Women Who Rock Nashville magazine - 2024

thank you

Dr.

Tanya Davis, CEO of Women Who Rock Nashville, extends her heartfelt gratitude to all our esteemed corporate sponsors and partners for your unwavering support.

Your enthusiastic and outstanding displays of your products and services have not only showcased their quality but also elevated our organization’s endeavors to new heights. We recognize that your support was not an obligation but a genuine commitment to our cause, and it’s because of your invaluable assistance that we have achieved tremendous success this year.

We deeply appreciate your contributions to our big dreams, various projects, events, and gala, which have been instrumental in making our work possible. The Women Who Rock Nashville organization is elated, and we eagerly anticipate nurturing our ongoing relationship with you for continued growth and collaboration.

With warmest regards,

Dr. Tanya Davis

CONGRATULATIONS TO WO ME N WH O ROCK NA SHV ILLE

MAY CHRIST CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOU IN HUMANITIES AND SERVICE.

WITH LOV E FROM BET HLEH EM CENTE RS OF NASHV ILLE

EST. 1894

CHANGING LIVES… BUILDING FUTURES!

Tanya Davis-Thirkield does not hesitate to give all of the credit to her LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Dr.Tanya Davis humbly attributes all credit to her LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. The journey toward completing this second annual magazine issue was fraught with challenges. I am deeply grateful to God for guiding dedicated individuals who persevered through every obstacle to accomplish the task.

My heartfelt thanks extend to all who contributed, helping to ensure the resounding success of this endeavor. To our esteemed ad sponsors, your belief in our vision is deeply appreciated. I express gratitude to every individual featured and for the remarkable stories and content that have enriched this publication.

Women Who Rock Nashville magazine is committed to showcasing the outstanding women of Nashville and their impactful roles in our local communities. From the unsung heroes to the prominent figures, our aim is to celebrate the diversity of contributions that make Nashville a vibrant place to reside.

Moreover, through Women Who Rock Nashville magazine, we aspire to shed light on the countless “Women Who ROCK” globally. We invite our audience to participate by sharing their stories, promoting their businesses, and engaging with our content.

Join us on this journey and be a part of this amazing magazine. Subscribe Today. Together, let us empower each other and build a stronger, more resilient Nashville— NASHVILLE STRONG!

CHIEF EDITOR

Dr. Tanya Davis

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Dr. Tanya Davis

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

James Williams

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris A. Bond

PHOTOGRAPHER

James Williams

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amila Rolita

Brandy N. Williams

Erica G. Grider

Paula Chambers

Patricia M. Hammock

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Carol Stallings

Operation of Sales

Yolanda Thompson

WomenWhoROCKNashville615@ gmail.com

WWRN615@ gmail.com

WomenWhoROCKNashville.org

Contact Info: 615-208-7086 Office

COVER PHOTO

Fashion by Macy’s

Make-up by Karissa Baker

Hair by Cintoria Franklin

Photography by Denise Wells

All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of the publisher’s ability. No responsibility is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors, and/or inaccuracies. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Unless special placements within the magazine are specifically purchased. The publisher reserves the right to place an ad in any order and on a first-come-first-served basis. No materials contained herein may be reproduced without the exclusive written permission of the publisher. Copyright 2020 by Women who ROCK Nashville Magazine. All rights reserved in the USA Printed and Online Subscriptions

governing Board of directors

Board members at large

Dr Tanya Davis

Min. Sylvia Page

Yolanda Thompson

Shawn Sims

Christina Kelly Angela Shawell Shemicka Adams

Dr Alesha Harmon

Maria Ridley

Tasha Overton

Naomi Clarke

Dr. Patricia Jackson

Courtney Teasley

What’s inside

Erica Grider

Dr. Shonda Reynolds

Monett Chauhan

Zulfat Saura

Angela Taylor

Chantrice Sims Holliman

Karen Johnson

The Taraji Effect5 Beauty Tips

6 Reasons why He’s not the one Intimacy Corner Adolescent

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THE CAREGIVER...

living, loving and caring along the way!

by Erica G. Grider in honor of Brenda Lee Lyons

It was every teenage girls dream… To have a sweet 16 party with all the bows and ribbons! And Brenda was no different. She was looking forward to celebrating and becoming of age and doing it with so much fun. Yet there was one unexpected guest on the list. In fact this guest was so special that Brenda had to cancel her sweet 16 party and substitute that party with a baby shower!

A few days after my mom’s 16th birthday, she officially became a teen mom! And thus our story began.

It was a very interesting beginning with lots of rollercoaster rides along the way. My mother was a young high school student who was clueless about motherhood. My grandmother realized the challenges of a young mother and she lovingly stepped in and agreed to nurture me and allow my mom to go forward and live her life as she deemed necessary. My grandmother (Mary Lee aka Granny) never wanted me to be an obstacle nor did she want my Mom to resent me for holding her back from experiencing her life’s dreams. This exchange took our lives in a different direction forever more. The natural bond that should occur between a mother and her child was shifted to Granny and myself. In fact, my mom and I literally grew up together being raised by the same “mother”. Therefore we were more like sisters than mom and daughter.

consistent, loving, patient and secure. My mother was quite the opposite. And we all understood and allowed her to do her thang...

Over the years, my mother would give birth to two more daughters, Sharika and Chandra. I began to live at home with my mom more as I had the task of helping to rear my younger sisters. Overall, we had a truly good life but that was not absent of some drama here and there! I was a very protective big sister. I did not want my mother’s inexperience to affect my sisters. This was an amazing learning experience and it truly aided in preparing me for motherhood someday. Of course history repeated itself. I bonded with my sisters in that “mothering role” while they were growing up and my Granny helped out as well. My mom and I gradually grew more detached throughout my adult life. That remained as such until my father passed away and then my world literally came crumbling down when my Granny died in 2011.

Therefore, I was raised primarily with my grandmother and my father, Rogers Gordon. However my mom, who loved to dress me up like a pretty little doll, would hang out with me and take me places when it was convenient for her. Regardless of what she attempted or offered, I preferred to stay with my granny most of the time. She was very

My mom and I had become so content at loving one another from a distance. I still continued that course until while ministering one day, the Lord gave me a strong word. He reminded me Brenda was still my mother and she was still very much ALIVE! She was and is my only living parent. Regardless of how I felt about our relationship, the fact of the matter was that, I was now a mom myself and loving every moment of it. My sons, Joshua and Caleb, were a huge blessing that I intently prayed for, thankfully God honored my prayers. Nonetheless, the Lord was very clear that until I make things right with my very own mother that nothing that I did in Ministry or in my life was going to

continue to blossom. He reminded me that my mother was a huge part of my ministry, of my life, whether I liked it or not. The word reads that we are to honor our father and mother! No if ands or buts about it. I was in prayer about how to move forward in our relationship. Meanwhile, my mother’s health was beginning to decline on a daily basis.

That all changed one day when my mom called to tell me that she was on the verge of homeless, she was sick, had nowhere else to turn and she needed my help. I had been conveniently oblivious to much of the happenings in her life. After much prayer and a little time, we sat down for a face-to-face that was long overdue! It took us a while to get through some things and we are still working at it to this day. Yet, after many years of this n that, hurt and disappointments, lots of tears and apologies and forgiveness, the Lord began to do a new thing in our lives and the healing process started to take place. My Mom looked at me with sorrowful eyes and sincere tears and asked, “if I would just see it in my heart to take care of her just a fraction of the way that I lovingly took care of my grandmother, and she would be eternally grateful! There was no way that I could or would say no! It was my charge and my honor to do so... And she didn’t even need to ask me! I now know in my heart that she did the best that she could at the time and she made some mistakes along the way. Honestly, who hasn’t made mistakes? I realize that being a mom at 16 back in that time was really frowned on in our culture. She was still but a mere child herself. It had to be a huge awakening and a tough life for her. I am grateful that she chose to continue the pregnancy and not

have an abortion. The Lord truly had everything under control, even though we couldn’t see it at the time. God made it right for such a time as this!

Our new beginning started in 2017 and it’s been quite the journey! We’ve had some good days and some bad days…but that’s to be expected. With God all things are possible! We are taking things one day at a time and

“ It was a very interesting beginning with lots of rollercoaster rides along the way”

Erica Grider

enjoying life along the way! We both have come to learn and know that Caregiving is all about RELATIONSHIP! It involves, my mother, myself, my family, her doctors, specialists, her friends, my friends/support, her pastor, my pastor and OUR GOD!

My mother, (Lil Brenda) as I affectionately call her now, is finally beginning to enjoy her golden years as she should! I am adamant that my Mom receives the absolute best possible medical care and I am uber protective of her overall wellbeing too. Throughout the course of our lives, she has always been a hardworking, single mom. Thus we had to learn how to function in our new roles as Mom and Daughter/Caregiver. It is truly a patience exercise, especially on my part. (lol) And with the many challenges of her health, which includes several surgeries, numerous trips to the ER, a myriad of hospital stays and a life time of medications,

it can be and is quite overwhelming and exhausting at times. BUT GOD! My job is to ensure that Lil Brenda is afforded the opportunity to live her best life possible until He calls her home. I am not just about preaching and teaching love but walking it out, just as Jesus did for us! I want my sons, Joshua and Caleb to carry out the same for me someday and pass that on to their offspring as well. My sons really make my heart glad to see the way that they love and help care for my Mom as well. They think that she is quite entertaining! (Especially, when she gets in time out for her behavior) That is our little fun way of maintaining our sanity and peace... to take some time apart and think about things. We always come back together once we pray and get our mind refocused on Him!

