Huami Magazine for Philadelphia Nov./Dec. 2021

Provision And My Purpose

A Letter From The Editor

On any particular day, I can open the doors to my refrigerator and see a familiar sight. Nothing. I mean, there may be some of the usual players there, such as eggs, condiments, protiens, veggies, along with a few leftovers. Though it’s never full, and it makes sense not to be. I am a single man, and I only require the bare food essentials to survive, and if I overfill my icebox, a lot will go to waste.

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

A Letter from the Editor

Again, that doesn’t make any sense. But what does is how God has still made provisions for me by supplying my needs with a resource to store and maintain food items. He knows I must eat to survive, but He leaves it up to me to select what to eat and how much. Gratefully, I often eat as I go and don’t allow much room for waste. By acknowledging the hands of God working for me in this matter, I can comprehend His works in every area of my life.

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?

I have experienced my share of hard times. Often I have felt as if mine were more challenging than anything in the world. Though I have once complained during my moments of lack, somehow I adjusted, and life continued. When there seemed as if there was no hope for tomorrow, and tomorrow still came, life continued. I realize that I didn’t succumb during all of this, even during the most sorrowful situations. As my faith has increased with my walk with God, I am learning the reasons why.

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.

God has a plan for my life. That is called purpose. To fulfill my purpose, He has gone before me to ensure that everything I need is in order and available. That is called provision. I have learned that God allowed me to experience heartache and suffering as a child just so that I would be equipped to handle and thrive through anguish and suffering as an adult. He has allowed me to fall, get back up and fall down again so that I don’t become too comfortable with success and forget what it feels like to struggle and work my way up from wretchedness. God allowed me to lose; even when it appeared, I didn’t have anything left in my stable. I know He allowed it to make room for something greater. That’s provision.

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.

I am truly grateful that God doesn’t give me everything He has prepared for me all at once. I am blessed because I can’t see what is going to happen, and because I have faith in knowing that God will make it happen according to His will and purpose for my life. God has made provisions for each of us.

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

www.huamimagazine.com

Dorjae’

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On The Cover

M.A.D.E. Keyon Smith

38 Grace Johnson Learn more about the founder Neema Dance Collective. She is surely walking in her purpose. Baltimore, MD

PHILADELPHIA

Also Featured

Anjelah Evans

Meet the face and founder of Anjelah Evans Ministries. There is power in her praise. Indianapolis, IN

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Marquis Hamilton Does your pet need some training? Learn more about JayCay Dog Training Services. Charlotte, NC

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Keyon Smith

Making A Difference Everyday

By Terry L. Watson

Keyon Smith is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He comes from humble beginnings, is the third born of a family of five, and was raised by a single mother in the project high rises of Raymond Rosen Housing projects in North Philadelphia. There were plenty of days and nights when he didn’t know where his next meal was coming from. “There were even moments when our house had no electricity or running water. I even remember as a kid fetching water from a driveway in an empty milk gallon jug.,” he says. Keyon recalls watching his mother become ill when he was 11 years old. She later died of cervical cancer in 1989, and his grandmother began to care for him and his siblings.

“The loss of my mother took a huge toll on me as a kid. My academics were affected. I endured another massive blow when my grandmother passed due to pharyngeal cancer six months later. My siblings and I then moved to live with our aunt, and we were finally on a stable path,” Keyon says.

Growing up in North Philadelphia, Keyon witnessed some pretty tough situations. “I’ve seen drug abuse, drug dealers, shootings, robberies, as well as homelessness.” He was voted class clown amongst his peers, and he soon gravitated towards entertainment. He would participate in plays at school, play the drums, and take gymnastics. Keyon was also a vocal youth and expressed his interests with speeches and mock trial competitions. After graduating from high school with honors, he took drama classes at the historical Freedom Theatre, pursued a career in film, and attended Philadelphia Community College. Life would happen, and Keyon left school and began working full-time but still pursued a career in acting. He has worked on several productions, including Cold Case, National Treasure, Annapolis, Invincible, Marley & Me, The Next Three Days, and Creed. He is currently the Assistant Director of the Independent Film Association of Philadelphia. He also received a BSBA from the University of Phoenix.

