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BEHOLD MAGAZINE

A Champion of Justice

JUDGE JULIE L. BELL

BEHOLD MAGAZINE

EDITOR IN CHIEF

LISA C. WILLIAMS

THE ESSENCE OF BEHOLD MAGAZINE

BEHOLD Magazine , a vibrant digital beacon, inspired by the rich tapestry of our Front Porch Conversations podcast, champions the stories and triumphs of extraordinary women of color who illuminate our pages with their resilience and wisdom—turning personal narratives into universal lessons of intentional living, self-care, strength and perseverance. Each issue is a celebration of their diverse contributions that shape the contours of our cultural and social landscapes. In this digital age, where narratives are often lost in the noise, BEHOLD Magazine offers a return to authenticity—a place to honor the unfiltered truths that define and enrich our lives.

It is in these pages that we foster an environment where candid discussions on pivotal life matters, such as health, wellness and holistic well-being, lead to positive change and meaningful action. BEHOLD Magazine is committed to illuminating paths of hope and transformation, not just for individuals and families, but for entire communities, thereby catalyzing a movement towards a more healthy, philanthropic and equitable society.

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DEAR READER,

In this special Juneteenth edition of BEHOLD Magazine, as we shine a light on two extraordinary advocates and change agents, in Judge Julie L. Bell and Dr. Angelica Geter, it is essential to delve into the historical significance and modern relevance of Juneteenth itself—a pivotal moment in American history that continues to resonate deeply across the nation.

Juneteenth, often referred to as America’s second Independence

Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when US Army Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved persons were free by the decree of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln two and a half years earlier. This announcement marked the actual end of slavery in the United States, as Texas was the last slave-holding state to acknowledge the Proclamation

due to the lack of enforcement of Lincoln’s 1863 Executive Order. As we acknowledge and celebrate Juneteenth, we are reminded that the fight for justice and equality is far from over. The legacy of systemic oppression continues to manifest in various forms, particularly within the realms of justice and health equity. It is crucial to recognize that achieving true freedom includes dismantling barriers that prevent equitable access to quality health care and liberty and justice for all.

Communities of color, especially African Americans, continue to be disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions. According to a study that examined “the extent to which persistent exposure to racial discrimination predicts elevated inflammation and, in turn, diagnosed chronic illness” in African American women, the

researchers cited the work of Dr. Arline T. Geronimus which concluded that “the health inequality suffered by Blacks is, in large measure, a consequence of the cumulative impact of living in a society where they suffer social, economic, and political exclusion.” These continued injustices and disparities are rooted in historical discrimination and neglect perpetuated by contemporary policies and practices.

Recognizing the historical and present significance of Juneteenth should compel us to become active participants in this journey towards justice—to ensure that every individual, regardless of race or background, has the opportunity to thrive. This edition of BEHOLD Magazine invites you to engage in efforts that will build a society where justice and health equity are not just ideals, but lived realities for all.

Under the Emancipation Proclamation Document

Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation, it fundamentally transformed the character of the Civil War. After January 1, 1863, every advance of federal troops expanded the domain of freedom. The Proclamation announced the acceptance of Black men into the Union Army and Navy, enabling the liberated to become liberators. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 Black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union

and freedom. This document did not guarantee the freedom of all enslaved people, but it set the stage for the broader abolition of slavery and laid the groundwork for the significance of Juneteenth. June 19 marks the day when enslaved Black people in Texas were informed of their freedom, making it a pivotal moment in American and Black history, symbolizing the long and ongoing journey towards true liberty and equality.

PUBLIC LAW 117–17—JUNE 17, 2021

Public Law 117–17 117th Congress

An Act

To amend title 5, United States Code, to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Juneteenth National Independence Day Act’’.

SEC. 2. JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY AS A LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to Memorial Day the following: ‘‘Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19.’’.

Approved June 17, 2021.

135 STAT. 287

June 17, 2021 [S. 475]

Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. 5 USC 101 note.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 475:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021): June 15, considered and passed Senate. June 16, considered and passed House. DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2021): June 17, Presidential remarks. Æ

The

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:08 Jun 21, 2021Jkt 019139PO 00017Frm 00001Fmt 6580Sfmt 6580E:\PUBLAW\PUBL017.117PUBL017

Juneteenth National Independence Day Act (Public Law 117-17)

Under the Juneteenth Law Act

The Juneteenth Law, while not wielding significant legal power, speaks truth to a history that has often been whitewashed and falsified. This act acknowledges the importance of June 19 as a milestone in the fight for freedom and justice for Black Americans. It serves as a clarion call to address the ongoing issues of justice and health equity. The law honors the legacy of those who fought for liberation and continues to

inspire the pursuit of equality and justice in our society. It underscores the progress made and the work still ahead in achieving full recognition and celebration of Black people in America and their contributions to the American fabric.

