Church Girl CEO Magazine-Summer 2023

Church Girl CEO

MAGAZINE

BRIDGING

THE GAP BETWEEN

Ministry & Business

Celebrity

IN THIS ISSUE Satisfy your cravings in the Spirit.

See what Mombasa, Kenya has to offer.

Bever-leigh

Banfield

takes us behind the scenes of her new book, “Twelve Stories High”

Learning to say “NO,” ...and more!

SUMMER 2023

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STAFF CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deborah Franklin SENIOR EDITOR JC Gardner LEAD LAYOUT DESIGNER Brandon J. Jolly

19 Check out our Cover Queen:

Table of

Bever-leigh Banfield

Contents 3 6 7 11 13 19 26

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Pay Attention to Your Cravings:

by Debrayta Salley

Solitude with A Good Meal Fills the Soul:

by JC Gardner Mombasa, Kenya - A Hidden Gem:

by Tracy Shorter Hot Fun In the Summertime:

by Nichelle Johnson, Kolor Beauty Leader in Ministry Spotlight by JC Gardner: Terrance Neal Bever-leigh Banfield Dishes on her New Novel:

by Deborah Franklin Two Letters That Are A Complete Sentence: Dr. Latanya Henry-Smith, LSSP

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Editor’s Letter Hey Ya’ll! All I can say is Ahhhmazing!!

When I say God moved in a mighty way while we were on missions in June/July would have to be an understatement. Missions has always been in my heart and came to life on my first mission trip while in college. If you have never done missions, all I can say is you need to do it!

It will change your life in a special way.

It’s now official that Deborah Franklin Publishing (DFP) is an international publishing house. We were able to do two book launches with two of our authors in Kenya. I have to give a big shout out to our Kenyan authors: Bishop Dickson Omukosi and Braidley Ayuma for trusting me with their stories.

All I can say is GOD. When you put in the work and don’t lose sight of what God has shown you, manifestation will come. I’m not going to say it has been easy or that we didn’t have any hurdles to jump over, but God did it. For those that are not aware, Church Girl CEO is only 3 years old, and Deborah Franklin Publishing is 5 years old. So in other words, they may be young but they are making an impact locally and internationally.

The cover story this month is extremely near and dear to my heart. Bever-Leigh Banfield, who is most known for Roots Next Generations and Good Times, is also my mentor. I promise you, without her words of wisdom and encouragement, you would not be reading any of this today. She is an awesome person and a beautiful light. She is debuting her new book here, so I encourage everyone to go out and get a copy.

I’m so humbled because of where God is taking Church Girl CEO Magazine and Deborah Franklin Publishing (DFP). Trust in God’s divine timing and be faithfully committed to your assignment; then, watch Him work!

Deborah Franklin

Deborah Franklin Editor In-Chief, Church Girl CEO Magazine

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Pay Attention

to Your Cravings Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Happy Summer to You & Yours!

BY D E B R AY TA S A L L E Y

I pray that you were able to “Set your Intention” for your wellness’ sake and “Let the Sunshine In” like I suggested in the SUMMER ISSUE. Despite a lot of cloudy skies and summer rains, we’ve had a few good, sunny days so far. Thank God for that!! I pray that you made time to put on sunscreen and enjoy some good ole Vitamin D. At this stage in life, we all know that we can’t do anything successfully or consistently if we don’t first give our bodies the true sustenance that it needs; however, despite that, we don’t always comply. For example, so far this summer, I have overindulged in a few of my favorite things: various fast foods, crabs, crab boils, Italian ice and snowballs to satisfy my cravings and lack of desire to cook a meal at home. In the moment, it was easier to run in for carryout or spin through the drive through and pick up some of my favorites. I will not tell a lie; it was all tasty!! And as a foodie, I do not regret it! On the other hand, however, my body’s response to feeding it what “I” wanted in the moment instead of what it needed long-term was another story! It certainly let me know that it was unhappy. You know like when a baby spits out the baby food after you have just entertained them with that

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airplane motion and sounds and swooshed it into their mouth, LOL Similarly, the Holy Spirit reminded me that satisfying a “Craving” in the moment may taste good, look good, sound good, but may not always be good for you in the larger scheme of things. So do everything in moderation, but always pay attention to the results it brings. Amen.