Please know that Lil Brenda is quite a handful but I love her just the same!!! She and I went from not even wanting to conversate or have dinner together for an hour or two every once in a while, to taking a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas and eating 3 meals together every day and vacationing on a regular basis, as well as talking and/or texting daily! The fact that we can worship together as a family is definitely a huge blessing and a major bonus!!! My caregiving journey has led Lil Brenda and me to a place of forgiveness, peace and restoration. Our relationship is far from perfect but its so much better. I had to realize that life is not perfect, but we serve a God who is! It’s not about us... yet it definitely involves us. Caregiving is not easy but it’s necessary and possible if we do it His way. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

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Still Got Joy!

Dr. Shonda Reynolds

Author, Filmmaker, Life Coach & Minister

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Talking with Dr. Shonda Reynolds feels like getting a long, tight hug from your grandmother. You feel valued, loved and affirmed. She meets you where you are with a gritty realism uncommon among the clergy.

The Pulaski, Tennessee native overcame drug addiction while in rehab in 1997. There, Dr. Reynolds experienced a spiritual awakening that has sustained her 23-year sobriety from crack cocaine. She became an author in 2013 and self-published her first book, Dying to Live, a true story of being freed from addiction, adultery and unwise decisions, by the power of God.

Dr. Reynolds, who is an ordained Minister, has published a sequel, Dying to Live (A New Beginning) and coauthored/executive produced the full-length feature film, STILLGOTJOY, which is an autobiographical look at her journey to triumph.

Dr. Reynolds says she is very excited to be featured in the inaugural edition of the Women Who Rock Nashville Magazine and credits Divine connections for her chance meeting with event and magazine visionary, Tanya DavisThirkield, while appearing on a talk-show in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the honor. “I was elated when Tanya asked me to be featured.”

Dr. Reynolds is a first-generation college graduate,

earning a BA in Social Work from Middle Tennessee State University, (MTSU), in 2003 and her first master’s degree in 2010 in Professional Studies in Public Service Management from Cumberland University. She graduated with honors and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary in 2013; she also holds a second master’s degree, awarded in 2017, in Professional Studies in training and Development from MTSU.

Dr. Reynolds credits her husband as the visionary for STILLGOTJOY. “When he read the book, he said, ‘This should be a movie.’ He believed in it. It was amazing that he believed in me and my story enough to want it to be told.” Due to lack of funding and little knowledge about the film industry, she said she wrote the script and let it sit for a while. She gives praises to “the most-high God” as she describes the process of getting her film made.

Neither Dr. Reynolds nor her husband had any theater or film experience. They formed a committee to begin researching the process of film production and found an awesome Director, Ricky Ivy and Cinematographer, Ricky Burchell. Several artists agreed to appear on the film soundtrack. The actors were real people. One professional actor lent their time and talent. The production took only six weeks to wrap in 2018. All the while, Dr. Reynold’s husband was working in the background to ensure they had the

funding necessary to complete the production.

The film has been screened twice, once in her hometown of Pulaski, Tennessee and once in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Dr. Reynolds says a woman was healed at the Murfreesboro film screening.

Dr. Shonda credits a teacher who she says was a “prophet who spoke life into her” when Shonda was in the 7th or 8th grade. “I believe in my heart of hearts that Charles Stogner, (now deceased), was born just for me.” Mr. Stogner and his wife took Shonda out to the back of the school yard and said, “You are going to be a leader one day. Whatever you have in your mind to do, you will do.” He continued by cautioning, “It will be harder for you because you are Black woman, but you will succeed.”

Dr. Shonda says she was called a “Polly Pure Bread growing up.” She didn’t smoke cigarettes, and never used alcohol or drugs, not even marijuana. By 29, she was spiraling as she had married “the biggest drug

dealer in Giles County” and because she had no support system. She said it seemed that everyone was doing it, so she tried crack cocaine for the first time… and she liked it … a lot. After a number of missteps in this toxic environment, she said she knew she was in trouble and wanted a better life than she one she saw around her. Dr. Shonda said, “I was smart, but nobody I knew went to college. Where I come from, if you graduated high school and got a factory job, you were doing good.”

On New Year’s Eve 1996, Shonda said she was struggling, but “I could hear the voice of Charles Stogner speak to me and I said, “I don’t want to go into 1997 high” – and she didn’t. While in rehab in 1997, she found recovery and God and began rebuilding relationships with her sons and parents. She wanted to make them proud.

Another angel placed along her path was a friend, Connie, who she said God used as the catalyst to get her interested in college. An MTSU

professor, Dr. Charles Frost, assigned a paper asking his students to describe a wonderful life. Dr. Reynolds said she cried for three days because she could not imagine what a wonderful life was. She wrote the paper. Identified as the defining moment, after reading it, Dr. Frost told her that her paper should be a book. Dr. Shonda gave copies of her book, Dying to Live to inmates when she began her prison ministry in Murfreesboro.

Four degrees, two books and a feature film later, Dr. Reynolds operates in the spirit of transparency, saying, “Struggling in silence keeps you in bondage. My life is exposed to the world as an example of what God can do because He doesn’t ‘halfdeliver’ anyone. There is no shame in where I’ve been. I thank God for the journey and wouldn’t give anything for it – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and I am excited about what comes next.”

karma: Making Your Ancestors Proud Maneet ChauhanCelebrity Chef

Compiled By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan and her husband and business partner, Vivek Deora, who own and manage Morph Hospitality Group have taken Nashville by storm at a break-neck pace with a unique blend of traditional Indian cuisine with a southern touch. Their four local restaurants and two breweries may have very well been located elsewhere, were it not for Karma. Not Karma so much in the metaphysical sense, but Karma, their son, who selected Nashville as his birthplace arriving three months prematurely while his parents were opening their first Nashville restaurant Chauhan Ale & Masala House on November 18, 2014.

In a recent Good Grit Magazine article by Nicole Letts, the former Food Network Chopped judge said her family’s original plan was to open the Nashville restaurant and split their time between New York and Nashville. When her son, Karma, made his early appearance, the plans changed. Maneet is quoted as saying, “If he’s so adamant on being a Nashvillian, who are we to drag him from here?” The family packed up their New York apartment and moved to the Music City, describing this decision as their “best move ever.”

The Morph Hospitality Group owns Chauhan Ale & Masala House, Chaatable, Tansuo and

the Mockingbird. Further, they are partners in Franklin’s Mantra Artisan Ales and Steel Barrel Brewery. Local developer Moni Advani is credited for showcasing Nashville to Maneet and Vivek, who both fell in love with the city.

The Chauhan Ale & Masala House website notes the restaurant has garnered numerous kudos including Best New Restaurant, Best Lunch Spot, and Best Cocktails along with recognition by Zagat, Open Table and USA Today, among others.

In a November 8, 2018 Eater Nashville

article penned by Della Jo Ramsay, Maneet described the warmth with which she and her husband Vivek were greeted by Nashville. She said, “Nashville embraced us from the start. We were blown away by the love and support we received and wanted to give back by providing diverse restaurants that fills gaps in the city’s culinary landscape.” The Food Network’s Iron Chef lists one of Maneet’s quotes as, “I could easily pen an entire novel on why I love this city, and believe me, I am a lifelong advocate of the Big Apple, yet somehow Nashville weaved its magic around me.”

Maneet’s biography on the Food Network’s website notes that her road to Nashville began more than 20 years ago when she graduated at the top of her class from India’s top culinary and hotel management school, Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration. Thereafter, she excelled as an intern at some of India’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants before leaving her native land to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York City, New York. She credits the CIA as foundational to her incredible ascent in the culinary field. Sweeping all class awards and graduating with high honors, Maneet made the most of her east coast experiences and moved to Chicago besting 40 male competitors for the Executive Chef position at

the Vermillion Restaurant. There, she earned a host of accolades including Chicago Magazine’s Best New Restaurant and Wine Enthusiast’s Best New Restaurant in the U.S.

The Vermillion opened a New York location with Maneet as Executive Chef. Again, the awards and outstanding reviews rolled in, including recognition by Bon Appetit, Travel and Leisure, O, the Oprah Magazine and her nomination as the Best Import to New York City by Time Out magazine. Entrepreneurship shortly followed when Maneet opened Indie Culinaire and branded herself as a culinary expert. This determined over-achiever then competed on the Food Network’s Iron Chef and The Next Iron Chef which led to her serving as a judge for the Network’s cooking competition, Chopped Maneet added author to her list of achievements in 2013 with the publication of her first cookbook, Flavors of My World. She has said, “I am Indian, and I am a chef with Indian heritage.” Honoring her ancestors, Maneet, is quoted as saying, “I want the world to see the beauty of Indian food. This is a cuisine I’m proud of.”

She said her parents were workingclass people who sacrificed greatly to offer her an education. She credits them and strong women in her ancestral line for her determination to succeed, saying, “…my parents and my sister had that undying faith in me, so going back was not an option.”