THE SPIRIT OF JUNETEENTH

JUDGE JULIE L. BELL A Champion of Justice

In a world often divided by difference and discord, there are luminaries whose lives serve as pillars of hope and harmony. Judge Julie L. Bell is one such beacon in the judiciary, embodying the ideals of justice, integrity and humanity. This special Juneteenth edition of BEHOLD Magazine is honored to feature a figure who upholds the law with a profound commitment to equity and empathy. As a District Court Judge in Wake County, North Carolina, Judge Bell presides over a gamut of cases, from civil litigations to family disputes. In her role, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that the scales of justice are balanced— understanding that true justice extends beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of fairness and healing.

Beyond the bench, Judge Bell’s community service record is equally impressive. A longstanding member of Pleasant Grove Church,

Reverend Bell serves as a minister and Christian education teacher, grounding her in principles that nurture her leadership and service. Furthermore, her roles on the board of Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer with Durham Urban Ministries exemplify her commitment to social equity and community uplift.

With all her individual and community acclaim, Julie Bell’s most cherished achievement is becoming mother to her adopted daughter—her “heartbeat.” Mother and daughter share a deep and abiding kinship of love, joy and inspiration.

Judge Bell’s dedication to the well-being of children and families in the Wake County community is a testament to her years of extending her hands to help, to heal, to build up the most vulnerable in our society. May her journey continue to inspire and light a path toward a more just and compassionate world, a world in which each of us can make a difference.

The Justice of Self-Care

by Pamela Perkins Carn

With a muted women’s basketball game playing on the screen behind her, Judge Julie L. Bell presents an affable, mild-mannered demeanor until she is asked if she would mind being recorded. Her response was that of a practiced and seasoned legal practitioner. “This is not to be used outside of this interview?” Once assured that the recording was only an aid for accuracy, her affable, mildmannered demeanor returned and we settled in for a conversation about her integration of self-care, work, family, friends, and faith.

Having her say

According to Forbes Advisor at forbes.com, “In 2023, 2.28% of all lawyers at firms were Black women. There are fewer Black female attorneys than many other minority groups, including Asian and Latino attorneys.” And yet, more than forty years ago at the tender age of eight, Julie Bell accompanied her father to an event that set her on a career path in the legal profession—despite even greater odds. It was the idea that people would pay attention to you was what intrigued little Julie the most.

“It’s funny. People like to know what made me want to be a lawyer. My dad took me to a program. I don’t remember what the program was, but I think I was around eight. And there was an attorney who spoke there, and everybody was listening to what she said. And I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do. People paying attention.’ And so, I knew from then that I wanted to be a lawyer, and I worked towards that. I went to undergrad at UNC

Greensboro and Law School at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law.“

Young Julie Bell had the great fortune of having parents who created an environment that encouraged their daughter to have her say. Considering her father was a pastor and her mother an elementary school teacher, Julie Bell being a verbally gifted child should not come as a surprise. However, despite her propensity for debating, arguing her case before her mother was not always to her advantage.

“Yeah, that got me in trouble when I was younger, trying to make a case when my mother was saying, ‘This is not up for debate.’ So, occasionally, that didn’t work out as well.”

Order in the court

That introduction to Judge Bell opened the door to explore how a proponent of “having a say” sets the tone in a courtroom that reflects selfcare for herself and others—in a space to which persons are coming on a daily basis to plead their case … to have their say.

“It’s important to me that we have order in court. I spend three weeks out of four in family court, which can be very stressful because people are seeking custody of their children. They’re seeking child support. They’re seeking alimony. They’re dividing up their property. It’s emotional because they have been a single-family unit, and now they’re splitting up.

In terms of my courtroom, I try to set the tone that this is a formal process. We open court formally, meaning I come out and the bailiff says, ‘All rise,’ and, ‘Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!’ because I believe that lets people know, ‘Okay, the time for talking and carrying on is over. And this is about a serious matter.’ And so, I like for the bailiffs to do formal court, not because I need people to stand when I come in, but because I think it helps them distinguish that this is something different than sitting in the parking lot or sitting in the lobby.”

Ideally, Judge Bell prefers that a bailiff take the initiative to bring order to the courtroom prior to her entry into the space. She listed actions, such as asking those in attendance to silence their phones; take off their hats; escort persons

out who are dressed inappropriately for the court; ensure that parents and others have not brought children into the courtroom so that they are not adversely affected by the process.

“[Children] don’t need to see and hear what’s going on in court. But a lot of people drag children to court, and we have to tell them they’re going to need to make some arrangements because we’re not going to let a child (even an older child) sit and listen. They don’t need to be in the middle of that. It’s not a good look.

Trying to set the formality is self-care for me because, then, I can just concentrate on listening to the case because custody is a very heavy matter.”

