THE PRICE OF SUCCESS IS HARD WORK
Turning PASSION into ACTION
THE UNCENSORED & UNSTOPPABLE
Cassandra Smith
NOVEMBER 2022
CONTENTS CASSANDRA SMITH HAWAII MCLAUGHLIN GABRIELLE MAZAR JON PLAIR LORENZO WILLIAMS RICHARD SHAW JR CAROLINE LABOUCHERE REKHA ANANTHANPILLAI BROWN SHUGA ANDREA WARD
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Keisha Evins
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Contributing Writer
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W.I.B (Where It Begins) is an Independent agency with the aim to always be innovated in each approach taken to projects and making sure excellence is given in a projects execution when it comes to media marketing, branding, networking and management. Founded by the well experienced and ever growing force; D.C native - Cece Hymes, the most important and integral aspect of W.I.B is that branding for both Creatives and Businesses is
taken to the next level with each and every project undertaken. We’ve continued to represent a very diverse and well acclaimed roster of emerging talents in the entertainment, and businesses! With a determined persistence for continued excellence, our Founder – Cece Hymes, with a college Degree in Business Management, has also worked within radio and with many companies such as: RDE Entertainment, H.I.G.H Entertainment and Caribbean Gospel Records Ltd.,
"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great".
Cassandra Smith 4 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. As one reporter put it nicely, “she is a widely recognized entrepreneur with a story to tell.” My name is Cassandra Smith. But I’m also known as coach Cassandra in the crafting community. I coach crafters on how to turn their passion into lucrative and stable businesses that elevate their lifestyles. In fact, I’ve already mentored 12,000+ people to become highly sought-after crafters, wholesalers, business owners, and coaches. I’ve sold millions worth of best-in-class sublimation paper, ink, designs, and blanks. And I’ve held thousands of online and hands-on classes where my team and I show students how to take their craft to the next level. My students say that I’m the best craft business coach in the world. And honestly, receiving that type of love is my reason to keep doing what I do.
Q. Let’s talk about your journey and how you got to where you are today. A. I’m a small-town girl from McRae, Georgia. And growing up, we struggled more than most. Being one of 7 children to a single mother, I watched her struggle and work extremely hard to put food on the table for all of us. And that taught me one key lesson that I carry with me to this day: If you want to get anywhere in life, you need to work hard. That’s why when I grew up, I moved to Atlanta and got an office job. I gave it my absolute best but didn’t feel as if they knew my worth. In 2017 I started crafting on the side as a way to cope with the stress, but I also loved how it brought out my creative side. I needed something to take my mind away from the fact that I was spending 8 to 10 hours per day in a claustrophobic cubicle. And crafting was the ideal “therapy” for me. Not only did it make me stop stressing, but it also became a good side hustle. Q. Let’s talk about Blanks Galore. How did it all start? A. It all started when I hit rock bottom. I had no job. I had just gotten evicted from my apartment. And I was living in a miserable hotel. But let me rewind the tape a bit… Back in 2017, I was still at my office job, which wasn’t paying me very well. And my son and daughter had a basketball game they needed uniforms for. When they told me how much they cost, my jaw dropped. I didn’t want to admit that I couldn’t buy those uniforms, so I searched for another way to get them. I found a lady who gave me a great offer and I went with her. Lo and behold, the kids at the game loved my sons’ and daughters’ hoodies more than their original ones. That’s when I saw the opportunity in crafting. So, I went back to the lady who was doing these hoodies and asked her for advice, as I wanted to get into crafting too. But she turned around and said, “You have to learn on your own just like I had to”. So, I was on my own. I spent ages Googling and YouTubing to get the information I needed.
But a month later, I had my first sale. Fast forward, it’s 2 years later, 2019 and I finally caught my big break and hit my first $1000 week. I was thrilled! Right then and there I knew I had to quit my job and focus on crafting fulltime. So, I did. I handed in my resignation and went back home with a smile. Little did I know, I had made a huge mistake. Turns out, there’s seasonality in crafting and sublimation. And that $1000 week was a peak moment in the holiday season, so sales were hot. But as soon as the holiday season was over, the tide went away. And my income was gone with it. So, I ended up jobless, with little savings, no money coming in, and bills piling up. And guess what happened next? I got evicted from my apartment and I had to move to live in a hotel with my son. I was so embarrassed. I had made a huge mistake and now my kids had to suffer because of me. I couldn’t take it. I knew I had to do something. I was still getting crafting orders, but they definitely weren’t enough to get me out of the mess I was in. That’s why I started doing Facebook Lives and selling blanks to the crafting community. In the beginning, it was a struggle. But things started picking up. And a few months down the line, the Lives evolved into my coaching programs and the blank side grew into the wholesale part of my business. That’s the story of how Blanks Galore came to be.
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Q. How do you define your purpose in life? A. I want to be a force of positivity and light for the crafting community. I want to lift people up, give them a new way to help themselves, and open up more opportunities for them that they might not have had access to before. I want to see men and women turn their passion into a sustainable business and support their families better by doing something that makes them feel appreciated and loved. That’s what my purpose is. Amen.
Q. How did the pandemic help you with your business? A. I think the pandemic made a lot of people realize that there are more ways to make money than just a regular 9-to5. And crafting is one of those ways. It gives you the freedom to work from home. You can scale your practice up or down to fit your lifestyle and how busy you are at work. You can even turn your crafting business into a full-time job if you want to. It truly is an ideal business for anyone who loves working with their hands and putting smiles on people’s faces. So, the pandemic really gave us a powerful push forward. But luckily, we were prepared for it, and we were able to give thousands of people the skills and knowledge they needed to survive the lockdowns and deal with inflation. Q. What has been your biggest challenge getting your business off the ground? A. My biggest challenge is the same challenge most crafters have when starting out. Getting access to the information and guidance you need to create amazing items that sell like crazy. And honestly, that challenge is the reason why I started Blanks Galore in the first place. I wanted to create an easier path forward for people just like me. People who aren’t looking for any handouts but want to make a name for themselves. And now that I’ve done that and helped thousands of crafters scale their income with way less effort than before, I honestly feel a sense of deep satisfaction that I cannot put into words.