Fast forward to recently. I had a strong craving for being near the water, along with a healthy salad with lots of different vegetables. I made a quick run to the grocery store to get a few additional items to add to the lineup. Unfortunately, when I returned home, the huge avocados and cucumbers that I bought weeks ago looked great on the outside but were discolored and mushy inside, so I had to settle with the few items that were left. In the end, the salad was very tasty, but I know that the missing ingredients would have made it even better. My taste buds are rolling around just thinking about it.

I can see so many lessons in this experience, but I’ll leave you with two. (1) Don’t let what you have go to waste; use it before it spoils.

(2) I had great intentions when I brought those healthy veggies/fruit a few weeks ago,

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but my unhealthy cravings overwrote what I already knew my body needed. I needed to Physically, Mentally, Emotionally and Spiritually align my will with what’s best for me rather than what would satisfy my “craving” in the moment. AMEN!!

Enjoy the remainder of your Summer without regret, but pay attention to your cravings and use wisdom in satisfying them.

Debrayta Denise Get a copy of my new 30-Day Journal “A Safe Place to Land” at: www.debraytadenise. com.

The daily prompts, reflections, and empowerment will assist you in meeting the goals, desires, quiet time and change that you desire.

Use Code: SUMMER2023 at Checkout to save 25% the entire site! Note: One Time use only.

Debrayta D. Salley aka “Debrayta Denise” is an online boutique owner and the Founder of Debrayta Salley Enterprises where she writes, speaks & hosts intimate meet ups with intention to Empower Paths, Support Growth and Inspire Change.” She also Blogs and provides “Safe Spaces” for Women to unwind and get renewed in Body, Soul and Spirit.

Subscribe to the “A Safe Place to Land” Blog: https://bit.ly/3ihpqe.

Shop for Inspirational Apparel & Home Decor: www.debraytadenise.com.

One Stop view of opportunities to connect: https://linktr.ee/DebraytaDenise

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Solitude

With a Good Meal

Fills the Soul

BY JC GARDNER

As a foodie – one who loves to cook and dine out, I really do enjoy a good meal. I love food that is seasoned and looks pretty. Yes, I said “pretty.” If you’re going to take time to serve me, I do want my plate to be inviting and attractive, although sometimes that does backfire, meaning it can look great, but it never saw a lick of seasoning (LOL).

But back to good food. I’ve enjoyed food with friends and alone. At first, dining at a restaurant alone felt weird, but then after the first time or two, it felt good. I could leisurely sit and enjoy my own company, order what I want without question, and take my time enjoying the meal.

It allows me to reflect and meditate on my day or the next day. For some reason, I can plan better in that setting and also feel less pressure.

I do love talking and good conversation, but being in that quiet space is soul satisfying. And sometimes I do have a laptop with me, notebook, or journal. I never know when inspiration will come knocking.

If there is music in the atmosphere, that just adds to the experience. I have also found when I’m dining alone, I seem to get excellent service.

Now maybe the wait staff is feeling sensitive or questioning, “Why is she alone?,” but it has worked to my advantage many times.

If you are having a bad or off day, or if you have been serving others nonstop, treat yourself to a meal at a highly rated restaurant. Get a table of your choice and have a cocktail or mocktail.

Sit back and relax and release that stress. Going to an upscale establishment, for most, is not something you would do every day, but every once in a while, tell yourself that you deserve it and then do it. I often hear people say, “I would really like to go to XX, but no one wants to go with me.” That right there is an opportunity for you to take the leap and go by yourself. Then report back about the wonderful time you had, or maybe the opposite, but at least you did not sit around waiting until never to do something your heart desired. This goes for traveling, theater, and other activities where being by yourself can be lifechanging. That’s another article (LOL).

