Island Signatures Magazine Issue #13 - The Power Edition

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

CONTENTS 4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 CONTRIBUTORS 8 POEM- DE STI NEE ALI Y AH 10 FEATURE- Alison Browne-Ell i s - KH R YS TA L W A LCO TT 16 Le v el U p 2021- D AV I NA L A YN E 20 FEATURE- Rh onda Glynn - KA TR IN A LE W IS M S W 24 Le s s on s fro m C ovid-19-NI CO LE S UE 28 N o fo le o ’s Paint a Picture C omp eti ti on 34 Lo ckdo w n Love 36 Pr ot ec t in g your f am ily aga i nst Cov i d -1 9 38 MIXOLOGIST-JEFFREY JORDAN 40 Em p o w e rin g our Wom en S t. Luci a - M A KIZ IW E S TE E LE

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

43 V al e n t in e s C hronicles - K E N R IFE M AT TH IAS 44 E nt r epre n e ur C orner- Mirumr osea : A l l e v iat e Period Sym ptom s-SHANICE JORDAN 50 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

EDITOR’S NOTE

W

e lc o m e t o I s l a n d S i g n a t u re s’ f irst p ubl i c a ti o n f o r 2021 - “ T h e Po we r Edition” . A ne w y e a r h a s a r r i v e d a nd s om e p ro gre s s ha s b e e n ma d e w i t hi n t he wor ld a nd i ts ’ b a t t l e o f C O V I D - 19 as v arious va c c i ne s a re i n c i rc u l a t i o n . The en d m ight be i n s i g h t a n d h o p e f u l ly t he New N o r m a l w i l l b e n o mo re . A s we brave thi s ne w ti me , l e t u s p a u s e and ref lect o n s o m e o f t h e d i ff i c u l t i e s we would ha ve e nd u re d d u r i n g t h e b e g i nn ing of the pa nd e mi c a n d a c k n o w l edge t he g row th w i th o u r p e r s o n a l d e v e l op ment no m a tte r h o w i n s i g n i f i c a n t i t m a y ap pe a r. The w o r l d i s i n c o n s t a nt t ra nsitio n; ho w e v e r, w e n e e d t o h i ghlight th e po s i ti ve s i n a l l o u r s i t u a t i ons an d car r y - o n w i th o u r n o r ms t o re m ai n gro unde d.

We cele br a te the mo n t h o f Lo v e , B lac k H istory a nd L o c k d o w n s w i t h o u r n e w edition. We a t I s l a n d S i g n a t u re s a re in spired by the v o i c e s o f t h e p e o p l e , m o re spe c i fi c a ll y, o f t h e mu l t i t u d e of voice s tha t a re c o n t a i n e d b y o u r readers. We s tr i v e t o ma i n t a i n t h e st andard whi l s t s e e k i n g w a y s t o e n t e rt a in and c a pti va t e y o u - o u r re a d e r s.

Addition a l l y, y o u ma y n o t i c e a f e w ch an g es i n o ur e d i t i o n , h o w e v e r, we en c oura ge y o u to re ma i n l o y a l re a de rs an d wel c o m e the c h a n g e s t o c o me .

We h ave m a de a b o l d e r, b r a v e r ma g az ine to a c c o m m o d a t e t h e s e n e w t i me s an d g ive the s e i mp o r t a n t , v a r i e d n e w v oices a pl a c e to t a l k a b o u t w h o m t hey are a nd w hat t h e y s t a n d f o r. I am in c redib l y pro ud o f w h a t t h e I s l a n d Sig n atu re s te a m h a s c re a t e d o n t h e

p age s t hat fol l ow. F rom o ur i n terv i e w wi t h Ke rri sha ab out he r bu sine ss ‘M i rum Ro se a’ i n t he E nt repren eu r Corne r b y Shani c e Jordan (p . 44 ), Le ssons from Cov i d-19 b y N i c ole Sue (p .24) , Lo c k down Lov e : Re a der’s re p l i e s (p . 34) t o our fe at ure s on A l i son Browne -El l i s b y Khyst al Walcott (p . 10) and Rho nda Gl ynn b y K atrin a Le wi s(p .20) . A ddi t i o nal l y, c he ck ou r i nt e rv i e w ab out Em p o we ri ng Women in St . Luc i a (p .40) and N OF OLEO ‘ pain t a p i c t ure ’ c re at i v e wri t i ng c om petition w i nne rs Razo ni q ue Loob y and Destin ee A l i yah(p .28) . I n t hi s e di t i o n, we h ave hi ghl i ght e d i nsp i ri ng p e o p l e wh o I h ope w i l l gi v e m ot i v at i o n t o al l re ad ers.

For t he al c o ho l i c c onnoi sse urs, mixo l o gi st Je ffre y Jo rdan t e l l s us h ow to m ak e ‘Ho ne y Gi nge r Le m onade J am’ a sure dri nk t o b ri ng ab out hap py times duri ng a l o c k down. Che e rs t o th e w e e k e nd!

Wri t e p o e t ry ? I sl and Si gnat ures is for y ou! Hav e a ho t t ak e on a c urren t i ssue ? I sl and Si gnat ure s! I nt e restin g c arni v al j ourne ys? I sl and Si gnatu res!

W hat e v e r i t m ay b e , w e ho p e you fin d y our c re at i v e (or se ri o us) ni c h e with us. So no w i t ’s o v e r t o you. Wh at do y ou t hi nk o f our ne w l o ok ? W hat do you l i k e and what i s m i ssi ng? Le t u s kn ow o n so c i al m e di a @I SLA N DSI GN AT URES or e m ai l i sl andsi gnat ure s@gm ai l .com an d w e ’ l l se e w hat we c an de l i v e r in ou r fo rt hc om i ng i ssue s.

E di t or’s Not e : Dam i e n Po rt e r

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

CONTRIBUTORS Justin Ellis Publisher

D ami e n Po r t e r Chief Editor

Shanice Jordan Writer

Nicole Sue Writer

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

K a t r i na L e wi s Writer

Kh r ystal Wa lcott Writer

M a k i z i we Steele Writer

Destin e e Aliyah Writer

D a v i na La y n e Writer

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

L

When T h ere’s N othi ng Left to G i ve

ife h a s a f u nny w ay o f e nac t i ng o u r jour ney s. It tends to take us down the m o st un e x p e c t e d p at hs . Al o ng the w ay we’re faced with hur dles, big and small, w h i c h so m eti m e s f e e l a s i f t h e y w e re de s i gne d s pecifically to break us. It’s in those moments w h en y o u f ee l lik e y o u h a ve abs o l ute l y no t hi ng left to g iv e that’s y ou find out what y ou’re tr u l y m a d e o f. T he e a sy t h i n g t o do i s l abe l the s e moments as “ bad” but remember, life isn’t p er fec t.

Re g res s i o n t o t h e me an; t hi s i s a pri nciple which simply states that thing s can’t b e a l l b a d o r a ll g o o d, e ve n tual l y l i f e f i nds a bal ance. Lear ning to accept this pr inciple br in gs a sen se o f pe a c e a m i dst the c hao s . Thi s al l o w s y ou to appreciate the g ood times while un d er sta n d i ng t he n o t so g o o d, s i nc e yo u k no w neither would last forev er.

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How D o Y o u A ppreci ate the G ood?

om e t i m e s we have a t e nde nc y to let the positiv es pass us by. Allow y our self to freel y co n n e c t wi t ho ut di s trac t i o n. We g et so caug ht up in what’s next that we forget to a p prec i a t e t h e m o me nt t hat’s ri ght i n front of us. Lear n to fully acknowledg e wha t y o u h a v e d one a n d i t s si g n i f i c anc e . Thi s s i mpl e action breeds a habit of mindfulness that c a n th en b e a p plie d t o e ve r y as pe c t o f yo ur l i f e .

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H ow D o Y o u Unders tand the Bad?

h i s a c t i o n tak e s a c e rt ai n l e ve l of discipline. It requires y ou to pr actice m i n df u l n e ss and grat i tude o n an almost consistent basis. This way y ou’re m i n d fu l o f ex a ct ly w h a t t h e mo me nt re pre s e nts w hile appreciating the lessons that come fro m i t. I t’s a na t ura l re sp o n se f o r us t o be di s c o urag ed by the neg ativ e in our liv es but it is p o ssi b l e to s hift ho w w e se e i t. The s e t o o l s ac t as y our foundation for lear ning to under stand l i fe w h en it m a y n o t b e g o i n g yo ur w ay. The re ’s a quote by the Per sian poet Rumi that say s, “ w h en the w o r l d p u sh e s yo u t o yo ur k ne e s , you’re in the per fect position to pr ay ” . To m e, th i s p e rfe ct l y e m b o di es ho w o ur re ac ti o n t o the bad should be. Use the force of what w a s su p p os ed t o b re a k y ou to c re at e an e ne rgy so power ful it defies all log ic. Per sev ere a ga i n st a l l od d s .

And in t h o se m o me nt s w he n yo u c an’t find that balance. W hen it seems disastrou s a n d l i ke there’s n o t h i n g l e f t f o r yo u t o gi ve , k eep g oing . The under appreciated thing abou t b ei n g a t the bott o m i s t h e po t e nti al f o r gro w th. Amidst the clutter and hur t lies nug g ets of w i sd o m , ex p e rie n c e , a n d a ne w f o und po w e r. There’s a cer tain ty pe of beauty that can only b e p ro d uced b y p a i n . We ar I t pro udl y. Re mi nd ev er y one, including y our self, that y ou’v e fa c ed y o u r d a rke s t m o m e n t s and w o n.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

THE POWER EDITION

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Aliso n Brow ne -Ellis If y o u r g o al s don ’t s c a re yo u , c h a n g e t h e m !

Wr i tten B y: Kh rys t a l Wa l c o t t

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

o u m a y k no w Al i s o n Bro w ne-E llis a s t he b r i l l i a n t b us i ne s s e x e c uti ve w i th a w a rm sm i l e a n d s harp pre s e nc e . H e r b r and cont in u e s t o g ro w f o l l o w i ng the re l e ase of he r f i r st b o o k , Li f e Le s s o ns : A P urp ose D riv en L e a de r sh i p Jo urne y. What s t art ed as a bl og o f h e r p ro f e s s i o nal e x pe ri e nc e ov er t he y e a r s, i s n o w a gui de f o r any yo un g profes s ion a l e m b a r k i ng o n t he i r c are e r j our ney.

S it t ing do wn wi t h Al i s o n vi rtual l y, i t i s easy t o s ee wh y sh e i s f re que nt l y as k e d i f she is ind e e d a b u si ne s s e x e c ut i ve . H e r hu mble pe rs on a l i t y a n d i nf e c ti o us l augh radi ated as we spoke.