Keyon is the founder and owner of M.A.D.E.Making A Difference Everyday. M.A.D.E. is an apparel and products company that makes and sells items suitable for all ages while bringing positive energy and liberation. Their product line includes t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, tote bags, duffle bags, socks, and jackets. Portions of the proceeds and donations received by the program are given back to their community. Giving back to his community is very important to Keyon, and he has done a lot since the program’s launch. They’ve conducted a tech giveaway for middle school kids and supplied monitors and keyboards, and provided lunch boxes and masks for elementary school kids. They have donated to Y.E.S. (Youth Emergency Services) and recently provided a women’s and men’s shelter with toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, bath towels, and sanitizer.

So why lauch an apparels company? For Keyon, the answer is connected to his roots. “I’ve always had a big heart as a kid and would give my last to help anyone in need. That is the primary reason I started M.A.D.E. Back in 2013, my cousin and I fooled around with t-shirt ideas. I wanted to create something that anyone could wear. My very first shirt was Dream Dreams. It was cool, but my second shirt idea was M.A.D.E., and it just took off and skyrocketed. I did not expect the demand, and I was forced to shut down because I could not keep up. I needed a plan and a team. I came back better than ever and relaunched in 2019,” he says.

With owning his company, Keyon says he loves the opportunities is offers him to connect with others. “I love being able to change the trajectory of someone’s life. If there are ten people in the room, I hope to change the life of at least one. That person may go on to change many.”

With the cause of his mothers, grandmothers, and even his aunt’s death due to cancer, Keyon uses those experiences as inspirations. The M.A.D.E. logo and colors represent them and the battles they fought., They all stepped up and showed me what family was all about. It’s the reason I need to keep paying it forward. A different decision by either of them and my life could be different. I live and give back through them,” he shares.

The future plans for Keyon and M.A.D.E. involve adding more products to their online store and giving back to it’s community. He plans to spread the word about M.A.D.E. and inspire others to become active in their community. Keyon often recites a quote by Audrey Hepburn that says, “As you get older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” To learn more about M.A.D.E., please visit their website.

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Lori & Hezekiah Something BARowed Candy Bar Stations

By Ellen Richardson -

Now that events are back in full swing, are you and your family planning some of those occasions that were canceled last year? If you answered yes to this question, you have found the article to make these events memorable. Thanks to a dream born to inspiring area business owners Hezekiah and Lori Poag, any event that you hold this holiday season can be made a lot sweeter.

The owners of Something BARowed Candy Bar Stations Sweet Shop and Party Venue in Greensboro, NC began their family business in 2013 after searching for a fun addition to their wedding.

“When we got married, my husband and I wanted a candy bar station for the guests at our wedding,” said Lori. “Back then, this kind of thing was just coming onto the wedding scene, and it was something that we were both drawn to. Unfortunately, no one in the area offered this type of service in the wedding industry, so we had to go out and find candies that matched our wedding colors, jars to hold these candies, and seek the assistance of our friends to serve guest at our reception. It became a thorn in our side and the most stressful part of our wedding day.”

While most who undertake a taxing task on the happiest day of their lives would look back and think, ‘I never want to deal with something like that again’, this was not the case for the sweetest couple in Guilford County. “After our wedding day, we had a bunch of equipment and supplies at our disposal. Instead of getting rid of them, we decided to keep everything to someday start a business. Not long after starting our lives together, my husband and I started a side hustle for other couples like us who wanted something unique at their events,” said Lori. “It was cool because our career backgrounds, mine in PR, Marketing and Advertising and Hezekiah’s in Retail Management and Merchandising, gave aid to both the creative and sales side of this business.”

