SOFU, GA May 2023

May Flowers!

I don’t know about you but I love any opportunity to recognize the women in my life who just make life more rich and beautiful. My mom is the greatest influence in my life. She taught me to love the Lord, to be a lady, to never underestimate my intelligence, and that I’m better than no one but no one is better than me. These gems have carried me through. Our wives, mothers and daughters are some of the most influential women in our lives.

And of course with Mother’s Day this month, all eyes are on moms… But it’s not just the biological mothers but the mother figures in our lives who have made an indelible impact on us. It’s the family members, aunts and grandmas, sisters, teachers, friends and neighbors doing awesome things in our communities, pouring into our lives, making themselves unforgettable and irreplaceable.

It was a pleasure to get to know the women in this “ChangeMAYkers” issue! There were a couple of Atlanta natives that were raised in this area (and we know what a rare treat that is), plus a dynamic restaurateur who went to high school in Philly with Jill Scott! I know you will enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed our conversation!

While it’s always important to shop local and support our area businesses, this month is the perfect time to patronize businesses owned by women in our communities. That’s one of my favorite parts of this roleconnecting with and championing the best of the best when it comes to the women of #SoFu!

They are movers and shakers, builders and makers. They are both seen and unseen. Their silent service blesses those who are under their care. Their attention to detail shows us something about beauty that can’t be seen or understood any other way.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to send a text, make a phone call or get your kids on a video call with the women in your life who deserve recognition. It only takes a minute to brighten someone’s day and remind them how much you love them. Give them their flowers!!

May 2023

PUBLISHER

Michelle Taylor Willis michelle.taylorwillis@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Erikka Searles Mitchell | emitchell@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Kyra Hatter | Kshatter@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Becca McCoy, Stevie Peterson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Becca McCoy

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Hunter Richie

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

ERIKKA SEARLES MITCHELL, EDITOR @SOUTHFULTONLIFESTYLE

Trap Music Museum is an interactive experience that uses art to showcase the rich culture of trap music, one of the most popular genres of music today.

“TRAP MUSIC MUSEUM ISN’T JUST ABOUT MUSIC BUT ALSO ABOUT THE CULTURE THAT INSPIRES.”

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Photography: Becca McCoy

COMPASSIONATE CARE. INNOVATIVE MEDICINE.

COMPASSIONATE CARE. INNOVATIVE MEDICINE.

Cassandra R. Treadway, MD Internal Medicine

Cassandra R. Treadway, MD Internal Medicine

Certi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine

Certi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine

W O

W O RLD CLASS C AR E IS RIGHT HERE I

MOREHOUSE HEALTHCARE physicians are world-renowned for their clinical expertise and compassion in serving diverse populations. We are one of the state’s premier primary care and multi-specialty medical practices, including Ob/Gyn, bariatric surgery, cardiology and internal medicine.

MOREHOUSE HEALTHCARE physicians are world-renowned for their clinical expertise and compassion in serving diverse populations. We are one of the state’s premier primary care and multi-specialty medical practices, including Ob/Gyn, bariatric surgery, cardiology and internal medicine.

Your overall health is important. Drs. Cassandra R. Treadway and Tawian M. Livingston o er state-of-the-art treatments to help keep you healthy.

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Trust your primary care needs to Morehouse Healthcare.

Trust your primary care needs to Morehouse Healthcare.

For your convenience, Drs. Treadway and Livingston are located at:

Tawian M. Livingston, MD Internal Medicine

Tawian M. Livingston, MD Internal Medicine

Certi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine

Certi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine

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455 Lee Street SW

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***COMING SOON*** 2nd Floor 3885 Princeton Lakes Way Ste 300 Atlanta, GA 30310 Atlanta, GA 30331

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city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @southfultonlifestyle

1-7: The Collaborative Firm, with Managing Partner Michael Hightower, hosted the 21st South Metro Development Outlook.