Maneet seeks to be a good role model, a credit to her lineage and to make her children proud. Quoted by Iron Chef, Maneet said, “Every time I look at both of my children, I see a future which is very bright for them, and I recognize that I need to be a role model. If they see me as someone who can achieve whatever I want, I believe that they will follow in my footsteps and that is something that I strive for every single day.”

Branding herself globally as a lifestyle, Maneet will host her own show in India, “Festive Cooking with Maneet” on TV Asia according to a January 11, 2019 article in the India News Times and she has turned something else she loves into a global brand as well – jewelry design. Sounds Like Nashville writer Emily Davidson Nemoy on August 26 of last year captured the launch of the

chef’s new accessory brand, Maneet Curated. Maneet says, “I need my bling. I’m obsessed with jewelry.” In fact, her team members can glean her mood on site by the size of the earrings she is wearing. “Everybody knows that my earrings are indicators of my mood. Larger earrings mean I’m having a bad day and trying my best to lift myself out of the fog I have woken up in. So, everybody is like, ‘Oh, large earrings, let’s get out of her way’.”

In his June 2013 article for the Food Network, writer Joseph Erdos asked Maneet if she had any advice for women in the culinary industry. She said, “Being a woman in this industry is absolutely tough. One of the biggest things women live with is, can we? Can we do this? Can we own a restaurant? My advice is to keep those two words in your vocabulary, but just switch them. Instead of, can we? it’s, we can.”

Given Chef Maneet’s local, national and international success, it is apparent she has released some good juju into the universe and that good karma is reflecting back brilliantly.

Building Bridges to Equity and a Better Nashville for All At-Large Council Member Zulfat Suara, CPA

Council member Zulfat Suara is a trailblazing servant leader making power moves as the first Muslim elected to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville/Davidson County and the first immigrant elected to an at-large position. Zulfat is the first Muslim woman elected in the State of Tennessee and the first Nigerian woman elected to any office in the country.

The at-large council member ran and won on a three-tiered platform focusing on fully funding Metro Nashville’s education system; advocating for community-based budgeting, which involves citizen input, and livable wages for all Nashvillians. Zulfat ran for office because she wanted to give back to the community from which she has received much. She ran because she is the mother of five children educated in Metropolitan Nashville public schools who has witnessed inequalities within the local educational system. Because she believes so strongly in the importance of education, Zulfat also is a proponent of better compensation for teachers, current text books and more computers in all schools, regardless of the zip code in which they are located.

Council member Suara is committed to working toward a Metro budget which seeks the input of its citizens and is reflective of their needs. Zulfat says, “As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and auditor, I bring more than 30 years’ experience as an accountant to the conversation. Community-based budgeting must be fiscally sound and it must be a moral document.”

Zulfat believes in a Nashville for all, where everyone is vested and everyone thrives. She says, “Some people are being left out of Nashville’s growth. There are citizens making the same wage now as they did ten years ago and they cannot afford to live in the city they helped to build.”

Always active in her community, she started the Hardeman County Chapter of Junior Achievement in 2004 and continues to advocate for children and young people as a board member of the PENCIL Foundation. Zulfat has served in a number of leadership positions,

including the chair of the American Muslim Advisory Council. She has supported women, serving two terms as State President of the Business and Professional Women, a century-old organization promoting equity for all women in the workplace, from 2009-2011. She is active politically as treasurer of the National Women’s Political Caucus and chair of Day on the Hill, a joint legislative day for several women’s organizations on

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

issues affecting Tennessee women and children. She has also been a speaker at the Nashville Women’s March each year since 2017.

Council member Suara’s work in the community has been prolific and selfless. In recognition, Zulfat has been recognized with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award and featured in the Jackson Sun’s Twenty Most Influential Women in West Tennessee. She was named the 2018 Muslim Policy Advocate of the Year by Islamic Society of North America; the Tennessee Economic Council on Women inducted her into its Tennessee Womens’ Hall of Fame in 2015. She recently received an award for Outstanding Service to Human Rights from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and currently serves as a board member of the Nashville Metro Action Commission.

A grassroots activist, who never anticipated a role in politics, Zulfat credits her upbringing and personality for her ascent to the Council. “I grew up in a family with 21 children, including myself. Service is something I grew up with. With 21 children, some are quiet, some timid, some loud. I learned from a young age that I am a loud-mouth and I would speak up for my siblings. I grew up with a father who was always giving, so it was ingrained in me. If you have two dollars and somebody has none, you give them a dollar – that is just what you are supposed to do.”

“Because I was so outspoken and vocal, I was always in leadership positions; even in school, I was the president of the school body. In college, I represented my institution at the state-level. I hope to use these

traits to serve the citizens of Nashville.”

“I was so fortunate to have a great father who believed in me. Sometimes I would go looking for trouble because I knew he would cover me. If I stood up for someone who needed advocacy and I was forthright in my motives, I knew my dad would support me in that. His support built my confidence.” Zulfat says she was lucky and blessed from a young age to have training and mentors giving her life lessons and supporting her leadership abilities.

Zulfat hopes her service on the Council and in the community will help build bridges of understanding between the Muslim and all of the other Nashville communities at large. A legislative matter in 2011 which targeted Muslims mobilized the Muslim community to be more proactive, as “people were discussing us who did not know us. It was important for us to tell our own story.” Suara was a founding board member of the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) and served in leadership for seven years between 2012 and 2019. The AMACs goals included educating the larger community about the Muslim faith and conducing cultural competency training for law enforcement and other stakeholders on nuances of which they may not have been aware. “For example, if law enforcement approaches the home of a Muslim family and the woman is home alone, she may take a bit longer to answer the door because there is no man present in the home or because she needs to cover herself and/or her hair in alignment with the Muslim faith. Before you break down the door, give her a minute to present herself honorably.”

Conversely, the AMAC also works within the Muslim community to encourage civic engagement, voting, and organizing to amplify the voices of the Muslim community. “The Muslim community has always been active, for example some of the mosques have been serving the homeless and doing community outreach for decades, but needed to increase their visibility and to a better job informing the larger community

of their work. Zulfat has worked with mosques all over the state to encourage Muslims to become more active and engaged to encourage a change in their perception by the larger community.

Council member Suara says a common misperception about Muslims is that the faith subrogates women. “Islam does not oppress women. The oldest university in the world is in Morocco and was founded by a Muslim woman. Another misnomer is that the Islamic faith is incompatible with the United States Constitution. “Islam teaches that I must obey the laws of the land. I believe in the golden rule. Being an American and being Muslim is not a conflict for me.”

Zulfat is delighted to be featured by the Women Who Rock Nashville. “I am very grateful because Nashville is a town full of accomplished women. Some we know. Some are unsung

who are interested in building equity in the city. “To be an equitable city, we must identify inequities in our city, both socio-economic and political. There are residents without access to transportation and affordable housing, a district in Metro with no public library, neighborhoods without sidewalks, and a zip code with the highest incarceration rate in the nation. By identifying the inequities, we can work together as a community to fix them.”

She often works in solidarity with Council member Sandra Sepulveda as they were both selected to serve on the Mayor’s Task Force on Immigration, initiated by Mayor John Cooper. The Task Force includes immigrants, attorneys, school board members, law enforcement and other stakeholders. Both she and Sepulveda are interested in the administration filling the Director of New Americans position as soon as

heroes. To be selected for something like this when there are so many deserving women is an honor.”

Asked about how she’d like to be remembered, Suara said, “At the end of the day, by the end of my term or the end of my time on this earth, I hope that people will say that in everything I have done, that I was fair and sought to bring a voice to the voiceless, and that I brought opportunities to those who had none. If I can help move the needle a little bit, that would be amazing.”

Zulfat says there are some great people on the City Council; those

possible. In addition, Suara supported a predatory lending bill put forward by Council member Sepulveda which seeks to ensure that black and brown people are not negatively impacted or taken advantage of.

Zulfat is married to her husband of 29 years, Dr. Rahaman Suara and they are blessed with five amazing children – one pursing a Ph.D. in psychology; one completing a master’s degree in computer science, with a concentration in software engineering; two in medical school, and one who is a freshman high school.

Fighting for Our Children

Angela Taylor, Stop the Violence Activist, Writer, Performing and Visual Artist, Playwright and Filmmaker

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Known as “Mz. Breezy, the Hip Hop Activist”, Angela Taylor is passionate about using her life experiences and Godgiven talents to uplift others. A literal one-woman-show, Angela recruits vulnerable youth from Nashville’s projects and re-directs their energy

and talents to positive outlets in the arts, music, theater and film.

Angela began writing short stories at 9 years old as a way to excise the demons of domestic violence, poverty and homelessness. This talent later grew into the spoken word and songwriting as she sought to fill a void in mainstream music which often glorifies violence, self-destructiveness and drug use. She organized a Where is the Peace Panel for the Youth and wrote Peaceful Swagg, choreographed by a youth dancer, Sani and Ms. Angel from ASSET Academy, of such a quality and caliber that they could be performed anywhere.

Through her company, Wings Lifted Productions, Ms. Taylor has produced an album entitled Wingslifted, and singles: Peaceful Swagg, the Women Who Rock Nashville Theme Song, and Salon Life. Her theatrical productions include Let them Shine I and II, God Gave Me Christmas I and II, Shadow of an Eye, I See You (short skit), and I Shall Not Be Moved. Angela spread her wings as a screenwriter with the film adaptation of Shadow of an Eye.