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After their new business and “fun date night activity” continued to take off, these sweethearts would decide to turn what was once a thorn into a beautiful rose. “It is funny because we started this business setting up candy stations at events and celebrations for family and friends,” said Lori. “Our first event was a baby shower for a friend, and this led to more referrals, which made us have to learn the whole logisitics and business side of sweets.” Thanks to an overarching goal to break into the same event scene that gave birth to their entrepreneurial spirits, it would not take long before Hezekiah and Lori became one of the hottest vendors in the Triad. “We started attending Triad Wedding Shows and before long found ourselves booking weddings as much as our other events,” said Lori. “I can remember going into labor on a weekend that we had a large out-of-town wedding, and despite laying in a hospital bed and giving birth, I was on the phone with my staff trying to ensure everything was covered.” Riding high from their newfound passion and miraculously completing 82 events, the Poag family, culminated the year of 2015 with a booming new business and the birth of a little boy.

While the Poag’s were riding high from success on the wedding scene, they began to get lots of inquiries from parents on doing childrens events. That activity sparked Lori and Hezekiah’s interest in offering their candy bar stations at children’s parties. “We found that kids love our candy bar stations, but trying to transport the candies and glass candy jars while keeping things from getting broken or going missing wasn’t easy. So our new goal was to find a storefront where we could store our materials and host children’s parties,” said Lori.

“We found that kids love our candy bar stations, but trying to transport the candies and glass candy jars while keeping things from getting broken or going missing wasn’t easy. So our new goal was to find a storefront where we could store our materials and host children’s parties.”

In 2017, this sweet dream came true as the Poag family moved their operation from a guest bedroom in their home into their new storefront in Downtown Greensboro. “The best part about moving into our new location on East Market Street is that we now have a party room where customers can come to us for all types of fun events like birthday parties, baby showers, girls’ night out, etc.,” said Lori. “This space became popular for lots of families in this area, that is until the pandemic hit and shut everything down,” said Hezekiah.

Despite coming close to having to see their new family dream come crashing down, the couple who follows where their passion leads found a new way to keep things popping –Popcorn. “Once events were taken away, in March of 2020, we knew that we might have to close our doors,” said Lori. “Fortunately, we started noticing what the restaurants were doing to survive. We recognized the success that restaurants were having with their take-out service during the pandemic, so we searched for a sutiable take-out item within our existing products. Believe it or not the answer was on our shelf, staring at us in our face the whole time. Gourmet popcorn!”

Beginning with six flavors and eventually increasing to more than thirty flavors of popcorn not only saved the Poag family business but made the king and queen of sweets the newest royalty in the popcorn kingdom. “It was funny because our popcorn sales started bypassing our prepandemic space rental numbers. We were even featured on Beyoncé’s website and received a $10,000 grant along with other black-owned businesses,” said Lori. “After this, orders started pouring in and we were fortunate to be asked to travel to Atlanta and create a custom popcorn bar for hip hop celebrities T.I. and Tiny Harris.”

Popcorn also opened a new side of sweet events. “We started created mini bags with customizable stickers that said things like ‘thanks for popping by,’ which allowed families to hand out favors during drive-thru celebrations and even to send to friends and families to let them know that they are thinking about them,” said Lori. “These became very popular and even helped us increase party bookings in our event space this year.”

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Today, the Poag family continues to have one of the most popular sweet shops and event addition companies in the Triad and has seen their relationship flourish alongside their family business. “We have learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This has helped us work well together,” said Lori. “Of course we have our arguments on the business side, and I am grateful that my husband has helped keep me grounded and tell me when to turn it off.”

“We have also had to stop and refocus on our relationship outside of this business to be sure that both can coexist,” said Hezekiah. “We have continued to remind each other that no matter what happens, our relationship and this family is most important and will always come first. Making this our firm foundation has made everything, including our business, thrive.

To find out more about Something BARowed and all this business’s sweet opportunities, please visit their website.

ValerieDickson Genesis 1:3 Candles LLC

By DorJea’ McClammey

by Valerie Dickson

A remarkable woman filled with faith and love, and has a knack for creating wonderfully scented candles. That is an accurate way to describe Valarie Dickson. The Atlanta, GA resident is the owner of Genesis 1:3 Candles, an in-home-faith-based candle company.

