PURPOSEBound Digital Magazine Fundraiser
November 2020
Millennials You Must Meet Gifts Millennials Love
Exclusive behind the Scenes with
Making life happen!
Issue 01
MILLENNIALS
INSIDE
The Things Millennials Say
PURPOSEBOUNDWOMEN
CONTENTS 14 House Plants Trends
6 Self-Care Tips
The Things Millennials Say. p.15
28 Gift Ideas
3 Editorial MILLENNIAL FEATURES 4 Jessica Vance 8 Patrice Lewis 12 Jimia Jones 16 NaQuetta Mitchell 20 Brittany Fisher 22 Quaōcha Woody 25 Ty Kauffman 29 Jaida Williams OUR ADVERTISERS 6 Don't Look Back Accepting online orders! 10 Photography by Lechele Capturing the essence of you 14 Sneed's Nursery Explore the world of plants 18 Cut The Clutter Perfect Functionality
Page 31 Meet Our Interns Get to know the young women who worked so diligently on this project
24 The Market on 25th Coupon Available 28 SisterFund Black Philanthropy At Work in RVA PURPOSEBOUND
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A Word from the Visionary This is an exciting time here at PurposeBound Women and it's certainly not because of anything I have done. It is because I've surrounded myself with some awesome women who are purpose bound in their own right. They are ah-mazing young women with goals and dreams. More importantly, they are women who have the right mindset to grow and become all that they were created to be. I'm one lucky woman! The special edition, devoted 100% to millennials, was the vision of four women - our 2020 interns! Recent college grads with enough gall to think they could pull this off. Well, you're looking at the proof!
Photography by Lechele, LLC
Women are my heart. I know what it's like to dream, fail and win! There's a lot that goes on in between each of those milestones but, we persevere! We keep going no matter what and guess what? We all win in the end. And we win because we support one another. We win because we're not afraid to risk it. We win because it's in our DNA. We are all PurposeBound!
This magazine is full of women who deserve to be featured and get noticed and we thank them for giving back. Not only in their communities but, their willingness to give back to PurposeBound Women's fundraiser - the digital magazine. PurposeBound Women is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the lives of women - in particular, Black women & girls living in housing communities throughout our city. We aim to shift their mindsets to grow. Our vision is a success story for each of them. Our goal is to help them realize their potentials and how using what's already in their hands, they can create a "side hustle" or a real business to change the trajectory of their lives. This is accomplished through our online training program, coaching and participation in our social enterprise - Refurbish Collective, a marketplace for a unique customer shopping experience.
OUR 2020 INTERNS MEGAN WITZ / LYDIA CLOUD / Â MALLORIE WHALEY / BARSHA POUDEL
Jessica Vance
“Work to live, not live to work.”
J
Jessica Vance is a special millennial that we are featuring this edition because she is the only essential worker on the front lines for COVID. Jessica works as a registered nurse and has consistently provided care for others during the pandemic. We interviewed her to find out how she stays motivated and #purposebound throughout these challenging times. What inspires you? My fiancé inspires me more than anyone I've ever met. He is the most positive person and believes the best in everyone and everything. He pushes me to be a better person and I have grown in many ways since I met him. Where do you see yourself in five years? This is a challenging question for me. I live my life by the motto, "work to live, not live to work." For that reason, I enjoy my days off from work and try to make the most of them. I love to travel and experience new things. I have debated going back to school to further my education, but have learned that the only program I would be interested in pursuing is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program.