A stop-the-violence activist, Angela has penned anti-bullying and antidomestic violence plays, programs and community rallies. “The reason I do this is because I grew up in the projects seeing a lot of this. I heard gunshots; I experienced homelessness and domestic violence as a child and as an adult. “My dream was always to do something about it, but I didn’t know it would be through music.”

Angela’s gifts have afforded her the opportunity to perform locally, nationally and globally, in Atlanta,

New York, Alabama, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Chicago, Wurzburg and Manheim, Germany, and, of course, Nashville. Angela has performed for Dad’s Over Destruction, and many other groups, and sponsored the Mother’s Music Festival to give back to mothers in the Nashville community.

Ms. Taylor’s play, Shadow of an Eye, has been featured as a part of the Destiny Theater’s Annual Shades of Black Theater Festival, produced by local artists, prison advocates and community activist, Mr. Shawn Whitsell.

Shawn said, “We were honored to have Angela Taylor’s play “Shadow of An Eye,” as a part of the Shades of Black Theatre Festival last year. Part of our mission is to give young artists, like Angela, a platform to display their work. As someone who is passionate about ending domestic violence, I thought it was particularly important to have a play that addressed this issue in our festival. The show sold out, the audience was very engaged and responsive, and even with the tough subject matter, people enjoyed themselves. People lingered for quite a while after the show, which is a great indicator of how it resonated with them. I applaud Angela’s efforts to spread awareness and I know her work will be even more impactful as she grows as an artist.”

Ms. Taylor’s audiences have been moved to tears on more than one occasion. “At Shadow of an Eye, the three hundred-seat theater was standing-room-only. “People laughed; people cried.” Angela said. Audience reactions – those who come to her in tears afterwards

–affirmed the play helped people understand the purpose in their pain, how to overcome it and break its cycle. “Reaching so many people’s hearts is rewarding.”

Knowing she is walking in her purpose, Angela said, “God won’t stop giving me this path and this direction. He is showing me how to heal myself through healing others.” She continued, “I found something inside of me that God wanted me to see. I can’t keep it to myself; that would mean I couldn’t help anybody and nobody could help me. I don’t want people to stay stuck in hurt and pain.”

My passion is young people because they experience domestic violence, bullying, poverty, homelessness and weak support systems. I get them involved in dance or give them a chance to act for the first time. I will pull my cast from the projects and get them into rehearsal. I talk to them because it is like talking to myself. If she had the chance to speak to her five-year-old self, Ms. Taylor said, “I would tell her, you are hiding now, but not forever, then I would just hold her.” Her message to the young people with which Angela works is, “Whatever you are going through right now, there is something greater ahead; Just keep pushing.”

Generous with her talents, Ms. Taylor said, “God Gave Me Christmas went on a three-city tour benefitting the homeless.” “People helped me feed them and the proceeds were dedicated to homeless victims. We don’t know what the homeless have been through, but God doesn’t ignore anyone. I know what it feels

like; I’ve been there. I’ve lived it and I show it through my art.”

Ms. Taylor honors her mentors, Michael Elwood, of Acting in Place, who inspired her to write and Clemmie Greelee who Angela says, “took her under her wing” in her stop the violence work. Further, after hearing Tanya Davis’s story, Angela felt she had no excuse but to push forward with her gifts.

Angela said it is a dream come true to be featured by Women Who Rock Nashville. “It is amazing to be a part of something so unique that focuses on women empowering other women from all walks of life.” Her work is rewarding, but she is weary and selfsupporting. “My plays should be at TPAC, but I don’t have the backing.”

Those who may wish to become involved in Ms. Taylor’s youth activism can assist in a number of ways. Angela desires to learn how to write grants and seeks a mentor in this area. A play and performance support team and stage manager are needed “to have my back so that I don’t get so tired and can make the most of my Godgiven talents.” Ms. Taylor welcomes commissioned (paid) work and any other forms of sponsorship that would allow her to demonstrate her talent to reach larger audiences.

For booking and sponsorship opportunities, please email angela.taylor1330@gmail.com or womenwhorocknashville615@gmail.com

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Dr.Chantrise Sims Holliman is a woman of herculean strength and unimaginable resiliency who has thrived through circumstances which would have toppled most others. Dr. Sims Holliman, with an earned Doctorate in Education in School Improvement, whose dissertation topic was Emotional Intelligence, was a full-time educator living her best life in in the spring of 2018.

She was gleefully married to her husband of 10 years, Reverend Carson Holliman, Jr., Pastor of New Grant Chapel AME Church in East Point, Georgia. She was demonstrating excellence as the Director of professional learning for a set of charter schools in Atlanta. Dr. Sims Holliman was a loving mother to her children, bonus children, and to her students, whom she loved as her

own. Chantrise ate healthy, drank green smoothies, stayed hydrated with water, ran five miles per day, participated in 5K and 10K marathons and was mindful of her stress level.

Although, diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2006, Dr. Sims Holliman continued to thrive without an inkling that her life would soon be threatened. The only precursor to her impending life-changing illness was a brief bout of vertigo in the weeks prior. Though she thought the vertigo may have been related to her lupus, when she saw her physician, her blood pressure, which had always been 120/80, was sky-high. She was prescribed blood

pressure medication; purchased a blood pressure cuff; was compliant with her medication; monitored her health and continued living life …. until March 23, 2018.

Chantrise suffered what is grimly known as a “widow-maker” heart attack where she coded nine times as doctors sought to stabilize her and was not expected to live. Within 24 hours of his wife’s heart attack, doctors told her husband he should ask the family to get there as soon as possible. Reverend Holliman called Chantrise’s best friend and her daughter, Astede, who was a junior at LSU at the time. Chantrise’s best friend

Chantrise Sims Holliman, Ed.D.

Author, Motivational Speaker & Educational Consultant

called her parents in Massachusetts with the doctor’s grim news.

When her parents arrived at the airport in Boston, MA, there were no flights to Atlanta available. Frantic, Dr. Holliman’s parents had to wait 24 hours until they could make the next earliest flight knowing doctors had given their daughter a 50/50 chance of survival.

When Chantrise regained consciousness, her cardiologist said, “You are not supposed to be here.

Three men stricken with the same “widow-maker” on the same day as you, died. If I did not believe in God before, I believe in Him, now.” He continued by saying that the only reason her body was able to fight its way back from such trauma is because she was so healthy and had taken such great care of herself.

That was the good news. Unfortunately, while in the hospital recovering, she was told that due to an infection believed to have been borne of the heart attack, she would lose her right leg above the knee and ultimately her left leg below. The attack left Chantrise a partial paraplegic and bilateral amputee when she was only in her 40s.

Though grateful for life, Dr. Sims Holliman said she and God were not on the best of terms. She said, “As a believer, we are shaken when things don’t happen the way we thought they would.” She was angry. She was soul-searching. She was praying and praying and not hearing any response. She wondered, “God, what am I supposed to do with this? I was a

runner. I was active – now what?”

It was in this dark hour, that God revealed Jeremiah Chapter 29, verse 11 to her, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Dr. Sims Holliman said if she had faith and believed in God, she would have to either believe everything He said or nothing. Chantrise said, “This was the hardest scripture for me to come to terms with, but it is also the scripture that saved my life. Once I embraced this scripture, the weight fell off and my confidence began to grow so that I could become who God had created me to be.”

Chantrise said, “I had to think differently about myself, my abilities and my future. I embraced cognitive flexibility when I did not know it was a term or that it would be the springboard for my comeback”. There came a point at which she made a post on social media, asking women what they struggled with; what kept them stuck? The response was overwhelming. Now, she works with female professionals, educators and entrepreneurs on getting unstuck and bouncing back when life throws curveballs.

When Chantrise became ill, her family was still reeling from the Father’s Day 2017 murders of Reverend Holliman’s parents and son, Christopher. Dr. Sims Holliman’s heart attack affected her entire family, albeit not in ways one might think. Chantrise is a wife and mother of four living children and a grandmother of two. Her daughter, Astede, said she knew her mother was going to be okay, because God told her, so she flew back to Louisiana while her mother was still hospitalized and aced her mid-term examinations. She said, “If she were to have died, my mother would have haunted me forever had I not taken my mid-terms”. The now 22-year-old ended that semester with the highest GPA of her college career and then graduated a semester early. Chantrise’s husband was steadfast in his ministry, remained her provider, her protector, and somehow managed to be comforter to all who needed it.

“I was in the hospital from March 23 –June 22, 2018. The first thing I did as soon as I was able, was to go to the beauty shop and get my hair done. I had been a gravely ill for a long time. I did not feel like myself. When I got my short blond hair back, I looked in the mirror, I saw myself for the first time

in months.” I said, “I know that face. Let me see what else I can get back.” Dr. Sims Holliman began to regain her independence. She had to learn how to drive and does so now with hand controls. She purchased a lightweight wheelchair she could maneuver in and out of the car by herself and began speaking in public, again.