Deciding is a weighty matter… faith and friends help

Every day in courthouses across the United States, family court is held, and families’ cases are heard and ruled on by judges, like Judge Bell, who are duly elected or duly appointed to serve justice in the best interests of children and their families.

“Trying to decide in a couple of hours’ hearing in the case of temporary custody or maybe a 13hour hearing in the case of permanent custody [as to] where these children, some of whom are very little, need to be … it’s a heavy decision, and it weighs on me,” Judge Bell confessed.

“It’s interesting,” she continued. “Today, my pastor said, before he got started with his sermon, ‘I’m going to come down, [because] I feel led to come down and pray.’ And boy, the line was long because he personally was praying for everybody. We have a lot of associate ministers, including me, so I was praying for him, hoping that he could be restored because it was a lot. And it took a while.

And when he got to me, he turned around, and I said, ‘Oh, I’ve just been praying for you,’ meaning you don’t have to pray for me.

He said, ‘Uh-uh, you have weighty matters.’ And so, he prayed for me.

And it really is weighty because unlike traffic court, where I might be deciding whether you get a $25 fine or a $10 fine—it may be significant to you if you don’t have the fine money—but in my world, it’s not that big of a deal for me to say ‘$25 fine’… ‘$10 fine.’ But

where children are going to reside and who is going to be with them when the family has split up is a heavy decision.

And most of the time, both parents want to be the primary person. And some parents can do that and do that well, or they can have joint custody and do that well—when they can get along and listen to each other. But some of them have so much conflict that letting them have joint custody is really not going to be in the child’s best interest. So, trying to discover in a couple of hours who’s the best person to do that is a weighty matter.

And I’m listening for everything. I’m watching for the nonverbals. That’s why I don’t usually let people do WebEx hearings because I want them in person. I want to see what they’re doing with their feet. Are they nervous? What are they doing when they go out into the hall? When it looks like I’m just getting on the elevator to go upstairs to get something from the snack bar, I am paying attention to what’s going on in the hall. And how are they treating one another? Because sometimes what people say in the midst of a hearing is not really what’s going on.

So yes, it’s a very weighty matter.

And, when you talk about self-care, you asked the question, ‘What is the role of self-care as a sacred practice?’ It absolutely is a sacred practice for me. And what do I do for self-care? Well, a lot of things.

One is I try to get my rest because that’s helpful. I take breaks. I know when I need a break. I know when I’m getting burned out, and I got to

say to somebody that we need to finish this tomorrow because my capacity to hear any more today is gone. I may not say it exactly that way, but sometimes your capacity to listen that day is over. And these cases are too important for me not to be fully listening. Sometimes, you can fix it by taking a short break, take a few minutes, and do something else, walk around a little bit, take lunch—go eat and come back, and you can regroup. And then, sometimes, it’s just done for the day.

I try not to rush. I do not like to rush. I generally go into work about 7:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m., even if court doesn’t start till 9:00 a.m. because I want to be in place and be settled. It is bad for me to rush in. That just has me out of sorts. I want to set up my computer and be settled and be ready.

I am very strategic with my vacation planning and my time out of the office. When we’ve had a couple of really heavy matters, I’ll look [at the calendar] and say, ‘Okay, this will be a good place to take a few days off.’

And I’m very strategic in planning who I’m going to spend my time off with. I know a lot of people, but I only have a few close friends who know me well. That’s just good for my soul when I get to spend time with people who know me, and I don’t have to be Reverend Bell or Judge Bell. I can just be Julie.

One of my best friends, who’s been my longest friend, we’ve been friends since we were in eighth grade in Missouri. She now lives in Arizona, and she is coming for my birthday. And we’re going to hang out for a few days.

On Easter Sunday, I had people come over to the house for lunch, and I had about 17 folks. But it wasn’t a formal dinner because I don’t do very much formal. That’s not who I am. I’m very comfortable and casual. I had preached at an 8 o’clock service, and then I came home, and I had chicken marinating in the refrigerator. And so, I baked the chicken, and then I lit the grill because I’m a grill master. Love to cook on the grill. Oh, my goodness! That’s good therapy for me cooking on the grill.

Then, I had assigned different people to bring stuff. Somebody to bring the mac and cheese and somebody to bring the ham. And by the time we got everybody there, we had a good meal. And it was very easy people. We had a [basketball] game going. Somebody was watching that, and some other people were just sitting and talking. I have a front porch that has rocking chairs, and I love the front porch. We were just enjoying one another.

And I was very thoughtful in thinking about who to invite because some people you invite, they don’t get along well with others, or they create confusion.