A l is on de sc r i b e s he rs e l f as a c are e r mom a nd t r a n sf o r m a t i o nal l e ade r. She s tand s a t t he f o re f ro n t of c hange , mai nl y i n her curren t ro l e a s t h e D i re c to r o f the Cav e S he phe r d C a r d. She i s al s o a me mbe r of t he C h a m b e r o f Co mme rc e , a c e rti f i e d John M a xw e l l c o a c h a nd me nto r t o trans f o rming

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per sons into bold leader s. E v en as sh e holds remar kable titles and contin u es to be a chang e maker, the Alison of t o d a y w a s g reatly shaped by her childhood.

Alison g rew up in poor conditions w i th h er three sibling s and mother, Marcia Hu sb a n d s, who wor ked har d to prov ide the fa m i l y ’s basic needs. In her book, she spoke to b ei n g fr ail in build at the ag e of fiv e an d h a v i n g second-hand clothing and toy s. Al i so n alway s lov ed dolls, but she nev er rec a l l ed hav ing a new one of her own. As a y o u n g g ir l she dared to dream, while kno w i n g th a t a better life would only be a reali ty i f sh e adopted the deter mination and wo r k eth i c of her mother and g r andmother. “ I w a n ted a better quality of life for my mum , I sa w her str ug g le, and remember the even i n gs she would come home and the pain o n h er face,” Alison explained.

She beg an to see the wor ld through a u n i q u e lens, which focused on breaking th e c y c l e o f pov er ty. Alison knew that thoug h sh e m a y not hav e been the smar test in the ro o m a t school, she was surely the one to w o r k th e har dest. This paid off as she beca m e th e fir st per son in her mother ’s family to gr a d u ate secondar y school.

In Life Lessons, reader s are g iv en i n si gh t to how Alison str ateg ically wor ked w i th i n each position she held to build a p u r p o seful career. This inv olv ed maintaini n g a p o si tiv e attitude, showing up professio n a l l y a n d g oing the extr a mile at a time whe n p er so n s stuck to the expectations of their ro l es.

She credited Fr ank Dr akes, her fir st S en i o r Leader at Barclay s Bank for recog n i z i n g h er untapped potential and g iv ing her ro o m to g row. Year s later, her cur rent boss, Jo h n W illiams, would allow her to g et o n w i th the job and redefine her leader shi p ski l l s which contr ibuted heav ily to her c a reer tr ansfor mation.

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

Alis on u se s t h e w ords i nte ns e , i nte nti o nal an d ful f i l l i n g t o su m up he r c are e r thus far.

As a chan g e a g e n t w o rk i ng dai l y i n a hig h pa ced e n vi ro n m e n t, s he k no w s j us t ho w i nte ns e t h e de m a n ds c an be . She has alway s b ee n int e n t i o n a l wi th he r w o rk s ayi ng, “I’v e alw a y s b e e n t h e o ne mappi ng my c are e r m ov es , k n o w i n g t hi s i s w he re I w ant t o be an d posi t i o n i n g mys e l f t hro ugh my c areer gro w t h p l a n .” S h e has re ac he d s i gni f i c ant m ile s t on e s i n a sh o rt t i me and f e e l s f ulfilled an d a t p e a c e w i t h he r l e ve l o f pro gre s s . It wa s t his p ro g re ss and w e al th o f k no w l edg e th a t birt h e d “ L i f e Le s s o ns ”.

“A s a bu si n e ss l e ade r, I re me mbe r h a v ing t h e t h o u g h t duri ng the CO VI D 19 lockdo wn t h a t e ve ry s i ngl e pe rs o n should c o m e o u t of t hi s c ri s i s be tt e r th a n t he y we n t i n . We s ho ul d have a diffe rent m i n dse t , a di ff e rent a t t it u de , a di ff e re nt set of s k i l l s a n d o ne o f th e t hin g s t h a t c a me t o m ind w as c o n t r i b u ti ng to t he de ve l o p m e nt o f t he y o u n g e r p rof ess iona l s a s t h e y emerg e , ” Al i so n sa id . S h e e x p e r i ence d a p e r i o d o f rebirt h a f t e r h e r 40t h birt h da y i n 2019 , a n d sh e k n e w r ig ht a wa y t h a t i t w as ti m e t o g i ve b a c k . She be gan writ ing a p ro f e ssi onal bl o g to sha re use f u l i n si g h ts , w hi c h ev e nt ua l l y c a u g h t the att e nt io n o f a l o c al j o urn a lis t fo r T h e B u si ne s s Au t horit y. H o we ve r, i t wa s in A p r i l 2020 whe n she bega n t o c o m pi l e th e bl og , e x p o u n d o n h e r w rit i n g s a n d c ame to t he re a l i z a t i o n that

her content was wor th more. Alison l a u gh ed as she explained that her husband A sq u i th E llis and 1 2 -y ear-old daug hter, Amya h E l l i s, did not actually believ e she would w r i te a book. W hen the cov er ar r iv ed at ho m e, th ey finally took her ser iously and she rec a l l ed her daug hter say ing , “ who say s the y ’ re go i n g to wr ite a book and actually wr ites i t! ” To make her wor ds impactful, she w a s fo rc ed to open up about pr iv ate ev ents of h er l i fe and ev en soug ht her mother ’s p ermission to share cer tain el em en ts.

She also aimed to mak e i t rel a table which has since p a i d off based on the hear tw a r m ing feedback. Her m a i n ta r get reader s were y oung p ro fessionals who are now fo rc ed to nav ig ate their caree r p a th s in the midst of a g lob a l p a n demic. She exp l a i n ed , “ Life is jour n ey, m o v i n g from one stage o f y o u r career to th e n ex t i s a jour ney, ev er y si n gl e aspect of yo u r l i fe i s a jour ney. Yo u n ger career pro fessi o n a l s compare th em sel v es to other s a n d th a t does not l en d to adv ancem en t fo r themse l v es. ” After a tedio u s ed i ti n g prog ress, she b rea th ed a deep sig h of rel i ef w h en the book was fo r m a tted, and the rel ea se drew nearer. S h e kep t the book in h er i n n er circle so th e rea l i ty that it was n o w p u b l i c was mind b l o w i n g. “ W hen I hit su b m i t o n Amazon, I liter a l l y fel t

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

nu mb, a nd I f e l t n u m b f o r w e e k s … I w as l i ke w hat d id I j u st do ? ” s he l aughe d. The day the bo ok a rrive d a t h e r off i c e , s he w as e age r and anxio us t o sh a re wi t h he r f ami l y and t he rest is h is t ory.

A l ison ra n g i n t h e l aunc h o f he r bo o k s urroun d ed b y wo m e n i n l e ade rs hi p at a s mall e vent ca l l e d “ B o ss Ladi e s by ABE.” She had absol ut e ly n o i n t e n t io n o f c e l e brat i ng but was remind ed b y h e r b e st f ri e nd, Tri c i a Gri ff i th and “ Age nt ” Ke r r i M a p p t hat s he c o ul d no t j ust w rite t he b o o k a n d le ave i t o n Amaz o n. Upon refle ct ion o f t h e wh i rl w i nd e nd t o 2020, she sa id, “I ju st f e e l re al l y pro ud, I f e e l ac c o mp lished , I st i l l f e e l as tho ugh i t has n’t s unk in y et a nd t h a t f a c t t h at i t’s ge tt i ng t hat much visib il it y i s so m e t h i n g that I di dn’t re al l y anti cip a t e . ” H aving a c h i e ve d h e r c hi l dho o d dre am o f b reakin g t he cy c l e o f p o ve rty, s he has t urne d her g az e t o m a k i n g Am yah pro ud. “I w ant t o in gr a in t h o se va l u e s , and that w o rk e t hi c in her f rom ve r y e a r l y f o r he r t o unde rs tand that t hi s is w h o yo u a re , and yo u have to re c og nise y our int e g r i t y a n d b rand. Yo u have t o pre sent in a w a y t h a t i t re so nat e s w i t h o the rs .” A s her p ers on a l c h e e r l eade r, Amyah e ns ure s to remind A l i so n t h a t she i s pro ud o f al l s he has done a nd y e s, wr i t i ng a bo o k i s i n f ac t a big deal.

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Alison’s per sonal mantr a, “ Any thing th a t i s wor th doing simply needs to g et don e” a n d “ You hav e to lov e what y ou do” hav e b een dr iv ing forces to where she is now, b u t th e jour ney is far from ov er. “ I want to r a i se up an ar my of v er y strong women l ea d er s…

I mean well-rounded people who un d er sta n d that what we call soft skills are no l o n ger soft skills, they are fundamental sk i l l s fo r success.” She plans to put her self ou t th ere more and create initiativ es desig ne d to b rea k the stig ma attached to female leader s b y shaping and building women of the fu tu re.

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

A l i so n giv e s a s am pl e f ro m h er book fo c u s i ng o n the To p T hree Life Le s s o ns :-

L e s s o n s t o Re m e m b e r: To 2021 a n d B e yo n d

U nd e r s ta nd i n g y o u r P u r p o s e – It is im p ort an t t o k n o w w hat i s go i ng to dri ve y ou d a y in a n d da y o u t , yo u w i l l ne ve r gai n cons ist e ncy i f yo u do n ’t . Co ns i s t e nc y i s the core a nd t he f o u n da t i o n o f s uc c e s s . Yo u hav e to kn ow t h e t h i n g s t h at e x c i t e yo u and s c are yo u.

You do not just g row; y ou hav e to b e i n ten tional about y our g rowth. You hav e to v i su alise what the next lev el is and wo r k to get there

1.

2.

Be the C E O o f y o u r l i f e - I f yo u are the C E O o f t h e c o m pany, yo u mak e de c isions to im pro ve re su l t s and re po s i ti o n t he b r and, ta k e a si m i l a r c h arge w i th yo ur l i f e . I t is a ll a bou t c o n t i n u ous i mpro ve me nt, yo u think d i ff e re n t l y, and ac t i o ns pro duc e d iffe ren t re su l t s, it’s al l abo ut be ing b e t t e r. Yo u have t o o w n i t, d on’t ge t b o x e d i n t o the o pi ni o ns othe r pe o p l e h a ve f o r yo u. Thi s i s yo ur lif e !