She thought when she regained her health and independence, she would return to her role as an educator where she had spent her career being the teacher she never had. For a number of reasons, this did not occur. She was unemployed and unable to pursue her passion as an educator in the sense that she had know it before the attack, paralysis and amputations. In this valley, she sought out a brand strategist who told her, “Chantrise, you are your own brand, now let’s get to work.”

Although she claims, with humility, to be “smoothing out the edges” on this transition, Dr. Sims Holliman is wracking up the accolades as a globally known author, motivational speaker and consultant to educators and female entrepreneurs and professionals. As a Who’s Who in Black Atlanta and The Strength of a Woman Awards honoree, a featured presenter at the National ASCD Conference, speaker at TEDx Chandler’s Creek guest lecturer at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman is

best known for teaching others how to move mountains—academically, professionally and personally. Her message of hope, resilience and flexible thinking transforms the lives of audiences worldwide, allowing them to triumph over fear and failure into a life of perpetual faith.

Dr. Chantrise’s August 2019 TEDx Talk focused on Cognitive Flexibility and was entitled, “How Cognitive Flexibility Saved My Life”. She has authored numerous books and other educational products. In addition to TeachStayLove: A Reflective Journal to Help You Stay in theProfession You Love and Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement, and Success , currently available on Amazon and her third book, Noah Had an Ark. You Need a R.A.F.T.: Resiliency and Flexible Thinking is sure to catapult readers to new levels in business, ministry and life in general. Chantrise is also a contributing author for The Gyrlfriends Code: Women’s Empowerment Breakthrough Edition

Dr. Sims Holliman is humbled to be recognized by Women Who Rock Nashville. She loves the city! She is honored and grateful that she made her healing public on purpose. She engaged social media a lot, she says, “because God told her to” and she believes that we don’t go through things for ourselves; we experience

challenges for the other people who have not made it yet. Dr. Sims Holliman said, “People’s lives are waiting in the balance for you to tell your story. By being authentic and transparent, God has given me a platform. If one person sees my smile and can get encouragement as a result, then I know I am walking in my purpose, whether I have legs or not”.

Chantrise said it is important to recognize women because women have gone unnoticed so often in history. “It is only in my lifetime that women are starting to get the kind of recognition they deserve in every arena. Women have been making miracles at home for millennia, but women have also been making strides in mathematics, science, technology, education and the arts – that needs to be recognized”.

At the conclusion of our interview, I asked Chantrise what advice she would give to her five-year old self. She was moved and then said, “I would tell her, don’t worry about the bullies. Don’t worry about the people who say you can’t because one day, you are going to prove them all wrong!”

For booking or interviews, email info@drchantrise.com or call 404.736.7290. To get the latest updates on book signings, speaking engagements and new releases, visit www.drchantrise.com

profiles

Krista C. Davis is a native of Nashville, TN. Krista has many creative talents. She’s been the Steward of Serenity Suites Salon Spa for 13 years, a hairstylist for 27 years. She has been sewing since age 12 and launched her own clothing line, Kris’Ta Kollection , in 2010. Krista’s passion for education, community service, and helping others gain the exposure to reach their dreams was constant.

Feeling that many middle class families pay into our student financial aid systems the most, it was not fair to see that the children of these hard working families were forgotten. Then in August of 2011, The Elegant Ladies Foundation was born. Thirteen gifts from God that share the same vision. Mentoring, empowering, and offering financial assistance to higher learning. We have currently assisted 16 young ladies. Another passion is Breast Cancer Awareness, Krista host an annual fashion show “ Pretty in Pink”, where the Elegant Ladies Foundation honor breast cancer survivors and raise money to assist survivors , Krista is a featured Designer. Krista is a proud member of Iota Phi Lambda, Inc and the Class of 2023 Wilson Leadership.

Ana Castro, 29-year-old and born in Mexico. Resides in Nashville for more than 18 years since 2004. Began her modeling career at the age of 20, walked for fashion shows and worked as a model in the city of Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta and Nashville. Also, title holder of 2 beauty pageants. -Mrs. Internacional Tennessee 2016 -Nuestra Belleza California 2019. Currently Director and founder of Miss Latina Tennessee; and Nashville Latin Fashion Week. Also, owner of Path Academy modeling school here in the city of Nashville. She enjoys sharing blogging videos on her social media of places to visit in Nashville, fashion, healthy and exercise tips.

HOSTS

SPECIAL GUEST

POLITICAL

PHENOMENAL

Legacy Building

Karen Johnson, MBA

Nashville-Davidson County Register of Deeds

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Nashville-Davidson County Register of Deeds, Karen Johnson, MBA, is in her second year of her first term as the first woman and the first African American in history elected to office. In describing her ascent to this pres�gious role, Register Johnson credited ge�ng involved as the catalyst, “As the young mother of two boys, I was working full-�me, but I made �me to get involved in their school PTAs. I was a leader in my neighborhood associa�on, and I went on to serve on the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Parks and Recrea�on. My first elected posi�on was to represent our district on the Metro School Board, then I was elected twice to the Metro Council from District 29 in An�och. My Council colleagues elected me unanimously as Council President Pro Tempore. In 2018, the people of Davidson County elected me as their Register of Deeds.”

Asked how her upbringing influenced her career, Register Johnson said, “My parents –both renowned educators – taught me the value of an educa�on, paving the way for me to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administra�on at Tennessee State University and an MBA in Management at Trevecca Nazarene University. My studies enabled me to work in human resources management in both the public and private sectors – for the State of Tennessee, HCA, Shoney’s Inc., and Mercy Health Services. That experience that has given me unique qualifica�ons to administer the Register of Deeds office and our staff.

growing Spanish-speaking community.”

Mrs. Johnson’s legacy of service may leave one wondering if she sleeps. “I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and a past member of Les Gemmes Nashville chapter; a past Chair of the Sister for Sister Conference – 100 Black Women-Metro Nashville; a Past President of the Tennessee Women’s Poli�cal Caucus, and I was selected to par�cipate in the Young Leaders Council, which honed my leadership skills.

I went on to serve on the Adventure Science Center Board, the YMCA Corporate Board, and the boards of the Women in Municipal Government and the Tennessee Municipal League. I was selected as a Fellow by the NLC Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and was the first official from Nashville to be elected to the Na�onal League of Ci�es (NLC) Board of Directors. I am a member of the County Officials Associa�on of Tennessee (COAT), the Tennessee Registers Associa�on, and the Tennessee Land Title Associa�on.”

The widely-acclaimed leader is pleased to be featured by Women Who Rock Nashville, “What an honor it is to be a part of this dynamic publica�on! I join the rest of the community as we look forward to the Women Who Rock Nashville 2020 event that will encourage women to upli� each other, to promote each other’s success, and to get involved.”

Mrs. Johnson said she knew as a teen that her purpose would involve serving others, “public service would be a lifelong passion for me. It is a dream from which I have never wavered.” Karen is firmly rooted in the Nashville community. “I am the proud wife of an honorably discharged United States Marine, David Johnson, and we have three sons, Jonathan, Christopher, and Dave, and one granddaughter. Our boys graduated from Metro Public Schools, and we have made our home for many years in the Priest Lake area of An�och, TN.”

A proponent for inclusion and representa�on, Karen said, “It is vitally important that our department, along with all public departments, look like the people we serve in Davidson County.” To that end, she con�nued, “We have added diversity to our well-qualified staff. We have increased the number of African Americans working in the Register of Deeds office, including several on our leadership team, and we hired a Hispanic woman last year, enabling us to serve Nashville’s

Among her many accolades, Register Johnson is recognized as one of Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence, The Tennessean’s 40 Under 40, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leaders, and a 2019 TSU Woman of Legend and Merit. The Leadership Nashville alumna, seeks to leave a legacy, “I would want to be remembered for integrity, for professionalism, and for a passion for service.”

For those who may aspire to follow in her footsteps, Karen says, “Take every opportunity to GET INVOLVED in the organiza�ons in your community and be willing to step up and serve as a leader.” To her five-year-old self, Karen would say, “Stand tall and proud of who you are, and never give up on doing what you truly love to do. Always give everything you do 100%. Never sacrifice your integrity, your honesty, your faith in God.”

Register Johnson shared a missive of which most are unaware, “Many people do not know that I have a twin sister, Sharon. We were adopted into a loving family at birth.”

The Taraji Effect

By Brandi N. Williams

Let’s be honest. Most of us have that one singer or actress who, in our head, is our favorite homegirl. That’s how I feel about actress, Taraji P. Henson. Who wouldn’t want to be her friend?! Taraji was one of Time Magazine’s most influential people in 2016. Taraji is authentic, hardworking, fashionable, and Godfearing. Taraji plays Cookie on Empire for goodness sake! I mean, really, who wouldn’t want to be her friend?! Yet, while Taraji is all these things and more, what I love most about her is that she truly understands the power of women sticking together.

I first noticed this about her during the 2015 Emmy Awards. Taraji, as well as Viola Davis, were nominated for outstanding lead actress in a Drama Series--a category that no African American woman had ever won. Viola won that night and Taraji stood, clapping for her as if she was clapping for herself. When asked about this moment, Taraji admitted that it was bittersweet and that she would have loved the opportunity. Taraji also stated that her prayer for that night was bigger than herself. She prayed for barriers to be broken on behalf of African American actresses. Her prayer was answered.

After witnessing that I said, “Man! I need to get like Taraji!”