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Hairspray at the Fox Theatre May 30- June 4

Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents  HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon. The cast will be led by  Andrew Levitt aka Nina West  (from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad and Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle. Tickets will be available at the Fox Theatre box office. Learn more about the new touring production at HairsprayTour.com .

Dr. Elvis Francois Visits Career Day

Dr. Elvis Francois of Resurgens Orthopedic talked with the young students at an elementary school about being an orthopedic doctor and his other passion, singing. He shared with the kids that he knew early on that he wanted to be a doctor. The best part was singing "Lean On Me." It was so special to see this example of combining science and art. The children were captivated.

Girls of Excellence Diamond Scholarship Recognition Gala

Join GOE for an evening celebrating girls as they embark on another step in their journey to college and recognize women serving their community.  Support the upcoming Gala on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel. For tickets, sponsorships and more info, please visit https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTQ1MTYy

Critically Acclaimed Immersive Disney Animation Makes its Atlanta Debut

Lighthouse Immersive ’s critically acclaimed  Immersive Disney Animation will see its Atlanta premiere at the new Armour Yards development on May 1. It will open in a 44,000-square-foot warehouse space in the Armour-Ottley Loop, a former industrial corridor situated between Buckhead and Midtown where developers have started reclaiming unused spaces. The venue stands adjacent to the future Atlanta BeltLine and Path 400 trails.

Tickets start at $29.99 and go on sale March 30 at lighthouseimmersive.com/disney

Michael Hightower Named One of Georgia Trend’s 500

Michael Hightower, managing partner of The Collaborative Firm was recently recognized as one of Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders by Georgia Trend magazine. Congratulations from SoFu Lifestyle!

Want

local experiences

The best places and things to do in our area.

BY BECCA MCCOY

Grab your gal pals and plan a relaxing or upscale day, weekend, or GNO (Girls Night Out!) with any one of these local experiences fit for the females. There’s no shortage of fun with friends in SoFu!

Our Picks for The Gal Pals

GO PLAY! ESCAPE ROOM AT TRAP MUSIC MUSEUM – ATLANTA Adventure, intrigue, and your best pals solving a puzzle as a team. 630 Travis Street Northwest Atlanta, GA

GO PAINT! MOSAIC MOON PAINTING EXPERIENCE – MOBILE / VIRTUAL This family-owned Paint & Sip experience comes to you and provides everything you need!

GO PRETEND! GEORGIA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL – FAIRBURN Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Fun for all with food, artisans, entertainment, and merriment.

GO PAMPER! HARLEM ZEN – SOUTH FULTON The NY-based med spa treatment lounge is now in SoFu.  Check out the Zen Express Organic Facial.

GO PARTY! STUDIO CIGAR LOUNGE – FAIRBURN Sophisticated and cozy, featuring a full menu, wine, cocktails, and premium cigars. Wednesdays are Ladies Nights!

MOSAIC Moon Painting Experience

Scan for more photos and the full list.

Want to recommend a local experience?

Scan the QR code and message us on Instagram.

Women Uplifting Women

#SOFU LIFESTYLE CELEBRATES COMMUNITY #CHANGEMAYKERS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECCA MCCOY

There is something truly special about sharing a meal.  We slow down, we’re present, and we connect in a way that is unique to the communal dining experience.  So many of our fondest memories include food: family celebrations, holiday meals, church potlucks, that restaurant you were told not to miss.  So, when we at SoFu Lifestyle wanted to interview some of the women changemakers of the community, we invited them to lunch at Baltimore Crab and Seafood, where owner Shema Fulton has served up memorable recipes on Fairburn Road for over a decade.

When Fulton moved to the Cascade area, she was already a successful restauranteur in Philadelphia who’d spent years in the Washington, D.C. area as well.  She comes from “a family who can cook,” she told us, and proceeded to prove it with every dish that came to the table.  The catfish strips and lump crab cakes were perfectly seasoned and lightly fried.  The flavors and textures of the broiled salmon, lobster and shrimp fried

rice, and sweet potato corn muffins elevated those dishes well beyond expectations.  And when you go, save room for the signature banana pudding – it’s outstanding.