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Pe r s o na l B r a n d i n g is Re a l - Yo u have

to be in t e n t i o n a l whe n bu ild ing yo u r p e r s o nal br a nd , w h e t h e r o n s ocia l m e di a , a t wo rk or w it h f a m i l y. I t ’s mo re tha n ho w y o u p re s e nt yo urs elf ; b u t b e i n g abl e to s ha re yo u r p e r s o nal v a l ue s a n d l i vi n g w hat yo u proje ct o n t o o t h e r s . Yo u hav e t o b e i n t e n t i o nal by be ing da m n g o o d at w hat yo u d o, l e a r n i n g ne w things . Yo u sh o u l d be the fir s t one p e o p l e c al l i n yo ur fie l d!

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Trans fo rm at i o n b e gi ns with you :

2.

The Powe r of Paus e : stop a n d a l l o w y our self to under stand where y ou tr u l y a re, before y ou take steps to where y o u w a n t to g o. Conduct a per sonal SW OT analy si s w h ere y ou ev aluate y our Streng ths, Weak n esses, Oppor tunities and Threats.

3.

Sl o w and s t e ady works: On c e y ou star t to take those init i a l step s, y ou’re g oing to build mom en tu m , when y ou build momentu m , y o u ’ re g oing to star t to achiev e th i n gs.

The more y ou achiev e, th e m o re y ou’re g oing to want and th a t j u st how the cy cle wor ks.

4.

F i nd a m e nt o r:

Sometimes we g et cau gh t u p in the moment and fo r get to think about how ou r w o r d s and actions impact o th er s. I t is essential v er y refl ec ti v e and connect with a m en to r of a feedback g ro u p w h o can keep it real w i th y o u about y our acti o n s a n d y our prog ress

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I f y our goals do n’t s c are you , c hange t he m!

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

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Le ve l Up 2021 Wri tte n By:D av i n a Lay ne

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w a s a y e a r o f many l e s s o ns , and one o f t he gre at e st on es was th e re a l i s a ti o n t h a t w e st i l l h av e t he p o we r t o t rans fo rm o ur l i v e s . T h e pan dem ic fo rc e d m a n y p e r s o n s t o t a k e t he i r p e rs onal and p rofe s s i o nal de velopmen t m o re se r i o us ly t o e i t h e r a d a p t o r pi v ot . W he n t he ne w ye ar arri v e d, t he race was on to c re a te n e w g o a l s a n d p u t s o m e fai t h and ac t i o n i nt o 2021. In order t o effec ti ve l y m ov e f o r w a r d , w e a l l ne e d t o re fl e c t , p re p are and p l an. Assessin g where y o u a re c u r re n t l y i s c r u c i a l b e fore at t e m p t i ng t o ac hi e v e ne w goals an d one wa y to do th i s i s b y u s i n g a S W OT A nal ys i s . Si t b ac k , p ul l out a p e n an d p aper o r no te s a p p a n d a s k y o u r s el f t he fo l l owi ng q ue s t i ons :

S

- St re ngt hs : W h a t a re my s ki l l s and t al e nt s ? W hat am I go od at n atu rally? W ha t re so u rc e s d o I h a v e t hat ot he rs m ay no t ? How do I w ant to u se my st ren g t hs : - to a d v a n c e i n my c a re e r o r do I w ant t o he l p ot he rs ?

W We ak ne s s es : O Oppo rt u n i ti es : T T hre at s:

W h a t a re m y ne gat i v e hab i t s or p e rs o nal i t y t ra its th at withhol d m y prog re ss i o n ? D o I n e e d t o i m p ro v e o n m y s o ft s k i l l s or har d skills?

C a n so me one m e nt or or c oac h m e ? Ho w c an family or f ri en ds he l p w i th my c h a l l e n g e s ? What b ook s o r c ours e s c an he l p m e i mprove?

W h a t i s t h e b i g g e st dange r t o m y goal s ? A re any fam i ly or f ri en ds the pro b l e m? W h a t o b s t a c l es hav e I e nc o unt e re d i n t he p as t ?

When y o u ful l y a n a l y se y o u r a n sw ers , i t m ay b e b e s t t o re v i s i t your goals an d see if t he y fi t w h e re y o u a re n o w. Thi s w i l l al l o w you t o c re at e a m o re realistic v ision f o r 2 0 2 1 .

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Here a re s o m e t ips f o r c r a ft ing t h at v ision: Plan 3-4 g o al s th at a re S M A RT: s p e c i fi c , m e a s u ra b le , ac hie vabl e, real i s ti c a n d t i m e - b o u n d .

For e a c h g o al - i den t i fy t h e s t e p s n e e d e d t o a c h ie v e t he m.

De v e lop K ey Per f o r m a n c e I n d i c a t o rs ( KPI s ) t h a t w ill he lp y o u tr ac k y o ur p a t h t o s u c c e s s .

De cide wh at y o u nee d t o c h a n g e i n yo u r l i fe b a se d on t he SW OT Anal y s i s .

M ak e a pl an to i m ple m e n t a l l t h a t yo u h a ve o u t lin e d.

Your vi s i o n 2 0 2 1 w i l l n o t f e e l a s ov e rw he l m i ng aft e r c re at i ng a re al i s t i c plan t o leve l up y o ur p e r s o n a l a n d p ro f e s s i o nal l i fe . A m i ds t t he goal s e t t i ng an d plan ne r no te s , re me mb e r t o t a k e a c t i o n. The re i s a w ho l e o t he r l i fe ou tside of o ur comfo r t z o n e s, a n d a s i n t i mi dat i ng as i t m ay b e , y ou hav e t o de s i re th e goal m o re tha n y o u d e s i re t h e c o mfo rt .

H ap p y 2 0 2 1 fro m You r Corporate I mage !

For mo re c areer c o ac hi ng t i p s , fo l l o w m e o n I n s t a g ra m : @ yo urc o rpo r atei mag e

R hond a Glyn n

.“ I s e e mys e l f a s a n o rd i n a r y p e r s o n w i t h a n o t s o o rd i n a r y B r a n d Sto r y.”

Wr i tten B y : KA TR IN A LE W IS M S W

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

W

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W ho i s R ho nda Gl ynn?

She s t art e d he r c are e r onl y h avin g e got a chance to sit four O’ l e v e l s and de c i de d t hat th is down w i th R ho n d a Gl y n n f ro m ‘ Z om a was not w he re s he was go i ng to Busin e s s S o l uti o n s’ a n d d i s c u ss b us i - s t ay. She w ork e d a j o b for abou t ten ness. R ho nda i s a Tr i n i d a d i a n - b o rn ye ars and t he n k ne w i t was t ime to power ho us e tha t se e k s t o e mp o we r m ak e a m ov e t o p urs ue w hat else peop l e w i th he r c o mp a n y a n d h a s a s he de s i re d. A s s he onl y k new sh e strong lo ve fo r f e ma l e e n t re p re n eurwant e d ‘m ore ’ out of l i fe , Rhon da sh ip. S he ha s i n v e st e d i n h e r s e l f , b e gun t o c hange he r c are e r path tim e and ti m e a g a i n , a n d n o w h a s b y doi ng a c ours e and re t urnin g to come to gi ve u s a n i n si d e s c o o p s c hool . Thi s fue l e d he r j ourney an d about he r a nd w h a t ma k e s h e r R h o nda p l ac e d he r i n a p os i t i on t o b e in an an d f ue l s Zo m a . D e s p i t e c h a n g i n g av i at i on b ac k ground, w he re h er career cou rs e a t the a g e o f 40, s h e n e v e r l e t at Z o m a Bus i ne s s So l ut i ons all blosthat re s tr i c t he r f ro m f u l f i l l i n g h er s o m e d. Be s i de s t hat , y ou w i ll always poten ti a l a nd ‘ g r a b b e d t h e re i n s’ as fi nd he r s ho p p i ng at l oc al s mall bu siC aribb e a n pe o p l e sa y a n d ma d e sure ne s s e s , w e l l dre s s e d, nai l s nicely fin to h old o n fo r t h e r i d e . L e t ’s s e e i s he d and i nfe c t i ous wi t h t he carn ival what s he ha d t o t e l l u s ! s p i ri t l i k e a t rue Tri ni dadi an!

When w a s Zo m a B u s i n e ss S o l u t i o ns create d a nd w h a t g a v e y o u t h e insp ir a ti o n?

C reate d i n 2 0 1 8, b y R h o n d a , sh e m enti o ne d tha t “ Z o ma i t s e l f me ans insp ire d” . F ur t h e r mo re , sh e w a s insp ire d be c a use w o me n d o n o t re al l y focu s o n the i r s k i l l s a s e n t re p re neurs . Wo m e n h a v e a g re a t sk i l l s s e t to n etw o r k a nd i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e rs to f or m the bo n d s n e e d e d t o c re at e amazi ng b us i ne s se s. A s sh e l a u g he d, sh e me nti o ne d “ I t i s o n e o f t h e fastes t thi ng a w o ma n i n t h e re g i o n can d o …. . ne tw o r k . ” T h e re f o re , t h i s platf o r m ga ve h e r a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o im pac t s o c i e ta l c h a n g e i n t h e re g i on an d g i ve i ndi vi d u a l s a n e c o n o mi c opp or tuni ty i n t h e i r C a r i b b e a n c ountries the y re s i d e d i n .

W hy was t he de c i s i on m ade t o become a doc t o ral c andi dat e ?

A ft e r s he l e ft s c hool w i t h he r fou r O’ l e v e l s , he r fo c us was t o fi nan cially s urv i v e . A ft e r hav i ng t he op portu ni t y t o re t urn t o s c hool and stu dy, s he de c i de d t hat s he was go in g to go al l t he way. She e nj o ys t he research and fo und t hat i t w as ne c e s s ary to ge t e nt re p re ne urs whe re t he y n eeded t o go.

W hat i s a Bus i ne s s St rat e gi s t ?

Lo t s of t i m e s whe n p e op l e o pen bu sine s s e s , Rho nda not e d t hat i ndividu als us ual l y t ak e adv i c e from p e rson s th at are t he c l os e s t t o t he m , s i gnifican t ot he rs o r fam i l y m e m b e rs . Despite t hi s b e i ng good as t he p e rs on cares ab out you, t he y do no t unde r stan d b us i ne s s . The re fore , a b us i ness strate gi s t l ook s at t he p ro c e s s as a wh ole.

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

Th ey f o c us o n w h e re t h e b u si n e s s c urre nt l y i s and w he re you w ant t he bu sin e ss to go . S e t re a l i st i c g o a l s f o r m o m e nt ary gro wt h and an e nd go al . T h ey guide y o u fro m w h e re y o u a re t o w he re you ne e d t o b e and gi v e y ou t h e tools you n ee d to re a c h t h e re .

What is the go a l o f Z o ma B u s i n e ss Sol ut i ons ?