So next time you are feeling blue, worried, stuck, and so on, create your own occasion and do not wait for others to enjoy the finer things in life.

Make that reservation and enjoy being waited on for a change. I bet it won’t be the last time, and it will do you a world of good!

JC Gardner is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, speaker, poet and writing coach.

Visit www.blossomlitservices.com to see how to bring your literary dreams to life!

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MOMBASA A HIDDEN GEM for restaurants and shopping.

BY TRACY SHORTER

Like many people, I wondered what it would be like to visit the beautiful county of Africa.

Fortunately, I got that opportunity this year during a recent mission trip to Kenya.

Our

mission assignment was primarily in Nairobi and Kitale, Kenya, but I was excited when the opportunity to add a couple of beach day in Mombasa was added to the calendar. Today, I want to share with you all the things to do in this beautiful location. Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and if you love beaches and history, this is a place you will truly enjoy.

The city borders the Indian Ocean and has a collection of award-winning beaches, with Dania Beach being the most notable.

Most people traveling to Mombasa will travel from Nairobi by air. There are charter flights that leave every couple of hours, and the per person price roundtrip ranged from $75 to $150. If driving is your thing and you want to explore the countryside as you travel, then you can travel by car within 8 hours and by train, it will take about 5 hours. I chose to travel by air, which took all of 45 minutes; it was quick, and the airport was easy and very manageable. The downside to the airport was the limited options

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After meeting our driver outside of baggage claim, we headed to our hotel -- an all-inclusive resort about 20 minutes away

from

the

airport

called

The

Voyager. Upon arriving at the Voyager, we were greeted by our check-in host, offer drinks, and the opportunity to relax while our check-in paperwork and keys were gathered. This property was so beautiful.

The staff was extremely

friendly and timely in fulfilling requests of the guest. Our room was an oceanfront room balcony and very roomy for two people. Having an all-inclusive

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A, KENYA

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package

meant

food

and

drinks

were included and for this property, I was not disappointed in either. The drink menu had specialty drinks that changed each day to give a variety and while the dining room was buffet style, the options and stations created a wide range that I was able to experience something different each day, if desired.

Additional things to note when staying in Mombasa:

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When traveling to the market for shopping, be sure to convert money beforehand. This can be done at the airport, your resort, and even the ATM. When shopping, keep your

money in several different compartment so you are not displaying large amounts of cash at one time. A guide to assist with communication can be helpful.

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Tracy D. Shorter

Work with your travel agent to book tours before arriving at the tour site. This will give you the opportunity to maybe customize a tour to your specific interest

vs. taking tours with guides soliciting business outside the various popular tour destinations.

Tracy is a Group and Cruise Travel Specialist with Shorter Route Travel and has been in the travel industry since 2017. With over 15 years’

Research is key to determining the tour right

experience as a former wedding/

for you and the time you must spend in the

event planner, she has a broad

location.

Overall, while my time in Mombasa was short, it was relaxing. Five to seven days are suggested to explore all this city has to offer. Looking to check out this beautiful country? Let me know, I am here to help.

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tracy@shorterroutetravel.net

knowledge in planning group and individual travel. A few of her personal travel destinations have included Jamaica, Puerto Rico, San Cabo, St. Thomas, Nassau, and Alaska. Providing her clients with excellent customer service is her top priority.

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HOT FUN

in the Summertime!

BEAUTY EVOLUTION

Beauty by Kolor Beauty Hey Chicas! Hot fun in the summertime! I hope the summer has been good to you!

I love seeing my beautiful sisters of shades and ethnic backgrounds show up in every vibrant color under the sun from oranges to mangos, to hot pinks, yellows, and greens. Y’all are givng a new meaning to accessorizing the infamous maxi dress.

I am going to keep this short and sweet this time around. Although summer is more than halfway over, there are still some great finds that caught my attention at the beginning of July. So far, Juvia’s Place makeup line is giving me all kinds of life this summer. The vibrancy and pigmentation of the eyeshadow pallets are breathtaking.

