M'Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine 2018 Fall/Winter Edition

Modern Beauty In Christian Living

Christian Magazine

2018 Fall/Winter

Rosetta

THhornton ’

ow she s dealing

The Black Community.

Colorism “...You Too Dark.

with racism in

are way

You

would mess up

our color line.”

Inspire

•

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Christ Hi Death Educate

6 Things

Accomplished by April 22, 2011 by mattperman

•

Inform

CONTENTS

STAFF

Featured Article Featured Article

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Christ Hi Death

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CO-FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Elizabeth Jackson CHIEF EDITOR Teesha Walker

ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Byron Jackson & Elizabeth Jackson Office: 832.722.2767 or Email: ezneedle@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ferrell Phelps Jr. Elizabeth Jackson Kenneth Grissom

Writers

6 Things

Accompli hed by

12

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Darshell McAlpine Teesha Walker

SPONSORS

April 22, 2011 by mattperman

The Message

ASSISTANT EDITOR Byron Jackson Jr.

~ Interactive Hair Studio ~ ~ Ferrell’s Photography~ !Opia Photograhy~ ~Mrs. Annie Price~

For Current & Previous Publications www.issuu.com/elizabethjackson9

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Publisher: Elizabeth jackson

Celebrating 7 Years of Service

“Serving the Lord and His people through Outreach Publication”

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Modern Beauty In Christian Living

Christian Magazine

2018 Fall/Winter

Rosetta

THhornton ’

ow she s dealing

The Black Community.

with racism in

Colorism “...You Too Dark. are way

You

would mess up

our color line.”

Inspire

•

s

Christ Hi Death Educate

•

6 Things

Accomplished by April 22, 2011 by mattperman

Inform

azine

iving

Dr. Rosetta Thornton is an accomplished pharmacist, wife, and mother of three. She recently agreed to appear as a model in the photographic exhibition book Skin Deep: The Skin I’m In by celebrity photographer, Ferrell Phelps, Jr. Her appearance in the book started her on an unforeseen journey and awakened many internal issues she has had to face living in her skin.

Rosetta is a gorgeous darker hued woman. Her rich pigment is the stuff of dreams. She glides into a room and her sheer beauty demands you pay attention.

To match her melanated beauty is her highly toned physique. You see her and assume she has lived the perfect life, but things have not always been easy for this statuesque woman. She and her brother were raised by their hard-working single mother, who made sure to pour love and encouragement into their lives.

Even today, her mother still tells her “you are such a beautiful child.”

According to Rosetta, those words coming from her mother meant the world to her because she has always believed her mother is the most beautiful woman she’s ever seen. It is hard to imagine how anyone as striking as Rosetta could garner disparaging comments or behavior based on what others think of her skin tone, but she has experienced the effects personally and professionally. Dating for her was a daunting experience. She would go out with close friends who have lighter complexions and accepted that guys were more attracted to those friends than her.

Image by Ferrell’s Photography

Writer: Darshell Grissom-McAlpine

Her Life.

Her Story.

Her Strength.

Rosetta Thornton

Black men, she encountered verbalized a deeper attraction for light-skinned women.

Rosetta became okay with being that good friend who was pretty but too dark to date. Those experiences planted the seed of inadequacy or feelings of unworthiness and a longing to be lighter-skinned.

As a pharmacist, there have been times when customers overlooked her, assuming her Caucasian technician was the pharmacist and she was the technician. “There is such a negative perception equated with being darkskinned. We are often ignored, pushed to the side, and thought of as not being enough, not worthy, and not intelligent.”

Rosetta‘s relationship with God was pivotal in gaining self-acceptance.

Learning and speaking His word over her life taught her to understand her worth; to know she is worthy, and she is enough. She came to the revelation her black is beautiful through God’s word. His words of affirmation opened her eyes. God’s word goes against everything the enemy will try to inject into our minds regarding negative selfworth. Through focus and determination, she developed confidence and left the phase of insecurity behind. The moment she gained confidence in herself she met her husband. Her passion for God and

his word are also her fitness motivation.

She does not want her time shortened because of an unwillingness to build her temple. As the scriptures show God‘s desire is for us to prosper and be of good health.

When Rosetta agreed to be a part of The Skin I‘m In project, she had no clue what she was signing on for. She didn’t realize the depth of the project until Ferrell asked her to be one an honoree at the celebratory gala for the project.

