Huami Magazine Raleigh/Durham March/April 2022

March/April

It Matters Who We Are At Our Core

A

Letter From The Editor

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

We have finally made it to the month of March. However, living in North Carolina, I learned not to get my hopes for warm weather too high due to the inconsistency in the weather patterns. All in the same day, it may feel like it’s Springtime, and before you know it, the temperature may rise, and it feels like Summer; By the evening, it’s Fall-like, and when midnight arrives, it’s Winter. That is just how it is in North Carolina.

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?

I am a warm-weather kind of guy. If it’s 70 degrees every day, that is fine with me. Though I’ve survived the Winter, I can do without it.

As a young kid, my mother would dress my brother and me in thick winter coats before allowing us to go outside and play in the cold. Underneath the coats, we wore sweaters, two t-shirts, thermals, and sometimes more t-shirts. She wanted to ensure we would not get too cold while out playing. We didn’t, and when it was time to come back inside, mom would peel our layers of clothing away, down to one shirt. Our inner core body temperature remained warm beneath everything, and our wellbeing remained intact. That experience reminds me of how God protects me for all seasons and situations.

Through prayer, fasting, reading God’s word, and application, a layer of protection is placed over my life. When I keep God at my core, He reveals Himself when the layers are peeled away. These layers can be fear, shame, depression, guilt, or anything the enemy may try to use to discourage me into believing I am less than what God created me to be.

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.

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 start each day with prayer and reading, and I seek God first; that is the first layer applied. When my faith is tested throughout the day, I speak life into my situation and rest on God’s promise. By doing this, another layer is applied, and I am warmed by what I expect to happen by faith. Before my day ends, I can only thank God for His grace yet once again for keeping me. We must keep God at the core of who we are.

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

huami.triangle@gmail.com (336)340-7844 Want To Advertise? Send An Email or Call Today

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On The Cover

Doing It Together Is Better Lakisha and Terrence

Also Featured

Patrick Bean

He is singing and praising God. Learn more about the founder of Bonafide Worshippers. Little Rock, AR

20

There is magic in her fingers. Learn how she has built her clientele the natural way. Pensacola, FL

28

Lalese Stamps

She has always been a creative. Now, her talents are taking her places she never imagined. Meet the face and owner of Lolly Lolly Ceramics. Milwaukee, WI

14

Together, Anything is Possible

By Monica Montgomery

As power couples go, Terrence Williams and Lakisha Hoskins shine bright. This dynamic duo is united in faith, love, and business, and their united front is helping them create a legacy not just for their two sons but for their community and everyone they come in contact with.

Both Terrence and Lakisha were born and raised in North Carolina but confessed to having completely different childhoods. Terrence is from the small town of Whiteville, where he was raised with traditional southern values. After graduating high school, Terrence continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and ECPI College. Terrence works as an IBM field engineer, but his head for business makes him an essential part of this power couple. “Growing up, we were taught not to meddle in grown folk business. Which included the household finances.”

Terrence knew he wanted to do more and explore more opportunities and income streams, but first, he had to learn how to handle money and navigate the business world. “I had to learn a lot of it on my own, but I share it with anyone who will listen. This is something that everyone, especially people of color, should want to know and understand. We, as black people, have a lot of buying power. It’s time we understand how to make it work for us.”

Lakisha is from Durham, North Carolina, and considers herself “A beautiful city full of dark roads.” With little family support, Lakisha learned to navigate life on her own. Although education wasn’t stressed in her home, Lakisha possessed an intrinsic drive that pushed her to pursue her dreams.

Lakisha’s love for beauty and cosmetology goes back to her childhood. Although she had a relationship with her parents, her grandfather raised Lakisha primarily. “At nine years old, I knew I wanted to be in the beauty industry. Being raised by my grandfather, I learned how to do my own hair. I didn’t want to look crazy, so I knew I needed to figure it out and quick!” Beauty became a passion for Lakisha, and it has served her well. Terrence recognizing his wife’s passion for beauty and her calling to help others has committed himself to ensure the business side of things is taken care of.

When Terrence and Lakisha met, she was already an entrepreneurs, each owning a business of her own. She had a salon, Ultimate Creations, which opened in 2002. The name was changed in 2012 to Elegant Divaz. They have since purchased the franchise Trendy Nailz Institute, a school for nail technicians. Additionally, they’ve created a photography together.