The conversation that flowed over cocktails and popular dishes was joyous, unfiltered, and uplifting. Fulton and SoFu Lifestyle editor Erikka Searles Mitchell were joined by Mercedes Miller, Executive Director of the Georgia International Convention Center, and Jolene Butts Freeman, an Emmy Award-winning television reporter now serving as Associate Vice President of Communications and Media for Clark Atlanta University.  These community luminaries immediately found commonalities and camaraderie, and ways to encourage and support one another.

“I gotta tell you, I am so impressed by you.  And we just met.  You obviously think big,” Butts Freeman said to  Fulton after hearing about the latter’s journey from

MERCEDES MILLER JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN

working for the FBI to doing a million dollars in business in her first restaurant’s first year.

During their shared meal and open conversation, the women bonded over motherhood, relationships, success in business, generational observations, influential women, and spirituality.  Here are some highlights:

WHAT IS A FOND FOOD MEMORY GROWING UP IN ATLANTA?

JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN: “We have such memories!  You know before it was Macy’s it was Rich’s.  And you could get the best brownies ever from Rich’s Bakery.  The Rich’s Bakery puts any other to shame.”

MERCEDES MILLER: “I remember 6th grade, eating down at the Rich’s Bakery downtown – they used to have a tearoom, so you could go down and have lunch and

tea and my mom took me down there when I graduated from 6th grade.”

JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN: “And you were doin’ somethin’ – when you could go and shop and afford the clothes at Rich’s and have lunch in the tearoom.”

WHO ARE SOME OTHER WOMEN WHO’VE INSPIRED YOU?

JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN: “I think the biggest inspiration to me was my mom. My momma had a big heart –very loving, very giving. She had a good, sweet spirit… until you pushed her. And professionally, I would say my TV girls: Monica Kaufman Pearson, Aungelique Proctor, Jacque Reid, and Shaunya Chavis Rucker. I wrote Monica when I was 12 years old because I knew I wanted to be a TV reporter. You know she wrote me back?  CONTINUED >

She wrote me back.  I told her I wanted to be a TV reporter and from that moment on I would call and check in and she always took my calls.  And we would talk, and I would tell her where I was and what I was doing and she would support me, ‘Jolene, you can do it.’”

MERCEDES MILLER: “I have strong women in my life.  My mother and my grandmother.  They instilled in me that you don’t need anybody. You can make it on your own.  My mother was hard-working.  She was.  My family was the first generation to get out.  So, when my mother got out, she wanted me to go first.  My mother always made me feel like there was no limit to what I can do.  I could do anything.”

HOW DID YOU INTEGRATE MOTHERHOOD WITH YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS?

JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN: “A good mother tunes in to her children.  Make them a part of your community work.  It gives them an opportunity—you teach them early the importance of giving back.  Whether it’s through community service, whether it’s meeting folks in the community—and we need to do that as African Americans, Black women—we need to do that.”

MERCEDES MILLER: “I did that—I work in hospitality, and if I was out, I took him with me. So, he’s grown up in the hospitality industry. You tend to bring up only children like a little adult.  The greatest thing you can give them is exposure and experience.  I had to travel for business and there was never a trip that I would not take him on, because I wanted him to see what I saw.”

WHAT EARNED WISDOM WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 16-YEAR-OLD SELF?

MERCEDES MILLER: “I would tell my 16-year-old self that I am enough – because at that time, I didn’t realize all the things I brought to the table, and I didn’t know my own value.  At this age, and looking back, I would tell her she’s enough – ‘You have a great future ahead of you.’”