Jessica Vance RN, CCRN, BSN
MILLENNIAL MAGAZINE
This is a very challenging and extremely time-consuming program for two to three years where I wouldn't be able to have much time to do the things I love. For this reason, I haven't started my pursuit of it, however, I recently became engaged and have found myself finally settling down so this may be something I choose to pursue in the future. What motivates you to continue your passion of nursing throughout this challenging time? I'm not sure there is anything that motivates me to continue nursing in this challenging time. It wasn't ever a question that I wouldn't work. I do believe that I am one of the luckiest people regarding nursing during this pandemic though. I live in a house with only my fiancé and myself and we don't have children or other family members in our household to worry about getting sick. Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? I am most proud of the experience I have as a critical care registered nurse. I have been a nurse for eleven and a half years with nine of them being in critical care. I started my nursing career by picking up and moving from Maine to Florida by myself at the age of 22. I graduated from nursing school in 2009 right after the market crashed and I must have applied to over thirty nursing jobs in the New England area. I only had one interview and did not get offered the job. I went to visit a friend in Florida and applied to a hospital near her parent's home and to my surprise, I got offered a position. I moved less than a month later. Every job and experience I have had has molded me into the nurse I am today and I wouldn't change any of it.
PURPOSEBOUNDWOMEN.COM
3 self-care tips that aren't just face masks and bubble baths These days, we could all use a little extra TLC. Thankfully, having to spend more time at home gives us the perfect opportunity to practice self care. Self-care originally trended in the form of skincare and bath bombs, and while these are great routines to keep you looking and feeling your best, here are some practices that will boost your mental health in a meaningful way.
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SET SCREEN TIME LIMITS It’s common to start and end your day browsing Instagram or going down the TikTok rabbit hole, but try spending some of your social media time on activities that help you focus on yourself instead of other people’s lives. Take that time to journal, bake, or work on a project that you’ve been putting off. Even swapping it for meditation will do wonders for your mental health.
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PRACTICE SELFAFFIRMATIONS You’d be surprised by how routine positive thinking can gradually affect your mindset. Try looking in the mirror and naming things you love about yourself, vowing to get that one thing done, and replacing “I might” with “I will”. Everyone else knows that you are powerful and capable; sometimes the push we really need comes from ourselves!
LET OTHERS HELP YOU! With the extra stress we’re experiencing in 2020, don’t be afraid to get help from others when you’re feeling extra stuck! Make a virtual or socially distanced date with a good friend and help each other hash out what’s bringing you down. If you’re not comfortable talking to a friend, thanks to the digital age there are tons of ways you can find a professional online to vent to, like Talkspace or BetterHelp.
MANAGING WORKPLACE SABOTAGE THROUGH THE LENSES OF A GROWTH MINDSET BY LAWANDA WOODS-HOWARD This is one of those topics. Having spoken to many women on the subject, I thought is was important to bring awareness to it but, through the lenses of a growth mindset. I welcome your thoughts . . . It appears that this subject, predominately affects those who are in what I'll call middle managers or coordinators positions. Race could be a factor but, I'm not purporting that it is. However, gender does appear to have a role. Whether you are a female and you report to a male or, just the opposite, I think you'll find this relevant. Working for or with someone who consistently works hard to discredit you rather than working harder to build a team is both stressful and needless. It causes you to spend an exorbitant amount of time second guessing yourself and ensuring that everything you do is as near perfect as possible. Nothing can be perfect and I know you know that as well. We should all be in a place of normalizing mistakes because they continue to happen. It's just a part of life. But getting back on the subject. In such cases, you are working with or for someone whose mindset is predominately FIXED. Now, keep in mind, we all have both mindsets but, the degree to which side of the brain muscle you use, determines which one is more dominate. The fixed mindset person is more concerned with how they appear to others (maybe their boss). They are risk averse, they cover their flaws by highlighting yours and they are defensive if they're pointed out. They see this as a personal attack. They would rather appear great rather than working on themselves to actually become great. They are threatened or intimidated by the success of others and will try very hard to demean you with personal attacks and try to destroy you professionally. Here's my list of growth mindset strategies to adopt to help them grow:
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Provide and reflect an environment that is supportive and “safe.� Show them through demonstration how you respond to new ideas, setbacks and change. They may take notice (and I say, "may" because you can't change a leopard's strips) which would allow them to see how effort can lead to positive outcomes. That setbacks, while a nuisance, can be overcome and how failure can lead to greater learning about what to do differently next time. Talk about growth mindset culture in other organizations. Next time you're in a meeting, use conversations about the success of other organizations as an opportunity to include snippets of information on the growth mindset approach. Share how these organizations have used growth mindset to build a team. Inquire how they would address the issue. Remember, they have a need to be known for something great so, indulge them. Ask for their opinion or help with something. This can go a long ways toward relationship building. Also, inviting dialogue can help someone with a fixed mindset come up with their own solutions. Maintain a growth mindset towards your manager. This is the most important tip! Do your best to maintain a growth mindset towards your fixed mindset manager! Don't give up on them. There are plenty of examples of people who once approached their job, their education, their beliefs about intelligence (including Carol Dweck) or their relationships in a fixed mindset way, only to realize that they could improve their approach and their outcomes by adopting a growth mindset. This is not an exhausted list of strategies but, it's a start. Helping others empower themselves through developing a growth orientated mindset creates an environment that is less stressful, strengthen brain neuroplasticity and boosts productivity and performance in the workplace.