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Q. What advice do you want to give to others that want to start a business? A. Keep going. It will get tough. There will be challenges. God will test your desire to win. But you have to keep going no matter what comes your way. Because my experiences have proven to me over and over again that the throne is reserved for those who never give up – no matter how tough it gets. I was unemployed. I was homeless. I was embarrassed. But I never gave up. And here I am. Q. Can you tell us some goals you want to accomplish in 2022? A. By the end of the year, I want to double the number of people I’m able to coach to business success. And long term, I want to help at least 100, 000 students.
Q. Are you working on any new projects? A. Non-stop! The newest project I’m working on is a program called CTC (which stands for Crafts to Coaching). Inside, I help crafters turn their knowledge into an online course or program and boost their income by up to five times. It is not open for enrollment yet, but I will be opening the doors on Nov 25. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. If anyone wants to follow me, they can join my Free Facebook Group Blanks Galore Academy or they can follow me on Instagram @blanksgalore.
"Actress & Martial Artist Hawaii McLaughlin Talks Working With Mentor Lewis Tan of "Mortal Kombat", "Wu Assassins" & More".
Hawaii
Mclaughlin 8 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you. A. Hi, my name is Hawaii McLaughlin. I am a martial artist, actress, and influencer. Q. Who motivated you to pursue a career as an actress? A. I have always loved watching films and have always felt a pull towards the big screen. Q. Can you tell us a little about your journey and how you got to where you are today? A. I started as a competitive cheerleader for 9 years before beginning my martial arts training. Today I train at 87North under XMA (Mike Chat). I would not be where I am today without my mom and Joanne. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. In three years I see myself on the big screen. Q. Who is your favorite actor/ actress? A. Scarlett Johansson is my favorite especially as Black Widow. I hope to follow in her footsteps as I make my way through the entertainment industry.
Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? A. Korea, since I am half Korean, I would love to learn more about my heritage and culture. Q. What is one fun fact about yourself? A. I am a cat person! Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? A. I am working on multiple projects, but I can’t talk about it yet. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Instagram: @hawaii.mcl TikTok: @hawaii.mcl
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Gabrielle Mazar 10 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. What are three tips on staying fit and healthy? A. My three biggest tips for staying healthy would be that movement is key, try to eat at home more or out less, and get 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Get some form of exercise most days of the week, whether it’s a 30-minute walk, a fitness class, swimming, whatever that may be. Eating at home helps you to consume less calories as well as make better choices. And sleep is your recovery time! Getting good sleep keeps you healthy and functioning well.
Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. My name is Gabrielle (Gabi) Mazar. I own the Pilates Tempe fitness studio and work as a personal trainer, stretch therapist, Pilates instructor, podcast host, and owner of the Destination Fitcations fitness vacation company. Q. Who or what motivated you to be a trainer? A. I have always loved fitness and being active. When I was in college, I was pre-business and really wasn’t happy. I honestly just took a chance to try classes in the Exercise & Wellness program and ended up really enjoying it. Although I didn’t know what I would do with it, I was passionate about it. Working with my mentor Bob Mathews during my internship helped me realize that helping people was what I truly wanted to do. Q. Tell us about “Destination Fitcations” and how it got started. A. Destination Fitcations has been a dream of mine for a long time. I have always thought about taking my two passions and bringing them together. Travelling the world and experiencing new things fills my soul and living healthy is what I do and teach people daily. I have always felt like people, myself included, let everything go while they are on vacation and end up coming back feeling exhausted and gross. I wanted to show people that you can go on vacation, have an unbelievable time, and still maintain good health while doing it.
Q. Was there a time in your career when you felt like you wanted to give up? A. Only about 100 or so times did I ever feel like giving up. However, I couldn’t give up because people depended on me. If I gave up, what would motivate my clients to keep going? We all have challenging times and sometimes the journey is hard, but the destination is worth it.
Q. Can you tell us where you see your business in the next three years? A. I envision my Pilates studio opening a second location in the next three years for teacher training and small groups, and I envision Destination Fitcations visiting five different countries every year across the globe! Q. What is one fun fact about yourself? A. I am a first generation American who has traveled to more than 20 countries. Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? A. Someday I would love to visit Antarctica. I hope to visit all 7 continents. Q. Are there any events or upcoming projects you are currently working on? A. I am currently working on next year’s Fitcations to Vancouver, Slovenia, and New Zealand. Q. Where can our readers follow you? A. You can follow me in Instagram @gabriellemazar, @pilatestempe, and @destination_fitcations, and on Facebook at Pilates Tempe and Destination Fitcations.
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I’m so ecstatic and passionate about impacting and inspiring people all over the world in a positive, spiritual and supernatural way through my music. The best is yet to come!! Look out for my NEW single "It's Gonna Get Better" on all digital outlets and follow me on social media. I appreciate all the love and support.
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inspired by other talented artists that are producing and performing at the highest level.
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Jon Plair, I am a Musician/Songwriter/Producer.
Q. Can you tell us what separates you from other artists? A. I believe it’s ultimately my unique creativity.
Q. What motivated you to pursue a career in entertainment? A. Foundationally my dad and my older brother....as well as a few music mentors and artists that I have aspired to be like.
Q. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be? A. Jamaica or Brazil. Those 2 places are on my bucket list and if I was to perform there, I believe the ENERGY would BE ELECTRIFYING!!