JOLENE BUTTS FREEMAN: “I was doing it all at 16—I’m not so sure I would do anything different.  I was confident… I knew at 16 what I wanted to do with my career, and with God’s help, of course, I reached all my goals.  The only thing I

think I might have wanted to work on is to tap into my femininity a little bit more.”

SHEMA FULTON: “I should have embraced my childhood more. I was always looking for ways to make money, wanting to get a job at 14, working. I think it’s something I missed out on: the social aspects of growing up.  I think I should have been more open to relationships, friendships.”

All three women currently occupy positions of leadership, and how they approach their role of mentor to today’s young people beautifully coincided with the wisdom they’d impart to themselves. Fulton values having opportunities to give to others, but with the reminder that “They have to want it.” Butts Freeman knows the

power of self-confidence: “Find a way or make one.  Figure it out.”  And Miller centers her mentorship on the fact that “Nobody gave up on me.”

Shema Fulton, Jolene Butts Freeman, and Mercedes Miller are forces for good in the SoFu community thanks to their talent, tenacity, and faith.  But it is their generosity of spirit that is truly inspirational.  This lunchtime conversation was a powerful reminder that when you gather with loved ones to share food, and to listen and be heard, it is wholly nourishing.

Our thanks to Shema Fulton for hosting this special interview.Baltimore Crab and Seafood is located at 1075 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta.  Visit baltimorecrabandseafood.com for hours and menu.

Memberships start at only $29 per month Start growing opportunities with your business today!

XERNONA CLAYTON

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BECCA MCCOY

A Monumental Icon

“When women lead, streams run uphill.”

As Johnnetta B. Cole, PhD, cited that African proverb in downtown Atlanta on March 8, the sun broke through the clouds, shining brightly on the remainder of the festivities. Emcee Fred Blankenship noted this sunny timing to the hundreds of people gathered to celebrate a bright light among them: Xernona Clayton.

With the unveiling of the sculpture situated in Xernona Clayton Plaza, the diminutive icon of enormous accomplishments becomes the first Black woman to have a statue in Atlanta—unveiled on International Women’s Day. But being the first shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Clayton’s legacy, as she has a long list of firsts.

“You’ve had a front row seat to a good deal of Atlanta’s history mainly because you had a hand in a lot of Atlanta’s history,” said Mayor Andre Dickens, one of over 20 speakers at the celebration. The speakers were a varied list of friends and colleagues, but all shared a common thread of how impactful she had been in their lives and how pleased they were to celebrate her while she was alive to receive the adulation. Clayton is a seemingly impossible 92 years young—sharp, vibrant, and stylish. Wearing white and silver and sporting her signature bun, which foreshadowed the statue’s aesthetics, she didn’t skip a beat when her microphone temporarily went out, continuing to connect with the people close enough to hear her.

She arrived in Atlanta in 1961 by personal invitation of Martin Luther King, Jr. She worked as an organizer for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and would go on to be an esteemed colleague of Ted Turner, who appointed her as his first Black female vice president. It was during her illustrious career in broadcast journalism that she founded

the Trumpet Awards, lauding the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans still to this day.

The parade of speakers delighted in lauding Clayton, with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond calling her a woman “not afraid to speak truth to power, no matter where that power resides.”

“Xernona is an MVP for justice,” said Reverend Frederick Haynes III, while others spoke about her “courage, conviction, and creativity,” and former Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle called her a woman of “endless elegance and timeless beauty.”

That elegance and beauty will indeed be timeless, thanks to the 8-foot bronze statue fabricated by renowned sculptor Ed Dwight, who giggled alongside Clayton as she joked that he had been instructed to make her a combination of Halle Berry, Lena Horne, and Coretta King. But she was not joking when she commented on the location of her triumvirate of honors—an honorary street name, plaza, and statue (the first woman in Atlanta to have all three) located near the hotel where she and Dr. King were welcomed after being forced out of another.

“I, Xernona Clayton, was thrown out of a hotel. Now you’re backed by a street named Xernona Clayton Way,” she declared.