P ut simpl y, to l e t i n d i v i d u a l s k n o w t hat t he i r s i de hus t l e o r s m al l b us in ess can ge n era te i nc o m e a n d ma k e t h e m a m o ne y e arne r. A l l o wi ng re gi onal e n trepren e u rs to c o m pe t e o n a g l o b a l sc a l e.

Does yo ur bus i n e ss f o c u s o n t h e i nt e rnat i o nal m ark e t or onl y Tri ni dad an d Tobag o ? Wha t g a v e y o u t h e d e c i s io n t o do I nt e rnat i onal Bus i ne s s ?

Ye s, sh e d o e s d o b u si n e s s i n t e r n a t i o nal l y. I t i s al s o t he v i s i on s he has for t he entre pre ne u r s sh e a ss i s t s , t h ere fore , t o no t fo c us on p us hi ng he r bu sin e ss inte r na ti o n a l l y w o u l d b e d e f eat i ng t he p urp os e . Si nc e s he c om e s from an avia ti o n b a c k g ro u n d a n d h a s b ee n ab l e t o work wi t h p e o p l e from not on ly reg iona l s pa c e s b u t b e y o n d , i t d e fi ni t e l y he l p s he r t o nav i gat e t he m ar ket in tern a ti o na ll y a n d k n o w w h a t t o go aft e r and p ro v i de for i ndi v i dual s seekin g h e r ser vi c e s .

A s a b us i ne s s o wne r, what are t he Do’s and Don’t s and what woul d you recomm e nd fo r ne w e nt re p re ne urs ?

Rho nda gav e v e ry i nt e re s t i ng p oi nts an d m ore t han t hre e b ut t he k e y one s sh e b e l i e v e woul d s t and o ut are :

DO: FA I L

- I t i s i nt e re s t i ng t o s e e s omeon e t o t e l l y ou t o fai l . But w he n i n b u sin ess Rho nda re c om m e nds t hat y ou w i l l fail bu t do i t EA RLY. She s t at e d t hat “ p e o ple wan t e v e ryt hi ng t o b e p e rfe c t .” She noted th at i t ne e ds t o b e unde rs t ood t hat not everyt hi ng w i l l go t o p l an, b ut t he e arl ier you l e arn from t ho s e m i s t ak e s and c an redire c t t he m t he b e t t e r.

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C L E AR VISION

- E n s u re t h a t y o u hav e a c l e ar v i s i on o n w hat you w an t you r bu sin es s to e m u l a t e a n d w h a t y o u y ours e l f w ant t o do for b us i ne s s . Make su re you h av e a de tai l e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f what you w ant your b us i ne s s t o look like an d a p l a n. B re ak t h i n g s d o w n t o t he s i m p l e s t .

F IND YOUR TR I B E

- E v e r y b o d y is no t w i l l i ng t o work wi t h y ou o r wi ll like your sty l e a nd t h a t i s o k a y. R h o n da not e d t hat b e i ng an e nt re p re ne ur is abou t knowing w hi c h p o p u l a t i o n a n d g ro up you are l o ok i ng t o t arge t . A l s o, advice cannot c o m e from e v e r y o n e . K n o w w hat you are s e l l i ng t o whi c h t arge t popu lat ion and fo c us o n t h e m. S h e s t a t e d “ y ou are no t e v e ryone ’s c up of t e a ……an d t hat’s ok a y. ”

D ONT ’ S: QUI CK SU CCE SS

- y o u r su c c e ss i s not go i ng t o c om e o v e rni ght . Do n ot look f o r a qui c k fi x th i n k i n g t h a t y o u do no t ne e d t o i nv e s t re s o urc e s . Ev e n if you cannot i nve s t fi n a n c i a l l y a t a n y p o i nt , e ns ure t o i nv e s t l ot s of TI M E i n you r bu sin es s . Yo u h a v e t o b e l i e v e i n yours e l f and t he p ro duc t you are p rodu cin g.

G IVE UP

- E ns u re t h a t y o u a re i n your b us i ne s s fo r t he l o ng haul . Do n ot st art yo ur bus i n e s s t h i n k i n g t h a t yo u m ay j us t b e doi ng i t unt i l y ou get a better o ppo r tuni t y. I f y o u r mi n d s et i s n ot p us he d to s u p p o r t y o u r b u s i n e s s i t will n ot b e s uc c e s sf u l .

H ow did C O V I D- 1 9 a ff e c t Z o ma B u s ine s s Solu tions ?

Rhonda m e nti o ne d t h a t p e r so n a l l y sh e was a ffe c te d d r a s t i c a l l y w h i c h sp illed o ve r i nto t h e b u s i n e ss f ro m a h e alth pe r s pe c ti v e . S h e w a s o n e of t he per s o ns tha t w o u l d h a v e c a u g ht C OVID-19 ve r y e ar l y i n t h e p a n d e m i c .

She sta te d tha t t h e b u si n e s s i t se l f w as ‘u p and r unni ng ’ o n l i n e a s sh e h a d an idea whe n s he s t a r t e d t o t a r g e t i n di v idu als i nte r na ti o n a l l y. T h u s, b e f o re C OVID-19 w o uld h a v e b e e n so d o m i nant in socie ty, us i ng o n l i n e p l a t f o r ms and con duc ti ng b us i n e s s o n l i n e w a s som e t hin g Zo m a w o ul d h a v e ma d e a d j u s t m e nts. I t w a s n o t a h a r d t r a n s i t i on, sh e too k m o re o f a h i t d i re c t l y t h a n t he bu sin es s .

D e sp ite y o ur b u si n e s s o p e r a t i n g as an o nl i ne m e di um al re ady, ho w ha rd was it t o rece i ve bus i n e ss w i t h C O V I D -19 s o ap p are nt ?

R hon da m e nti o n e d t h a t si n c e t h e b us i ne s s had al re ady b e e n o nl i ne na vigating to w o r k w i th p e o p l e w a s n o t t o o b ad. But , of c ours e , l i k e m os t i ndividu a l’s bus i ne s s e s w o u l d h a v e b e e n s l owe r t han b e fo re b e c aus e o f unc e rtain ty.

S h e als o no te d t h a t p ro v i d i n g c l i e nt s w i t h t he ‘k no w ho w’ o f ho w t o t r an sition t h eir b us i ne s s e s o n l i n e w o u l d h a ve al s o b e e n c hal l e ngi ng. A s s o m e i n dividu a ls wo ul d ha ve b e e n t o o s t u b b o r n t o do t hi ngs di ffe re nt l y. Ge t t i ng b u sin esses t o acce pt tha t CO V I D - 19 w a s g o i n g t o s t i c k around and t he y ne e de d t o get th eir b usin e s s e s to a p l a c e w h e re i t c o ul d func t i on ap p rop ri at e l y wi t h an on lin e medium w a s o n e o f t h e h a r d e st t r ans i t i o ns for Z om a.

W h at a d vi c e w ou l d y o u g i v e t o f u t ure e nt re p re ne urs o r p e op l e t hat al ready are s m all b us i ne s s e n t re p re n e u r s ?

Contex t, pre s e n t a t i o n , sk i l l s s e t and your b e l i e f i n y ours e l f i s v e ry i m portan t.

You are go i ng to f a i l s o me t i me , m ay no t do s o m e t hi ng ri ght and e nt repren eu rs hip is go i ng to b e h a r d ! E n su re t o i nv e s t i n y ours e l f and your b us i ness. If money i s no t re a d i l y a v a i l a b l e A LWAY S i nv e s t t i m e . Se arc hi ng re s o urc es may fin d yo u w a y s on h o w t o d o s o me t hi ng c he ap e r. A l s o re m e m b e r t hat tech nolog y i s a ls o t h e n e x t l e v e l o f b u s i ne s s s o e ns ure t hat y ou are p ut t i n g you r b usin e s s i n a w a y t h a t y o u c a n g o w i t h t he c hangi ng t i m e s . I t i s i m p ortan t to have a bus i ne s s mo d e l t h a t c a n f unc t i o n o n an onl i ne forum .

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Lessons from Covid-19 Wr i t t en B y :Nic ole S ue

A

q uo te from a u t h o r a n d h u m ani t a rian D e e pa k C h o p r a st a t e s , “ A l l gre at ch a ng es a re pre c e d e d b y c h a o s . ” Thi s embodi e s o ur c u r re n t s t a t e o f a ff a i rs f o r ju st o ve r tw e l v e mo n t h s, t h e worl d h a s bee n re e l i ng u n d e r t h e i mp a c t of C ovid - 1 9 , a d i se a s e c a u s e d b y t h e n o vel c o ro na vi r u s (SARS-C o V- 2 ) . C ov i d 1 9 rep o r ts c o nti n u e t o domina te the m e d i a ; n ew case s , m o un t i n g death t o l l s , fi na n c i a l crises, c o untr i e s u n d e r lockdown a nd m o re recen tly, the ho p e carried by a va c c i n e .

Th e unde ni a bl e n e g a t ive soc i a l a nd p sy c h o log ical i m pa c ts o f t h i s v i r u s a re b e i ng discu sse d , s tud i e d a n d d o c u me n t e d.

fo r a m o m e nt w e we re ab l e t o sh ift o ur fo c us away fro m t he ne gative as p e c t s of t hi s p ande m i c , we wou ld re al i ze t hat i t has hi ghl i ght e d remarkab l e q ual i t i e s whi c h w e woul d n orm al l y ov e rl ook .

I t has s hown t hat we are re s i l ien t; ab l e t o with s t and o r recover q ui c k l y from diffi c ul t c on dition s.

W hi l e w e may hav e b e en u n prep are d fo r by th e forc e o f th is pan de m i c , cou n tries m o v e d s wiftly t o i m p l emen t c urfe ws , travel p rot o c ol s and s t ri c t p ub l i c he a lth meas ure s w hi c h hav e s i gni fi c ant l y lesse ne d t he i m p ac t . Our l i v e s c han ged in a m at t e r of m o nt hs .

H oweve r, a s the w o r l d b a t t l e s t o r i ght it s elf in thi s unf o re se e n p a n d e mi c , i t m a y be d i ffi c ult f o r u s t o f i n d a n y p os - I n t he fac e o f Co v i d-19, we b e came it ives w i thi n thi s e x p e r i e n c e . I f o n l y i nnov at i v e ; i nt ro duc i ng ne w i d eas an d

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d isp lay i ng o r i gi n a l a n d c re a t i v e w ays of t hi nk ing . Bre w e r i e s a n d o t h e r d i s t i l l e r i e s s t art e d produ c i ng a nd d i s t r i b u t i n g h a n d sani t i ze r t o meet the s ur ge i n d e ma n d f o r t h i s p roduc t . Pri nt i ng com pani e s b e ga n p ro d u c i n g 3D f a ce s hi e l ds t hat are us e d b y h eal th- c a re a n d o t h e r e s se n t i a l w ork e rs .