The eyeshadow pallets come in many different inspirational color themes. My two personal favorites are: 1.

Nubian Earth, which is like coffee with cream and a few neutrals

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and chocolates to keep it interesting and 2. Nubian Coral, corals mixed with neutrals like creamsicle to keep it sultry and sunny. The case consists of 12 shadows and is an easy fold case. The purchase price is so affordable at $12.00. If you are in need of a total refresh of colors, Juvia’s Place also offers a shadow case that gives you 30 colors at $36.00. Juvia’s Place is a whole vibe. The beauty collection offers eyeshadows of your choice, lip glosses, foundation, and so on. Trust me, it will not disappoint. What I like most about this line are the price points are very appealing and won’t break the bank.

Ulta carries a good amount of inventory, if you want to go in an experience the colors before purchasing. If you want the full experience of all that Juvia’s Place has to offer, visit the website https://www. juviasplace.com. You will be awed and oohed.

My next and last beauty find for this summer is the memorable impression of a beautiful fragrance. You know what they say: no man can resist the scent of a woman.

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So, you had better make sure yours is a good one! Parfums De Marly is making it presence known this summer. Delina Eau de Parfum @$355.00 is her name and she is winning summer 2023. It’s pretty, it’s floral, it’s alluring, and makes you feel and smell like pure royalty. You can find this luxurious scent in Nordstrom, Saks, and Neimans.

Nichelle has over 25 years of experience in the makeup industry. She has

Well Ladies, that’s it for me this time around.

I will see you in the Fall season. I have a feeling it will be pretty exciting!

worked with some of the top cosmetic

Nichelle Johnson aka Kolor Beauty Enterprise…

Kolor Beauty…Stay Blessed

She is currently freelancing as an Estee

lines such as MAC, Estee Lauder, Fashion Fair and Benefits Cosmetics.

Lauder Expert throughout the MD, DC, VA, & DE Corridor where she teaches women skin care and makeup daily routine techniques.

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Camera Ready

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LEADER IN

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

TERRANCE NEAL

BY JC GARDNER

It is my honor to present to you our first male feature in Church Girl CEO Magazine, Terrance Neal, a dynamic, creative, professional photographer located in Milford, Delaware.

As a teenager, Terry was fascinated with how his father would peek behind his old Petri 7S camera and turn the lens this way and that; about a week later, the memories of that particular day were forever frozen in time. The sound of the shutter snapping was hypnotizing. He didn’t know it, but his entrepreneurial journey was being birthed. He credits his father for instilling within him the love of photography.

JG: What is the name of your business and how did you get started?

The name of my business is Bring The Noise Photography

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aka BTN Photos. I’ve actually been doing

at the proper rate so that I can afford a

photography since I was a teenager. My

comfortable lifestyle like others who a work

father gave me my first camera; it was

a 40-to-50-hour week on a regular job.

a Petri 7S. It was in 2012 while sitting in

People tend to think that photographers

a church service when Bring The Noise

and/or possibly other service providers are

was born. The scripture that inspired me

always overcharging, therefore, we don’t

was Deuteronomy 8:18:

deserve the fee that we’re asking for.

But remember

the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so

JG:

What has been the most rewarding

confirms his covenant, which he swore to

aspect of being in business?

your ancestors, as it is today.

Because I deal with a lot of people firsthand, for me, it’s seeing the faces of individuals

JG: What are the benefits/services your

when they see their images load up on my

business provides and how long have you

big screen in my studio. 85% of my clients

been in business?

are women and many never thought they

I offer fun but professional photography

looked as beautiful as they really are. So to

services. I’m more of a portrait photographer,

see that response is priceless.

so anything involving people is what I focus

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on. But, if I had to narrow it down to specific

JG: What helps you relax or de-stress?

categories of portrait photography that I

That happens when I’m doing personal

specialize in, it would be commercial and

photography projects. I love the beauty/

portrait style headshots, senior portraits,

fashion industry so doing projects around

corporate events, regular portraits, and

that actually de-stresses me. I also love to

beauty/fashion editorial photography. I

watch spy movies, superhero movies, and

do family photography and weddings on

historical documentaries. I used to read

a smaller scale as well. I’ve been doing

a lot, but I sadly admit, I’ve gotten a little

photography full time since 2015.

lazy over the years.