As an honoree, she stood and spoke her truth, and the response she received was eye-opening. She arrived at the gala thinking no one could possibly relate to her story. Little did she know her courage to speak with transparency resonated with so many in attendance. Her highly relatable story gave encouragement and hope to those with similar experiences.

“You know, a lot of times when you are going through or have gone through something you think you are the only one that has gone through or is going through that test or trial.” Knowing her willingness to speak her truth had such an impact was awe-inspiring.

Her speech powerfully affected the audience but the impact of the project on her personally has been equally powerful. It has sparked a fire of fervent self-love in her. “No matter what the enemy tries to inject into my mind, I

KNOW that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I KNOW that I am the head and not the tail, I KNOW that I am above and not beneath. I KNOW that GOD has not given me the spirit of fear but of power, love and sound judgment.” Although there are those times when something activates a negative trigger, she has learned to attack the enemy with the word of God to shut down any thought that goes against the truth of who she is.

The Skin I‘m In project has opened other doors for Rosetta including speaking engagements and radio appearances.

Her family has been extremely supportive of the new opportunities that have opened for her. Her husband who is her biggest fan supports and encourages her daily. Her children are proud and enjoying a different side of their mother.

She is also the featured model on the cover of this edition of M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine. “I would not have imagined in a million years being blessed with this opportunity. But that’s the God we serve. He can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or even think of. I hope being on the cover inspires little girls of dark complexion and I hope my article helps give women of dark complexion the courage and hope to live our lives according to God’s word and not of the harsh words spoken over their lives by the enemy.”

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In 2011 Elizabeth published her first Christian Magazine (M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine). M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine promotes education, inspiration, and encouragement to enhance the life of every believer and offer Jesus Christ to the unbeliever. She video and edits an Online talk show, “The Ferrell Phelps Show” which, hosts celebrities and everyday people doing extraordinary things. This dedication and commitment to Excellency led to the creation of the Ez Needle Multi Threader.

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Congratulations Pastor Michael Bush on your upcoming installation Service Saturday, November 3, 2018 From 4:00pm - 7:00pm Covenant Family Worship Center 652 Cambridge St. Fredericksburg, VA 22405

“A Pastor devoted to giving so much, God only knows all the souls that you touch.

Committed to serve when you answered God’s call, you prove by being a servant to all.”

it

s

Christ Hi Death 6 Things

Accompli

hed by

April 22, 2011 by mattperman

Here’s a very brief summary of the six core things Christ accomplished in his death.

1. Expiation Expiation means the removal of our sin and guilt. Christ’s death removes — expiates — our sin and guilt.

The guilt of our sin was taken away from us and placed on Christ, who discharged it by his death. Thus, in John 1:29, John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus takes away, that is, expiates, our sins. Likewise, Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him,” and Hebrews 9:26 says “He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

2. Propitiation Whereas expiation refers to the removal of our sins, propitiation refers to the removal of God’s wrath.

By dying in our place for our sins, Christ removed the wrath of God that we justly deserved. In fact, it goes even further: a propitiation is not simply a sacrifice that removes wrath, but a sacrifice that removes wrath and turns it into favor. (Note: a propitiation does not turn wrath into love — God already loved us fully, which is the reason he sent Christ to die; it turns his wrath into favor so that his love may realize its purpose of doing good to us every day, in all things, forever, without sacrificing his justice and holiness.)

Several passages speak of Christ’s death as a propitiation for our sins. Romans 3:25-26 says that God “displayed [Christ] publicly as a propitiation in his blood through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because in the forbearance of God he passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration of his righteousness at the present time, that he might be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.”

Likewise, Hebrews 2:17 says that Christ made “propitiation for the sins of the people” and 1 John 4:10 says “in this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

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3. Reconciliation Whereas expiation refers to the removal of our sins, and propitiation refers to the removal of God’s wrath, reconciliation refers to the removal of our alienation from God. Because of our sins, we were alienated — separated — from God. Christ’s death removed this alienation and thus reconciled us to God. We see this, for example, in Romans 5:10-11: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

4. Redemption Our sins had put us in captivity from which we need to be delivered. The price that is paid to deliver someone from captivity is called a “ransom.” To say that Christ’s death accomplished redemption for us means that it accomplished deliverance from our captivity through the payment of a price.

There are three things we had to be released from: the curse of the law, the guilt of sin, and the power of sin.

Christ redeemed us from each of these.

• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13-14).

• Christ redeemed us from the guilt of our sin.