. LEWIS
PATRICE L
I am OLIVIA POPE
My journey starts in law school. As I began to understand the law and law practice, I questioned if I wanted to be a lawyer in the conventional sense.
"I knew I needed something different."
Ever since the popular TV show Scandal infiltrated the homes of millions of people on Thursday nights, people compared me to the main character, Olivia Pope aka "Liv", because Olivia and I are alike. I'm a fixer and I specialize in empowering organizations and businesses navigate through the legislative process, communicate effectively and plan for the future.
My parents tried encouraging me, but I was depressed. Up until this moment, I had mapped out most of my life.
I took a break and ventured into marketing and communications, marketing research, community engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. After seven years of doing that, I realized I was ready to go back into the legislative field.
I soon became a legislative assistant for a Virginia state delegate and an outreach representative for a U.S. senator. I developed a reputation for being, "good at this."
After law school, I did what most students do. I took the Maryland bar and starting looking for jobs. Although I passed the bar on the first try, I couldn't find a job for an entire year. It was a difficult time for me, one that required a lot of patience, faith, and perseverance, all of which I was lacking at that time.
It wasn't until I visited a Virginia General Assembly session that I realized how much I enjoyed the legislative process. I liked watching the interactions and the ability to make a difference without setting foot in the courtroom.
PATRICE L. LEWIS, J.D. PLEWIS@GENTRYLOCKE.COM (804) 305-7961 TWITTER @pdotesq LINKEDIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricellewis/
Everything that has happened in my life was orchestrated by God. The fact that I have such a unique background that is perfect for my current position just solidifies it. I'm excited about this new chapter, as I capitalize on my Olivia comparisons to make "Patrice" a houshold name. I recently joined Gentry Locke Attorneys as a government affairs specialist. My credentials were a perfect fit for the team; my eclectic background was an asset. For me, it feels like home.
PURPOSEBOUND WOMEN Â Â
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN GETTING A HEADSHOT Keep it professional - Wear a solid colored business shirt - Make sure hair is clean and neat - Don't go overboard with makeup; keep it natural - Know your good side for the camera
Quality is everything The quality of your photo is going to stand out to the recruiter, so if you have the means, it's recommended to get a headshot done by a professional photographer.
Need a refresher? Remember to get your headshot updated if: - Your weight has fluctuated - You have a completely new haircut or color - Have had any cosmetic work done As a rule of thumb, try to get your headshots redone every 1-2 years. It keeps you recognizable and shows your professionalism.