Q. Let’s talk about your single “It’s Gonna Get Better “and the motivation behind the song? A. I wanted to create a vibe that had positive energy and a catchy chorus that people would be able to tuck into their subconscious mind and pull out when they may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or frustrated. Something they could hold on to when times get tough, and the road gets rough. A song that would encourage them that It’s Gonna Get Better! #Guaranteed Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. Traveling the world, impacting, empowering, and inspiring people in a positive, spiritual, and supernatural way through my music. I also have other business entrepreneurial pursuits that I am working on that I would like to see come to life in the next three years.
Q. What has been your most memorable accomplishment you’ve received in your career? A. To date...performing on BET for Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Finale Show.
Q. Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a music artist? A. The skill of making mistakes and overcoming my fears. That has been the ultimate help in my performance journey...as well as continuing to be
Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? A. I am going to continue working on putting out a few more Singles and collaborating with other artists. And I do have a NEW Music Single Release Concert coming up November 18th, 2022. I am looking forward to that! Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Facebook: Jon Plair Music Instagram: @JonPlair2 Twitter: @JonPlair
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A MORE PERFECT UNION September 1864, Hale’s Ford Virginia A seven-year-old Black boy, Booker T., hands 17-year-old White Laura some books. Laura then jumps up on her horse, bareback. Booker pushes a box over, climbs up on it and jumps up behind Laura. They set off across fields and arrive at a small, wooden schoolhouse. Laura gets down and Booker hands her the books. She walks towards the school and turns before going in. “Now Booker,” she says, “you take that horse back to Daddy in the fields. He needs it for ploughing. Go on now….” As Laura disappears into the school, Booker gets down from the horse and creeps up to the schoolhouse. On tiptoes he looks in the window. Inside are White children at desks with books on them, maps on the wall. Booker stares longingly. Laura sees him and opens the door of the school. “You get away now Booker,” she says. “Go on. Get that horse back to the field….” Slowly Booker walks back to the horse, pushes a box up so he can stand on it and get back on the horse. He rides off.
Springfield Illinois 1870 We see a small Menorah in the window of a modest, somewhat worn two story home. Julius, a seven-year-old boy, is playing catch with his father in the street in front of the house. They are chatting back and forth, Dad with a strong German accent. The ball flies over Julius’s head and rolls across the street and over the fence around the yard of a larger house. Julius scoots around to the gate, picks up the ball from the lawn of a larger house. He makes a long throw back to his dad as he asks, “When Abraham Lincoln lived there did you ever see him?” “No,” his father replies. “When we got this house, the Lincolns were already gone. They were in Washington.” Julius looks thoughtful. “Was Abraham Lincoln Jewish?” he asks. “No,”
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his father replies, “he was American. And, Julius, so are you.”
August 1908 When the Chicago Tribune announces that the Illinois capital is “in the hands of a mob and the throes of a race war,” no one is more shocked than one of America’s foremost businessmen and millionaires. He had grown up roaming the streets of Springfield and working in his father’s clothing store there. As a son of Jewish German immigrants, he was well aware of the vulnerability of despised groups. The riot that shook his hometown did more than dismay him. It forced him to focus on the underlying causes of the unrest – poverty and lack of opportunity combined with racial animosity not unlike the pogroms that moved many Jews like his parents to leave Europe. As a newly wealthy young man, steeped in the Jewish concept of tzedakah (Generosity towards others inspired by a sense of justice) he had been seeking a way to be of service. Then, fortuitously, he meets the most prominent African American of the day, a man who had been born into slavery and had experienced the extraordinary hunger of the newly emancipated for the education their people had been so long denied. As an adult he embraced education for Blacks as the cause to which he would devote his life The two men – the newly wealthy businessman who never graduated from high school, and the nationally known educator, widely admired but also exhausted and beleaguered. Connected by their “outside-ness” and their entrepreneurial skills, these two men become friends and partners in an ambitious project of partnering with small rural communities to build the schools that local school boards are not providing them. The Black man is subject to scathing criticism from his own community where many accuse him of turning a blind eye to the everincreasing atrocities of Jim Crow. The businessman is criticized by some in the
white community for opening his heart and home to the ambitious African American. Whispers of “Well, what would you expect from a Jew” follow him even in his own neighborhood. Despite enormous differences in background and experience, they visit in each other’s homes, meet each other’s wives and children, tour each other’s remarkable creations – the state-of-the art plant for printing an enormous mail-order catalog and then filling the orders that poured in, on Chicago’s west side, where the two men lunching together raises eyebrows in the executive dining room: the elegant student-built brick campus in rural Alabama, reachable from Chicago only by a three- day train trip. The two men unite in a program both idealistic and stunningly practical to support communities of rural Blacks, determined to achieve for their children that which they themselves had been denied – schoolhouses and, thus, education. Over the next four years the two men unite, and sometimes argue, as they create over a hundred public schools in rural southern communities. Episodes of arson and the constant threat of violence from hostile whites serve to bring the men closer together in their purpose – improving the lives and opportunities that seem about to open up to members of the Black community. The two men overcome incredible odds and are finally gaining momentum and respect for their work when, unexpectedly, the educator dies, his body succumbing to the pain and stress he has endured for decades. The businessman is deeply saddened by the loss of his friend and mentor. He gets conflicting advice from colleagues who criticize the ongoing management of the schoolhouse-building program. He is distracted by service as a “dollar a year” man in Washington during the first World War and dismayed by