We are “justified as a gift by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

• Christ redeemed us from the power of sin: “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Note that we are not simply redeemed from the guilt of sin; to be redeemed from the power of sin means that our slavery to sin is broken. We are now free to live to righteousness. Our redemption from the power of sin is thus the basis of our ability to live holy lives: “You have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

5. Defeat of the Powers of Darkness Christ’s death was a defeat of the power of Satan.

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put

them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 3:15). Satan’s only weapon that can ultimately hurt people is unforgiven sin. Christ took this weapon away from him for all who would believe, defeating him and all the powers of darkness in his death by, as the verse right before this says, “having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.

This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).

6. And he Did All of This By Dying As Our Substitute The reality of substitution is at the heart of the atonement. Christ accomplished all of the above benefits for us by dying in our place — that is, by dying instead of us. We deserved to die, and he took our sin upon him and paid the penalty himself.

This is what it means that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and gave himself for us (Galatians 2:20). As Isaiah says, “he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities . . . the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him” (Isaiah 53:5-6).

You see the reality of substitution underlying all of the benefits discussed above, as the means by which Christ accomplished them. For example, substitution is the means by which we were ransomed: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Christ’s death was a ransom for us — that is, instead of us. Likewise, Paul writes that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

Substitution is the means by which we were reconciled: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). It is the means of expiation: “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). And by dying in our place, taking the penalty for our sins upon himself, Christ’s death is also the means of propitiation.

\\SALVATION//

A SINNER’S PRAYER Romans 10: 9,10

You Can Receive Jesus Christ Right Now by Faith - Through Prayer:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus, for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus, transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life! Amen.

Can you think of anything more wonderful that could happen to you than receiving Christ?

“As soon as you can find a Bible believing and Bible teaching Church so that you can begin to hear and study the Word of God. Remember, Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” Paul D. Landrew Put Your Trust In God... Not Man!

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AFTER YOU PRAYED THE PRAYER OF SALVATION, BELOW ARE SOME SUGGESTED CHURCHES YOU MAY CONSIDER GOING TO FOR MORE BIBLE BASED TEACHING AND GUIDANCE IN THE WORD OF GOD. Dr. Paul D. Landrew, Senior Pastor/Teacher Loving Word Fellowship Church 170 Rittenhouse Houston, TX 77076

Pastor Henry Thomas True Fellowship Baptist Church 3115 N. Fry Katy, TX 77449

Pastor Bennett T. Cortez Greater Faith Baptist Church 9235 West Montgomery rd.

Houston, TX 77088

Pastor Raynard Hillis Double Rock Baptist Church 1595 Shafter Ave San Francisco, California 94124

Pastor John Adolph Antioch Missionary Baptist Church 3920 West Cardinal Drive Beaumont, TX 77705

Pastor Donald Stallings D. D. Perfecting Praise Community Church 6618 Antoine Dr.

Pastor Roland Booker Just Church Ministry 13547 Bammel North Houston Houston, TX 77066

Pastor Charles Carter Jr. First St. Mark Baptist Church 2934 Brackenridge Houston, TX 77016

Senior Pastor C. David Harrison First Baptist Church Heights 201 East 9th Street Houston, TX 77007

Pastor Charles Tompkins New Prairie View Baptist Church 4303 Sealy Rd. San Felipe, TX 77473

Pastor Ralph Douglas West The Church Without Walls 5725 Queenston Houston, TX 77084

Pastor Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church 401 Matlage Way Sugar Land TX, 77478

What The Bible Says About Our Greatest Salvation “Christ took our punishment and died in our place. Since our attempts at righteousness will not satisfy God, Christ clothed us in His righteousness in such away that when God, the Father, looks upon us, He does not see our sin; He sees only the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ.” L. Moyer Hebrews 2:1-4 -What has been the greatest moment of your life? For some people, the answer might be their wedding day, the birth of a child, or an important promotion. But for believers, the best experience is salvation, when their eternal destiny was changed. New Christians often have a fervor to share their faith. In time, however, many find their hearts cooling as they focus less on their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 2:1 instructs, Therefore we must give the most earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. “Salvation is God’s amazing solution to man’s sinful condition: it is His gift of rescue - through the death

Read current & previous editions Online @ www.issuu.com/elizabethjackson9

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“As a child people

for being

M

y name is Iomikoe Johnson and I am a thirty-eight-year-old woman living in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

I am the mother of four beautiful children and the grandmother of three grandchildren. When I was twenty-five years old, I noticed a spot under my arm. I made an appointment to see my primary care physician who told me I was allergic to razors and that I should discontinue. I followed his advice, but before long there was another spot under my eye. I made another appointment with the doctor, explaining that this second spot couldn’t have anything to do with shaving. I feel he was preparing to give me a diagnosis, but then Hurricane Rita devastated us. We lost everything, and my concern about the developing spots took a backseat to my concern over providing for my family following the loss of all of our possessions.