Pondering that moment, here’s what I concluded:

1. Taraji connected with Viola: She knew Viola had been in the industry longer and may naturally reach particular milestones prior to her.

2. At some point, they collaborated. At minimum, as black women in the film industry, they shared information or encouragement.

3. Taraji was able to celebrate Viola because she respected her and her craft, and she knew that Viola’s success did not mean her failure.

Isn’t that powerful?! I think it is and I call that The Taraji Effect!

I once heard Taraji say, “Women gotta understand; we work better together. The power in women sticking together? We will change the world. And until we get that, we’re going nowhere.”

So ladies, let’s do it! Let’s get like TARAJI! Let’s tap into the power of connecting, collaborating, and celebrating with other women.

CONNECT

Connecting with others is vital to success! As the old saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Consider looking for a young woman to mentor or someone who can mentor you.

If you’re somewhat new to Nashville, like me, perhaps you’d look to connect with others who are willing to share resources or attend local events.

Connecting is not just about what you can get. It’s about having a genuine interest in what someone is up to, possibly learning their life story, or gaining a sense of their professional journey.

Here’s 3 ways to do that:

1. Do some research: If you come across another sister online or at an event that peaks your interest, find out what she’s about.

2. Foster a relationship: Be friendly by connecting via social media or inviting them for coffee.

3. Create reciprocity: Be the first one to support another sister’s event or offer a beneficial connection.

Some connections will turn into friendships. Some won’t go past Twitter. Others may be for mutual benefits and association. Either way, take the lead and assert yourself.

Why is connecting with others crucial to The Taraji Effect? Generally we judge others based on superficial things. However, when we know someone’s story or their common interests, we’re likely to be more open. COLLABORATE

Collaboration is a mindset: Everybody wins, everybody eats. In a world where people are independent and individualistic to a fault, many fail to realize that being collaborative is just as important as being resilient or driven.

If for some reason collaboration does not come naturally to you, I would suggest exploring types of collaborative efforts that may interest you (i.e. business idea, community event, party).

For those who are entrepreneurs, you know that entrepreneurship and the world of business thrives upon collaboration. It’s as essential as the concept of business.

Here’s 3 reasons to collaborate:

1. You don’t know everything: Surround yourself with people who can help take you to the next level.

2. The benefits outweigh the risks: Don’t let fear rob you. There are plenty of women who are looking to build a tribe and share their platforms.

3. Opportunity for clarity: Collaboration allows you to see your strengths more clearly as well as the value that others bring to the table.

Why is collaborating with others crucial to The Taraji Effect? We are better together. We are all valuable and have something to offer.

CELEBRATE

Don’t hate, celebrate! Let’s put to bed the myth that all women do is fight and claw at one another. I believe that it takes maturity to acknowledge that we, as human beings, all have something to offer. We are all working towards

something and that’s reason enough to celebrate others around you. If you ever find yourself unable to celebrate the sister next to you, maybe it has less to do with their accomplishment and more about the things you haven’t done that you know you should do. Maybe you don’t believe that there’s enough confetti for everybody. Only you know the answer.

Whatever it is, know that a lack mentality and tendency to compare will always paralyze and debilitate you. It will self sabotage you. This is why you can never compare your chapter 2 to someone’s chapter 20.

Here are 3 reason to celebrate with others:

1. To ignite hope: Use the success of others as a mirror for what’s possible. Take notes and get in action.

2. To cause a ripple effect: Be a model of celebration.

3. To reap what you sow: If you show up and clap for others, they will show up and clap for you!

So how do you get like TARAJI?

Practice celebrating with other women. Taraji never denied that the moment at the Emmy Awards was bittersweet. However, she chose to align herself with her overall values for the sake of lifting up her sister.

Brandi Nicole Williams is an author, speaker, minister, and business consultant. She has been empowering youth, women, and college students for nearly 15 years. As Principal Consultant of BTL Solutions, Brandi helps faith based businesses stay focused on their mission by creating systems and processes that bring peace of mind, productivity, and profitability.

To bring The Taraji Effect workshop to a women’s event near you, contact Brandi via website or email.

Website: www.whoisbrandinicole.com

Email:

brandi@whoisbrandinicole.com

Facebook Like Page: Brandi Nicole

Instagram: @whoisbnicole

a Winter 5 1

Tips for

Pampering Routine

When we experience a change in our lives, we begin a transitional journey to cope. That is the same when we transition into a different season. I know I do, especially when the time changes because daylight savings time ends. I go through an emotional transition because it gets dark sooner, and I know it’s the winter season (which I am not a fan of). It seems as though the transition into winter is more abrupt, brisk, and sharp than the transition into spring and summer. When summer ends, we transition into the crisp autumn wind. Then follows the frigid air that announces winter is here. That change can wreak havoc on our bodies. In early autumn, I have to take extra steps to pamper my skin because it becomes dry, itchy, and irritated by wintertime. If your experience is similar, try these steps that pamper your body and help it weather the cold winter.

By Amila Rolita

2

Exfoliate your body.

That’s right. Lightly exfoliating your body during the winter removes the dead layers of skin. There are different body scrubs and exfoliating body washes. Choose one that offers nourishing and moisturizing benefits—no need to scrub hard or vigorously. We do not want to irritate your skin. Just treat yourself to a light exfoliation once a week, which will help take your moisturizing to the next level.

Level up your moisturizer.

When the weather changes, we have the outside elements to contend with, and we have the inside environment. The cold winter can be very harsh on the skin. Additionally, the inside heat can cause dry, irritated skin. That is why we have to protect it daily. While it is good to apply moisturizer to your body all year round, it is better to use a thicker healing lotion, penetrating oil, or body cream in the colder months. There’s no need to be uncomfortable in layers of clothes with dry, irritated skin underneath.

4 5 3

Sunscreen for winter. Sunscreen is often recommended for the summer. We need to protect the skin that is exposed to sun rays in the winter too. That is usually the face. For the added protection you need, apply your sunscreen on top of your moisturizer or use a moisturizer with a high sun protection factor (SPF). If you live in an area prone to snow, you know the rays can be blinding off of freshly fallen snow. Those same rays can be damaging to your skin, so protect you.

Pamper and protect your lips.

Lips tend to chap more in the winter, so it’s good to give them some R & R (rest and revitalization). First, don’t develop the habit of licking your lips to moisturize them because in the winter that dries them out quicker. Second, use a lip balm with moisturizers like vitamin E or aloe vera. Don’t use creams with camphor, mint, or menthol because they have a drying effect. During the day, if you wear lipstick, apply a moisturizing one for added protection. Third, before going to bed, use a lip moisturizer for additional treatment. That will help keep your lips soft and supple.

Humidify your home. Humidifiers are used to help prevent dryness of the nose and throat for easier breathing. It’s not uncommon for a humidifier to help alleviate the sufferings from a cold or the flu. An additional benefit to using a humidifier at home in the winter is to help keep your body from experiencing dry, itchy skin. That means it also helps keep your lips from chapping quicker.

With these tips, you will get through winter feeling pampered— no need to wait until the weather warms to pamper yourself. Your body will feel the love.

Reasons Why 6 He’s Not the One

Every woman has had at least one guy that makes her pause and say, “What on earth was I thinking?” This is generally followed by a “thank you, Jesus,” and a plausible praise break for many.

To that point, I applaud every woman that has been courageous enough to admit that you were compromising and deserved better.

I applaud every woman that knows her time, mental, and emotional states are worth protecting.

I applaud every woman who is able to discern the reasons and seasons of her relationships.

To the ladies in need of a reminder, please know that you are worth it. You are worth the wait, your heart’s desires, and the standards you have set.

A guy that’s not the one, is not a bad guy. He’s just not the right guy for you. Just because you may find yourself at a crossroad, questioning the relationship, or wondering why you didn’t see some things sooner, doesn’t make you wrong, bad, or indifferent. You simply don’t know what you don’t know, until you know!

So, here are 6 reasons why he’s not the one:

#1

Something just ain’t right!

We can start right here because in many instances our discernment and intuition are enough! We must learn to heed to the Spirit, and trust our guts. If you’re playing tug-ofwar with yourself about him, this is an indication that there is a lack of peace and clarity.

#2

He has no vision.

If he has no vision for his life then it’s highly unlikely that he will have vision for a relationship. This is most likely because he is not aligned with purpose. Furthermore, if a man who finds a wife, finds a good thing (Prov. 18:22), how does a man who has no idea what he wants, know when he has found anything at all? This doesn’t mean that he has to have it all together. None of us do. But, he should have something to invite you into, and be able to identify how you fit into the vision.

#3 You love him, but…

...you don’t always have fun with him.

...you can see yourself with someone else.

...you can’t be yourself around him.

The list could go on and on! But, at the end of the day, sometimes loving someone is not enough of a reason to stay. Love with no depth of connection, commitment, or fruitful commonalities, is fundamentally not a love worth fighting for.

#4 You feel like you have to compromise.

Two things:

1. Be 100% clear and grounded about your boundaries. Some guys are professional boundary pushers. If you haven’t decided for YOURSELF how fast and how far you’re willing to go, and when, you may look up and find yourself in a place you rather not be.

2. Be honest with yourself about what you REALLY want; you’re not

asking for too much. You’ll short change yourself in the long run if you choose to ignore the deal breakers.