Music augmented the nearly 2-hour program, from the Tri-Cities Marching Band, to soprano Abiodun Koya’s rousing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” to trumpeter Melvin M. Miller providing the fanfare as the statue was revealed. The veil came down, revealing a smiling bronze Xernona Clayton, arms outstretched, and situated atop a black and green granite base. Cheers erupted as the crowd gazed upon a figure in white backed by a blue sky. It was a beautiful day to be in the shadow of a stunning new piece of public art commemorating a longtime legend. In the words of Clayton herself, “One person can make a difference.”

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THE GUIDE TO EVERYTHING DEDUCTIBLE

ARTICLE BY ALEX MING

The tax laws are both complicated and ever changing.  Major changes to these laws have occurred nearly each of the past 50 years. The last major change was one of the most significant overhauls in modern times!

Yet as the famous Jurist Judge Learned Hand once stated (in the 1934 case of Helvering v. Gregory): “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the Treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike, and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.” Even a President (Trump that is!). Therefore, everyone is encouraged to take steps that will reduce what you pay each year to the IRS!

There are several rules to keep in mind:

1. You must report all “ your ” income unless a specific law allows you to exclude it, exempt it, or defer it (so that it is taxed at a later time).

2. You can claim deductions only when and to the extent allowed by law. Deductions are considered a matter of

legislative grace as Congress doesn’t have to create them. It does so only for some specific purpose like encouraging economic activity or to balance a perceived inequity.

3. Tax credits are worth more than tax deductions. A credit reduces your tax payment on a dollar for dollar basis. By way of example, a $1,000 tax credit reduces your tax bill by $1,000; whereas an equivalent deduction benefits you relative to the highest tax bracket that you fall into. Let’s suppose you have a $1,000 deduction and are in the 24% income tax bracket. That deduction will only save you $240 ($1000 x .24) on your tax bill.

4. Even if your income is modest you may have to file a form 1040 (the long form) in order to claim certain available tax benefits.

5. In a number of cases, different deduction rules apply to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).  This is a shadow tax system that ensures you pay at least some tax if your regular income is lower than it would have been without certain deductions.

TAX-FAVORED ITEMS

There are five types of tax-advantaged items that receive preferential treatment under the tax laws:

1. Tax Free Income – this is income you can receive without any current or future tax concerns. Tax free income may be in the form of exclusions or exemptions from tax. In many cases, tax free items do not even have to be reported in any way on your return.

2. Capital Gains – these are profits on the sale or exchange of property held for more than one year. Long-term capital gains are subject to lower tax rates than the rates on other income, such as salary and interest income, and in some cases are tax free. Ordinary dividends on stocks and capital gain distributions from stock mutual funds are taxed at the same low rates as long-term capital gains.

3. Tax-Deferred Income – income that isn’t currently taxed. Since the income builds up without any reduction for current tax, you may accumulate more over time. However, at some point in the future the income becomes taxable.  At that juncture you are expected to be in a lower tax bracket thereby benefiting from the deferred taxation of your accumulated earnings and its earning.

4. Deductions - these include items you can subtract from your income to reduce the amount of income subject to tax. There are two classes of deductions: those above the line which are subtracted directly from gross income, and those below the line, which can be claimed only if you itemize deductions instead of claiming the standard deduction.

5. Credits - these are items you can use to offset your tax on a dollar for dollar basis. There are two types of tax credits: one that can be used only to offset tax liability (called a nonrefundable credit ) and one that can be claimed even if it exceeds the liability and you receive a refund (a refundable credit ). You must usually complete a special tax form for each credit you claim.

“Always start to finish! Never start something you can’t finish!”—Maria

Lee-Driver

Accomplished entrepreneur and author of Detours, Maria Lee-Driver, creates magic wherever she goes. Her journey into the charmed world of small business began in her late teens and continues to this day. Although there have been detours along the way, they have all led her from a place of inspiration to innovation and immense success.