We are a da pta bl e ! We h a v e g r a d u a l l y b e gun t o adj us t t o o ur cha ngi ng e nv i ro n me n t . We a r i n g a m as k i n p ub l i c i s no w t h e ‘n e w no r m a l ’ . N o t w e a r i n g a mas k w he n doi ng b us i ne s s in a ba nk w o uld p ro b a b l y g a r n e r s i m i l ar p ani c and a s e c urit y res po ns e , a s i f y o u h a d w o r n one i n t he s am e b us i ne s s a y e ar ago. With in w e eks o f b e i ng i mp a c t e d b y t h e v i rus , e duc at i o nal i ns t i t ut i o ns m o v e d th e majority, i f no t al l , o f t h e i r c l a s se s o nl i ne . Chi l dre n hav e b e gun t o m aster video confere nc i ng s e r v i c e s su c h a s Z o o m and Googl e M e e t , w hi c h w e re p re viou sly used m a i nl y fo r v i r t u a l b u s i n e ss m e e t i ngs .

L earning i ns tr uct i o n i n a re a s s u c h as danc e ,m us i c and s c i e nc e , t hat were on ce mainly d o ne i n p e r s o n a re n o w b e ing do ne v i rt ual l y. Unde r t he gui dance of public he a l th a u t h o r i t i e s, sc h o o l s hav e t ak e n s t e p s t o c re at e s afe e nv i ron men ts for f ace - to - fa c e t e a c h i n g . M a n y s e ni or c i t i ze ns are l e arni ng how t o m anage t h e ir fi na nc e s a n d p a y b i l l s o n l i n e, i ns t e ad of t he i r us ual rout i ne of s t an din g in long l i ne s a t b a n k s o r b i l l p a y me nt s e rv i c e s . I n an e ffo rt t o k e e p b u sin esses o pen and s e r ve t h e i r c u st o me r s, se v e ral re s t aurant s and o t he r b us i ne sses n ow o ffer de li ve r y s e r v i c e s a n d c u r b s i de p i c k up . Produc t s and s e rv i c e s , w hich were o nce only a va i la b l e i n st o re s o r i n p e rs on, c an now b e ac c e s s e d onl i ne.

W hile s o m e s m a l l b u s i n e ss e s h a v e s uffe re d s i gni fi c ant l y duri ng t he s e times; o t hers a re thr i vi n g a s e n t re p re n e urs no w hav e an o nl i ne m ark e t for t heir bu sinesses. I n m o s t c a s e s , t h i s h a s e l i m i nat e d t he re nt al c o s t s as s o c i at e d with having a pe r m a n e n t b u s i n e ss l o c a t i on.

T his p a nd e m i c h a s f o rc e d b u s i n e ss e s and o rgani s at i o ns t o foc us t he i r atten tion t oward s a c c e l e r at i n g a re a s i n t h e i r e ffi c i e nc y whe re t he ne e d fo r imp rove m e nts a n d c h a n g e s ma y h av e b e e n p re v i o us l y i de nt i fi e d.

Moreov e r, o nl i ne s e r v i c e s, d o c u me nt e d p ro c e dure s , ro ut i ne cl e an ing s c he du l e s a n d f l e x i b l e w ork i ng hours hav e s ure l y b e e n reviewe d o r i m pl e me n t e d b y mo s t b us i ne s s e s i n re c e nt m ont hs .

T his p a nd e m i c h a s b ro u g h t t o g e t h er c ount ri e s , b us i ne s s e s , d epartm e nts , ne i g h b o u r s a n d c o mp l e t e s t range rs . I t has fo rc e d us out o f s pa c e s w h e re w e h a d b e c o m e c o m fo rt ab l e , and i nt o unch art e re d w a t e r s .

In esse nc e , w hi l e t h e re s t o f t h i s journe y re m ai ns unc e rt ai n, w e h av e a lre a d y s h o w n t h a t w e h a v e what i t t ak e s t o we at he r a n y sto r m .

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C o mp eti ti o n d e ta i l s: A s o u r a i m i s t o p ro m o t e Cari b b e an l i t e rat ure , w e th in k th e best way to i ntrod u c e o u r se l v e s i s t o ho s t a c re at i v e wri t i ng c om p e t i t i o n an d dem onst r a te tha t e v e r y a c t i o n w e t ak e c at e rs t o t he as p i ri ng Cari b b e an writer.

P ro m p t f o r Co mpe ti ti o n: We’ve of te n he a r d “ a p i c t u re sa y s a t ho us and w ords ” b ut how m any words can you u se to pa i nt a si n g l e p i c t u re ? I f y ou’ re up t o t he t as k , Nofol e o wants to ch all en ge yo u! Thi s cre a t i v e w r i t i n g c o n t e s t has a b i t of a t w i s t . Us i ng o ne of th e foll owin g pho to gr a p h s p ro v i d e d b y I n te rfl e c t , y ou, t he wri t e r, are t o c ap t ure th e m o men t b y w a y o f p o e t r y o r sh o r t s t o ry.

N o f o l e o ’s m i s s i o n s tate me nt : Nof oleo ha s o ne m a j o r g o a l : t h e a d vanc e m e nt of Cari b b e an l i t e rat ure t h rou gh ou t the w o r l d. We w a n t t o s e e C a r i bb e an wri t i ng e x p and i n re ade rs hi p , mon etary earn ing s, a nd re s p e c t . We b e l i e v e t hat i n o rde r for t hi s t o hap p e n we will h ave to st a rt m a k i ng c ha n g e s w i t h i n o u r re g i on and t hi s c al l s fo r at t ac k i ng s t i gmas associated wi th l i te r a t u re a s a d i s c i p l i ne . We hop e t hat p ut t i ng s p o t l i ght o n you n g t a len t and re w a r d i n g t h e m f o r t h e i r c re at i v i t y wi l l t ak e us one s t e p furth er in doing so .

X

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Consta n tine

t wa s a bo ut t w i l i g h t t h e n , t h e s un was di m and t he s k y de e p , royal blu e.

J u st be fo re the t w o c o u si n s st o o d Bi g Churc h, m o unt e d unt o t he hi l l by its bed o f dorm a nt vo l c a n o , e l e g a n t a n d u nm o v i ng. I t was c o m p o s e d o f t hre e beau tifu l bu i l di ngs i n o n e , a l l o f t h e m m ade o f c onc re t e w al l . The m ai n c hurch bu ilding was s a nd w i c h e d b e t w e e n t w o b at t e re d c l oc k t o we rs , one t op p e d b y a cross a nd th e o the r b y a w i n d v a n e . L i k e a p ri e s t ’s hat , up on t he t ri angul ar h ead of t h e ma i n bui l di n g s a t a c ro ss . T h e re we re fi v e , t al l rounde d doorways , sh elt erin g d a r k w o od e n d o o r s, a b o v e e ac h do or s i t t i ng a l arge s q uare wi ndow.T h e s ig h t b e fo re J ul i e t s h e h a d s e e n a m i l l i o n t i m e s b e fo re , b ut t o Co ns t antin e, a girl f rom D o m i n i c a , t h e h u g e , h u l k i ng b ui l di ng w as s t i l l b rand ne w. Con stan tin e l au g h e d l i ghtly u n d e r h e r b re a t h as s he adm i re d i t s arc hi t e c t ure . “ I t ’s beau t if ul.” She m us e d so f t l y, d r i f t i n g f ro m he r p l ac e at Jul i e t ’s s i de t o c l i mb u p t h e de s e r te d s te p s a n d g i n g e r l y reac h he r c hub b y arm o ut , grazi ng he r fin gers a g ains t the o ld, r u s t e d g a t e . J u l i e t wat c he d on from he r p os i t i on i n t h e street, hardly pa y i ng at t e n t i o n a s sh e g l a nc e d down at he r w at c h, i t w as ab o u t twen tyfive p a s t s i x now. T h e y s h o u l d b e ge t t i ng ho m e o r he r m om w oul d b e worried.

If her pho ne had n o t b e e n d e a d , s he w as s ure t hat s he w oul d b e ge t t in g n on es top ca l l s . A ro u n d t h e m, t h e st re et s w e re de v oi d o f l i fe b e c aus e of s o me h u ge even t ta k i ng pl a c e i n t h e c o u n t r y. “ Do yo u ha ve m o n e y o n y o u r p h o n e ?” Jul i e t as k e d p l e adi ngl y. “We s hou ld be l o oking to go ba c k h o me n o w, C o nni e .”

Her cous i n o nly t h re w a t e a s i n g l ook ov e r he r s houl de r and l aughe d at th e l o ok o n he r fr i e n d ’s f a c e . “ W h a t h ap p e n, gi rl ? I s not e v e n t hat l at e m ek you so frig hte n, Juli e t. ” “ Is we o ne o n th e ro a d n o w, “ T h e s m al l e r gi rl p l e d. “ I’m n o t gi vi ng y o u my p h o n e f o r you t o c al l A unt i e M aggi e and m ak e u s go home n o w, Juli e t , ”C o n s t a n t i n e sa id w i t h an ai r o f ab s o l ut e fi nal i t y. “Relax, we s oon re a c h ho me . J u st n o t r i g h t n ow.”

J u liet s hi fte d un e a si l y a s s h e o n c e agai n c he c k e d he r wat c h and s i ghe d deeply, t ilting he r he a d t o t h e s i d e . “ W h a t do you s t i l l want t o do? I re m e m b er ju st a s econ d a go y o u w e re a b o u t t o p a s s out c l i m b i ng t he hi l l .” “ H a ha , ” C o ns ta n t i n e mo c k e d d r y ly. She t urne d he r l arge b ody t o fac e th e church a ga i n. “ W h a t d o t h e y u se i t for no w?” Jul i e t p out e d l i k e a p e t ulan t child a nd ga ve n o a n sw e r, s t a r i n g up at t he gi ant c l oc k t o we r of t he c h u rch

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in s tead a nd the d a r k e n i n g n a v y b l u e of t he s k y. “Don’t ac t l i k e y ou c an’t h ear me eit her,” C o ns ta nti n e sn a r k e d , n o t b ot he ri ng t o e v e n t urn around t o l o ok at h er f riend.

J u liet cut he r e y e s i n t h e n e a r d a r k n e s s and c ro s s e d he r arm s . “The y’ re restorin g it . ” H er cous i n w a s s i l e n t f o r a n u n c h a r ac t e ri s t i c al l y l o ng t i m e , o nc e m ore reach in g o u t to to uc h the ro u g h su r f a c e o f t h e gat e . “Conni e ?” Jul i e t c al l e d, b e gi nn in g to get scare d.