“When I met my husband, he came with a lot of business knowledge. I didn’t appreciate it at the time because I thought he was being too cautious, but now I understand the importance of making a solid business plan.” Lakisha isn’t the only person Terrence freely shares his business knowledge with.

Terrence believes that the lack of financial education and business holds people of color back. “I’m willing to share what I’ve learned with anyone who will listen. In high school, they taught us how to write checks, but they said nothing about getting the money in the checking account. We need to learn how to generate and maintain wealth within our communities.” This desire to educate his community on how to build a thriving business, create wealth, and secure capital is what drives Terrence and why he and Lakisha work so well together.

Before meeting Terrence, Lakisha started her first business using her own money. Determined to live her dream and destiny, she invested in herself 100%. “I’m the type of person who goes after what I want. I am not a planner like my husband. I believe that what God has for me is for me, so why not just go get it?”

Lakisha and Terrence are also unified in their definition of each other and their relationship. “We complement each other,” Lakisha explained. Terrence calls his wife fearless, and Lakisha calls her husband a little conservative when it comes to business ventures. Understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses has been a key component to the success of Terrence and Lakisha’s partnership in business and life. As they discussed their life and business, it was clear that he is the Ying to her Yang.

The couple admits that with everything, there are obstacles to be overcome. They say two things come with the territory: securing financial support and sound partnerships.

“Let’s be honest. It has never been easy for blacks to find funding for business ventures. Part of that is systemic and a lack of financial literacy. We as a people were raised and conditioned to fear discussing money because, most of the time, we didn’t have any. Being financially embarrassed is something we have passed down generation after generation. I have decided that won’t be the case with my children,” Terrence explained. “My goal is to teach and be a resource for financial literacy for my sons and my community.”

Although they own a school for nail technicians, the couple helps with business advice as much as possible. As a salon owner, Lakisha rents booths to stylists. “I often find myself giving business advice to stylists on how to start their own businesses. I don’t offer it as much as my husband. I’m a little reserved in that respect, but I will give them what I know if asked. I don’t worry about the people I help taking anything from me because I believe what’s mine is mine, and what God has for them is for them. So, if I can do anything to help the next person reach their goals, I’ll do it.”

“Take more risk. I wish I hadn’t been so cautious at times. You hear horror stories about people starting businesses only to have them fold shortly after. I was afraid to fail, but Lakisha has helped me see that you have to take risks in life and business.”

The blessings Terrence and Lakisha say they enjoy come from God. They freely admit that they have been blessed beyond measure by putting God at the center of their marriage, family, and business. They agree that finding each other was the best thing that could have happened to either of them, and they wouldn’t change a thing about their lives together. As for the business side of things, Terrence would like to offer this advice. “Take more risk. I wish I hadn’t been so cautious at times. You hear horror stories about people starting businesses only to have them fold shortly after. I was afraid to fail, but Lakisha has helped me see that you have to take risks in life and business. If I use what I’ve learned about business and entrepreneurship then add faith in God, I can’t go wrong. I won’t say that I won’t fail, but if I do, God is there to help me rebuild.”

The future for Terrence and Lakisha looks bright. Their next stage includes real estate, purchasing a strip mall to give the black dollar the respect it deserves, and opening a full-service cosmetology school.

The couple’s goal is to be the best while giving their community the tools needed to build financial stability.

Terrence h

3708 Wake Forest Rd Durham, NC 27703

919-957-4507

Trendy Nailz Institute

4004 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27407

919-241-3193

Lalese Stamps Lolly Lolly Ceramics

By Terry L. Watson

Lolly Lolly Ceramics, the name itself, exudes excitement.

Founded in 2017 by Lalese Stamps, Lolly Lolly Ceramics is a Black-owned, womenrun small business in Milwaukee, WI. The brand focuses on objects that are functional, unique, and handmade.

In September of 2019, Lalese embarked on a 100 Day Project where she made 100 mugs with 100 different handles for 100 Days, bringing national recognition to the Lolly Lolly name. Today the Lolly team is made up of four people, but growing. The demand for Lolly Lolly Ceramics is high. Most recently, Lalese was invited to appear on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah to celebrate Women’s History Month. A collaboration was announced between the two, The Lolly Lolly Ceramics x The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Collection, and will feature three special-edition mug styles set.