#5

He’s always making excuses. You’re ready to take things to the next level. You all have even talked about it. Yet, that seemingly pivotal conversation is always followed by “BUT,…” But, I’m really busy. But, I was hurt in my last relationship. But, I don’t want to force anything. All this means is that you are not a priority. If he wanted you, he would have you. Period.

#6 He doesn’t draw you closer to Christ.

Any man that takes you away from God, His Word, His way, His standard, and His best, is indeed, not the one for you.

He doesn’t have to shout and speak in tongues to be a “man of God”. However, he should be a man who is ACTIVE in his faith-developing himself in God’s Word and in prayer with concern about the things of Christ.

Brandi Nicole Williams is an author, speaker, minister, and entrepreneur. She is the author of Legs Down, Prayers Up: 6 Keys to Unlocking Purpose While Waiting. Brandi is extremely passionate about creating lifestyle transformation that moves people into purpose with a clear identity in Christ.

Website: www.whoisbrandinicole.com

Email: brandi@whoisbrandinicole.com

Facebook: Brandi Nicole

Instagram: @whoisbnicole

Hey there, fellow dog enthusiasts! I'm Antonio Johnson, but you can call me Tony Montana. Born and bred in Memphis, TN, I've defied the odds and negativity to pursue my passion for breeding dogs for over a decade. Now, in 2023, I've taken the leap to turn my love into a professional venture.

Welcome to Tony Montana Kennels, where we specialize in breeding exotic American Pitbull Terriers (Bullies) and French Bulldogs (Frenchies). Alongside my rock, Jessica Stevens, we've poured our hearts into establishing ourselves as true breeders of these magnificent creatures.

What sets us apart? We're not driven by financial gain; we're in it to create beautiful dogs for wonderful families. This isn't just a business, it's a labor of love.

Starting this journey wasn't easy. After leaving a job that didn't appre ciate my talents, I decided it was time to carve my own path. As they say, "Success is hard. If it's easy, you're not doing something right." So, I'm here, putting in the long hours, the patience, the dedication, and the determination to make my dreams a reality.

My biggest inspiration? My late father, John Henry Johnson. He taught me that with enough grit and determination, anything is possible. I'm e ternally grateful for the support of my mother, Renell Johnson, and my sister, Amber Johnson. They keep me grounded and motivated every step of the way.

Join us on this exciting journey! Follow us on Instagram @tonymontanakennelz and shoot us an email at mrjohnson0607@gmail.com for inquiries. Let's spread joy and love through our beautiful animals together.

In today’s society, we have an intimacy crisis! We are afraid of it. We have a problem with it. We don’t understand it. And yet, we agonize over the lack of it in our relationships Many of us just don’t know what intimacy truly is or how to have it with another person.

Just look at the evolution of euphemisms we use to describe our relationships. People used to “date”. We don’t date anymore because it sounds too hokey for today’s modern relationship. Next, we began saying we are “going out”. This, too became obsolete. Today, we use “seeing someone”. The terminology we use shows a disconnect, a fear. We keep a distance in our relationships, thus, setting up a blockade, a barrier, a buffer, if you will. Intimacy means you become attached; joined; you stop being alone. Is it the antidote to loneliness or is it supposed to be? Ultimately, by not embracing intimacy, we are causing what we fear most and undoing what is most precious to us.

Remember, knowledge is power and through understanding, one can gain insight. We are here to help answer the age-old question: what is intimacy and how can I have it with another person? First, you must realize intimacy is a process, not a thing. It is definitely more than just a feeling or an emotion; it is a necessity.

Intimacy takes place over time. There are several types or forms of intimacy. Cognitive or intellectual intimacy is when two people share thoughts and ideas. They enjoy both similarities and differences of opinions.

They are open, expressive, and true communicators. Experiential intimacy is when people are involved in mutual activities together. While engaged in the activity, they say very little to each other. They aren’t having to share thoughts, feelings, or ideas. They are just being active together; basically, just sharing the same space. Many of you may be shocked to find out that this is a type of intimacy.

Emotional intimacy is when two people can share their feelings with each other. They have empathy and sympathy. They are truly understanding and considerate of the other person’s emotions. This type of intimacy is sensual and can be quite intense. Sexual intimacy is what most people think of when they think of intimacy. However, most people don’t truly understand what it means to be sexually intimate.

Sexual intimacy is much more than just mere intercourse. It includes a broad range of various activities. It encompasses any form of sexual expression you have with another person. If you properly understand the difference between sexuality and intimacy, then you realize sexuality is connected to intimacy. They are not synonymous. Having both sexuality and intimacy can lead to an extremely passionate, intense, and very fulfilling relationship.

Intimacy takes many shapes and expressions. It means many things for different people at different stages during their lives. Remember, true intimacy never stagnates because any kind of stagnation in a relationship kills intimacy. Many of you may be

Corner

asking yourself… okay, I understand the types of intimacy now, but what does that really mean? Basically, to have intimacy with another person you need to:

• Reveal yourself, thus making you vulnerable. This should be done in a trusting, loving, and secure relationship;

• Have a sense of being in a relationship that isn’t judgmental, coercive, punitive, or abusive;

• Share a sense of having a unique and distinct bond that is joining you to another human being;

• Have a sense of being exposed and somewhat fragile;

• Share a sense of tenderness, caring, and genuine affection;

• Demonstrate mutual respect, recognition, and approval of each other’s needs (including sexual needs)

This shared intimacy can result in loving sexual intercourse. To have intimacy, you must put aside the fear of exposure, overcome the resistance to being known, and allow another human being into that part of your life that is uncomfortable. This is the first step toward true intimacy with another.

In upcoming editions, the Women Who Rock Nashville Magazine will continue to delve into intimacy and what it means to us as individuals and as a society. What are you going to do differently today to bring intimacy into your life?

Ice Magazine, April 2009, Ice Media Group, LLC

verragio

unlike any other ring

Public attention has focused on the surprisingly high percentage of high school adolescents, grates 9-12, who are engaging in oral sex. Although the topic is rarely investigated, empirically, data suggest that approximately 33 percent – 59 percent of high school teens and more specifically, 7 percent –24 percent of adolescent virgin’s report that they have either given or received oral sex.

Once thought of as taboo, in today’s society, it is overwhelming the number of teens who are engaging in cunnilingus, fellatio, and analingus with blatant disregard for the

Oral Sex

Adolescents and is it really sex or not?

by Gigi Chance

implications of this type of intimacy or the concern for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Many adolescents view it as no big deal. Many younger adults have the misconstrued notion that oral sex isn’t sex at all. However, they are sadly mistaken. The act of oral sex is a more intimate act than intercourse. The mere act is intimate because you are tasting another human being, your face is front and center in another person’s most private areas.

By definition, oral sex is sexual activity which involves the use of the mouth. It may include the use of the tongue, teeth, and throat to stimulate genitalia. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on a man. Analingus refers to oral stimulation of one’s anus. For the record, oral stimulation of other parts of the body that include kissing or licking is usually not considered oral sex. We will forgo the numerous euphemisms used in today’s society to describe this sexual activity.

Studies indicating the increase and prevalence of oral activity among younger generations concluded that adolescents were more likely to report engagement in oral sex than intercourse. They reported more oral sex partners than intercourse partners and were unlikely to report use of STI protection during oral sex. Additionally, adolescents associate oral sex with specific social benefits within their peer group. These include a high status and popularity among peers. The belief that engagement in oral sex may help maintain or elevate an individual’s level of status among peers may be one factor that influences adolescents’ decisions to engage in this behavior. Perceptions of their best friends’ behavior was significantly associated with their own oral sex behavior. For instance, of the adolescents who reported engagement in oral sex, 56.5 percent reported that their best friend had also engaged in oral sex activity; 82.5 percent reported that their best friend didn’t engage in oral sexual activity, as well. It was noted that the

adolescents who re ported sexual activity had high levels of reputationbased popularity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Currently, over three million American teenagers become infected with one or more STIs each year. Therefore, we want to education everyone to let you know that sexually transmitted disease (STDs) are a real concern. Chlamydia, human papilloma virus (HPV), gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis (multiple strains), and other STDs –including HIV – can be transmitted through oral sex. For instance, if the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on their genitals, of if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in their mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STD transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods relatively soon before or after giving oral sex can also increase the risk of transmission. This is because all of these activities can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STDS. Such contact can also lead to more mundane infections from common bacteria and viruses found in, around, and secreted from the genital regions.

Due to disease risks, many medical professionals advise the use of condoms or dental dams when performing or receiving oral sex with a partner. Especially those whose STD status is unknown. A makeshift dental dam can be made out of a condom. The steps to do this are listed:

1. Check the expiration date on the condom;

2. Move the condom to one side of the package;

3. Open the condom with your fingers. Do not use your teeth, scissors, or any other sharp objects;

4. Cut off the tip of the condom;

5. Stick scissors through the middle and cut;

6. Unroll and place over the vagina or anus. If you are using a flavored condom, be sure to place the flavored side facing out. Make sure he lubricated side is facing your partner

Using a real dental dam is preferable. They are larger and the makeshift version may be accidentally poked during the cutting procedure. Plastic wrap may also be used as a barrier during oral sex. Keep in mind, many may find that the thickness of the plastic dulls sensation, Certain kinds of plastic wrap are manufactured with tiny holes to allow venting during microwaving. This wouldn’t be a good type to use because they may allow transmission of pathogens. You also need to consider the disposal of condoms and dental dams. Experts recommend they be disposed of in a trash receptacle; not by flushing them down the toilet. Flushing them may clog plumbing or cause other problems. Although biodegradable, latex condoms and dental dams can ad will damage the environment when disposed of improperly. Those made of polyurethane do not break down at all. In addition, the plastic and foil wrappers which are used to package condoms and dental dams are not biodegradable. However, the benefits condoms and dental dams offer are widely considered to offset their small landfill mass.

