarriage. Each care package is full of self-healing products, including aromatherapies, candles, and spiritual and self-help books.

In addition to the nonprofit, Kim has started her own podcast, also entitled “A Mother’s Luv” after her organization. This first episode of the podcast discusses a deeper look into her personal journey dealing with miscarriage. The subsequent episodes discuss other women’s journeys of loss and mental health post-miscarriage, the benefits of having a doula, and coming in September, an episode featuring a maternal-fetal medicine doctor.

Kim is no stranger to resilience, and this is a testament to her support system. When asked what inspires her, she answers, “My family. I have a great support system behind A Mother’s Luv. I may be the face of it, but behind the scenes, my husband does it all. Whether he’s editing podcast episodes or making my flyers, he continues to motivate me and cheer me on.” She also says that her mother is another source of inspiration, “My mom is the definition of a mother’s love, her wisdom, her prayer, her strength is incredible. Although all her children are adults, she still finds time to do her motherly duties. She inspires me the most.”

The part that Kim says she enjoys the most from her nonprofit work is the feedback that she receives from hospital workers who see first-hand the impact of these care packages. “When I donate these packages to the local hospitals, some of the nurses are saying that this is a great thing to be able to give to the women who do miscarry and a great way to support the fathers as well.”

A word of advice that Kim would offer to anyone who may be dealing with infertility is to never give up. She says to “keep the faith” despite how hard things may get to “trust the process”. She encourages women to do whatever is necessary to keep their spirits lifted and cast out any negativity that may try to sneak its way in.

A Mother’s Luv Inc. is looking to expand its outreach by the top of next year to serve the local hospitals of Milwaukee and branch out through the entire state of Wisconsin. Eventually, Kim hopes to see her organization in hospitals throughout the country. Another goal she has set is to start a conference regarding miscarriage and infertility to provide information and necessary resources to those in need. www.amothersluvincwi.com

Are You A Destiny Caregiver?

Become a Member Today! Get Your Women With Vision Membership

Information and Photos Provided by Women With Vision

Caregiver Destiny Helpers is a movement of Caregivers avaialble around the world. Their focus is to impact lives spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Charlene Sparks - RN BSN Founder of Women With Vision , Inc. NC h

It’s all about Embracing, Empowering, and Elevating each other. As a member of Women with Vision Inc. NC, you have selected to connect with women who are rich in spirit. You will have the opportunity to bless others while pursuing your personal journey and gain opportunities for professional growth and development.

Elite Membership Includes

Quarterly Self Care Empowerment Events (Live & Virtual)

Monthly Self Care Empowerment Webinars

Speaker Opportunities for Quarterly Events/Webinars

Group Coaching & Mentoring

Support Services for Entrepreneurs/Caregivers

Featured in Women With Vision Inc (NC) Annual Resource Directory

Free E-Book- “Step Up Step Out & Reclaim” Charlene M Sparks, Author Caregivers Education & Support Services

Caregivers Elite Service Plan Available

Join Us For These Amazing Extras

Discounts on all branding resources offered to Women With Vision to support your journey. We accomplish our goals and objectives with the support of our Partners

A Life Dedicated To Service

By Gamal Williams

According to the 2019 Annual Business Survey, racial minorities owned 18.3% of all businesses in America. Those numbers begin to look bleaker when one understands that all non-White business owners fall into that 18.3%. 2019 U.S. Census data shows that the White population comprised 76.3% of America yet owned 81.7% of all businesses. Minorities comprised 23.7% of America yet owned less than 1/5th of all businesses. Many factors have hindered business development and economic growth amongst minorities: racial bias preventing opportunities to government and private sector contracts, lack of access to capital, lack of business financial literacy, but none more important than mentorship and support. What these businesses have lacked is a champion, someone that is willing to not only extend a helping hand, but to speak up for them, support them, guide them on their path to success.

Enter Todd Gilyard.