Lolly Lolly Lolly originated in Columbus, OH. In July 2021, Lalese moved her operations to Milwaukee, which is also her hometown. “I’ve been a creative my entire life, but I didn’t begin to make ceramics until 2017. I studied graphic design at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus. While studying for my undergrad, I noticed that I was always on my laptop and became afraid that I wasn’t using my hands to create as much, so I enrolled in a pottery class at my local community arts center. From there, I started selling ceramics at the local flea market to make a little extra money. One thing led to another, and now I’m selling direct-to-consumer on my own website, wholesaling, and even doing custom orders for brands such as Saine Heron and Solange and the MOMA Design Store,” she says.

“I always tell people to listen to their gut and just keep going. As you grow, there are going to be people who interject themselves onto your dreams and goals, but only you know you, and you’ve gotten yourself far for a reason.”

In September of 2019, Lalese designed and completed a 100 Day Project where she made 100 mugs for 100 days with 100 different handles. This project has been her sort of claim-to-fame experience. In addition to mugs, this year they hope to roll out more dinnerware pieces like bowls, and plates. With an abundance of plants in the studio, planters possibly will be a major alignment to the Lolly Lolly Ceramics brand.

Lalese says she is inspired by a lot of things. Recently she went to the Harley Museum for the first time in Milwaukee and was amazed at what she saw. “The museum itself is beautiful, but seeing the journey of another brand is so inspiring. They’ve saved everything from bank notes to invoices to initial motorcycle sketches. I hope I can grow my brand to be recognized on a global scale like Harley is.”

Like most businesses, Lolly Lolly Ceramics has seen its share of challenges. The biggest challenge has been handling the high demand of work. The growth of Lolly Lolly Ceramics happened very quickly. Navigating entrepreneurialism has suddenly become a wild ride for Lalese, but she says it’s also very empowering. “Scaling up our production has been a challenge within this challenge. We want to produce more work for our audience, but that has meant a lot of sacrifice and patience. We are so close to rolling out a new way to produce our pieces; we’re excited about it because it’ll mean new opportunities for products, workshops, new team members, and so much more,” Lalese says.

The journey for Lolly Lolly Ceramics has been enjoyable, says Lalese. She shares this isn’t much she would change about how things have happened. “I” ve learned along the way, and I’ve hired the right people to navigate areas that are unfamiliar to me.”

For others who may follow the same path as she has, Lalese shares some sound advice and encouragement. “I always tell people to listen to their gut and just keep going. As you grow, there are going to be people who interject themselves onto your dreams and goals, but only you know you, and you’ve gotten yourself far for a reason. Sometimes outside advice can be helpful, but it also can be very detrimental. You need to have the wherewithal to be able to take it all in, but know which things are important and which are not,” she says.

Bonafide Worshippers

By Ellen Richardson

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. – Psalm 105:2 (New International Version).

If you are a part of the church-going crowd and you enjoy singing praises to our wonderful Heavenly Father, then you need to know more about Patrick Bean & The Bonafide Worshippers. This apostolic gospel group was birthed from the dream of Little Rock, AR native Patrick Bean. “I am a church boy who loved music,” said Bean. “I grew up in church and spent most of my free time listening to and dreaming of becoming a gospel singer like Donald Lawrence and Ricky Dillard. I started pursuing this passion alongside my brother and three other cousins when we formed a family youth ensemble when I was like five years old. I also started singing in my family’s church choir and became a praise and worship leader at a very young age.”

Although he would take a break from music for a brief period, God would keep the dream of bringing his worshipful music to all who need it. “It was funny that while I was taking a step back from music ministry, to enjoy spending time with my new bride, God birthed a new dream in my heart to start a gospel group,” said Bean. “After sitting down with the pastor at my family church, I knew that this dream was going to become a reality.”

While it would take some time to find all the key players that would one day form a heavenly choir, the dream that God had placed in Bean’s heart began to take shape within a few months. “While I would like to tell you that everything fell into place easily, that was not the case,” said Bean. “As a matter of fact, it would take months of researching and sending inquiries to other gospel musicians/singers to find out if they would be interested in forming a group of apostolical worshippers,” said Bean. “Fortunately, God began opening doors, and people started agreeing to join my wife and me from all over, including Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, and Illinois.”

Before long, this group of God-given performers from around the Midwestern United States were rehearsing and performing at churches, conferences, stage plays, and going on tour with gospel musicians like Chrystal Rucker, Evangelist Andrew Johnson, and famed Pastor Tim Rogers. “It has been an amazing experience. I have always loved music, and found my first love for the church in music,” said Bean. While the Gospel group that was once a dream inside a young man’s heart began their claim to fame by singing gospel songs that were made famous by a few of Bean’s mentors, it would not take long before the Lord led this lover of worship music towards writing his own gospel tunes. “I will never forget my brother pulling me aside and telling me that if I wanted to build my and this group’s brand, then I needed to start writing my own songs. It’s funny because shortly after this, our group held a rehearsal where our first original single called “Finish The Work” came to life,” he said.