Please note we are in no way condoning nor criticizing those who participate in this activity. We are merely trying to educate individuals so that they can be informed, make good decisions, and understand the implications of their acts.

Reference: Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2003, pp. 243-249 © 2003 Society of Pediatric Psychology

Standing with women who lift us all.

We’re proud to help honor the Women Who Rock and congratulate Stephani Ryan for receiving this year’s Phenomenal Woman Award.

Thank you for exemplifying integrity, civic duty and social responsibility in the Nashville community.

©2024 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

A LEGACY OF BEAUTY

As a blogger, I write articles that shine a spotlight on women trailblazers for Christ. I interview them by first asking a few core questions about beauty. Why? Because I know that many young girls and women struggle with both self-respect and self-love.¹ (Unilever’s Dove did 2 studies that support this.) Believe it or not, those are major barriers that prevent them from exceling. I’ve learned and understand that when a woman looks good, she feels good and gains added confidence to excel.

As I see women trailblazers making strides (especially for Christ) I’m often intrigued and want to hear the backstory of how they got to where they are. However, I thought it’s only fair that I also give my readers insight about my life. Let’s start by discussing how my childhood environment laid the foundation for my view on what is beauty.

My mother was a licensed cosmetologist and she concentrated on hair care. The reason I say this is because a lot of people may not know that while in school, student cosmetologists are also taught the basics in other areas. They’re taught basic skin care, make-up artistry and nail care. But like a doctor who may specialize in a certain field of medicine, a cosmetologist can take extra training to specialize in an area like aesthetics for skin care or hair coloring as a colorist.

My sister and I saw our mother do others’ hair, but we also saw her take care of herself. We saw her take care of her hair and groom herself. That grooming involved tweezing her eyebrows, under arm and leg hair removal, manicures and pedicures. Seeing her groom herself became the standard for my sister and me. We adopted the practice of grooming ourselves because we watched our mother do it. I had many trials and errors learning

By Amila Rolita

how to cut and style my hair. My goodness! It was so funny – disastrous even – when I was in high school, the things I did to my hair. I experimented with hair color and everything. I was also excited to tweeze my eyebrows for the first time. But, boy did it hurt!

When I was a little girl, sometimes my mother would have me put a very thick medical dictionary on top of my head. That thing felt like it weighed a ton. Then, I had to walk from one end of the living room or kitchen to the other. When I reached the other end, I had to carefully turn around and come back. The point was for me to walk keeping the book straight. When I’d turn to come back, I had to do it carefully without the book falling off my head. That was my mother’s way to teach me how to walk gracefully and to improve my posture.

Back then I was tomboyish. I liked hanging out and competing with the boys on my block. We would race, climb on top of garages, play softball and volleyball. We played so many games. I had so much fun hanging out with them. So, when my mom had me walking with a book on my head I thought, “What the heck? Why do I have to do this?” It wasn’t until I hit puberty and started to mature, that I began to appreciate the times that my mother taught me those things. She was and remains my foundation of beauty-care (self-care). Little did I know that I would grow to have an interest in and study cosmetology, as well as, aesthetics.

Nevertheless, my mother also taught me many principles about beauty. One that stands out to me is “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” Everyone has their viewpoint of what beauty looks like to them. What looks beautiful to one person may not look beautiful to someone else. Basically, that’s what that saying means. I’m so grateful

My sister, Sonja Regena, me (age 10) and Mom at a family reunion.

for the things that my mother taught me about beauty.

My sister and I were not raised in an environment where we were compared to one another. We were not allowed to fight or bicker and especially about what one of us had and the other one didn’t. We were not allowed to be competitive or combative.

It wasn’t until I was about five- or sixyears young that I began to experience a competitive environment among girls. I was in the first grade. There were a handful of girls who would compare the length of their hair with the other girls.

With her sassiness, the ringleader would say to someone, “Let me see who has the longest hair. Take down your hair and let’s see how long your hair really is.”

Then a couple of the other girls would chime in, “Yeah!” The poor victim would say, “Well, my hair isn’t really this short when I let it down.”

On another occasion, those girls would compare the texture of one another’s hair. That meant they would look at whose hair was wavy, curly or kinky curly. They’d gaze across the classroom to find a victim and say, “Her hair is pretty.” That sounds like a compliment until the ringleader would question her, “Is that your reeeaaal hair?”

In that environment I was uncomfortable because my sister and I didn’t do that to one another. So, I didn’t know how to deal with that at my age. I saw how cruel some girls could be towards one another. The jealousy, contention and strife were unbearable for me. I began to distant myself from them. Reflecting on it, I’m sure that’s why I started to play with little boys more than I did with girls.

REVEALING THE ILLUSION

It is nice to look at people and appreciate their appearances. People like people they are attracted to. We like people who are pleasing to our eyes. Unfortunately, sometimes we can put unrealistic standards of beauty upon one another.

That reminds me of when I was working part-time in an advertising agency while I was in college. With all the different campaigns we worked on, one still stands out to me. Honestly, I don’t remember the product. I do, however, remember the poster of a lady’s face with her chin resting on her elegantly positioned hand. The

picture itself was set in grayscale (primarily gray in color). The only thing that was in color was her lips. She had on ruby red lipstick, and the color popped from the picture. Even still, her face looked creamy and flawless.

A few copies of that poster hung throughout the agency. There were many times I’d stare in awe at how beautiful she looked. Her lips were perfectly shaped within the lipstick.

One day I went into one of the artist’s office to discuss something for work. He was an artist who had worked on that campaign. I saw one of the posters on the floor leaning against the wall.

“That is a beautiful picture!” I exclaimed as I pointed to it.

He picked the poster up and curiously asked me, “So you really like this picture?” I said emphatically, “Yes.”

He replied, “Let me show you something.”

He reached down on the side of his desk and pulled out another poster. It was the first proof of the same lady’s face. He said, “This is what that picture looks like before we airbrushed it.” That was my introduction to airbrushing. He explained that there is much work that goes into making a picture look flawless. On that first proof, I could see the model’s nose hair, facial hair, fine lines, wrinkles and every blemish on her face that was visible to my eyes.

He continued, “We airbrush the photograph so that it looks like this when we are done. We remove every imperfection – every flaw – to make this picture look perfect.” I was outdone.

At that time, airbrushing photographs was not widely known outside of the advertising industry. Now with modern technology, we use forms of editing that came from airbrushing. Photo editing is done by using computers, phones and apps. Today there are many ways to alter a picture. Not only can a nose be altered, but a face can be slenderized. A waist can be cinched.

That day I learned in the advertising industry they do what they need to do to a picture to give the illusion that it is perfection. But there is no perfect person. There is no perfect face or body.

In this era, that is what young girls – and even women – must contend with more than before. That is the standard that

advertising, fashion and entertainment industries have set. Young girls and women feel the pressure to compete with that illusion. It reaches not only our local communities, but across our nation and internationally with the world-wide web and its far-reaching span.

TURNING THE TIDE

“Beauty is only skin deep” is a popular saying that explains society’s belief. It certainly confirms their standard. God, the Creator of mankind, teaches that beauty is deeper than the layers of our skin.

As a young adult, I began to really understand the awesome sacrifice God made in offering up Christ for my sins. I accepted the gift of Christ and invited Him into my heart and life. Afterwards, God told me to make Him my example. So, as I studied God’s Word, I learned about Christ’s character. I began to practice those principles and I began to change on the inside. That is how I learned about the true beauty that shines from the character of the heart. It is the essence – the nature –that is Christ. That is the beauty God is looking for. That is the beauty that He wants radiating in all that we do.

It is my pleasure to shine the spotlight on women who radiate the inner beauty of Christ in their daily lives. Some of these women are nurses, event planners, life coaches, doctors, fashion designers, actresses, as well as, radio personalities. Whatever their careers, these women have set a goal to allow Christ to shine in their daily lives. They make a difference in their families, communities and the world at large. With society’s overwhelming focus on beauty, body image and sexuality, we need positive examples of change agents. It is my hope that young girls and women will be inspired to not only look their personal best, but to be and to do their personal best. ♥

© Copyright

¹Dove Research: The Real Truth About Beauty: Revisited © 2014 UNILEVER

Amila Rolita is a blogger, speaker and author of Reversing the Woman’s Curse (formerly Probing the Woman’s Curse).

MWomen Who Rock Nashville Movement is a diverse group of women dedicated to the advancement of all women. We encourage strong networks among our members and recognition that foster the advancement of women's unIimited careers.

Membership Includes:

Educational meetings, Social Teas, Luncheons, and Annual WWRN Event Pass

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