the new leadership in Alabama. But he determines to not give up on the dream he and his friend the educator had shared. Sixteen years later, when the businessman dies, he will have provided funding to help build almost 5,000 schools across the South, visiting many of them. The schools produce lawyers, doctors, military men, teachers and others who became both foot soldiers and leaders in the emerging civil rights movement. The story told in A More Perfect Union is compelling, heartwarming, frustrating, and a celebration of what we as a country can be. One might think it’s too good to be true, except for one thing. It IS true! Julius Rosenwald was the young, visionary president of Sears, Roebuck and Company when he met Booker T. Washington, the man who had come Up from Slavery to be the foremost African American of his day, founder of Tuskegee Institute (now University). The friendship and business partnership between these two men and their encouragement to rural Black communities are a rarely told bit of post Reconstruction America, an extraordinary story that has fallen through the cracks of American history. The time has come for this story to be told. Our country can be inspired and encouraged by the confidence these two remarkable men had in each other, in the communities they worked with across the rural South, and by the conviction they shared that education is the most effective tool for strengthening our country by enabling its citizens. Famed entrepreneur excited about the company’s development of psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines to treat the widespread mental health crisis
MIAMI, May 10, 2022 Psycheceutical, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc. (OTC: BWVI), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of psychedelic medicines, today announced
the addition of original Shark Tank entrepreneur Kevin Harrington as the corporation›s newest investor and strategic advisor. Harrington joins Psycheceutical to provide expertise on the strategy, direction, and execution of the company›s growth and development in pursuit of its mission to accelerate the research, availability, and delivery of safer and more effective psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines. “The world is undergoing an unprecedented mental health crisis. We all know someone who is suffering from depression, anxiety, or addiction. What we’ve been doing isn’t working,” said Harrington. “We need a different approach to treatment, and psychedelic medicines have shown incredible promise where conventional medicines have failed. It seems clear to me that psychedelics are the future of mental health treatment, but they need to be delivered safely like pharmaceutical medicines, which is why I’m so excited about Psycheceutical.” “I’ve been watching the emerging psychedelic medicine industry and looking for investment opportunities. I chose to invest in and join Psycheceutical because of their patented next-generation delivery technologies, designed to increase the safety and efficacy of psychedelic compounds without the hallucinogenic side effects. As an entrepreneur who is trying to help people and make a positive impact with my investments, these kinds of opportunities don’t come up that often: real solutions to help alleviate real suffering for millions of people,” added Harrington. As an original shark on the hit TV show Shark Tank, the creator of the infomercial, and pioneer of the As Seen on TV brand, Kevin Harrington›s business ventures have launched more than 1,000 products and produced well over $6 billion in global sales. More than 20 of Harrington›s companies have each topped $100 million in revenue. “We are thrilled to have Kevin Harrington on board as an investor and advisor, and we greatly appreciate
his passion for mental health and for bringing awareness to cuttingedge psychedelic treatments as a way to solve this mental health epidemic,” said Chad Harman, CEO of Psycheceutical. “Kevin has worked with some of the world’s biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling campaigns in history. His expertise is invaluable as we execute our mission to facilitate the widespread availability of safer and more effective psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines.”
About Psycheceutical, Inc. Psycheceutical, Inc. is the wholly owned subsidiary of Psycheceutical Bioscience, Inc. (OTC: BWVI). Powered by a team with more than 100 years’ combined experience in development, regulatory approval processes, and commercialization across the pharmaceutical industry, Psycheceutical is on a mission to accelerate the research, availability, and delivery of safer and more effective psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines. Learn more at Psycheceutical.com. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this news release related to the Company constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking information is not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) general market growth for and acceptance of psychedelicinspired medicines, (ii) capital and credit availability and market volatility, (iii) general economic conditions, (iv) governmental approvals and compliance with regulations, (v) product research and development and clinical trial risks, (vi) incorrect underlying assumptions, and (vii) our future business development, results of operations, and financial condition. These statements generally
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can be identified using forward-looking words such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative thereof or similar variations. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Transformational Leadership Development is Key in our Unprecedented Times Dave Moore, Author and Inspirational Speaker Motivates the Masses with a Message of Positivity while Overcoming Business Challenges
New York, New York March 22, 2022 Today many people value a personal motivational experience and that is what inspirational speaker Dave Moore brings to the table in any platform. As a former military service member who has survived not one but 4 plane crashes, he delivers a powerful keynote focusing on the 3 C’s. When the “Crashes” of life comes, Learn the tools to “Combat” them, and “Commit” to professional and personal success. With today’s challenging times this message is more powerful than ever, and Dave Moore has quickly gained exceeding popularity not only with his inspirational speaking engagements, both online and off, where attendees immediately purchase the book or one of Dave Moore’s coaching sessions. The results are unprecedented not only because business leaders are looking for a new way to lead their team, but individuals loving an inspiring story of overcoming challenges at all odds. “While my story forced me to the extremes, making me master overcoming myself through some of life’s most challenging circumstances – I fought and tackled them head-on and came out stronger each time,” said Dave Moore, CO Founder and Keynote Speaker, Moore Motivated. “My authentic story is meant to help others remove the limitations that so easily hold us back, so we can ALL achieve
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whatever we set out to accomplish.” For those who are not able to Zoom in to a conference or attend and view this not-to-be missed speaker in person, there are thankfully other alternatives. Dave Moore, author of Wake Up and Win – a true story based on Dave Moore’s decision to win every single day; he truly shares whatever success means to the individual and his goal is to inspire those with a new drive to be their best. Coaching opportunities are available and are on a limited basis due to mass popularity. His speaking opportunities however are a perfect solution to create team motivation, increase confidence and skills as a leader, and most importantly be an effective mentor. And, and the end of the day inspiring others to create motivation and positivity in the workplace is key especially in a time of lack of connectivity due to COVID with employees working virtually. “Thank you so much for your presentation to the Inspire Symposium. Your message really did inspire the audience,” said Duncan M., Inspire Symposium. «Not only your story and the takeaways, but also the energy and authenticity of your delivery.”