But in terms of sacred practices … spending time with people who are easy, who don’t need anything from me, who just want to be in my space, who I can talk to, and there’s no agenda. When people meet me out, and they say something like, ‘Oh, you’re a judge.’ I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop—for them to ask me to do something. But when I can be with people who’ve known me and who are just glad to be at the house and sit around—we might even get a game of spades going or watch a movie or some TV and just be free.”

Creating family through faith and a “great miracle”

According to the National Council for Adoption, “An increasing number of adoptive families are single parent households where children have found permanency and are thriving with a Mom or Dad only.” The conversation on spending time with family and trusted friends as part of self-care transitioned into the introduction of Judge Bell’s daughter, Alyssa, who she adopted as an infant.

“I have one daughter who is now in college,” Bell shared with a warm smile. The affable, mildmannered demeanor became quite animated as she spoke.

“She’s a sophomore, and she goes to North Carolina A&T. She’s only about an hour and 15 minutes down the road, and I go see her if she’s not coming home. I try to see her at least once a month … that’s my heart.”

Before sharing any more about her 20-yearold daughter, Judge Bell remarked that she had checked with Alyssa that very morning to make sure that “It’s fine with her” to talk about the story of her birth, which Bell described as a “great miracle.” This act of deference a clear indication of their close bond and the level of respect that she has for her child’s personhood.

“I guess, like a lot of women,” Bell continued, “when I was a girl, I thought I would be married with 2.2 children and the white picket fence and all of that. And it didn’t work out that way. I ended up going to college, going to law school and starting my career.

I dated a few people, but nobody really serious. I found myself in my 30s and not married. And I said, ‘Well, what does this mean about a child?’

And me and the Lord had a long discussion about that. I was like, ‘What if you say no?’ And the sermon, “Hallelujah Anyhow,” came out of that. But he didn’t say ‘No.’ He just said, ‘Maybe, do it a little different.’ So, I started investigating possibilities. Of course, you have options. You can do adoption. You can do artificial insemination and things like that.

I went and talked to my pastor because that’s how I am and said, ‘What do you think about this in terms of my ministry?’

And he said, ‘I don’t think anything is going to be any problem with your ministry. What you’re talking about is not a problem. So, do what you need to do for you.’

Ultimately, I decided and thought adoption would make more sense. So, I did some investigation. There was an agency in Greensboro called the Children’s Home Society, and I got approved through them. And boy, you had to jump through a lot of hoops! I think some people who have children need to do that, and we wouldn’t have child abuse. Because, boy, I mean, these folks … I had to have a lot of references, and they called every one of them. They did a background check. They came to my house. They dug through my life, and I got approved.

Then, you’re waiting for a match. I had prepared the nursery and gotten it ready. My sister helped me put up the border in the nursery, and we were just waiting for a match.

One night, my neighbor across the street called me. She was a teacher’s assistant, and she was taking classes at Wake Tech. She said, ‘Julie, I met a girl, and her friend is pregnant with her seventh child, and she wants to give up the baby, and she can’t figure that out.’ She said, ‘Well, I told her, I know somebody.’

I said, ‘Okay, here’s what you do. Give her my first name only and give her my cell number and tell her to call me.’

And she said, ‘Okay.’

Well, [the woman] didn’t call. Several days went by, and I was like, ‘Oh, she’s not going to call.’ Well, she finally did call.

We set up a meeting at a place called the Last Catch Seafood (it’s not there anymore), which was a restaurant in a shopping center on New Bern Avenue. And we met there, and she brought her 11-month-old, and no, you didn’t hear me wrong, with her to the meeting. And she was very pregnant, like expecting to deliver shortly.

We chatted because I had several questions, and so did she. I was concerned because, in North Carolina, birth moms cannot give up their rights until seven days or 14 days after they have birth because maybe they’re making an emotional decision that they haven’t really thought through. So, I knew that even if she signed the paperwork on the day of birth, it wouldn’t be final until we got through that period.

She and I talked about that, and I said that I was not interested in an open adoption. ‘You know,

we’re not going to be having barbecues.’ And she said, ‘I don’t have any interest in that.’ She had not told her other six children that she was pregnant. She was a heavy-set woman, and she was carrying in such a way that you wouldn’t know unless she told you.

And she said, ‘You know, I don’t know this father.’ She just felt differently about this baby, and they were already in poverty, and she just didn’t want to keep this child.

‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’m concerned about taking the baby home and then you changing your mind. So, I want the baby to go to foster care for those days until we’re through that.’

And she said, ‘That’s a deal-breaker. You have to take the baby from the hospital.’

And I was like, ‘Hmm.’ Because Lawyer Bell is worried about what if you change your mind? I knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on, but I had to accept that on faith.

We talked through all the various things. She didn’t want pictures, and I didn’t want her to have pictures. I mean, we were agreed. She said she did want to be able to send a letter when the child was older. And I said that would be fine. [She] could do that through the agency.