Todd Gilyard formed his consulting firm, The Gilyard Group, LLC, in 2010, after previously serving as the Assistant Project Lead/Job Developer for the St. Louis Housing Authority’s Job Plus Program, and Community Outreach Director at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. He now serves as the Project Director at the Missouri Branch of the Minority Business Development Agency. Originally established as the Minority Business Enterprise in 1969 by President Richard Nixon, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) mission is “to promote the growth of minority owned businesses through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy, and research. MBDA has accomplished this mission by funding a network of centers that provide Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) a variety of business assistance services.”* Yet, Todd didn’t see himself in his current position. In fact, prior to his appointment, even owning his own business wasn’t in the cards.

Continued on the next page

“I worked for the Urban League of St. Louis,” he explained. “In that role, anything that the Urban League gave away to the community, I was in charge of; toy giveaways, food giveaways, energy assistance, any special programs, I was basically in charge of. Being in that role helped me build relationships with city and state government officials and CEOs of major corporations. People began to come to me asking for help with funding or to make a business connection.”

“One day, a woman approached me that had a home healthcare franchise out of Florida. I explained to her that she should be working with the churches. The churches should get back to being that resource for the community like they were in the ’50s and ’60s. I told her I knew the President of the National Baptist Convention-Midwest. I reached out to him and discussed her presenting her business to the minister’s union. I explained to him that churches were missing that community connection; if you needed a doctor, you went to the church; if you needed a lawyer, you went to the church; if you needed a handyman, you went to the church. I presented the woman’s business and after my presentation, he encouraged me to form my own business.”

Todd formed The Gilyard Group shortly after, and while it was a business at its heart, it was Todd’s desire to help reconnect the community that shined through. These traits were instilled in him by two strong, powerful, and beautiful women: his mother, Schatoun Gilyard, and his grandmother, Francis Jean Gilyard.

“I grew up in Kinloch, MO. My grandmother was heavily involved in many grassroots efforts devoted to social justice issues, improving educational rights for children, food programs…she was committed to making sure the community was fed, not just with food, but fed with knowledge. I grew up in the church, thanks to my grandmother. I am now a minister, and God has put it in my heart to want to see everyone made whole. I want to see everybody live their best life. If I’m in a position to help somebody, I think that is an honor that God gives certain people. Since I was a child, through my adult life and professional career, I’ve been in a position to help people. Jobs of service. It’s because of how my grandmother raised me.”

Continued on page 10

“I tell my current staff all the time; we are in a blessed position. If we make a phone call for someone or a business, we have an opportunity to do something that could change their lives. That can change the way they feed their families.” h

When asked to elaborate on his mother’s impact on his life, Todd becomes reflective and emotional. “My mom…man, my mom is someone that inspires me because of how she made sacrifices for my brother and me. Even though those sacrifices hurt her, I see what she did for her now that I am older. And she is still like that. She will give people the shirt off her back, or if she hears that someone is in need, she’s right there to say, ‘I got it!’ Anything to see people comfortable. Even in the church, she was always serving others. It just stuck in me.”

Todd’s reputation as a selfless, devoted, and knowledgeable leader led to his current position at MBDA. When the position for Project Director became available in late 2020, Todd’s name was submitted by people that knew him for his years of dedicated service. Once the position was offered to Todd, his actions displayed the virtues of kindness and selflessness he was raised with. Knowing that he could impact more people in this new position, he folded the highly successful Gilyard Group and accepted the higher calling.

“I tell my current staff all the time; we are in a blessed position. If we make a phone call for someone or a business, we have an opportunity to do something that could change their lives. That can change the way they feed their families. That is tremendous for me. I get a paycheck, but more than the money, it’s the joy I feel that I was able to help these companies. I am so happy to be a part of that that I had a little bit to do with it. That gives me such joy.”

Todd Gilyard

www.mykelmedia.com www.thisiswhoiam.libsyn.com