About Moore Motivated Dave Moore is a former Coast Guard Search & Rescue Pilot and Air Force combat pilot. As a teenager, all Dave wanted to do was become a professional pilot. He drove hard for his passion and engulfed his life in everything aviation. After experiencing his first plane crash that nearly took his life at 23, he became incredibly afraid to fly an aircraft or even board a commercial airliner without becoming intoxicated. Paralyzed by fear from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dave faced an ending to his aviation career. Years after Dave took a job and successfully accomplished his first Outside Sales position and thought ‘what am I doing? I need to be in the sky!’ There again revisited his passion for aviation and has achieved/received Navy and Air Force Wings, became a military officer in both the Air Force and Coast Guard,
graduated with the highest NSS (Navy Standard Score) of all Navy Squadrons, among many other esteemed accolades while overcoming his battle with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and unlocking the keys to overcoming any challenge on your path. Remove the boundaries, remove the ‘disorders’ and remove the limitations that we place on ourselves, and you will find success personally and professionally. Dave Moore is an inspirational national speaker. He shares a strong message that if you are aware of who you are, what you stand for, and what you commit to accomplish, your life will be a lot more meaningful and happier. And, at any point in your life, you can change your mind-set and become the person you want to be. For more information, to book Dave for a speaking engagement, to purchase Wake Up and Win, or to sign up for the coaching series, please visit: http://www.mooremotivated.com
Pro-Life Leaders and Catholic Groups Expressing Deep Concern over the Texas Fetal Heartbeat Law and Potential Overturn over Roe vs. Wade While the Mass Public is Focused on Challenging the Abortion Ruling or Cheering it on, Mike Goss, Founder of We Care Texas Focuses on the Immediate Need: Pregnant Women in Crisis who do not want to Abort and Shares the Concern that our Country is not Ready for such Legislation
Houston, Texas, December 21, 2021- Whether an individual is proLife or pro-choice, Texas has been given a golden opportunity to show the world “we care.” Houston area black businessman Mike Goss, Founder of We Care Texas donates 100K to Pro-life causes and starts a Go Fund Me page in order to support a woman’s right to choose. He however like many other pro-life advocates believes that Texas and the rest of the country for that matter is not ready for the aftermath
of the Texas Fetal Heartbeat law or an overturn of Roe vs. Wade, as if this happens – the question is now what? Women in crisis pregnancies would now be faced with lack of support, funding, resources, and much more even after giving birth to the life of a child. Our country simply is not ready to support such legislation and he is not alone. An undeniable trait of all of us in the business world is that we’re opportunity seekers. Most often it’s to line our pockets. At times though it’s to make a difference. And what business owner Mike Goss views now as a gold mine of an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women caught in a crisis pregnancy due to the passage of the Texas Fetal Heartbeat Law. Last year in the state of Texas, 50,000 women and girls chose to terminate the life of their baby. Mike Goss refused to believe that for all 50,000, abortion was their first choice. Most single, poor and without support either from the father, their family or their church obviously felt it was their only option. The Fetal Heartbeat Law will magnify those desperate conditions that leads a woman to that point. Where does a pregnant woman go for help now that her previously chosen option has been severely restricted? According to the directors of Pregnancy Care Centers, they’re turning to them. Calls for services have increased exponentially. This provides an exciting opportunity for pro-choice women and their allies who are adamant about women lives’ matter. Well, the U.S. Supreme Court has just handed women an opportunity of a lifetime to prove this claim. Groups who’ve been proving for decades that women lives’ and their baby lives’ very much matter by providing every imaginable resource a pregnant mother need could use for help. From baby wipes to baby food to baby clothes, even clothes for the mother. These services also include birthing classes, nursing classes to relationship training and on and on, all at no cost. These women need our help. Here’s a chance to for the public to prove that their concern for women extends beyond abortion rights, as their needs are truly staggering.
“In Texas the fetal heartbeat law has given us a great opportunity to show the world we care about helping women facing a crisis pregnancy who do not want to abort their baby,” said Mike Goss, Founder, We Care Texas. “Last year 50,000 women in Texas chose to abort their baby. It’s unlikely for all 50,000 abortion was their preferred option. I want to help those who prefer to keep their baby but feels abortion is her only option.” And what a fantastic opportunity for Mike Goss’s white Evangelical brothers and sisters who for two long generations pressed their political leaders to push legislation to protect the sanctity of human life. Now the public can get involved as well to prove that their zeal for life goes beyond the birth canal. For one, the state of Texas needs far more maternity homes like LifeHouse Houston that provides a two-year haven for destitute pregnant girls to give birth to their babies. Pregnancy Care Centers like Pregnancy Help Center of Fifth Ward and their Downtown location needs more donors, more volunteers. Houston Coalition for Life with one brick and mortar location and three mobile pregnancy units would welcome the public’s support. Perhaps though the biggest opportunity to prove we care about life lies at the south wing of Statehouse with Governor Abbott. Governor Abbott, as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mike Goss unashamedly stands at the front of the line in applauding him for his leadership in crafting this landmark legislation that if left to stand most certainly will save hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. However, Mike Goss believes we must go a step further, that our commitment to life cannot end in the birthing room. The general public has been pro- life; now must become pro abundant life. Last, he believes we’ve fought too long and too hard to save the lives of the preborn to now deny them the basics of life such as health care and Pre-K education that has enormous lifelong benefits for them and our state. Mike Goss fully supports Governor is his future efforts to finish the job. “It upsets me that the only help that’s being offered to women is if they need help in transportation to travel to another state for
an abortion,” said Mike Goss, Founder, We Care Texas. “But what about those women in crisis who prefer not to abort? Does anyone care about her? Doesn’t she matter, too?” The bottom line is this: whether an individual is pro-life or pro-choice 50,000 women and girls need help now more than ever to meet this tsunami of demands for services now headed our way. Mike Goss views the passage of the Texas Fetal Heartbeat law as an incredible opportunity for every citizen of the state of Texas, especially the pro-choice community. He also believes that individuals who want to protest the law they have that right. In the meantime, unplanned pregnancies are still occurring. Why not lay aside general ideological beliefs for the greater good of women who are in crisis and desperately need all our help. In doing so the public can give at least some of those 50,000 women who want to save the life of their baby a better chance and demonstrate to the world that in Texas it’s not just rhetoric, but women lives’ do matter.