WHY YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT 1. It shows your personality to your recruiters. This picture gives you the chance to show off yourself. Let your personality shine through! 2. It boosts your self confidence. Getting a professional headshot will help you take you and your career seriously. 3. Portrays the level of professionalism you have. First impressions are everything, and if you look put together, it shows recruiters that you are serious. 4. Your face is your brand. Your headshot should be the visual persona you want to portray. 5. You will stand out from the crowd. Something as little as going and getting a headshot can make all the difference in a recruiter remembering your application over another candidates. 6. You'll stay in their minds. People love being able to put a name to a face. If you use your professional headshot as your profile on multiple social media platforms, you are more likely to be remembered.
Millennials: Perks of living in a College town
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES College towns often attract cultural events and tours from musicians, stage companies and speakers that would not otherwise come to a town of that size. This gives you the opportunity to live in a relatively small-town environment while still seeing top-notch cultural events.
COST OF LIVING College towns tend to have a low cost of living. After all, landlords are often renting properties to college students without a lot of money.
EASY WAYS TO MAKE MONEY Many universities have thriving research projects that seek out citizens of the surrounding town for paid opportunities. You might be paid to play a game or eat a strange food and give your thoughts on the experience, for example, as researchers study some aspect of what you're doing. It can often be an easy way to earn a few bucks.
Jimia Jones
I
I believe that all things work together for my benefit - the good and the not-so-good. Back in 2013, I found myself unemployed. My mentor was able to connect me with a part-time job while I continued to search for fulltime employment. I landed at a job fair with a small crowd of job seekers. After stopping at two tables in a row, I felt it would be rude to skip the next table, a financial institution. The decision to stop would later position me to become the CEO of my own financial education business in 2017. During my time at the financial institution, I built their financial education department from the ground up, worked in multiple departments, won state-level awards for the company, and was recognized nationally for my personal contributions to financial education. However, behind the scenes I was underpaid and stressed. I continued working hard believing that one day my salary and job description would match my work ethic. Unfortunately, I never saw that day. The not-so-good moments made me stronger, more resilient, and determined to leave a mark that could not be erased. Most importantly, it built a confidence in me that I could be successful at running my own business. After all, if I wasn’t put in a position to build a department alone, would I have believed I could build a business alone? Remember, all things work together.
I am in a place I never dreamed about because I decided to find the good in a not-so-good situation. Now through Provision, I provide financial education and counseling to individuals and groups of all ages. From counting pennies with toddlers to planning for retirement, my reach is broad as a financial educator and Accredited Financial Counselor ®. In May 2020, I published a story book and activity book for children. In Pennies for Piggy, Leah receives a piggy bank for her birthday and uses the skill of counting by tens to determine how much to save. It’s humbling to think that I might not be an author today had I skipped over the table at the job fair. A current project (scheduled to release in November) is a coloring book that will compliment Pennies for Piggy. I am writing my second book, Piggy Gets Dumped, which will be released in 2021. One of my goals is to use reading as a way to spread financial literacy to children. For seven years, Jimia Jones has been a contributor to the financial education industry. Her accomplishments include published works, board and committee seats, program development, state and national awards and recognition. Jimia has a gift for tailoring information to her audience’s level regardless of age or financial background. An elementary gave her the title of “The Girl with the
Penny Book” after she visited his class to talk about money. His title has since become her author persona. In addition to being a children’s book author, she is an Accredited Financial Counselor ®. Jimia is the founder and owner of Provision where she strives to be a community resource for financial education. When she’s not discussing financial matters, she enjoys dancing, cooking, painting, crafts, and sharing her home with youth in foster care. Leaving a mark "The not-so-good moments made me stronger, more resilient and determined to leave a mark that could not be erased. "
Jimia Jones, AFC ® Address: P.O. Box 5002, Midlothian, VA 23112 Phone/Text: (804) 601-6365 Email: provision@thejimia.com Website: thejimia.com Online bookstore - Penny Book Shop: bookshop.org/ shop/pennybook Facebook - Girl with the Penny Book: facebook.com/girl.pennybook Facebook - Provision: facebook.com/provision.fined Instagram - Girl with the Penny Book: @girl.pennybook Instagram - Provision: @provision.fined