JG: What has been the most challenging

JG: Give the reader some encouraging

aspect of being in business?

words or share your favorite quote.

As an entrepreneur, I’m every department

Oh wow -- I would say this to anyone: God

head: marketing director, senior accountant,

made you just the way he wanted you. You

shipping/receiving

web

are beautiful, wonderfully, and fearfully

designer. But I guess the most challenging

made. Never let anyone convince you that

thing is trying to cost out my services. I have

you’re not. If you have dreams, never stop

to understand the demographics of my

chasing them; do everything in your power

area while trying to offer a superior service

to bring them to fruition.

director,

and

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do it again. If he chooses not to anymore, JG: If you could snap your shutter and

that’s okay. Maybe he has something else

instantly and be anywhere in the world,

for me to do, another mountain to climb.

where would it be?

Again, I have to remember the Lord, for it

It’s a lot to think about, but honestly,

is He that gives me power to be successful.

I’d want to be right where I am right now. I have traveled nationally and

For Terry, Bring The Noise is not just a job,

internationally and yes, there are still

career or hobby. It’s who he is, and he tells

some places that I’d like to visit, but I also

all his clients, “When you work me, you’re

know that where I’m at right now, I’m

not working with someone who takes

really blessed. I’m happy right where I’m

pics, pictures, photos, or photographs; I

at. My wife and kids are here, and we’re

create images.” His passion for fashion

all healthy and blessed. I want to be

and

where they are.

meet and photograph many beautiful

modeling

has

allowed

him

to

people. Because of his love for low light JG: Who would you like to shout-out?

photography, he’s working on creating a

I have to give my wife, Vernisia “Ness”

signature style of photography called, “One

the first shout out. When I told her that

Light Model Photography.”

I was going to do photography full time, she NEVER doubted that I’d be successful.

Contact “Bring The Noise”:

Did she wonder how it was going to be

Bring The Noise Photography, Milford, DE

done? Absolutely! But she knows me and

Telephone: 302-359-7764

everything I set my mind and body to, I’m

Email:

going to make it happen. I definitely want

Terry@bringthenoisephotography.com;

to shout out my kids, too. Lastly, my clients

btn_photography@yahoo.com

and my social media followers. Without

Website: bringthenoisephotograhy.com

them, there would be no BTN Photos.

Facebook: Facebook.com/btnPhotos or Facebook.com/BringTheNoisePhotography

JG: How has your faith sustained you or

Instagram: @bringthenoisephotos

played a role in your life?

Man, without faith, I wouldn’t be here.

When things get slow, and I mean slow, I have to dig deep into my Bible and remember who got me here. I watched Jesus perform many miracles in my business. I ALWAYS say, He did it once, twice, many times, so He can most certainly

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TERRANCE NEAL 17

Bring The Noise

www.bringthenoisephotograhy.com

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BEVER-LEIGH BANFIELD Dishes on Her New Novel,

“Twelve Stories High”

BY DEBORAH FRANKLIN

Y’all might know her as a celebrity. You may know her as somebody that’s an actress. Did you know she does voiceovers? For those of us that grew up watching the sitcom, “Good Times,” you may have seen here there or on “Roots: The Next Generations.”

She has all these attributes and more, but for me, when I look at her, I call her Mentor, because when I met her, I was going through a situation, and she blessed my entire soul that day and has been doing so ever since.

We became close friends. One day she said, “If you can do it for everybody else, why can’t you do it for yourself?” I was like, well, I guess I can! And that was the spark that fueled me to launch out and do the different things that I have been doing.