About We Care Texas We Care Texas is a Pro abundant life fundraising organization that raises funds for life-affirming ministries like Maternity homes and pregnancy resource help centers. We believe if we’re going to ask women facing a crisis pregnancy to choose life our support must extend beyond the birthing room. And although our position in support of life is unyielding, we challenge the prochoice community to lay aside ideological differences for the greater good of women in need even though their preference is not to abort. By doing so we can demonstrate to the world that in Texas it’s not just rhetoric, but women’s lives and the lives of their baby’s matter. For more information or to donate, please visit: http://www.wecaretexas.org
WHERE IT BEGINS 17
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T h e b o d y s h o p at h o m e - u s a . c o m / D r L i s a S m i t h
Lorenzo Williams WHERE IT BEGINS 19
Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell us who you are and what you do. A. My name is Lorenzo I am a Health Coach and educator.
A. I have always been the type of Person that cared for others and had a heart to see others win in life. I have now discovered through all that I have been through that I am what one would consider to be living hope. So, my purpose in life is to show those that don’t believe that they can make it and there is hope because when someone is given 3 to 4 months to live, and turned down all traditional medicine and takes an all-natural approach to survive, that is not something that normally happens in our culture of life. So, I believe I am living hope to the world.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today? A. I am a two-time cancer survivor and also Covid-19 survivor. We contribute my survival first to the grace of God and then a God Inspired Nutritional diet to a full recovery in the body. Q. Let’s talk about “Journey 2 a Better Health” and how it got started. A. Journey 2 A Better Health was Birthed out of my quest to survive terminal illness and being given 3 to 4 months to live. My wife and I decided that we would take our journey and experience to help others, thus Journey 2 A Better Health. Q. What are three tips on being healthy and fit? A. 1. Understanding the foods, you put in your body. 2. When faced with opposition never accepting defeat only triumph. 3. Understanding the power of your mind and what can be accomplished with determination. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. I see my wife and I helping hundreds of thousands of people Be proactive concerning their health and also helping terminal illness patients to fight harder from an all-natural perspective. Q. Can you tell us some challenges you’ve had in your career? A. The challenges that I have had, all of the damage that has been done to my body fighting sickness and disease. But the bigger challenges have been communicating with people about natural recovery because that is not something that we have had shown to us in our culture. So the biggest challenge is that people just don’t believe that they can heal naturally and my mission is to show people
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that’s not true because I am a living example of what can happen Through an all-Nutritional recovery process. Q. Do you offer any programs for fitness? A. Our main focus is on nutrition, although fitness and exercise are a part of our program. Our main focus is what is necessary for one to put in their body for internal strengthening and fighting sickness and disease. Q. How would you define your purpose in life?
Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? A. Yes, we have lots of information that we are sharing in the near future. We have a book Release Taking Place March 18th speaking on the complete journey. We will be doing all kinds of fundraising and collaborating with organizations to bring awareness to alternative living outside of traditional medicine, so Lots to come. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can follow us on Instagram at J2abetterhealth, Journey 2 A Better Health on Facebook. And our website is Journey2abetterhealth.com.
"We will positively impact the lives of over 1 Billion people through music and Believing Again! We provide excellence in it's finest musical form"!
Richard Shaw Jr WHERE IT BEGINS 21
positively Impacting the lives of over 500 million people through music and believing again. This year alone we have impacted over 6.5 million people. Our vision and goal are to positively impact the lives of over 1 billion people through music and believing again!
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. I am a Black gifted and purpose driven male born and reared in Atlanta, Ga. I am a professional musician who uses the saxophone as a tool to inspire others through music and Believing Again. Q. What made you want to play the saxophone? A. I was inspired to play the saxophone at the age of 10 while on a Boy Scouts camping trip. My scout leader had the radio on the adult contemporary station. I asked him, who is that playing? He said Kenny G is playing the saxophone. I immediately fell in love with the saxophone at that point. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? A. In the next five years I see me
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Q. Let’s talk about your album “Believe Again” and the motivation behind it? A. The motivation behind Believe Again was initiated during my 7-year hiatus. I literally stop pursuing music because of failure, fear, comparison, and most of all lack of belief. During this period, I fell into a deep depression and suffered from symptoms of mental illness. I not only thought about suicide, but I attempted it by swallowing 25 500mg pills. God spared my life and gave me another chance to use the gift he placed in me. Fast forward to January 1, 2018, I was back on track Believing and then March 18, 2018, marked a life changing experience. This was the day my family and I encountered a live EF-3 tornado that damaged 65% of my home while we were in the bathtub in the lower level. This incident strengthened my Faith and Belief in God and myself. Almost losing my life gave me my life. I often say who survives an EF-3 tornado and not have purpose? Nobody! After 7 months of living in a hotel God gave me the title of my most recent album Believe Again. As I share my story with people all over the world it inspires me to know that Believe Again is a Universal message because we all go through points in our lives where we need to continue this journey of Believing Again.
Q. How do you describe the music you typically create? A. I used to describe my music as smooth jazz. I no longer identify with that because I never want to be “labeled” or put in a “box” as an artist. I now describe my music as a BRIDGE. My music is a bridge to carry a person from despair to hope, my music is a bridge from one style of music to people’s soul, and my music is a bridge from Heaven to Earth. I am the Bridge! Q. Who has been one of your biggest influences in the music industry? A. Wow! So many people have influence me from the music industry. Just to name a few Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Lalah Hathaway, Kim Burrell, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Kenny G, Whitney Houston, and many more. Q. What has been your greatest accomplishment that you’ve received in your career? A. Leaving Corporate America in 2019 and being able to pursue music fulltime. Q. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be? A. I would love to perform in Nigeria and United Arab Emirates! I’m 70 % Nigerian so I want to perform where my roots are and Dubai because it is one of the wealthiest and cleanliest places in the world. Q. Are you working on any projects or upcoming events? A. Yes, I am currently preparing for my big Christmas Concert coming up on Sunday, December 11th, 2022 located in 120 Ralph McGill Blvd NE Atlanta Ga in Downtown Atlanta. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets are now on sale and available at https://RichardChristmasConcertGala. eventbrite.com or my website www. richardshawjr.com. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube under my name Richard Shaw Jr. For Inquiries & to secure your date you can visit my website at www. richardshawjr.com.