Valerie is the oldest of nine children and was raised by her parents in the church. Yet, around her early 20’s she walked away from this foundation and learned it would be one of the biggest mistakes she would make. For many years Valerie says she dealt with rebellion, stubbornness, anger, and most of all, hurt. After many trials and tribulations, She decided to open up and be honest with herself and also God. “I was faced with a situation that brought me to my knees. I was in tears, asking God to please help me,” Valerie says. While the answer didn’t come right away, God spoke to her over time, and Valerie knew that it was time for her to make a change.

From there on, Valerie shares, the thought of candles kept popping up in her mind, as if it was a sign from God himself. She began to research, prepare supplies, and write down anything and everything about candles. “I’ve never taken an interest in candle-making before, so I knew God was helping me,” she said.

Valerie’s initial batch of candles was presented to the seasoned saints at her church. She wanted them to test them and learn what they liked and disliked about them. “I wanted to make sure my candles burned correctly and know if the scents were pleasing. After many failed attempts, it was the saints who ultimately gave the final approval. From that moment on, I began selling candles just about everywhere, from my neighborhood, at local gas stations, and at pop-up events. Genesis 1:3 Candles was officially in business and has been for over six years.

At first, she thought about naming her candle company after her three children, making it D.T.A Candle Company, but God had other plans. Valerie described how Genesis1:3 Candles stayed at the forefront of her mind while she searched for a name. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t know from the top of my head right away what Genesis 1:3 meant. So I read the passage a few times. Then reread it, and again, until it was buried deep within my spirit. That’s how the name came about,” she confesses.

Valerie uses soy wax instead of paraffin to make her candles, mainly because of its earth-friendly properties and ingredients. It’s a natural, renewable resource and biodegradable that burns slower and is easier to clean up. She enjoys educating customers on the difference between the two different waxes, and the importance of using a non-toxic, eco-friendly candle.

Every entrepreneur faces challenges, and Valarie is no different. There were times where she would lose sleep and cry about the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. Things became so difficult that Valerie even thought about giving up, yet she thanks God fo adversity. “Through adversity, my faith grew stronger, my relationship with the saints grew, and my vision became a little clearer. Everything I’ve endured hasn’t felt good, but it’s working for my good.”

Just as she faced challenes, Valerie has tasted the rewards of success. Genesis 1:3 Candles sales have been continuously growing both online and in-store. What she loves most about her company are the customers and the relationships it brings. Their motto is ‘Keep Showing Love’ and Valerie remains encouraging others to spread love because she understands that love is the key. “I want each one of my customers to know and be reminded of this when they see Genesis 1:3 Candles,” she says.

Valarie credits God, her customers, and her church family for her success, saying she wouldn’t be where she is now if it wasn’t for them. As for her current goals, Valerie plans to expand her team by hiring more employees, including an accountant and bookkeeper, to help keep her mindset and expenses at ease. “I want to be very wise spiritually, naturally, and financially,” says Valerie. She also plans on expanding her brand by placing Genesis 1:3 Candles in more stores outside the Metro Atlanta Area.

In the future, expect to see a stand-alone candle shop filled with Valerie’s products. “I have a much bigger vision concerning Genesis 1:3 Candles, a vision that will benefit others in a major way. It’s a vision that’s needed in our communities, from the deepest dark corners of the streets to the upper high-class communities and beyond,” she says.

To learn more about Genesis1:3 Candles, please visit their website.

www.genesis1and3candles.com h

Sarge’s Famous Pickles

By DorJea’ McClammey

by Serreta Boson

Serreta Boson is the owner of Sarge’s Famous Pickles, a company based in Little Rock, AR founded on faith and a lot of hustle. Led by Serreta, she has taken a gourmet pickle recipe, a gift from her father, and turned it into a full-time business. Now, the word is out about how good her pickles really are.

“I named the business Sarge’s Famous Pickles to honor my father. He is a Vietnam veteran, and all his buddies called him Sarge, so of course, the name just stuck,” she says. “We are a company built on faith, family, and community. Our faith is what holds us together and allows us to move in excellence. We always use products from our community and strive to represent our home state of Arkansas well.”