Maria opened her first business, Re-Ons Designing Impressions Hair Salon at the early age of nineteen. She continued to operate the salon for the next two decades, sharpening her business skills. She created a second business in the same building, where she taught cosmetology and barbering.

After years of working with an extremely varied client base, Maria saw a need for a natural product that promoted long-term healthy, beautifully radiant skin and hair. In her quest for natural products for her children’s salon, she fell in love with Shea butter. Creating a

MARIA LEE-DRIVER BRINGS PET EXPO TO SOFU

product for children that was natural and free of harmful chemicals became her mission. Maria began experimenting with different mixtures in her kitchen and created Oria’s O’shay, a multi-use product that is as versatile and effective as it is economical. Oria’s O’shay is now endorsed by the medical community, sold worldwide, and used by growing numbers of women, men, and children.

Today, Maria is laser-focused on growing her businesses, developing new products and business ventures. O Zone Pet Expo in Atlanta on May 5-7, Fresh Pets Lifestyle Magazine (launched February 2023), Fresh Tails Pet TV and Oria’s O’Shay Beauty Exclusive stores are the next 2023 endeavors!

During the height of the pandemic, she created an all-natural pet deodorizing line, Fresh Mink TM Pets. The line’s four products - pet fume, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and sage—are all natural and free of harmful chemicals.

In the summer of 2021, Maria received an invitation to attend SuperZoo in Las Vegas to display her new line. It was there she would find out she was making history as the only African American participant at the conference of a thousand attendees. Maria later discovered she was the first African American to have a national pet line of products. Chewy. com offered an opportunity to carry Fresh Mink TM Pets products on their platform in February 2022.

“I’m super excited,” said Maria. “The looks on people’s faces as we share the information about the event! The response is priceless!”

Elements of You

Advice From Praise Delight

ARTICLE BY STEVIE PETERSON

Praise: To express admiration for someone or something, acknowledging positive qualities

Delight: The act of giving someone great pleasure or joy

Praise Delight’s parents could not have imagined just how powerful her name would become. Praise says that in her youth she experienced teasing due to her unique name. However, as she matured, she began to embrace her authenticity, launching Elements of Delight in 2014.

Praise was named one of Rolling Out Magazine’s most sought-after brand strategists in Atlanta in 2019. Through her company, she offers a plethora of services to aid an individual or business on the path to success.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. Have you been stuck in a style rut since before COVID? Have you become so comfortable that you have not changed in years? Are you a victim of fast-food styles, styles that are trendy for a short period of time but can quickly look dated once the phase has passed? Is there a color that seems to dominate your wardrobe? Maybe there is a pattern that seems to be repeated. Still not sure which direction to go?

Praise recommends a closet audit—remove items that have holes, are overwashed or faded or no longer fit properly. A member of the Elements of Delight team can assist you by conducting a closet evaluation; once your closet has been audited, the best pieces will be coordinated for a look that is flattering for your body type and personal style.

IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR THE NEW YOU. You may have noticed celebrities removing face fillers and implants, embracing new hairstyles or changing their appearance in other ways. We may not know what triggered the desire to make the change, but it highlights that each of us determines who we want to be, and we are allowed to evolve into what and who the best version of ourself will be.

REFOCUS YOUR BUSINESS. Now that people are spending more time outside and in stores, companies need to stand out to get attention. If you are a business owner, Praise suggests that now is the time to be mindful of what your company does. Take time to evaluate the company logo, whether the website is user

Foster Law Firm

friendly, and if you have made use of social media platforms. Have you really studied your demographic? Do you know why they want your products or services? If you have employees, do they embody your brand? Is employing a social media influencer the most economical option for your brand?