She was very concerned because someone had told her that she would have to publish for the father in the newspaper. She didn’t know the father [or] know where he was. She just knew his nickname and pager number, and it was disconnected. And, so, she was concerned because she was envisioning her name being

on the front page of the paper saying, ‘Woman pregnant.’

She had told me that [concern] over the phone. So, I brought a newspaper with me to the meeting to show her the ads. Nobody looks at those ads. They’re on the back [of the newspaper]. They’re on the side where the classifieds are in a little box, very small. And it does say your name and child born to da-da-da. But nobody reads those ads. Once she saw that, she felt better.

While we were in the meeting, she started having what we thought were contractions. She left the meeting and went to go get care. And I went home (hopeful), ‘Oh, I think we’re going to have a baby tonight.’ I called my parents, and we were all excited, and it was false labor. But I didn’t know that for a couple of days. When I didn’t hear [anything] in a couple of days, I called the agency because I had no way to contact her. I called the agency and said, ‘Can you please call her?’ And they called me back and said it was false labor.

So, nothing for a few days. Then, on a Wednesday night, she called me about 11:30 p.m. and said she was at [the hospital] and that she thought they were going to do a C-section, but she said the baby was breach, which was concerning. They told her that they weren’t going to take the baby that night and to come back in the morning to the clinic.

You cannot tell me that was not an insurance issue. I believe if this woman had had health insurance and not Medicaid, they would have taken that baby that night. But they didn’t do

that. They told her to come back in the morning to the clinic.

The next morning, I was in my law firm in one of my law partners’ offices, and she called at 11:10 a.m., and said, ‘They’re going to do a C-section.’ She said, ‘Why don’t you come to the hospital?’ She actually told me her whole name so I could find her in the hospital. I have protected that.

I left quickly, and I called my sister en route and told her to meet me at the hospital because I wanted her. And she was so touched that I wanted her to be at the hospital.

I went in and found the young woman, and you could hear the [baby’s] heartbeat, and that was just so incredible! I said to her, ‘Okay. I’ll be in the lobby. And everything’s going to be fine.’

I was in the lobby talking to my sister, and the friend [of the woman] who had been in class with my friend, came out and said, ‘Do you want to be in the O.R.?’

And I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ Absolutely!’

In the operating room, I sat at [the woman’s] head on the other side of the screen. And when that nine-pound three-ounce baby was born, I carried her to the scale and weighed her, and they put the thing around my wrist because the hospital knew it was an adoption. I had control of the nursery. She was so precious with big puffy cheeks. To this day, I still call her the Sweet Cheek Baby because that was my nickname for her.

The nurses said, ‘We need to go clean her up.’

And I said, ‘So you want to take her? Are you going to bring her back?’

A nurse said, ‘Ms. Bell, do you see the bracelet that’s around your arm?’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Look at her foot,’ the nurse said. ‘That (meaning the bracelet) matches her foot. You are the only one who can get her. You have that on. We know what’s going on.’

‘Okay, I guess you can take her and clean her up,’ I said.

But I stayed outside the nursery watching. And I was calling all my friends and my parents and everybody else, ‘Oh, we got a baby!’”

Creating a home (a village) of love, support and care—in the end, is all that matters According to Saidi in Repackaging“Traditional” ArchitectureoftheAfricanVillageinZimbabwe, “The “village” concept reveals African cultural values” and the traditional African belief “that the community is the custodian of the individual.” This African concept has been a practice in Black communities for generations. The village for Black Americans is an extended family of love, support and care—especially, when it comes to rearing children. Judge Bell’s story is replete with examples of the village come to life. No more evident than when she became a mother.

“My daughter came home to the starter house,” Judge Bell explained. “I had a three-bedroom home with a great room. But after she was a year

old, I wanted a little bit bigger house because I had given up my office to be the nursery.

And my mother said to me, ‘Well, we’re thinking about downsizing. What do you think about putting us a suite in your house?’

And I said, ‘Let me think about that.’

And she said, ‘Well, we can help you with Alyssa. And if something happens to one of us, the other won’t be alone.’

And boy, she was right on both accounts. They were a great help with my daughter. My daughter had the great joy of having her grandparents right there.

I actually built a really big house and put in an apartment for my parents—two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a den, and it connected through the laundry room. Alyssa had the run of the house. She was always over at her grandparents. And they were always with her. And when I was traveling for work, they would pick her up from daycare and bring her home. And she’d be in her bed, and they’d just stay on my side of the house until I got home.

When my mother unexpectedly died in 2011, my dad says he doesn’t think he would have done as well had he not been living with us. It was just a God moment.