"Becoming the person I always was but never had the opportunity to be".
Caroline
Labouchere WHERE IT BEGINS 23
Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. Who am I? That is a big question! I’m not any one thing and nor are you. We are all many things. Labelling is like putting ourselves in a box and I’m not particularly comfortable being hemmed in. But these are some of the labels: ‘Model’. I started modelling when I was 53. Modelling lead me to being an Instagram ‘influencer’ (a label that is portrayed as lazy/unworthy by the popular press). But I do influence. It is not a noun but a verb. It is the effect that my existence on Instagram and other channels have on those who follow me. And people do follow, which means that I must (?) be a ‘leader’. My definition of leader is ‘getting people to want to do what must be done’. I am an ‘ultra-runner’. I am a qualified, accredited, performance ‘coach’. I ask questions but the solutions are yours. I am and have been for nearly three decades, a ‘mother’ of two fantastic, now adult offspring. I am and have been the ‘wife’ of a truly inspirational man for more than thirty years. Finally, I am an ‘ambassador’ for a local hospital. This reflects my reach on social media and my value as a marketeer. I only represent brands that I trust and use. This is a principle. Now we could also delve into ‘Who was I?’ And that is a very different thing. It is all in the rear view mirror now and there is a reason that the rear-view mirror is small while the windscreen is a huge panoply of opportunity!! If what I was is of interest, I have been a ‘receptionist’, a ‘manicurist,’ an ‘upholsterer’, a ‘portrait artist’ and a ‘dog-trainer’. Q. Can you talk more about your journey and how you got to where you are today? A. This life started when I was already 53. I was asked to cast
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for a modelling job in London (I had never modelled before). I got the job and became the face of a campaign that put me, full page, in British Vogue eight times in that year. It didn’t immediately change my life, but it did change my mindset. I felt beautiful for the first time in my life. I felt that I had value. I started to respond to people with how I felt, and sharing my feelings led to the following that I now enjoy on Social Media. Q. How would you define your purpose? A. I connect people with like-minded people. Happiness for humankind is embedded in ‘connection’. I must enable others; creating a tribe of women that can become themselves in their middle years. I must show the younger generation that there is always life ahead of them; that there is potential to be a better person at any age. If I can help one person, I’m happy. While I have no real expertise in any specialty (apart from being me)
I feel that I can use my platform to share appropriate knowledge dished out by qualified, clever, learned, professional people. Q. Tell us some of the things you cover being a life coach? A. I cover empowerment: knowing you can be what you want to be, believing in yourself. I cover worry, and excitement. I deal in trust as reliability, credibility and intimacy and I seek out optimism. Above all, I encourage consistent, considered, decisive, positive ACTION. Q. What has been your biggest accomplishment you’ve received in your career? A. In 2016 I was invited, out of the blue, to take part in a televised talent show in China. As I had always wanted to visit China, I really wanted this ‘too good to be true’ opportunity to be real. Indeed, I ignored the good advice of many that said there must be some underlying
crime in progress for me to be invited, unsolicited to fly to a totally different environment. Should I have set off alone on the basis of a phone call from a stranger? But I went. I leapt into the dark with excitement not fear. And it turned out to be completely above board and safe! I rehearsed, filmed and competed in heats for one week against 20 others with a slightly manufactured ‘talent’ as an agegroup ultra-runner. They took me to the Great Wall of China and I ran on that amazing, iconic feat of defensive ambition. I had had a picture of the Great Wall on my mood board. It was meant to be. And I won. I used the prize money to upgrade to business class to fly home. Excitement.
Q. How was your experience being married to an army officer? A. My husband served his Country for nearly 30 years, and I think that for the serving time that I was married to him, so did I. I was categorized not as ‘Caroline Labouchere’ but ‘wife of Colonel Labouchere’. I had a number (his). My sense of self was subordinated to his existence. I was a camp follower and an enabler of his career. I was left at home to raise children and to worry as he went to war after war, operation after operation. I love him and the worry was almost toxic. I have always been a touch rebellious and being surrounded by at worst archaic and at best traditional rules did make me fight back a bit. Some battles I won, most I lost.
Q. If you can go anywhere in the world, where would you go? A. I’d love to see Brazil and Mexico, I think. They seem to be big fans on Instagram, which probably means lots of people that I might be able to help. I’d love to learn more about those cultures and the people. I have a romantic Hollywood inspired idea of beautiful people, fiery Latin characters, sun, sand and horses. It is a simplistic and possibly childish impression, but why not dream? Q. Are you working on any projects or upcoming events? A. It is event season in Dubai. After five hotter, often stifling months, the weather is cooling, and we are getting outside more often. I’m excited to be able to wear a sweater soon. All the family will be here for Christmas and we are organizing our housewarming party. Work and opportunity happens at a moment’s notice these days so nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. I believe that ‘luck’ is the conflation of preparedness and opportunity, so I always start a conversation with Yes! This sometimes leads to disappointment, but generally it’s an approach that serves me very well. I am averaging four or five engagements a week at the moment! Q. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Have a plan. Don’t be swayed if you believe it’s the right thing to do. Deviate from the plan when necessary but come back to it when you can. Make/Accept mistakes as that’s how we learn. Cry if you want to. Listen to understand before you speak to be understood. Listening (not just waiting for your turn to speak) is pure respect. It’s not about you. Think empathy, not sympathy, and be kind. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. I’m most active on Instagram (@carolinelabouchere): I have a list of menopause and other specialists on my page. I also have a YouTube channel (@carolinelabouchere) and a website (Caroline Labouchere).