C o nstanti ne s a i d n o t h i n g . H e r f i n g e rs s t rok e d t he ro ugh s urfac e on t he lock b ef o re f la tte ni ng h e r h a n d s a g a i n s t t he s urfac e of t he gat e and p us hi ng, firmly.

T h e g irls s ta re d as i t c re a k e d , y e t gav e w ay, op e ni ng t he w ay i nt o t he yard.

“Con nie, o h m y go s h . C l o se b a c k t h e p e o p l e and t he m gat e ,” Jul i e t i m p lored, v oice de s pe r a te . “P l e a se . ” “Oh com e o n, d o n ’t y o u w a n t t o g o i ns i de o nc e , Jul i e t ? Jus t for a l i t t l e bit? ” C o nstanti ne te m p t e d . J u l i e t w r u n g he r hands t o ge t he r, e y e s w i de , e x p re ssion h esit a nt. “Ple a s e , j us t f o r a l i t t l e ? I ’ m goi ng ho m e t om o rro w, Jul i e t . Do n’t you wan t m e to-“ “ F ine!” J ul i e t s ubmi t t e d b e g r u d g i n g l y. He r e ye s s c anne d ov e r t he b ui l di ng in fron t o f her on e la s t ti m e b e f o re h e r b o d y re l ax e d i n fai nt l y e x c i t e d re s ol ut i on . “Don ’t m a ke m e re gre t th i s. P l u s , w e h a v e t o b e q ui c k . A ft e r t hi s , we go ho m e .”

C o nstanti ne gr i nn e d , h a p p y t o h a v e b e e n ab l e t o ge t he r way, as us ual . To J u liet, t his was s ti ll a b a d i d e a . T h e c a t h e dral was s t i l l b e i ng re s t o re d and m o re th an l ikely, it w a s no t s a f e . B u t C o n st a n t i ne w as l e av i ng t om o rro w. The y b ot h kn ew t hat on c e the y a r r i v e d h o me , t h e d re am o f t he i r t i m e t o ge t he r woul d v a n ish an d a ll that w a s w a i ti n g w a s t h e p a c k e d s ui t c as e b y t he door and M aggi e ’s cu rfew o rders to ha ve th e m g o t o b e d e a r l y s o Co nni e w oul d hav e e ne rgy t o ge t on th e p lan e th e ne x t da y. A n d s o , t h e y made t he i r way t hro ugh t he gat e , and th en th em iraculous ly unl o c k e d d o o r s .

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I nside w a s c o l d , t h a t w a s t h e f i rs t t hi ng t hat Jul i e t not i c e d. The hai r- raisi ng bi te o f the c o l d o n h e r b ro w n s k i n and t he al l -e nc om p as s i ng darkn ess that s e e m e d to b a t h e t h e c h u rc h i n m e l anc hol y. The s m e l l of dus t w eigh ed heavi l y i n the a i r a n d J u l i e t c o u ld fe e l he r l ungs c ons t ri c t i ng. I t was beau tiful i ns i de , e x c e e d i n g h a d b e e n i m agi ne d b ut s o m e t hi ng di dn’t fe e l righ t.

Con st a nti ne , w h o h a d e n t e re d t h e b e fo re he r was nowhe re t o b e s e e n. T h e first a bj e c t pa n g s o f f e a r r a n t h ro ugh he r as s he s e arc he d t he are a with h er e yes. T he a tm os p h e re s e e me d t o b e p re gnant wi t h t ro ub l e and roc k s pooled i n h e r s to m a c h . T h e b i g g e r g i r l co ul d no t hav e go ne v e ry far. W he re was sh e? To he r le f t , h e r e y e s f o u n d a s t ai rw e l l , s e e m i ng t o l e ad t o a b alcon y of sorts. A t the fi r st s t e p , n e a r t h e rai l i ng, t he re s e e m e d t o b e s o m e s ort of torn ye l l o w r i b b o n t i e d t o t h e r ai l i ng. Caut i on Tap e .

“Conni e ? ! ” Juli e t c a l l e d , d e s p e r at i o n l e ak i ng i nt o he r v oi c e . The at m osph ere w as i n l a b o ur.

“I’m up he re ! ” w a s t h e j o y f u l re p l y fro m t he v e ry e dge of t he b al c o n y.

“Oh Go d, gi r l! Ge t d o w n ! ” J u l i e t p l e ade d.

And t he n a s i c k e n i n g s n a p a s w o od gav e w ay. A s t hough i n s l ow m o t ion , Con st a nti ne de sc e n d e d a n d l a n d e d w i t h a di s t urb i ng t hud. “Cons t antin e!”

J uliet m o a ne d i n t o h e r c l a sp e d hands . “Co ns t ant i ne !”

B ut it w a s to o l a t e . Tro u b l e h a d b e e n b orn.

On th e c o o l , c o n c re t e o f t h e c e n tre ai s l e t he l arge gi rl l ai d, t w i s t e d a t odd an g le s li k e a b ro k e n d o l l .

N a me - Razon i qu e Lo o b y A g e- 1 5 y e a r s Co unt ry of Res i denc e- Ant i g u a a n d B a rb u d a Co nt ac t N um ber- 2 6 8 -7 2 3 - 7358 Ema il Ad d re s s - Razo ni que @ g m a i l . c o m A ddit ional S o c i al M edi a I n fo rm a t i o n In stagram: Raxi b er r i

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W HAT C AN YO U D O WH I LE D ATI N G D U RI NG L O CK D O WN ?

Janine White-Drinks in the patio, A whatsapp video call in lingerie.

Belle- I would set up a zoom call. We would lie in bed with lit candles

around... we will drink wine, eat popcorn and share the screen to watch

a movie together.. preferably a comedy.

Vee Vee-Lockdown love for my plants.

Richelle Harte-#selflove....facials, pedicures and

most important haircare and also

improving my Mandarin.

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BGA- Bartender Classes or Cooking Classes. Where both partners learn how to

cook or make a cocktail.

Latoya - Playing Games together.

Kevin- Work on the car then night- time work on babes lol. Spending quality time

together.

Valerie- Looking for somebody man cause I ain’t got any lol.

Destinee - Indoor Picnic /Movie night.Laydown a blanket, some food some wine.

BGA -Write Love letters to each other.

Karen - Zoom movie night together.

S hawn- Video ca ll showers

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P R O TE C T ING YO U R F AMILY A G A INST C OVID 19

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STAY AT HOME !!!

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M i x o l o g i s t Je ffre y Jo rd a n

I NG RE DI E N TS W hi t e Rum 2 o z Hone y / si m p l e sy rup 1/ 2 oz

HONEY GINGER LEMONADE JAM

Gi nge r sy rup Le m o n Jui c e

1 1/ 2 oz 1 1/ 2 o z

So da wat e r / sp ri t e

IN S TRU CTION S In a coc k ta i l s ha k e r, a d d W h i t e r u m fo l l owe d b y Hone y / Si m p l e Sy urp A d d G inge r Sy r up, L e mo n J u i c e a n d So da wat e r / Sp ri t e t o M i x t ure i n Co cktail S h a ker.

Fil l cock ta i l s ha k e r w i t h i c e , s h a k e and doub l e st rai n t he c o c k t ai l i nt o a glass f illed wi th i c e a nd Gi n g e r a n d f re s h m i nt t o garni sh i t .

D R IN K RE S PO N SI BLY !

A DV E RTIS E W ITH U S

Empowering our Women St. Lucia Written By : Ma k i z i w e S t e e l e

T

he re i s no st o p p i n g t h e f e mi n ist m o ve m e nt! W i t h f e mi n i s m p i o n e ers s uc h a s A n n a J u l i a C o o p e r a nd M ary C hurc h Te r re l l , t h e w o me n ’s c am p aig n c e ntre d o n re f o r m o f e qu a l p ay, and th e c o ntro ve r si a l re p ro d u c t i v e rig hts, a m o ng o t h e r i ss u e s , h a s sinc e c a ta pu l t e d i n t o a gl obal c r us a de .

Nestled i n the C a ribbe a n S e a , th e p etite i s la nd o f S t .

Lu c ia ha s s e e n 5 f t 1” Ta ra M o s e s s pe a r h e a d a coalitio n o f li k e -mi n d e d women w ho a re d e t e rm i ned t o re c o ns t r u c t t he status q uo of h o w t hey are tre a te d i n t heir na ti ve i s l e .

Per tu rbe d by the re a l i t y t hat in the 2 1 s t c e n t u r y wom en w e re s ub j e c t e d t o a l mo st s ub h uman i s m s ta nd a r d s, t h e 19-y e a rold self- s ty le d fe mi n i st w h o h a i l s f ro m a no r the r n t o w n k n o w n a s Gros Islet u nd e r to o k t h e d a u n t i n g t a s k of at tem pt i ng to le v e l t h e p l a y i n g f i e l d.

Tara as s e rt e d t hat s he had wi tn essed t he ge nde r di s p ari t y young St . L u cian w om e n e x p e ri e nc e d and t hi s was most not i c e ab l e i n t he w ork forc e , wh ere less o p p ort uni t i e s w e re av ai l ab l e compared t o t hat o f t he i r m al e c o unt e rparts.

Thus , ‘E m p o we ri ng our Women St . Luc i a’ w as b i rt he d with a m i s s i on o f rai s i ng awaren ess of t he p re v al e nc e of gen de r-b as e d v i ol e nce, edu c at i ng young women on t he i m p ort anc e of leade rs hi p , b o di l y au ton omy and m e nt al he alth , an d w om e n’s ri ght s regardless o f rac e , re l i gi o n , socioe c o no m i c b ac kgrou n d, c ul t ure , and s exu al o ri e nt at i o n. “ I t w as e y e -o pen in g t o s e e how v uln erable and m argi nal i s e d women are i n St . Luc i a. . . s o th at led m e i nt o c re at i ng t hi s Organi s ation . I b e l i e v e t he re s ho ul d b e m o re organ i s at i o ns foc us i ng on t he s e i s s ues. We are b as i c al l y foc us i ng on ge nder- based v i o l e nc e , as e x ual re p roduc t i v e h ealth , and e duc at i ng wom e n and e m powerin g

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

t hem to b e the i r b e t t e r se l v e s , ” Tara noted.

S he adm i ts the mo v e me n t , w h i c h was l a unch e d i n 2 0 1 8, h a s se e n re s i s t anc e from so m e l o c a l me n w h o o p i n e d that w o m en ha d e no u g h r i g h t s a l re a d y and pondere d w hy th e y w e re a d v o c a t i ng for g ende r e q ual i t y.