Although I was a very busy mom, a working mom, I worked my schedule around [Alyssa]. When she chose to play soccer, I’d get off work and be at her school in my suit, sitting in the

little lawn chair on the side of the soccer field cheering her on. I got in my volunteer hours doing the frolic, which was the big school fundraiser. I did the food for the frolic. I’d take the whole day off, go buy the food and get people to help me. We’d set up the grills … you know I’m the grill master. I served as the parent for cultural arts because we raised all that money at the fundraiser, so we could bring lots of people to the school. We brought storytellers, dancers, steppers and artists.

I was a working parent. In fact, I traveled a lot, not overnight, but during the day because I might have a client in New Bern, North Carolina, where I had to do a deposition. But I had lots of support. My child had five car seats when she was a baby. Everybody had a car seat, Grammy, Granddaddy, my sister because I might say, ‘Hey, I need you to pick up Alyssa.’

We couldn’t figure out if we were going to be able to switch car seats. So, everybody had a car seat so they could pick up Alyssa if I was stuck somewhere. She grew up with our extended family, but I was present. And that has been much of the joy of my life raising her … and now for her to be a young woman.

You know, after Alyssa was born, I took six weeks off, and I stayed home with her so that we could bond. And the rest is history. 20 years later, soon to be 21. That is my youngin’,” Judge Bell beamed. “We are so very close. We talk all the time. She still calls me Mommy as a 20-yearold. And I still call her my Sweet Cheek Baby. And it’s just been a great joy.”

JUDGE JULIE L. BELL

views her legacy through the impact she has on others, aspiring to inspire and empower those around her.

“I live for those who love me, for those who know me true; for the heaven that smiles above me and awaits my spirit too. For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that I can do.”

— George Linnaeus Banks

We invite you to learn more about Juneteenth, the National Juneteenth Museum, the people behind the national holiday, like Ms. Opal Lee, and the United States Colored Troops to complete the Juneteenth story.

nationaljuneteenthmuseum.com

Photo credit: Illustration courtesy of

THE SPIRIT OF JUNETEENTH

DR. ANGELICA GETER

A Vanguard of Public Health and Equity

BEHOLD Magazine is proud to celebrate the exceptional contributions of women of color, in this special Juneteenth edition, particularly spotlighting Dr. Angelica Geter, a pioneer, scientist and strategist in public health. In recognition of her relentless pursuit of health equity through innovative science, Dr. Geter was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Public Health Hall of Fame. Dr. Geter has dedicated more than two decades to addressing health disparities through a meticulous application of science, viewed through an equity lens. Her work spans the realms of infectious disease, reproductive health and the battle against racism and gender-based discrimination. As the first Chief Health Officer for the City of Atlanta, she led the city’s COVID pandemic response— an immensely fulfilling yet personally taxing role. By integrating community partnership, health education and rigorous data analysis, Dr. Geter has become a sought-after leader

and advisor, impacting public health policies both nationally and globally.

Through her op-ed, “Empowering Holistic Wellbeing from Dr. Angelica Geter,” Dr. Geter invites us to engage actively with our own health and the health of our communities. She shares lessons from her journey, emphasizing the dangers of self-neglect and the transformative power of self-care. Her call to action is clear: prioritize health as a communal value, ensuring no one is left behind.

Dr. Geter’s life and work exemplify BEHOLD Magazine’s mission to illuminate the paths of hope, transformation and the power of dedicated individuals to effect monumental change.

To learn more about Dr. Angelica Geter, please visit angelicageter.com.

EMPOWERING HOLISTIC WELL-BEING Dr. Angelica Geter’s Op-Ed

DEAR READER,

I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to discuss a subject that resonates profoundly with me—holistic well-being. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the transformative power of prioritizing self-care, not only as a personal endeavor, but as a crucial community-wide initiative.

The High Cost of Self-Neglect

In 2021, I made the difficult decision to resign from my role as Atlanta’s first-ever Chief Health Officer. While immensely rewarding, this position demanded so much that it began to take a severe toll on my personal health. This phase of my life brought into sharp focus the dire consequences of neglecting one’s wellbeing, revealing how such neglect diminishes individual health and weakens the vibrancy of entire communities.

During my tenure, I spearheaded health strategies and led Atlanta’s COVID pandemic response, aiming to safeguard and enhance the lives of over half a million residents. Despite these efforts, I found myself grappling with deteriorating health because I did not choose myself.

A Pattern of Self-Abandonment

A recurring theme in my life has been selfabandonment—a seemingly selfless act that repeatedly led me to toxic work environments, unsupportive relationships and demanding personal dynamics. This pattern of sacrificing my own needs for others ultimately left me physically and emotionally depleted— manifesting in significant weight gain, hormonal imbalances, insomnia and severe back pain. On two occasions, the stress became so acute that I suffered alarming symptoms that required urgent medical attention.