To add to her many credits, she also just released a fabulous new book, “Twelve Stories High.” I couldn’t wait to hear all about it and share it with you too.

Deborah I can call and ask you anything and you will give me one of these responses, “I don’t think

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that’s going to work, go girl, or you got it.” But

imagine -- unimaginable trials to get us to this

my favorite response that you have given me

moment right now.

is, “All right, what are you going to do about it after you figure it out?” And I appreciate you

And so we need to live up to that with whatever

for that.

our dreams and goals are. And sometimes we get comfortable, we get complacent. We don’t

Bever-leigh

reach for our higher selves. Be grateful for where

Absolutely. Because we absolutely need each

you are, but we have so much within us, and it’s

other. Especially as Black women, we have

just a matter of going for the next step. Always

this double whammy. So we have to really get

looking for the best person that we can be for

together and join our spirits, join our energies,

our families, for ourselves, for others. That’s our

and join all of our goodwill. Add to that all of our

lives. And sometimes if we don’t push ourselves,

dreams and goals and the tasks that we have to

the universe will.

do every day to get ‘em going and mesh those things together because that’s a lot of power in

Deborah

us being sisters.

The power of positive self-talk is evident in the characters in “Twelve Stories High” by

Deborah

just being able to have that positivity within

A lot of times we think we’re being pushed, but

themselves.

we really aren’t. But what does being pushed really look like?

Bever-leigh Absolutely. Because no matter what comes

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Bever-leigh

at you in life, you should be able to have

Well, sometimes it comes in the shape of the

a storehouse of your own security. Like for

women in the book. It’s really life and death

instance, the first story in the book is about a

circumstances because it’s a mystery, thriller,

woman who’s 70 years old, and her husband

and suspense short story book. It’s really life and

just comes home one day and says he doesn’t

death at stake, you know? For us, sometimes

want to be married to her anymore. And

it can be a small thing that pushes us. Like I

then before she can really adjust to that, he

recently lost my mom. Well, I didn’t lose her.

disappears. So instead of sitting on her laurels

She’s still there, you know; she’s just on the other

or just, you know, getting in the bed and pulling

side, but she got her wings. And that has pushed

the covers over her head or whatever, she goes

me to go even further than I had thought about

for an adventure. And it turns out that she has

going before because I think about her, and I

had a piece of property that was willed to her

think about all of my ancestors and I think

that she never even looked at because her

about everything our ancestors went through

whole life was about her husband and her

to get us here. Now in this moment when the

three daughters. She never even explored it

political climate and economic climate is so

because her comfort zone was so small that she

bananas, when all these things are going on,

took care of her husband and her children and

they went through things that we cannot

her jobs and everything else was about other

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people. So she goes on this adventure to find this place, and that’s how the mystery comes up. All kinds of things happen that are unexpected and kind of scary for her. And because she has a storehouse of strength, she knows she has strength to deal with it.

The second story in the book is about a seven-year-old. Something terrible happens to her in the second grade, and she’s accused of having done it and she hasn’t done it, but even at seven years old, she’s self-possessed enough to go ahead and deal with it.

She’s even stronger than her parents are in being able to deal with it.

So I think that the whole message is that no matter what happens to you in life, if you know who you are and you know what you’re meant to do, no matter what people say, no matter

general. A lot of times we go through life, and

how people treat you, and as Black women,

we’re not seen the way we hope to be seen. So

goodness knows we have a lot of obstacles to

what I wanted to do was bring a cross section

overcome in terms of the way other people see

of women with all kinds of different dreams,

us and the way we see ourselves. And we’ve

different

always had the church historically and had

different ways of dealing with the world. What

our faith to rely upon. In the end, I think that’s

I wanted to do was to be able to delve into the

how we overcome so many obstacles.

different minds of different women and have

goals,

different

personalities,

and

them seen in a way that perhaps they’re not seen in the everyday world.