We moved from the area, and it took months to get in to see a new doctor. When I did, he laughingly told me I had vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes white patches to form on the skin because the cells that make up the color of your skin dies. He told me there was no cure for it. It wasn’t harmful except that my skin would lose its pigment.

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Images by Ferrell’s Photography

show called This Morning in London, England. This morning aired the story, and it has over 3.4 million views to date.

He then showed me pictures that were terrifying. I felt like I was looking at a freak show I would now be a part of. I did not perceive what I was seeing as beautiful.

When the doctor diagnosed me with vitiligo, I was going through a difficult marriage causing me a great deal of stress. Stress causes vitiligo to spread more quickly, which is what happened. Within months, it had progressed on my face and spread to my legs, hands, and feet. I left the marriage, but the vitiligo stayed with me.

As a child, people teased me for being dark-skinned. Now as an adult I had to live with vitiligo. I did not want my skin to look like those pictures. I became so depressed and angry that I tried to take my life. I went through a roller coaster of emotions until I reached my healing.

I traversed self-pity, depression, anger, and insecurity. But eventually, those emotions gave way to utter and complete confidence.

It as a long journey to healing. For twelve years I covered my vitiligo with make-up. I was ashamed of it and did not want anyone to know about it. I became a pro at hiding it.

I never stepped outside without my makeup. I spent thousands of dollars

on my makeup and hid my vitiligo so well my boyfriend didn’t know I had it on my face. I always tried to make sure he let me know he was coming so I would have time to put my makeup on. One day he came by unannounced and I answered the

door without thinking. The look on his face reminded me I did not have on makeup. He was awe-struck and told me I was beautiful and not to be ashamed of my skin condition.

He inspired me. One day, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across a picture of model Winnie Harlow. Not only was she beautiful she had vitiligo and loved the skin she was in. I showed my fiance, and he said: “See, I told you that you have nothing to be ashamed of.” I believed I could embrace the vitiligo and inspire the world. It took me a while but I finally let the makeup go, and I began the process of self-healing.

When I was out in public, people would say the mean the meanest things. They called me things like cow and Batman’s sister. Others asked if someone burned me or did I have paint or mud on my face because duck season was over. I was even once called a spotted n-word. People pointed at me and thought I was contagious. I cried many nights but kept on pushing through. I never let it overtake me.

As I was praying one day, I asked God why he gave me vitiligo. It took a while, but He answered. I took pictures and posted them on social media, and it got the attention of some amazing people. A company called Media Drum contacted me via Instagram and asked could they share my story. When they published the article, it went viral and caught the attention of a television morning

So many people reached out to show support and shared their vitiligo stories with me. I became even more empowered and understood that this was my purpose. I became a vitiligo model and an advocate inspiring millions of people all over the world.

I now have a slogan: my confidence is contagious. Numerous social media platforms featured me. I cannot believe all the lives I can touch and the projects I am a part of as a person with vitiligo. I am a model with The Skin I’m In project produced by celebrity photographer Ferrell Phelps.

I appeared in a Dove Campaign, and I also landed the lead role in a movie called Birthmark by Lydia Moore.

God has shined his light on me. I don’t know all the reasons He chose me, but I will continue to inspire and empower women to love the skin they‘re in. If you have flaws, skin conditions, or insecurities know God painted you with a purpose. Embrace your flaws. They are what make you different and different is beautiful.

Stop looking at yourself through your flesh eyes and look at yourself through God‘s eyes, He makes all things beautiful. Find your purpose and live. God never makes mistakes.

If He brought you to it, He will bring you through it.

Love, Iomikoe Johnson, The Vitiligo Goddess

Modern Beauty In Christian Living

Put Your Trust In God... Not Man!