A SUCCESS STORY. Chinwe Foster, owner and attorney of Foster Law Firm with offices in Atlanta and Stockbridge, Georgia, has partnered with EoD. Foster’s all-Black female law firm’s website proudly displays “aggressive and effective.” Praise says the terms were purposeful for the brand. Foster Law Firm handles family law and criminal defense cases, and potential clients need to know the attorney assigned to their respective case will be prepared, bold and results-oriented.

PARTNER WITH PRAISE. Would you like to work with Praise and become a partner of Elements of Delight? The firm offers a free 15-minute consultation to determine if the partnership would be a good fit. The second step is to spend an hour with a member of the staff to do a deeper dive into where you would like to take your personal or company brand, then brace yourself for results. The advice you will receive from Praise is destined to propel you to higher heights. She and her staff have the experience and tools needed to guide you to success.

IG: elementsofdelight website: elementsofdelight.com

Memorable ways to celebrate the mother figure in your life

Make an Impact for Mom

The moms and the mother figures in our lives mean everything to us. They deserve the best every day, of course. But at least one day out of the year, we get to shower them with the same love and thoughtfulness they give to us so selflessly.

This year, we hope you’ll consider some memorable ways to make lasting memories with the mom or mother figure in your life. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Mom feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your mom, wife, sister or maternal figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Invite Her To High Tea

Whether you make the brews and treats yourself or head out to an official tea house, Mom will love sipping her beverage out of fancy china and snacking on tea sandwiches.

Pick Your Own Fruit

This activity is especially fun if you have a lot of kids who want to get in on the action. Then, when you all get home, you can whip up a treat for Mom with your selections. (Maybe give her a strawberry in a Champagne glass while she waits.)

Book Her a Weekend Away

There’s no day like Mother’s Day to be impulsive! Book a weekend trip for the two of you at a cute B&B in a city Mom has always wanted to visit.

Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Find a puzzle with an image you know your mom will love (or make a custom one using a photo of the two of you) and put it together over wine and snacks. You’ll be amazed at how much chatting you can get done while puzzling.

Take a Flower Arranging Class

Mother’s Day arrives just as spring is in full bloom. Take advantage of the season by going to a flower arranging class with mom.

FARRAH HARRISON

ARTICLE BY STEVIE PETERSON

FROM SOFU TO CAMEROON

Farrah Harrison and her family are adjusting to life in Cameroon, Africa. No stranger to international travel, Harrison is comfortable making a new country feel like home. She serves as Deputy Country Director with the Centers for Disease Control and has 17 years of service to her credit.

When Harrison served in Liberia, the country was dealing with the Ebola pandemic. Harrison recalls a patient who contracted Ebola who followed the protocol designed by the CDC and made a full recovery, whereas a member of the patient’s family did not share her diagnosis out of fear of the stigma of the disease, and with no treatment, succumbed to Ebola.

In Cameroon, Harrison leads a team of unsung heroes. Oftentimes when someone visualizes the CDC, they imagine a scientist or a doctor, however, there are groups that work behind the scenes to bring the work done by the CDC to fruition.

Harrison’s current project is part of the epidemic control as defined by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), currently in the 25th year of operation. PEPFAR is “the point at which the total number of new HIV infections falls below the total number of deaths from all causes among HIV-infected

individuals, with both new infections and deaths among people living with HIV low and declining.”

Harrison is responsible for ensuring funding of nearly $60 million is allocated with CDC partners who have been aligned to manage the PEPFAR’s programmatic goals and staff the sites with doctors, support staff and technical support staff. The sites are open so that local citizens can receive testing, secure treatment for the prescribed protocol and ensure patient retention.

Although Harrison is in Cameroon for work, she does enjoy her downtime. There is an embassy school for non-African students where her young scholar attends. The classes are smaller, allowing for more one to one teacher time. The ability to work remotely gives her spouse an opportunity to enjoy and learn about Cameroon as well.

While German was the official language until the end of World War I, today, Cameroon natives speak English and French. Harrison was born to Haitian parents and speaks some French, so this gives her a chance to perfect her skillset and build rapport with the locals.