Deborah What was the motivation behind creating these ladies and telling their stories in this

But my motivation was to let people see on the

book?

inside how things affect us. And one of the things in the book is about the way that we’re treated by police, which is obvious, with the things that

Bever-leigh so

have happened lately, you know? How we

often we’re just not seen as Black women

can be in our homes and get shot through the

particularly, and women, and just people in

window when all we’re trying to do is go and

My

motivation

really

was

because

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go forward on their own.

Deborah In closing, why is it important for us to give permission to ourselves, to take that selah, to be able to just soak it in from the character’s perspective?

Bever-leigh When it comes to life and death, things become very, very clear. And that’s a process that they go through in the book. Each woman is presented with a challenge that can affect their own life or the life of someone they love.

They have to become very clear, and they help people? I wanted to bring to the forefront how that affects us in our everyday lives.

Because if we see a police car pull up behind us, it’s not, “Oh, there’s the policemen, our friend, who is trying to help us.” Now there is fear, even if we’ve done nothing wrong. There is a fear that we can’t protect ourselves.

And what happens to the women in the book is that they wind up having to protect themselves because they’re not even willing to go to the police or ask for help because they think that could make the situation worse. Or even though they’re not the guilty party, they risk being directly accused of it; therefore, they’re on their own to have to deal with it. And I wanted to bring out the point that, in our everyday lives, these things affect us. Policing needs to be changed. I wanted to bring about stories where people had this affect them. These are women to love, to respect and to root for so people can really see how these things are affecting people personally in their own lives, and possibly derailing them if they don’t have the strength to

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find that they’re enjoying that space of being clear about what they have to do and why they have to do it. And they all change because you know, that’s what we enjoy about books. We see people confronted with all sorts of conflicts and they change, they evolve. You know what I mean? And it happens kind of magically in books. That’s one of the things that we like about heroes, books, movies, and TV shows. And that’s one thing about being an actress, is that you’re constantly putting yourself in somebody else’s shoes.

Bever-leigh Banfield is an award-winning writer, actress, voice-over artist, producer, director, show host and speaker. She has an extensive background

in

entertainment,

performing

on Broadway and in television series, feature films, theater productions and national TV commercials. https://www.beverleigh.com/

S U MMER I S S U E

W W W. BE V ERLEIGH . C OM 24

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S U MMER I S S U E

Two Letters that are a Complete Sentence

BY D R. L ATA N YA H E N RY - S M I T H

Ladies, do you always feel like you have too much to do, but none of it is for you?

Do you constantly feel like everybody wants something from you?

Do you feel like people walk all over you?

If this sounds like you, I’m 99% sure that there is a word that you are not using in your life.

As women, there is a two-letter word that is the hardest word for us to utter. Ladies, this is the strongest word in our vocabulary; it is a weapon of mass destruction, yet we do not use it. Not using it increases our stress, and anxiety and decreases our energy and happiness. It also causes us to take on more than we can bear.

What is that word? I’m so glad you asked. The word is…“NO.” There are multiple reasons why we don’t use this word of mass destruction.

1. We are socialized to say “yes” no matter what. We are taught that it is a woman’s job to take care of everyone else. We are taught that everyone and everything comes before us.

2. Perception. By doing things for others, we seek their approval. We want to be liked and perceived as agreeable by others, so we say yes.

3. We are scared. We are afraid of rejection, confrontation, and abandonment. We believe that as long as we say yes, then we will not be rejected, abandoned or confronted.

Whether you work in or out of the home, or you are a CEO, it is vitally important that you use your weapon of mass destruction. Why is NO a weapon of mass destruction? Again, I’m so glad you asked. NO single handedly destroys a long to-do list, decreases anxiety and stress, and increases energy and happiness.

Ladies, I want to encourage you to just say it, because “NO” is indeed a complete sentence and can lead to your mental and physical freedom.

Dr. Latanya Henry-Smith is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology who provides mental health services in Texas public schools. She is a contributing author for a national magazine and public speaker and founder, Sapphire Emerald Solutions & Associates. She earned her Doctorate from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Her passion is to bring healing to children and their families as they navigate through school and life.

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