Born in Benton, AR, the hustler idealogy was embedded into her mind at an early age. Along with her siblings, she was taught how to make a business out of anything, from lemonade stands to fireworks, all from the steps of their front porch. She could probably sell you a pair of dirty socks; she states that she was just that good.

Serreta recalls the period of time when her family was the only ones in her neighborhood that owned a VCR (video cassette recorder). They would charge kids around the neighborhood to watch movies on it; Fifty cents to watch a movie, plus twenty-five cents for drinks and snacks. Those were early indications that entrepreneurship would be a part of Serreta’s future.

“I just kept pushing, and I’m still pushing because I know God is going to do something great.”

Serreta’s journey has seen its share of ups and downs. Early on in life, she was diagnosed with epilepsy, and by 2010 the seizures associated with the disease started to worsen. Her doctors found a tumor on her brain, but it wasn’t cancerous. “That was a horrifying moment for me, but with the good news, I said got out of here. I had stuff to do, kids to raise, and not time to be sick,” she says. Yet, by 2016 the seizures had become uncontrollable, and she was required to have brain surgery to alleviate the problem. Serreta was then told she could no longer work because of the attacks. This was a significant setback for someone raised to hustle, but Serreta still held onto her faith.

Serreta’s father, Sylvester Boson, who is the original chef behind these amazing pickles, told his daughter to come home for a while. During her stay, he would teach her how to make his famous pickles. She always told him how he should make it a business, but he never got around to it. Things would change once she got her hands on his recipe. Once it was perfected, Serreta took the initiative of turning her father’s delicious pickles into a business. By December of 2018, Sarge’s Famous pickles came to life.

By January 1st, 2019, everything skyrocketed for Serreta and Sarge’s Famous Pickles. This is all happened in Nashville. She got her business license, her trademark, and went straight to work. She went to every barbeque, chicken, and fish restaurant, trying to sell her pickles. There were a few no’s along the way, and she became a little discouraged but still knew they were going to be a great success. Things changed when she made a stop in a bookstore. There, the owner tried one and became so amazed by her pickles, that they bought a case from her, right on the spot, and began selling them in their store. That experience gave Serreta the fire she needed to keep going.

From there, she would sell out at restaurants all over Arkansas, and she also got the opportunity to go to a couple of small businesses pop-ups. She was also invited to Williams Sonoma, and became amazed at how the customers were buying them by the cases. Sarge’s Famous Pickles had arrived.

Serreta has accomplished so much in her life, from being saved, becoming an ordained minister, and becoming a mother to her two blessings, Skott and Honnye. Sarge’s Famous Pickles has also afforded her great opportunities, allowing her to even buy a house. “I just kept pushing, and I’m still pushing because I know God is going to do something great,” she states. More than anything, Serreta wants to leave a legacy behind for her children and create generational wealth.

The main thing she loves most about her company is the family aspect of it all. “I love when it’s just my father and me spending time together, making pickles, sharing recipes, and trying new flavors. I love having the opportunity to let my creativity flow. I also enjoy being my own boss. It ensures I don’t overwork myself and offers adequate time for rest. I tell everyone, once you get a jar of my pickles, you’re family.”

Sarge’s Famous Pickles has also faced it share of challenges. Once Covid Hit, Serreta moved back home to Little Rock for good but kept her business going as usual. While things may have slowed a little, it also allowed her the opportunity to spend more time with dad, as he would begin to accompany her while she sold her pickles. “He was amazed at how fast I could get rid of everything. He must have forgotten about the hustle spirit he put into me as a child,” she says.

For now, Serreta’s main focus, other than making sure those pickles stay delicious, is to work towards her goal of owning her very own farm. “I want to watch pickles grow from a seed to the storehouse,” she shares. As for the future of Sarge’s Famous Pickles, Serreta didn’t want to share all her secrets but just know this pickle lady has some big things coming. Expect more products, more flavors, and who knows, maybe you’ll see a winery come to life. “There’s no limit to us. This is our season. The bible says so.”