Transformative Recovery

Recovering from years of self-neglect is an ongoing journey. It necessitates a steadfast commitment to prioritizing my well-being, embracing life’s ups and downs, and allowing myself moments of solitude and reflection. This process is about extending grace to myself and others, recognizing that we are not defined by our past unhealthy decisions.

The Essence of True Leadership

Leadership demands a balance—it requires nurturing one’s own health to effectively support others. True transformational leadership is rooted in self-care, which emanates from within and fosters resilience across communities. However, unregulated demands can lead to chronic stress and precipitate serious health issues, if not properly managed.

Over the years, my interactions with leaders across various sectors have highlighted a common oversight—the failure to link self-care with effective leadership. Many admit to experiencing chronic stress, which not only hampers their professional performance, but also adversely affects their personal lives.

Vision for the Future

My vision for the future, both locally and globally, is that we achieve a profound understanding of the systems designed to benefit specific groups while disadvantaging others. These systems deeply influence our decisions, often perpetuating inequities that affect whole communities. Recognizing and critically assessing these structures is a crucial first step to reform. It’s not enough for individuals and communities to make better decisions within these flawed frameworks. Comprehensive adjustments must be made to address generational harm and ensure that the benefits of these changes are experienced equitably and universally—not selectively. This type of systemic transformation is necessary for truly equitable progress to be realized and enable all members of society to thrive. A prime example of a company taking on the role of transformation agent is Blue Zones and its integration of research, data and community health and wellness to “optimize policy, urban design, food systems and social networks.”

Engage and Empower

We must choose to elevate the health and well-being of all community members. If the well-being of the least healthy in a population does not improve, the overall health of the society remains compromised. As Maya Angelou insightfully noted, “If it is true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, isn’t it also true a society is only as healthy as its sickest citizen and only as wealthy as its most deprived?” This perspective underscores our collective responsibility to foster an inclusive, healthy environment for all.

Through this op-ed, I invite each of you to embrace the journey toward holistic well-being both for yourself and your community. Together, we can, with integrity, forge paths toward a healthier, more equitable world.

Dr. Angelica Geter is a visionary leader, blending wisdom with compassion. She fosters unity, champions progress, and cultivates community with a gentle spirit, embodying brilliance, kindness, resilience, mindfulness, and innovation.

NICOLE WALTERS Founder & CEO, Inherit Learning Co. New York Times

bestselling author Nothing Is Missing

As Juneteenth approaches, it is crucial to consider historical freedoms in the context of contemporary quests for health autonomy. Similar to the delayed awareness of emancipation among the enslaved Blacks in Texas, too many Black women, today, lack access to information and resources that delay their efforts to seek and acquire quality health care. Lack is disempowering and impedes the realization of one’s freedoms.

However, there is hope. Analogous to how the announcement on June 19, 1865, transformed the status of an entire people in Texas from enslaved to free, health and wellness coaches are critical messengers who redefine narratives around health autonomy.

Health coaches who are culturally competent and understand the systemic barriers faced by women of color are essential in this transformative process. They provide not only the necessary tools and knowledge for individuals to take control of their health but also empower them to effectively navigate and advocate within the healthcare system. This empowerment is vital in a society where health disparities often correlate along racial lines.

Through personalized guidance and evidencebased strategies, nationally board certified health and wellness coaches assist persons, regardless of their background, to attain healthier, more fulfilling lives. By deepening their clients’ understanding of personal health and the healthcare system, these coaches help them realize that they indeed have the agency to initiate the positive changes needed in their lives, as well as in their communities.

My journey to becoming a health and wellness coach was born out of my personal captivity to excess weight, body pain and generational trauma. Sometimes liberation and freedom look like shedding 108 pounds from a 5’0” frame and overcoming health challenges through lifestyle changes. My journey illustrates the effectiveness of health and wellness coaching in fostering sustainable health outcomes. And my experiences have equipped me to impart valuable insights on the importance of self-care, especially for those burdened with extensive community and familial responsibilities. By sharing my journey and the clinically-proven strategies that facilitated my transformation, I serve as a living model of what can be achieved.

Understanding and addressing the unique health challenges faced by women of color is not merely a matter of personal well-being, but a crucial aspect of social justice and equity. Therefore, this Juneteenth, as we celebrate freedom and equality, let’s make a commitment to embrace the liberating messages of good health, wellness and community uplift. It’s a call to action for women and communities of color to seek out information about health and wellness coaches and engage in accessing health information and services for better life outcomes.

Lisa C. Williams is a national board certified health and wellness coach and author of ReshapedbyTruth:26DaysofLiving Intentionally, a guided journal to acquaint you with yourself.