T his me nta li ty o n l y se r v e d a s mo t iv a tion fo r Ta r a , a n d h e r c o -f o u n d ers, to e ns ure th a t t h e mo v e me n t ’s message w a s no t l o s t on tho s e w ho ex pre s s e d interes t.

A r med w i th a deg re e i n B usin es s A dminis tr a ti o n a n d a b ur ni ng d esire to upli ft w o m en, Ta r a rec ently di d a prese nta t ion on ‘ Wo m e n E c on om i c E mp owe r m e nt w i thin St. L uc i a ’ a n d p oi nte d o ut th a t pi vo ta l s ectors s uc h a s t ourism, d i d no t re a l l y p ro v i d e muc h finan ci a l s ta bi l i t y f o r f e ma l e s . “ M ajori ty o f the j o b s w o me n w o r k i n t he tou r i s m s e c t o r a re u n d e r- re mu nerated j o bs a nd t h e se d o n o t p rov i de a n y sta b i l i ty o r e c o n o mi c e mp o w e rmen t f o r w o m e n h e re i n S t . Lu c i a . That d oes no t re a l l y g i v e u s a n y mo b i l i t y or flexibili ty i n tr y i n g t o a c q u i re a b e t t e r s t an dar d o f li vi n g , ” sh e s a i d .

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W i t h t he b e l i e f t hat fe m i ni s m is t he e m p o we rm e nt and e gal i t ar ian i s m b e t we e n t he t wo s e x e s , Ta ra in dic at e d t hat one o f t he Organi s a tion ’s goal s was t o gi v e wom e n t he opportu ni t y t o s p e ak up and hav e a voice of t he i r o wn; t o s t and up for t hemselves agai ns t t he i ne q ual i t i e s fac e d. Hopefu l t hat t hi s w i l l b e c o m e t he norm, an d is de l i ght e d t o s e e he r ‘s i s t e rs ’ steppin g out of t he i r c o m fo rt zone and advocati ng for c hange .

She s ai d th is lobb y i ng was eviden t i n v ari o us forms, hi ghl i ght in g th e i nc re as e in female e nt re p re neu rs hi p . The positive fe e db ac k from l oc al and in ternat i o nal women al i k e , p rompted t he Oorgan isation t o i ni t i at e mark e t i ng c a mpaign s, whi c h i nclu ded s o c i al m edia in fograp hi c s , Zoom we b i nars , an d a c ol l ab oration wi t h l oc al female m ak e -up artists to c re at e i ns p i ri ng l o ok s t o rai s e awarene s s o f wom e n who had l os t th eir l i v e s t o ge nde r-b as e d v i ol e nc e.

“We are t ry i ng t o fi nd di ffe re nt ways t o at t rac t o ur y oung p e op l e . We are t ry i ng a yout h-c e nt re d ap p roach wh ich t arge t s y oung p e op l e w ho m o stly i nt e rac t wi t h s oc i al m e di a,” Tara said.

A Se c re t ary b y p ro fe s s i o n w ho en joys s t argazi ng and m e di t at i ng, w an ted t o m ak e c l e ar t he m i s gui de d notion

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t h at fem i ni s ts w e re w o me n w h o w ere ‘ wron g e d ’ b y m e n a n d n o w h a d a ve nd etta aga i ns t the o p p o si t e s e x . S h e poin ted o ut tha t b e i n g v i c t i mi s e d w as not a pre re q ui s i t e t o j o i n a w o me n’s empow e r m e nt mo v e me n t b u t a si mp l e o b serva ti o n o f p re j u d i c e t o w a r d s w om en w a s e no u g h t o i n sp i re o n e t o get invo lve d . “ If you a lre a dy h a v e a z e a l a n d passion fo r a dvo c a t i n g a n d t r y i n g t o ra ise aw a re ne s s f o r c e r t a i n i n e q u al i t ies, yo u w i l l o b v i o u s l y b e a t t r a c t ed t o org ani s a ti o ns s u c h a s o u r s. I d on ’t b e l i e ve tha t t h e y [w o me n ] w e nt t h rou g h s o m e thi n g t h a t d e t r i me n t a l t o d raw th e m to o u r mo v e me n t , b u t jus t s eeing ho w unj u s t so c i e t y i s a n d has b e en tow a r d s w o me n i s w h a t a l l o w e d t h e m to j o i n o ur o r g a n i sa t i o n , ” sh e a sserte d.

A not he r m i s c o nc e p t i o n s he s ou gh t to c l ari fy was t hat fe m i ni s m was on ly for wom e n. Tara s t at e d t hat m os t people b e l i e v e d t hat onl y wom e n b e n efited fro m fe m i ni s m , ho we v e r t he empowerm e nt o f wom e n al s o b e ne fi t e d men , as al l owi ng wom e n t o at t ai n m o re equ ali t y l e s s e ne d t he s t rai n on m e n , espec i al l y as i t re l at e s t o e q ual p ay an d e m p l oym e nt o p p ort uni t i e s .

Thi s s t anc e i s e v i de nt ac ros s th e Organi s at i o n’s s oc i al m e di a p latforms, s p e c i fi c al l y on I ns t agram , w here it is c l e arl y m e nt i one d i n t he b i o “advoc at i ng fo r e q ual i t y of t he s e x es”. T h e m o re t han 1700 fol l owe rs o n t h eir I ns t agram p age fe at ure s c o nt en t n arrat e d b y m e n, and re c o gni t i on of th e re c e nt l y c e l e b rat e d ‘I nt e rnat i on al M e n’s Day’ .

W i t h no s i gns of s l owi ng down or deviat i ng fro m he r m i s s i o n, Tara l ooks fo rward t o t he day whe n he r beloved l and, whi c h b o as t s t he t owe ri ng twin Pi t o ns , ac hi e v e s e gal i t ari ani s m.

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E n t reprene u r Co r ne r

MIRUMROSEA: ALLEVIATE PERIOD SYMPTOMS Wri t t e n By :Sh an i c e J o r dan W ho i s the face behind the mask of M i rum Rosea ? “ M y n a m e i s Ke r r i s h a a n d I ’ m t h e CE O o f th is budd i ng b u si n e s s a s w e l l as a y o ung ha r d- w o r k i n g n u r si n g st u d e nt .

W ith n ur s i ng b e i n g a f u l l -t i me c o urs e a long w i th c l i ni c a l ro t a t i o n s a n d w ork , it ’s exha us ti ng b a l a n c i n g t h e se t a s k s for a 21 - y e a r- o l d . H e l p i n g i n d i v i d ual s t o h eal a nd gro w w h e t h e r a t s c h o o l o r a t the ho s pi ta l a l o n g w i t h t h e h e l p o f my bu s i ne s s , fu e l s t h e p e r so n t h a t I a m and w ho I ’ m g o i n g t o b e . “

W hat mo tiv ation did you ha ve fo r the s tar t of MirumRosea ? “ M y M o ti va ti o n b e h i n d s t a r t i n g Mirum Ro s e a w a s a p e r so n a l o n e … … ..

In 2016 I w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g t e r r i b l e periods a nd d ur i n g t h i s t i me , t h e re w as a p o i nt w he re I w a s c o n s t a n t l y b l e eding fo r 4 mo n t h s s t r a i g h t . ” “ I neve r c r i e d s o mu c h i n my l i f e , …….. I w a s li te r al l y c r y i n g a n d t a l k i ng

t o m y s e l f ab out ho w i t ’s no rmal to re c e i v e gi ft s o n b i rt hdays , Christmas day s and s p e c i al o c c as i ons an d I re m e m b e r as k i ng m ys e l f, ‘why isn ’t t he re any t hi ng for p e ri o ds t o h elp you fe e l b e t t e r?’ I t he n de c i de d t o make it m y m i s s i o n t o p ro v i de s o m e t h in g for w om e n t o he l p duri ng t hi s t i me.”

W h y th e n ame Mi r u mRo se a ?

“The ori gi nal nam e for M i rum Rosea was ac t ual l y ‘M o nt hl y M agi c ’ . Du rin g t hat t i m e I w as t ryi ng t o ge t th in gs in p l ac e t o s t art t he b us i ne s s , I h ad th ree s e t b ac k s . I n Jul y 2020 whe n I fin ally de c i de d t o s t art re gardl e s s o f everyt hi ng t hat hap p e ne d, I w ant e d a fresh nam e for m y b us i ne s s . I al w ays wan ted t o l e arn ano t he r l anguage , e ven th ou gh I w as n’t go od at Sp ani s h o r F ren ch in s e c o ndary s c hool , I w oul d t al k to my fri e nds i n di ffe re nt l anguage s somet i m e s , j us t t o s p i c e up t he c o n versat i on a b i t . Lat i n b e i ng one o f th em, I he ade d o v e r t o googl e t rans l ate an d us e d m y b rand c o l o urs (w hi c h were

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actu ally c ho s e n b y t h e Ro s e a b a e s th e m sel ve s ) to g i v e b i r t h t o my b u s i ness na m e . ”

p ac k age s c ont ai n 11-15 i t e m s wh ile t he s m al l p ac k age c o nt ai ns 8-10 items.

M i rum Ro s e a c l i e nt s , affe c t i onately c al l e d ‘Ro s e ab ae s ’ al s o hav e th e option W h o o r what would you sa y is o f a s p e c i al o rde r, w he re t he y wou ld yo ur s uppo rt system? b e ab l e hav e t he i r p ac k age m ade spec i fi c al l y for he r, i nc l udi ng t he colou r of “Even th o ugh I h a d t h e b u s i n e ss i d e a t he i t e m s i n t he p ac k age , t he n u mber from 2 0 1 6 , I d i dn ’t s t a r t u n t i l mi d -2020. o f i t e m s e t c .