Following this single, Bean and his Bonafide Worshippers have written and released two singles, including their recent single taking the gospel world by storm –“Something’s About To Happen” and one full album. As this Contemporary Gospel Group continues to follow the path that God has laid out for them, what does the future look like for Patrick Bean and the Bonafide Worshippers?

“We have our second album coming out in the next two or three months, and I can see this one charting since our new/ lead single is being played regularly on various Christian radio stations and is even charting,” said Bean. “I am hoping that, with the help of my Heavenly Father, I and others in this group can become full-time artists so that we can bring God’s music to places like Italy, England, Africa, and throughout the world.”

“It has been an amazing experience. I have always loved music, and found my first love for the church in music.” h

Productions of Patrick Bean and the Bonafide Worshippers on popular online music outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. You can also find out more about Bean and his worshippers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Learning About The Tax Credits For 2021

T/E General Accounting & Tax Services LLC

Adams

It’s a good time to discuss some tax credits that may have an impact on your taxes.

The Child Tax Credit

Individuals that have received the credit and have already completed their tax return realize that their refunds have been reduced compared to previous years. However, there is another side to this story, what happens when an individual received the child tax credit during 2021 but does not claim the child on their tax return, that person may actually owe taxes.

Remember, that married individuals that filed jointly in 2020 will received two letters dividing the Child Tax Credit in half, which should be presented to the tax professional that prepares their returns.

The Child Tax Credit is just one credit that may impact your taxes, but what about the Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals credit?

The Sick Leave And Family Leave For Certain Self-Employed Individuals

This is a credit designed for self-employed individuals to claim qualified sick and family leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. If you did not take the credit in 2020, then you can still claim the credit for part of 2021.

To be an eligible Self-Employed individual to claim the credit, both of the following must be true. You regularly carried on a trade or business within the meaning of section 1402. You would have been eligible, had you been an employee of employer (other than yourself), to receive qualified sick leave wages under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act or qualified family leave wages under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act.

The credit is available for self-employed individuals due to one or more of the following reasons:

You were subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.

You were advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.

You are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and was seeking a medical diagnosis.

You were caring for an individual who was subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.

You were caring for an individual who was subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.

You were caring for an individual who was advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.

You were caring for a son or daughter because the school or place of care for that child was closed or the childcare provider for the child was unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions.

Please note, that each of the parts and periods have limitations on the amount of days that you can claim. The credit is based on your net income for 2019 or 2020, if you carried a net loss, you are not eligible for the credit! A son or daughter must be under 18 years old.

To get more information about the Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals Credit (Form 7202), either talk with your tax professional or visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov

100% Stars accepted into college. 89% Golds completed their freshmen year of college. 28 college acceptance letters. $96,000 in scholarships, and 3 Honors Program offers, is what the young women in The Legacy Foundation’s achieved during The Legacy Foundation’s inaugural year, in the midst of Covid and in the midst of Founder & Executive Director’s LaCrystal Davis’ health challenges that began shortly after their launch in July 2020.

LaCrystal, a native of East Greensboro (Dudley Heights), first knew that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of young women when she was a junior at Dudley High School. There was a girl in middle school that she knew, whom was constantly making detrimental decisions. This pulled at LaCrystal’s heart to want to work with young women in helping shape the trajectory of their future. LaCrystal attended North Carolina A&T where she majored in Social Work.

Shortly after graduating college, she was afforded the opportunity to work for 14 years assisting high school students with their college goals, life skills, and basic needs. LaCrystal began working on The Legacy Foundation, Inc (TLF) in 2018. She wanted a name that represented the purpose of the organization, as well her heart in creating it. She prayed about it and one day out of the blue, God dropped in her spirit “Legacy”. When she heard “Legacy” she KNEW that was it! LaCrystal planned to launch TLF in 2021, but after feeling it was time for a shift, she left her job at the end of the 20192020 school year and launched TLF in July 2020.

The Legacy Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is designed to provide services to college-bound high school Senior young women and mentor them until they reach the age of 25. It was founded on the belief that young women, no matter their background, deserves an opportunity to become successfully in life and have financial means that will allow them to access elusive resources for their future family. TLF’s aim is to remove any barriers that will prevent their students from being able to graduate college and achieve their career goals.