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"When you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life"!
Rekha
Ananthanpillai The Founder of
La' Agra. 26 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. I am a business consultant turned fashion designer. Most recently I launched my label, La’ Agra. It is a line of women’s evening wear that draws inspiration from my Indian heritage. Q. How did you come up with the name La Agra and what’s the meaning behind it? A. Agra is a place in India that is the home to a lot of artisanal wear. My brand is about bringing those elements into modern day evening wear for women Q. What motivated you to want to get in fashion? A.I got into fashion in a very nontraditional way. I don’t have a fashion background but a business background. Fashion is something that has always excited me and so about a year ago I started this new journey. My work is all about celebrating my Indian heritage, while empowering the modern high fashion woman. Q. Let’s talk about La’ Agra and how it got started. A. It’s funny because I have always loved fashion. Growing up, I would give my parents a hard time getting dressed because I didn’t like the outfits, they put me in. I started my career working for other known labels in the industry but also spent many years working for a bank and professional services firm. When the pandemic hit, I started painting and coloring which is a hobby of mine, and I was reminded of how much I loved fashion, so I started
taking a few design classes here and there and a year later my brand was born. Q. How do you keep up with the trends in fashion? A. Magazines, Instagram, and WGSN. Q. Where do you see your career in the next five years? A. Eventually I would love to open up a store and maybe even a restaurant. For me, it’s about creating a luxury experience when you wear a La’ Agra dress and that is what I want to deliver to my customers. Q. What are your top 3 sellers right now? A. Well, I officially launched 3 weeks ago, so right now I am focused on building out my client list and driving sales. Q. Do you have any new projects and upcoming events? A. I am doing a few pop-up shops in the Philly area but am looking to expand these events to NYC and Miami! Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Follow me! @la.agra
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"The way to transform, improve and upgrade your life is by renewing your mind".
Brown Shuga 28 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Brown Shuga, an Afro dancehall artist from west Africa, Nigeria. Q. Who inspired you to pursue a career in music? A. Growing up for me as a young artist I was inspired by this dude called Bully Banton who I looked up to in the neighborhood who was a reggae dancehall artist at the time. Q. Let’s talk about your new single and the motivation behind it. A. I just put out a new single titled SEXY STYLE, a summer dancehall riddim that puts you in that atmosphere of good energy and good vibes which is also centered around feminism and celebrating women all around the world. Q. How would you describe the music you typically create? A. The kind of music I typically create is a fusion of Afro and reggae dancehall which I call Afro dancehall. Q. How is the music in Africa different to the music in the
U.S.? A. In the U.S a lot of artists make different genres of music but in Africa we are well known for Afrobeat’s. Q. What goals do you want to accomplish in the next five years? A. One of my major goals I want to accomplish in the next 5 years is to be the biggest Afro dancehall artist from Africa which is why we are on this mission to take Afro dancehall
music from Africa, Nigeria to the global stage, so my responsibility is to make sure every dancehall artist from Africa, Nigeria see the impact I will be making worldwide at my own pace and be motivated. Q. If you could go anywhere in the world and perform, where would it be? A. Madison Square Garden, USA and why because it will be a dream come through for me as an artist performing to a capacity of over 20,000 people. Q. What are some of your other hobbies? A. Apart from music my other hobbies would be I love to cook, chill and hangout with real friends and family. Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? A. I have been working on an album for almost 2 years now and this body of work has some international collaborations from Jamaica, London, Gambia to mention a few titled CHAMPION SOUND which will soon be released and also we working on touring Africa and the rest of the world. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can follow me on all social media platforms at Instagram: brownshugaman Twitter: brownshugaman_ Tiktok: brownshugaman WHERE IT BEGINS 29
"Redemption only begins when you turn your pain into power".
Andrea Ward 30 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK
Q. Can you tell us what your favorite film is? A. Enough because it was realistic and relates a lot to my story of my trials and tribulations during my journey. In the end I went from victim to victory.
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you. A.-My name is Andrea Ward, I am an award-winning Film Director, Producer, Writer, Actress, Activist against domestic violence as well as the great niece of Billie Holiday. Q. Who or what motivated you to be the person you are today? A. My daughter is who motives me to be the best version of myself and what motivated me to be the person I am today was the moment I reached my lowest point with the struggles of domestic abuse and that I had no one to come in and save me which inspired me to be the hero that I didn’t have to be for others to inspire, motivate and make a difference. Q. How has your experience been being a celebrity fashion stylist? A. It’s been amazing, I did fashion designer for 7 years and styling for 4 years. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. I see myself with international distribution and dominating the film industry as a black woman.
Q. Let’s talk about the films “Deception Streets” & “Reborn Redemption” & the motivation behind the films? A. Deception streets was a film I wrote and directed inspired by the past with a lot of darkness like a nightmare. Reborn Redemption is about a woman struggling from her past that was meant to destroy her but, in the end, her past pain became her power she found the hero deep within herself to battle her biggest fears. Q. What is one fun fact about yourself? A. I am a twin Gemini.
Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? A. Italy because it’s beauty and grace and can’t be touched or changed in any way. Q. What is one of your greatest accomplishments you’ve had in your career? A. Several nominations and award wins as a new filmmaker my first year directing, having my work on BET, actors’ credits Netflix, featured on sheen magazine, LAFW, NYFW, 20 magazine publications, earning my degree in medicine, and starting up my production company. Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? A. Yes, I am working on Fiend: The Awakening would be my first feature film starring Singer/Song writer Eyeamki, Keyawna Nikole, Inkwhore333 and several other major names. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. www.redemptionimages.com Facebook, Instagram: Redemptionimages Andreathecreative
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