For 4 lo ng y e a r s I h a d my f r i e n d s ( who As a yo u n g e n tre pre n e u r w h a t a re are now s o m e o f my b r a n d a mb a s so me k e y fac to r s yo u wi sh t o p a s s sadors) a nd m y mo t h e r w h o e n c o u ro n to o th e r s. age d m e to s ta r t t h i s b u s i n e ss . W h e n I f i n ally de c i d e d t o s t a r t my b u si n es s , th e y all a uto m a ti c a l l y b e c a me my b ac k - “ DO NOT GI V E UP!”.........” A s you n g e nt re p re ne urs i t i s e x t re m e l y h ard to b one,….. he l pi ng me w i t h i d e a s , … …. ge rm i nat e and gro w a b us i ne s s, espedoin g de li ve r i e s a n d c o l l e c t i n g p ro dc i al l y i n t hi s s t ruggl i ng e c ono my du e ucts an d I m us t t h a n k t h e m f o r t h e t o t he p ande m i c . I t ’s t o o e as y to give p o sition Mi r um Ros e a i s i n t o d a y. ” up . De t e rm i nat i o n has t o b e c ome you r C an y o u s hare wit h our rea ders a b e s t fri e nd duri ng t hi s p e ri o d. If you m e m o rabl e l if e moment ? are s t i l l fi ndi ng i t di ffi c ul t t o pu sh t hrough, t al k t o ot he r s m al l b u sin ess “I f eel li k e e ve r y d a y i s a me mo r a o wne rs , ge t adv i c e , t al k ab o ut ideas, b le m om e nt fo r m e , e sp e c i a l l y d u r i ng p us h one anot he r. Yo u’ d b e s urprised my clin i c a l ro ta ti o n s a n d i n t e r a c t i n g how e as y i t i s whe n he l p i ng oth ers. w ith diffe re nt pat i e n t s . ” H a v i n g t h e Yo u c o ul d al w ays s ho ot m e a direct o p portu ni ty to m e e t v a r i o u s p e o p l e m e s s age , I ’ m ni c e and I LOV E small an d real i z i ng e ve r y h u ma n i s t h e i r b us i ne s s e s .” o wn com pl e x i nd i v i d u a l w i t h t h e i r own Are th e re an y o th e r h o b b i es y o u st ory to te l l i s e x h i l a r a t i n g !

W h at produc ts do you offer c ur re n tl y ?

T h e pac k a ge s a t M i r u mRo s e a c o n t a in a rang e o f d i ffe re n t i t e ms : p a mp e r i t ems to he l p a l l e v i a t e p e r i o d s y mptoms, sn a c k s / tre a t s t o h e l p w i t h c rav i n gs as w e ll a s i t e ms f ro m o t h e r sm all bu s i ne s s e s w e c o l l a b o r a t e w it h e ach mo nth. E a c h mo n t h t h e c o n ten ts of the pa c k a g e s c h a n g e , t h e refore, n o Ro s e a ba e re c e i v e s t h e s a m e i t ems twi c e . O ur p a c k a g e s c u rrently c o m e i n tw o s i z e s , t h e l a r g e

are c u r re n tly do i n g o r i n tere s t e d in?

“ A s m uc h as I woul d l o v e t o t ell you ab o ut what I do on m y downt i me, I c an’t c aus e I l i t e ral l y hav e no down t i m e . Be s i de s m ak i ng p roduc t s an d groom i ng M i rum Ro s e a, I ’ m e i t her at w ork , s c ho ol , t ry i ng t o k e e p u p with m y as s i gnm e nt s or at m y c l i ni cal rotat i o ns ……..I re al l y wi s h I had t i me for a hob b y.”

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What are 3 short term goa ls yo u ’ re l oo king forwa rd to ac hi e ving?

1 . Sp ons o r i ng m y f i r st e v e n t ; I a l ways

w an ted m y b r a n d t o b e f e a t u re d a t an event, no t o nly f o r t h e e x p o s u re of my brand b ut fo r w o me n t o b e a b l e t o have th e ‘ Ro s e ab a e ’ e x p e r i e n c e .

2 . Exp a nd i ng m y b r a n d t o o t h e r soc i al

media pla tfo r m s f o r e x p o su re . B e s i de s t he in c re a s e o f o r d e r s , t h i s w o u l d he l p me to e duc a te o t h e r s a b o u t v a r i o u s d isorde r s o f the f e ma l e re p ro d u c t iv e s ystem a nd

3 . Getti ng the c h i l d re n i n v o l v e d i n t he

Roseaba e e xpe r i e n c e ! I k n o w I t ’s qui t e d iff icu l t ha vi ng p e r i o d s w h e n y o u are y o ung , e s pe c i a l l y t h o s e w h o a re u ne ducated a b o ut s u c h b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s . I w an t to i ntro d uc e a p a c k a g e a n d educa tion s y s te m s p e c i f i c a l l y ma d e f or t hose w ho a re n o w g o i n g t h ro u g h puberty a nd ha v i n g t h e i r v e r y f i r s t period e xpe r i e nc e .

Be i ng an entrepreneur ma y not o nly co me with it s successes b u t yo u may al s o encount er some f ai lu re s . Ho w would you overc o m e the c hallenges?

“I have e xpe r i e n c e d ma n y c h a l l e n ge s with my he c ti c sc h e d u l e a n d I o f t en remind m y s e lf to st a y f o c u se d e v e n when i t fe e l s li k e I ’ m sp i r a l l i n g o ut of contro l . Whe n I ’ m u n a b l e t o g e t t a sks d o ne , m y b a b y o r o n e o f my brand a m ba s s a d o r s o f t e n c h i p i n and h e lp.” “ E ve n tho u g h I re c e i v e d h e lp , I still d o o fte n h a v e t h e o v e r w h e l m e d f ee ling, thi s i s w h e re a g o o d c r y i n g session c o m e s i n t o p l a y ; C r y, … . w i p e t hose t e a r s a nd w e mo v e e ! ”

As a yo u n g b u si n e ss o wn e r, h o w do yo u b alan c e yo u r pe r son a l l i f e an d b u si n e ss li fe ? H o w do t h e y di ffe r ?

“Si nc e t he b i rt h o f M i rum Ro s ea, like any b ab y s he re q ui re s A LOT of atten t i on. She w as ‘b orn’ i n t he s ummer; b e s i de s w ork , I had a l ot o f free time t o m ak e adj us t m e nt s and c omplete orde rs w i t hi n a t i m e l y m anne r. I th en s t art e d t he s e m e s t e r i n he r s econ d m o nt h o f b us i ne s s , and e v e ry th in g was di ffe re nt .” ........” I t w as extremely di ffi c ul t b al anc i ng s c hool , ro tation s, as s i gnm e nt s , w ork and M i rumRosea al l at o nc e . I fo und m y s e l f s l ackin g i n m any are as and fe e l i ng as th ou gh I was ne gl e c t i ng t he b us i ne s s . I h ardly s l e p t and I hardl y had any t i me for any one i nc l udi ng m ys e l f. I s t ill am t ry i ng t o fi nd t he p e rfe c t b al an ce b e t w e e n t he m and e v e n t ho ug h it’s di ffi c ul t I ’ m not p l anni ng on g ivin g u p any t i m e s oon.”

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H o w c o nfid ent a re you tha t the e d u c a tional s y st em is doing e no u g h f or wo men t o be educa te d ab o u t their bo dies a nd menst ru al hea lt h as w el l a s women produ c ts w h i c h can be u sed?

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W h at’s n e x t fo r Mi r u mro se a ?

M i rum Ro s e a i s j us t a ‘b ab y’ , we are 6 m ont hs i nt o b us i ne s s and have i m p ac t e d s o m any fe m al e s l i v es by gi v i ng t he m t he o p p ort uni t y t o feel b e t t e r duri ng t he i r p e ri o ds and h ave “With my e x pe r i e n c e , a s w e l l a s t a l k i ng s o m e t hi ng t o l o ok forward t o du rin g t o o ther i nd i vi d u a l s , I ’ v e c o me t o t he i r rough t i m e o f t he m o nt h . “I’m realize tha t m a ny p e o p l e a re n o t e d ul o ok i ng forward t o wat c hi ng t he bu sicated on the fe ma l e re p ro d u c t i v e ne s s fl ouri s h and e nc ouragi ng man y system . I pe r s o na l l y b e l i e v e t h e e dum o re fe m al e s t o p rac t i c e s e l f- care even cational s y s te m d o e s n ’t p ro v i d e t h e on t he i r wors t days . A l s o , I ’ m lookin g youth w i th the a d e q u a t e i n f o r ma forward t o i nt roduc i ng t hre e more t io n abo ut y o ung f e ma l e s. S o ma n y t y p e s o f p ac k age s s o m y s e l f an d th e wom en a re n’t fa m i l i a r w i t h t h e i r f e m al e t e am woul d b e ab l e t o as s i s t women of an atomy, the r i s k f a c t o r s o f b e h a v al l age s w i t h t he i r ho rm o nal i ssu es an d ioural p a tte r ns a n d t h e e ff e c t s i t c oul d s y m p t om s i n any way t hat w e can .” h a ve on the i r re p ro d u c t i v e sy st e m,....... M i rum Ro s e a w i l l al ways b e t h ere for in c lu ding the pro d u c t s t h e y a re u si ng fe m al e s , whe t he r i t i s t o he l p edu cate daily. “ wom e n ab out t he i r re p ro duc t i ve system and v ari o us m al adap t i v e s t at es an d “Starting fro m y o u n g , t h e H F LE [ H e a l t h di s orde rs , gi v i ng adv i c e and d ifferan d Fami l y L i fe Ed u c a t i o n ] c l a s se s i n e nt ways t o handl e y our p e ri od or proseconda r y s c ho o l s s h o u l d h a v e a syl v i di ng a p e ri o d p ac k age for fe males to l abu s to pro pe r l y g u i d e t h e e d u c a t i o n as s i s t w i t h t he al l e v i at i o n o f period bein g ta ught to t h e se y o u n g p e o p l e . s y m p t om s . “ The t e am w i l l al ways In t roduc i ng pro gr a mme s , s c h o o l c l ub s b e aro und t o s up p ort and e m power an d acti vi ti e s c a n p l a y a ro l e a s fe m al e s and t hat ’s a p rom i s e .” an o ther fo r m o f e d u c a t i o n a n d sp read awaren e s s . E d uc a t i n g y o u n g p e o p l e about se x ua l he a l t h , re p ro d u c t i v e system s a nd d i s o r d e r s , S T D S , p ro d u c t s t hat bene fi t the i r re p ro d u c t i v e s y s te m s su c h as o r ga ni c p a d s a n d me n st rual cups e tc . i s e x t re me l y im porta nt no t o n l y t o me b u t t o the ove r a l l he a l t h o f t h e cou ntry. ”

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Out Now

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | T h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e p o w e r e d i t i o n

AC KNOW L ED G E M EN T JEFFREY JORDAN RH ONDA GL Y NN KATRINA LEWI S MSW NICO LE SU E DAVINA LAY NE AL ISON BROWNE-EL LI S KH RYS T AL WAL C OTT DANIELLE HARRI S KE NRIFE MATTHI AS SHANICE JORDAN CO R T NIE J OSEPH M AKIZIWE STEEL E DE S TINE ALI Y AH RAZO NIQ U E L OOBY J ANINE WHI TE RICH E LLE HARTE E M POWE RING OUR WOME N S T. LUCIA T A R A MO S ES KE RRIS H A BADGYALAD V ENTURES VALERIE KE VIN

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