The Legacy Foundation’s mission is to provide programs that will develop college, career, social, and financial readiness in the lives of the young women that they serve and vision is to empower their young women in creating a legacy of generational wealth. TLF serves their college young women through their Gold Program and their high school seniors through their Star Program. They navigate their Golds through college administrative challenges and Stars through the college application process.

At the very end of October 2020, just a few short months after TLF’s launch, LaCrystal was hospitalized. It was revealed during her hospitalization that she had fibroids and blood clots in her lungs. She took 5 weeks off from The Legacy Foundation to recuperate. Thankfully, most of the Stars had completed their college applications and financial aid. January

Information And Photos Provided By The Legacy Foundation h

2021, her results came back showing that the blood clots had dissolved and in February 2021, LaCrystal had surgery to have her fibroids. She took 8 weeks off, but was still available to her students when needed. After returning from surgery, her and her students she was able to pick up where she left off.

The Legacy Foundation is thankful to those that invest in the lives of their students. Through partnerships and donations, their young women receive school supplies, dorm room items, assistance with college associated fees, scholarships, guest speakers that host college prep, career development, and life skills workshops, and has future plans to expose their students to college tours, cultural experiences, and social events.

LaCrystal is most inspired by her late mother, Oneater Peele-Davis, who passed away when she was 11. She gives credit to her mother for being one of the reasons why she is passionate about young women receiving an education. Her mother was a stay- at-home mom that instilled in her the importance of having an education and what she didn’t know at the time is that she was planting a legacy in her that would one day give birth to The Legacy Foundation.

To learn more about The Legacy Foundation’s work, please follow them are on Instagram: thelegacyfoundationinc and Facebook: The Legacy Foundation, Inc. Their website is www. thelegacyfoundationinc.org

Creative Styles Salon Santia

By Terry L. Watson

Santia describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister-friend, and of course, a hairstylist. “I’m a woman who wears many hats, and I look good while doing it,” she says. Originally a native and resident of Washington, D.C., Santia moved to Pensacola eight years ago after her husband, Jonathan, job placed them there.

Natural Hair Care and making others feel beautiful about themselves is her expertise. “I truly care about the health of my clients’ scalp and hair. I listen to their concerns and offer solutions and treatments that will work best for them,” she says.

While enjoying the success of Creative Styles Salon Spa, Santia decided to change the dynamics of her business model. In 2017, she stepped out on faith and launched her own natural hair care product line that includes shampoos, conditioners, tonics, and lemongrass butter. The reviews have been stunning. One client shared, “I’ve always used hair tonic while sporting a short hairstyle. I decided in September 2019 to use Santia’s products because I wanted to let my hair grow. The results have been amazing, and some people are doing head turns, not thinking it’s me. My hair smells good, and it’s so soft. People often ask to touch it. I am so pleased with my hair growth.”

“I’m a woman who wears many hats, and I look good while doing it.”

Santia’s products are available online and in various stores in Washington, D.C., Miami, Atlanta, and Pensacola.

What Santia loves most about styling hair she shares is connecting with new people and providing confidence and encouragement. She also credits her aunt, who recently passed away for impacting her life and career.

Like most business owners, Creative Styles Salon Spa has been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Santia says when the virus arrived in Pensacola, she had to close her salon. However, being the wise businesswoman that she is, she was able to offset her losses with the online sales of her hair products. She survived, proving that her brand is her to stay.

In the future, Santia says she plans to distribute her products to more stores and open other hair salons throughout the region. Her advice to others who may follow the same path she has is never to give up. “Obstacles will come, but you have to keep pushing,” she shares.

To learn more about Santia and Creative Styles Salon Spa, please visit either of their locations in Pensacola, Fl, or visit their website.

Reba’s Hair Designs and Hair Restoration Center Reba Kennedy

Reba Kennedy is a trichologist who treats people and individuals with hair loss and scalp disorders.

Many people suffer from a type of hair loss where the hair will never grow back. Her center offers medical hair replacements for men, women, and children.

She works with Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that grants free wigs for kids affected by Alopecia.

Alopecia, commonly known as baldness, is a condition that causes hair loss due to the immune system attacking the hair follicles of the body.

Over 80 million men, women, and children experience hair loss. Reba is aware of this and offers treatment and solutions. This includes Medical Wigs, Top Units, and units for men such as Toupees.