For more insights and to explore Lisa’s diverse initiatives aimed at fostering wellness and empowerment, visit lisacwilliams.com

Creating an Empowering & Supportive Environment for Black Women’s Health and Wellness:

Guidance and Resources

As a national board certified health and wellness coach, I am dedicated to facilitating empowering experiences for Black women through the tools, knowledge and skills I possess that will improve their health, well-being and quality of life. Understanding the unique health challenges faced by Black women and providing culturally competent care is primary to addressing health disparities and promoting long-term wellness.

Currently, Black/African Americans represent only 4.5% of nationally board-certified health and wellness coaches in America, compared to 77.08% of white Americans (source: National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching). Despite our small numbers, we strive to make a significant impact by creating supportive and safe environments for Black women where they feel heard, understood and respected. This means addressing barriers to care, such as lack of access to culturally competent health care providers, financial constraints and mistrust in the medical system. Health and wellness coaches can bridge these gaps through:

1. Personalized Coaching: Developing customized wellness plans that consider each client’s cultural, social and economic context.

2. Education and Awareness: Providing education on disease prevention, healthy eating, physical activity and stress management tailored to the specific health concerns of Black women.

3. Advocacy and Resources: Advocating for policy changes that promote health equity and connecting clients with resources such as community health programs, support groups and financial assistance.

Promoting Holistic Health

A holistic approach to health and wellness considers a number of factors, including the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals. For Black women, this approach is vital in addressing the cumulative effects of systemic racism, discrimination and socioeconomic disparities. Health and wellness coaches can help with:

1. Mental Health Support: Encouraging clients to seek mental health support and providing referrals to culturally competent therapists and counselors.

2. Stress Reduction Techniques: Teaching stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga, can help manage the psychological stressors associated with health disparities.

3. Community Building: Fostering a sense of community among clients, encouraging participation in group activities and support networks that promote social connections and collective well-being.

Practical Health and Wellness Tips

1. Increase Water Intake: Drinking more water helps to keep the body hydrated, supports key bodily functions and can improve skin health. Aim for at least eight glasses a day.

2. Prioritize Sleep and Rest: Quality sleep is vital for physical and mental well-being. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night to enhance mood, cognitive function and overall health.

3. Regular Movement: Incorporating regular physical activity, such as walking, yoga or strength training, can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and increase energy levels. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

4. Practice Meditation: Meditation can reduce stress, improve concentration and promote emotional health. Even a few minutes a day can make a significant difference.

5. Eat More Whole Vegetables, Fruits and Grains: A diet rich in whole foods provides life-giving nutrients, supports digestion and can help maintain a healthy weight. Include a variety of colorful vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and legumes in your daily meals.

6. Limit Processed Foods: Reducing the intake of processed foods can decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Focus on consuming fresh, whole foods as much as possible.

7. Stay Connected with Community: Engaging with a supportive community can enhance mental well-being and provide a sense of belonging. Participate in local groups, events or online communities that promote health and wellness.

Together, we can work towards a future where health disparities are eliminated, and all women have the opportunity to thrive.

If you wish to engage Lisa C. Williams for individual, group or organizational coaching services or attend her Reshaped In-Residence Women’s Wellness Training and Development Retreat at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Lake Dallas, TX, from March 19-21, 2025, please connect with her at lisacwilliams.com or by email to engagementcoord@lisacwilliams.com .

Helpful Sources:

1. Office of Minority Health - Cardiovascular Health

2. American Cancer Society - Breast Cancer

3. American Diabetes Association

4. CDC - Stroke Statistics

5. National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching

Thanks to our Front Porch Conversations team, Pamela Perkins Carn, Mo Reilley, Joseph Calvo and Soluria Pearson for your invaluable contribution to this first double special edition of BEHOLD Magazine .

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Creative Writing Unlimited, LLC creativewritingunlimited.com

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Founder The Go-Between thegobetween.agency

Voice Over Artist & Editor SoundCraft

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PAMELA PERKINS CARN MO REILLEY

Celebrate the Unsung Heroines: Share Their

Stories with BEHOLD

BEHOLD Magazine honors the extraordinary women of color who grace our pages with their resilience, wisdom, and impactful narratives. These women transform personal stories into universal lessons of intentional living, self-care, strength, and perseverance, shaping the contours of our cultural and social landscapes.

We invite you, our cherished readers, to join us in this celebration by sharing the stories of remarkable women who inspire you and significantly impact your communities. Your contributions are not just stories; they are the lifeblood of our mission. They help us learn more about the inspiring actions happening nationally and globally. By sharing these powerful narratives, you will help us continue to foster a space for authenticity and unfiltered truths that enrich our lives and communities.

We look forward to receiving your inspiring stories via our website at frontporchconversations .com . In future editions, we may feature and celebrate some of your contributions, amplifying the voices of those who embody BEHOLD Magazine’s tenets. Together, we can catalyze a movement towards a healthier, more philanthropic, and equitable society.

Share your stories today.

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