You can learn more about Serreta Boson and Sarge’s Famous Pickles by visiting their website. h

JayCay Dog Training

By Arielle Kilgore

by Todd Youngblood

When you think of ‘man’s best friend, a dog comes to mind. Dogs are considered to be reliable and protective for any situation their owner may present. However, how good is your best friend when they do not want to obey or showcase any loyalty? It sounds pretty human to me! Marquis Hamilton, the founder of JayCay Dog Training Services, coaches your pet to become obedient and reinstate their devotion to you.

JayCay Dog Training Services is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His business provides instructional sessions and training camps that guides owners to obtain control over their unruly animals. Apart from obedient training, he also sells collars and other accessories. The collars can be detachable and hooked on to other objects and other animal luxuries, all available for purchase.

Altogether, Marquis Hamilton is dedicated to the complete transformation of his client’s dog from top to bottom. “My company takes pride in building dogs for companions and more. After the training, we stabilize anything the dog may need or concern, and keep the training instilled in the dog. This is all done personally by JayCay,” he says.

Marquis says he built his business on a foundation of order and understanding. As a dog trainer, he can attest that in most ways, what leads to a dog’s disobedience is the ability not to be understood. The aggression from an owner can be transferred into a dog which can be interpreted to the dog acting out. “Dogs are very much misunderstood in so many ways. The training of a dog takes breaking down elements and managing your time with an animal of multiple personalities, and building their morale. With me being a dog trainer, it came with me seeing someone who can train a dog and who can have control on their life,” Marquis explains.

Marquis finds joy in teaching the dogs how to meet and cater to the needs of his client’s family. Training a dog to walk and how to treat other guests gives the owners a new sense of control. It also provided a sense of ease for dog parents, which helps to ensure they do not have to give up on the ones they love. In light of this, Marquis named his company after his sons to connect what he does back to his reason for starting his business.

JayCay Dog Training Services has seen much success in a small amount of time. Although the family dynamic of the company is one reason it maintains its high reviews, it is Marquis’ consistent persistence that drives JayCay even more. “The company helps prove to me that I can do more than what people think I am capable,” he says.

Marquis launched JayCay Dog Training Services in the middle of the Covid 19 pandemic. Marquis was in between jobs and was searching for his niche. During this transition, he focused on himself and what mattered most to him rather than what others thought. “Now, I am at peace. As a man, I can understand the importance of my past and finally move forward and give back and help others,” he says. Marquis is living proof that a change in who you are can push you to excel in life and become who you are meant to be. “Other people’s opinions can’t hold you down from a destiny that you can only awaken.”

Marquis acknowledges that being an African American entrepreneur is essential. He acknowledges that only one percent is growing their business in his community. “It is more than just being a man of color hustling to find success. We must spread our influence and wealth amongst our community. I’m finally in a place that a nine to five could not offer me. I want to prove that its OK to go against the norm, and it may be the way to success and stability in life for you,” he says.

Marquis says it is important to have a sound support system around you. He admits that his success does not happen without God, his mom, as well as life coach and spiritual mentor, Germany Inke.

Moving forward, Marquis has created a leash for other dog owners that will allow them to have more connection and self-control with their pets. He also hopes to expand his talents all through North Carolina. “We care about what we do, and I sincerely believe we can be the prototype for all training,” he says proudly.

Asserting repetition and caring about the clients are the raving reviews from all the people he has worked with. He wants to extend his talents to whoever needs them. Giving is something he always wants to ensure.

“If someone just asks or needs, I just give back,” he says. To learn more about JayCay Dog Training Services, please visit their website.

AnjelahEvans God Truly Loves Me

By Ellen Richardson

Photos by Anjelah Evans

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise – Psalm 98:4 (King James Version).

Few inspiring women have a testimony like that of Christian songstress, actress, and amazing child of God Anjelah Evans. This Gary, Indiana native, grew up dreaming about becoming a singer or actress. In fact, if you are a child of the 1980s and remember a movie turned television show called Fame, then you will want to keep reading. Evans is a graduate of Emerson School For The Visual And Performing Arts School in Gary that focused on performance and media arts. “People likened this school to the one shown in the 80’s television show Fame,” said Evans. “Instead of taking the average school classes, I was a vocal music and theatre major who spent a lot of time in the hallway with other creative types harmonizing and dancing. I also graduated in one of the smallest high school classes that most have heard of, only 52 students, so we grew up a lot like the type of school family that you saw in this show.”