Reba can work with insurance companies to see if they qualify for hair replacement and what percent the company will cover. She works with the VA, and with some of their patients.

The one thing that people see first is our hair, not our personality. Hair loss can be related to stress, Covid-19, poor nutrition, Auto-Immune Disorders, Cancer, Lupus, Vitamin deficiencies, and improper use of Chemicals.

A microscopic analysis of the hair and scalp and mineral analysis can help to determine deficiencies to help balance your body systems.

Reba shares the sooner the problem is addressed, the better the results will be.

Brothers Restoring Urban Hope, Inc.

By Ellen Richardson

Jr.

There are few powerfully inspiring stories like that of Victor Durrah, Jr. Victor is the President & Executive Director of B.R.U.H. Mentor (Brothers Restoring Urban Hope). This non-profit organization aims to restore urban communities across the Upstate of South Carolina through group mentorship, leadership training, and spiritual guidance, has turned his past into a prosperous future for the youth in his community.

“I grew up in a poor neighborhood in Cowpens, SC. While I was growing up, we had a community center that gave us a safe space to come and do homework, have a snack, play sports, and just receive any kind of support possible to all the kids in my apartment complex,” said Durrah. “The woman who operated this center, a woman we all called Mama Doris Anderson, was a real mentor. She even took us all on trips to Washington, DC. Everything that she did gave us hope for the future, and I just want to do the same for our future leaders.”

Before having the opportunity to achieve his goal, The 5-foot 11 athlete, who played guard in high school, would do the same at Spartanburg Methodist College. This opportunity would allow him to obtain his associate’s degree and transfer to the University of Southern Carolina Upstate to receive his bachelor’s degree in non-profit administration and management. “When I was given the opportunity to go to school, I originally planned to pursue teaching and coaching, but I felt like God was pointing me in a different direction, one that would allow me to impact my whole community more profoundly,” he said. That impact was through the B.R.U.H Mentor program.

While working at a local Boys & Girls Club, Durrah began to see a need for urban youth development and mentorship for young adults aged 16 to 18-years-old. “Once these impressionable students begin to age out of programs like this and others like it, I noticed that most were left to figure out how to become a successful adult without someone to show them what this looks like,” he said. “As a result, my fraternity brother Antonio Boyd and I began coming up with mentorship programming catered to underserved young adults between the ages of 16-24 that assisted them in discovering and developing their unique talents so that they could become thriving, productive, and engaged adults. It is funny because this started out as a class project that 17 years later has served over 20,000 young people throughout urban communities here in Spartanburg.”

While giving birth to this mission would stem from a successful class project, God would take Durrah on a bit of a journey before his dream to run this organization full-time would become a reality. This journey would begin at the Boy Scouts of America in Spartanburg as a district executive, director of multi-cultural markets, and ultimately senior district executive in less than a decade. Before long, this bornto-be mentor would return to the school that began his professional career as a director of professional development. “While I enjoyed this job, the position mostly centered around campus development,” said Durrah. “So, it wasn’t long before I realized that pursuing this kind of position was keeping me away from my passion, which was being out in the community helping our urban youth,” he said.

This desire would lead Durrah back towards a dream job at a remarkably familiar place. “I have always dreamed of being a CEO of a Fortune 500 non-profit organization. In February of 2020, I was given a chance to see this dream come true when I was offered the executive director position at the Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County, in Bervard, NC,” he said. “While I accepted the position initially, something kept telling me – God kept telling me that I had unfinished business with my own non-profit organization right here in Spartanburg County. So, I returned home and began working full-time at Brothers Restoring Urban Hope, Inc.”

Thanks to following the lead of the Holy Spirit, Victor and his talented staff are celebrating 17 years of changing thousands of lives for the better in the community. “When I was in college and even when I was growing up, I was blessed to have mentors in my community that gave me hope to pursue a bright future. Knowing that my staff and I are becoming the same type of mentors who are now guiding future leaders right here in my community has meant everything to me,” he said. “We have even taken over the old community center that I spent many of my days growing up, where we now provide group mentorship, leadership and soft skills training, and spiritual guidance. We even offer free wi-fi and computers to both young adults and parents in our community who need to come by and set up professional profiles, pay bills, etc. About a month ago, during our 17-year anniversary, B.R.U.H. Mentor was awarded the first-ever Key to Spartanburg County, for our community development work, by Spartanburg County Councilman Monier Abusaft.”

Victor is surely following the purpose that God has given. To learn more about his program, please visit his website.

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