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(Romans 12:4,5)

Although I was created to be the

strongest section of the unit, I have to share myself with others, which at times they find themselves fighting against one another. My body is designed to stand tall and keep things together in order that it might become strong as a whole to build a kingdom of great things, yet it is weakening daily. Why does my body become weak daily? Because those who I share my body with such as the legs, arms, feet, mouth, eyes, hands, fingers, and so forth are fighting with one another daily. It makes me feel sad. It hurts me dearly. Only if they understood that they are all equally important to me, they would not be fighting.

I sometimes find myself feeling sad and alone. So I often go to my Creator to find peace and pray for strength, in order that I might stay strong for the sake of those whom I share myself with. I’m even more sad because all that I am I am unable to keep the legs from hating on my feet.

I’m unable to stop the eyes from rolling its components at my mouth and I’m

tired of my mouth gossiping about my hands. I just wish we all could get along.

Although those who I share my body with are different from one another they still play an important role to my body. Each of us has been design and created with an individual gift, which if was not available it would cause the body to somewhat be handicap. If my hand isn’t functioning in its creation it slows me down, when I need to feed my stomach by use of my mouth, and if I’m unable to use my mouth then it will affect my body and it would become weak.

Dear Lord, I pray for love and unity amongst the members of my body. My body is weakening daily and I’m tired of the fighting, slandering, gossiping, backbiting, belittling, and the ‘don’t care attitudes,’ that’s in the atmosphere.

Lord, send a Spirit of love and unity, so that we as the Body of Christ will get along and respect one another. The Body of Christ is suffering. It’s at war with and against itself.

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Photographer: Kenneth Grissom 832.814.9399

Florita Bell Griffin, PhD Public Relations Officer and Author Agent ARC Communications, LLC Author and Creative Director of Little FlowerÂŽ floritabellgriffin.com littleflowerartist.com littleflowerdolls.com

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Breast Cancer Awarenes She received degree her graduate

in journalism

Khadijah Carter

Meet Khadijah Carter Khadijah Carter is a mother and a woman with strong faith who was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2003 at the advanced stage (Stage IIIa) after noticing a lump in her breast.

Living with metastatic breast cancer takes a powerful toll, but Khadijah works hard not to let her disease define her.

Photograher by Steve McCurryandAngelo Merendino

Her diagnosis came as a shock, given her young age of 28 and healthy lifestyle.

As a former lead singer of a funk soul band, Khadijah turned to the arts and her spirituality to help cope with her breast cancer by joining art classes, writing songs and joining the choir at her church. She also received a lot of support from her friends, who often accompanied her to her chemotherapy treatments.

Following her diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer, Khadijah attended graduate school at Columbia University, where she received her graduate degree in journalism in 2013. Khadijah now works full-time for the New York Police Department and also is affiliated with the Young Survival Coalition. She encourages women with breast cancer to be proactive about their health and to stay hopeful despite the adversity they face.

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Project College Counseling Project College Counseling

While serving as a college admissions officer at the College of Biblical Studies, I began to identify a problem among students from underserved communities: They lacked the resources and guidance need to search for their best-fit college.

Underserved students lacking the resources needed to make a critical life decision bothered me, bothered because I once was a college-bound student with no leadership on how to navigate the complexities of the college choice process. I aspired to attend college to make an impact in the world. However, t had no clue of how to search for colleges that would prepare me to impact the world.

To tackle this problem, I launched Project College Counseling in June of 2015. Project College Counseling is a community-based college counseling program designed to navigate families through the college admission process. The goal is to help college-bound students in under-served communities in Houston engage the college choice process to select a college that will help them thrive and develop their talent.

Currently, we target families in Southeast Houston with a primary focus on Houston’s Sunnyside. I chose to start to focus on Sunnyside for two reasons: 1) I am from Sunnyside and 2) Sunnyside is an under-resourced neighborhood in Houston that doesn’t have many services available to its college-bound residents. Many of Sunnyside residents possess tremendous potential but lack the guidance to help them showcase it to the right colleges.

This brings me to the other purpose of Project College Counseling: To help college-bound students from underserved communities develop their talent through community involvement and civic engagement. These students not only lack the guidance needed to know their options but also require the necessary direction to compete in the college admissions process by developing their strengths and showcasing their talent to the right colleges.

We are committed to navigating the most vulnerable families through the college admission process and helping students with untapped potential develop their talents and present their value to the right colleges.

To learn more about Project College Counseling or support our cause, please go to www.projectcollegecounseling.org.

Jarvis Taylor, MBA Founder + Chairman | Project College Counseling Jarvis.taylor@projectcollegecounseling.org 23

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