During her time there, the future artist honed her skills as both a singer and an actor and even found the escape she needed from the family she was born into. “Music was an escape for me,” she said. “My mom was an uninvolved parent that was often physically and verbally abusive, so going to Emerson became my escape. It was the place that said I was good enough to become someone.” During her time at this school, Evans also found her faith in God. “Somewhere along the way I found my way to church, and this opened up a whole new realm for me because it allowed me to take what I had learned singing at Emerson and bring that into the church.”

“Somewhere along the way I found my way to church, and this opened up a whole new realm for me because it allowed me to take what I had learned singing at Emerson and bring that into the church.”

Like many other famous artists whose dreams started coming alive in the church, Evans began to see the future that she had envisioned begin to shape.

“I was that little kid in church with the big voice, and everyone was trying to figure out who was singing. Before long, the voice that seemed to be the one that controlled the chaos in the world took me down a path towards God’s plan for my life,” said Evans. Along with appearing in pageants and winning titles like Miss Talented Teen, Miss Gary Indiana, and even Miss Black Ball State, Evans started finding herself on stage singing background for many well-known gospel artists throughout the country. “I have been a backup singer for many different gospel artists from Yolanda Adams, Bishop Marvin L. Sapp, Benjamin BeBe Winans, and even opened for Grammy Award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans. “I have also traveled with gospel groups and ensembles, including Leanne Faine, who took me all over the United States, to Paris, France, and even Morocco. It was things like this that allowed me to finally find the confidence that I had been missing as a child as well as what I needed to make the next move in my career – acting.”

Much like singing, acting came naturally to the woman who refers to herself as inherently comical. “Due to my silly or fun side, along with my God-given talent to sing, acting on stage became the next logical step in my career,” said Evans. This new career path would begin alongside writer, producer, and director John Ruffin, who cast Evans in one of his first on-stage plays turned made for a television movie entitled Love Me or Leave Me. “This was an amazing experience because I got to act alongside a group of all-star castmates like Elise Neal, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Clifton Powell. I just kept asking myself, how in the world did I get here?”

Along with attributing her faith and the study of her chosen craft, Evans also attributes her success to “not being afraid when those huge opportunities present themselves.”

After continuing to travel performing plays and singing backup for R&B artists like Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill, Evans made the move from Gary to Indianapolis, where her career would take another turn. “Not being near Chicago made acting a bit more challenging, but it would not take long before I fell in with a production company called KaidyDid Productions,” said Evans. “It was neat because the directors saw me in a production that I returned to my hometown to do and came up to me after the show to offer me a role in a holiday show that they were doing.”

Before long, this born songstress turned actress was performing on stage with this urban-based, all-female theatrical company in shows like The Wiz and even played the part of Shug Avery in The Color Purple. “It was crazy because I auditioned for The Color Purple on a Zoom call and tried for a different part before I was asked to audition for my favorite person in this story,” she said. Following what she calls “the role of a lifetime”, Evans moved on to her current role. “I am now playing Effie in a stage production of Dreamgirls, and I am loving it!”

Despite all her success, the most important thing that this talented lady wants others to know is that everything was not easy. “I experienced a lot of highs and lows, including divorce and even homelessness, but I never gave up and even served as a worship leader at my church during this time,” said Evans. “No matter what happened, I knew that I couldn’t give up because God called me to use the voice that he gave me to bring healing and encouragement to others, and that is what continued to push for the dream that he placed inside of me. Besides, he knew that I always wanted to have a testimony, and I knew that I couldn’t have that without the test that comes with it.”

Along with using her talents to perform and hoping to someday achieve on Broadway, Evans is also doing what she can to help her community through her home church of Kingdom Apostolic Ministries, led by Bishop Lambert Gates, as well as being a worship leader at Living Water Fellowship Church, led by Pastor Kim Outlaw, and is even a national worship leader for the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International, Inc. Evans is also going back to school to obtain a master’s degree in Human Services to start her own ministry someday. It is evident that he genuinely loves her and all that she does!

By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Neema Dance Collective

The word Neema means God’s Grace in Swahili. An accomplished dancer herself, Grace A. Johnson realized her love for dance at a young age. Through gyrated expression, she has shared her passion with others and built one of the more reputable dance studios in the DMV area.

Life has presented Grace with a few challenges. She was headed down the wrong path as a young teen. Thanks to the interception of her village that included her parents, grandparents, dance teachers, school teachers, and mentors. They poured into her daily, and she was able to get back on track and fulfill her purpose in life, which is to dance and serve others.

Grace A. Johnson is the face and owner of Neema Dance Collective LLC. Additionally, she is a published choreographer, dance educator, movement and dance team coach, and artist developer. She also serves as the Artistic Director/Creative Director and choreographer for local DMV R&B sensations and church Dance Ministries. Grace holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University.

Grace’s training began at the tender age of four at RJV Dance Studio in Washington, DC. She has studied at The Suitland High School’s Visual Performing Arts Dance Program, The Christian Dance Academy, The Dance Theater of Harlem, The Ailey School Summer Intensive Program, The Debbie Allen Dance Academy (California), Maryland Youth Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and The Greensboro Ballet. Wherein she mastered various genres of dance from ballet, tap, jazz, folk, African, Hawaiian, modern, Horton, ballroom, and hip-hop.

Grace is a trailblazer, exhibiting tremendous leadership and determination for herself and her students and staff. With integrity, passion, leadership, diversity, sisterhood, teamwork, and technique as its core values, Neema prides itself on making a communal effort to uplift, inspire and mold the complete dancer into someone capable of mastering multiple styles of dance in the professional realm. Grace says Neema operates in excellence. “We are committed to being poised, focused, and trained,” she says.

Neema Dance Collective opened its doors on May 15th, 2016, exactly one month after she gave birth to her second daughter. Located in Temple Hills, MD, the modern studio is dedicated to providing students with professional-level dance techniques and quality performance skills. “We believe that dance is for everyone, all ages, stages, and sizes. That is why we offer classes and performance opportunities for dancers 18 months and up,” Grace says. Some of the products and services offered by Neema Dance Collective are technical and classical dance training, private dance lessons, performance opportunities, dance events, children’s activities, artist development, and dancewear.

Grace shares her children mostly inspire her to be the best she can possibly be, always in all ways. “The art of dance and the emotional experience of performing dance works inspires me as a creative and choreographer,” she says. The biggest impact on her business was made by her parents, whom she says were her first investors. “At a very young age, they noticed my passion for dance, music, and movement. They were singers and performers themselves and the ones who introduced me to the stage. They taught me to perform and speak boldly and confidently. Without my parents, there would be no Neema Dance Collective. I owe them everything. My mom is my biggest cheerleader and my business manager. My dad, who has passed, took me to all of my dance lessons. He was in the audience at plenty of my performances through adulthood. May he rest in peace,” she says.

Like most businesses, Neema Dance Collective has faced its share also. “People have no idea how lucrative the dance industry is. Often an assumption is made that dancers are broke and anything involving dance isn’t profitable. I have been judged prematurely by some without them grasping an understanding of the inner workings of my business. Most business ventures require proof of income for funding, and I’ve had to show more than the average business owner, especially in dealings with commercial real estate,” she says.

Grace offers some advice to others who may have dreams such as hers. “Have patience and give yourself some grace. You must pray often and be vigilant. Be sure that your work is purpose-driven and not profit-driven, and understand that God will supply the rest,” she says.

In the future, Neema Dance Collective expects to engage in franchising opportunities and open additional locations to support the needs of other communities. Grace also hopes to produce performances that will take place in larger arenas and provide more events to promote performing arts. To learn more about Neema Dance Collective, please visit their website.