SHOWCASE Magazine (SCMzine Publication) March 2013 Edition

SCMzine 2013 PREMIERE EDITION

SHOWCASE MAGAZINE

LACEY C.CLARK award-winning

SPEAKER AUTHOR LIFE COACH FILMMAKER

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MAGAZINE

FOCUS:

the PROGRESSIVE BLACK WOMEN

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Cover Feature Sisters' Sanctuary LLC. Lacey C. Clark....18 6

Stylist & Fashion Designer................

Tawni Haynes

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Sweet Nature .................................

Eddie Simpson

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Theophani Style..............................

Tifini Lewis

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ABH Projects .................................

Akissi Brooks-Hill

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Healthy Eating................................

Author Sharon Fox

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WELLNESS: Healthier Happy New Year.........

Delayna Keller-Watkins

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Poetry Corner: The Crush...........................

Melisha Anderson-Ruiz

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Relationship Status....................................

Denyce Gartrell

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MAGAZINE FOCUS: Celebrating Progressive Black Women

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Featured Women Business Owners SHOWCASE Magazine will focus solely on these six powerful women with their own individual mission (fashion, beauty, community, wellness, healthy eating) and much more. I hope you are inspired in doing the work gifted especially for YOU… Denise Bethune/Publisher

Featured Authors (Inspire & Empower) SCMzine76@outlook.com

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Fashion Designer & Owner of Iconyq Apparel Boutique My goal is to restore class and elegance to the fashion industry! Sleek, straight lines, bold prints, and elegant, form-fitted designs are just a few ways to characterize the unique technique of stylist and fashion designer, Tawni Haynes. Tawni is well known around DFW as an up and coming fashion forward retailer and custom apparel artist with a vivid sense of classy sophistication far beyond her 30 years of age. What originally began as a love for the trendiest ladies shoes, handbags, and accessories has blossomed almost overnight into a full-scale fashion design business.

Tawni is joint owner and operator of ICONYQ Apparel Boutique, located in Cedar Hill, Texas. What appears from the outside as a local, run of the mill establishment on the historic city square, sets itself apart as soon as you peer through the front doors as the ever-changing, window displays featuring her custom creations. Tawni takes pride in transforming hundreds of clients from ordinary to runway ready for events ranging from a Sunday church service to national television appearances. She is especially recognized for her gift of making any

Cedar Hill, Texas

woman look and feel absolutely stunning, regardless of body shape or size.

“My clients are real women with curves and it’s important that every garment I design and sell make them feel like the most beautiful woman in the room- whether they are a size 8 or 18.” “The difference you will find in one of my hand-crafted garments is meticulous effort and an end product that suits each client’s body type.”

The Fall/Winter line, which debuts this June, is said to display the very essence of Tawni’s signature style, featuring inimitable concepts and fabrication. As Tawni continues to advance her career in the Fashion Design industry, she continues to set the latest in industry trends and construction methods to guarantee that her product and service offerings are leading edge and remarkably chic.

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It’s not about supplication, it’s about power. It’s not about asking, it’s about demanding. It’s not about convincing those who are currently in power, it’s about changing the very face of power itself. Kimberle Williams Crenshaw

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Sisters4Sisters, Inc. a 501© (3) National non-profit, community based organization dedicated to the Empowerment of Women & Girls in Mind, Body and Spirit through Enlightening Workshops on Personal and Professional development and training along with Engaging community outreach in the areas of Domestic Violence, HIV-AIDS, Homelessness, Women's Health and Mentoring Young Girls and Tweens. We invite you to join our Online Experience Rich with Resources and Tools to Enhance, Enrich & Enlighten your Life Journey. Sisters4Sisters, Inc. is committed to providing a Safe, Sacred Space for Sisters to Share, Succeed & Soar! Carolyn-White Washington Executive Director sisters4sisters.com

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From the first, I made my learning, what little it was, useful every way I could. - Mary McLeod Bethune

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Best Shampoo & Conditioner Treatment For Healthier Hair * Did you know your shampoo and conditioner can literally make or break your hair, especially if they contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), which can strip the hair, causing it to be dry and brittle and eventually break-off. * These harsh ingredients are detergents used in floor cleaning products, are found in engines and are used in laboratories as skin irritants in order to test soothing products. Several studies have underlined the harmful effects of their use: urinary infections, kidney and bladder infections, fertility problems, irritation to the eyes, skin and scalp, allergic reactions, lesions of the scalp and hair loss.

Certain studies have asserted that SLS and SLES are carcinogenic.

There are many shampoos on the market that have removed sulfates, but don't provide sufficient moisture to allow the hair to feel clean yet hydrated. Sweet Nature by Eddie's "Inspiration" moisturizing shampoo AND "Love" silk amino protein and peppermint infused conditioner contains a mixture of oils and raw honey that leaves the hair feeling soft and moisturized, giving your hair a hydration boost.

When your hair starts off moisturized, you don't need to use as much product on your hair! * Sweet Nature is made with moisturizing butters, natural carrier oils, and herbs that have been proven to treat psoriasis, alopecia, acute dermatitis, and dandruff, as well as block DHT and nourish the scalp, promoting stronger, long-

er, healthier hair.

GIVING you the hair you have always dreamed of! **For relaxed and natural Hair** Sweet Nature by Eddie Healthy hair care products are made with the finest African Butters, Natural Oils, and Herbs that will give your hair the nourish ment, moisture, and protein it needs to flourish beyond your wildest dreams. Your natural hair will be more manageable and soft and your relaxed hair will be stronger and shiny.

Sweet Nature by Eddie Healthy hair care products are made with the finest African Butters, Natural Oils, and Herbs that will give your hair the nourishment, moisture, and protein it needs to flourish beyond your wildest dreams.

Sweet Nature is made with moisturizing butters, natural carrier oils, and herbs that have been proven to treat psoriasis, alopecia, acute dermatitis, and dandruff, as well as block DHT and nourish the scalp, promoting stronger, longer, healthier hair. Giving you the hair you have always dreamed of! **For relaxed and natural Hair** Natural hair care products formulated to aid in growth for African American Hair!

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BEFORE/AFTER RESULTS

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Healthier Happy New Year Delayna Keller-Watkins Registered Nurse/Wellness Educator Each year people around the world resolve to take better care of their health. They often make blanket statements like “this year I resolve to eat better.” Unfortunately, such broad resolutions are difficult to keep.

They’re not specific enough to follow through on. Instead of making resolutions without a SOLID plan, focus on specific lifestyle changes that will support the goal.

Here are just 7 changes you could implement this week: #1 Stop drinking soda and sugary drinks So many people around the world drink their calories. This sugar is hard on your health. It adds unnecessary weight and it affects blood sugar levels. Resolve to eliminate soda and sugary drinks from your diet. You may eliminate several hundred calories a day from this simple adjustment. #2 Eat fruits and vegetables with every meal and snack If you add a fruit or a vegetable to every meal and snack, you’re much closer to meeting your daily requirement. It’s not as difficult as you might think. You can have fruits or veggies for your snacks. Add an apple or berries to your breakfast. A smoothie can have as many as three servings of fruit or vegetables. Add greens to lunch and dinner and you’re well on your way to getting the nutrients your body needs each day. #3 Try a new fruit or vegetable each month Scientists have found that people who eat a variety of fruits and vegetables are healthier.

Many people become stuck in a rut with their fruits and vegetables. When you add a new one to your diet each month, you’re broadening your nutritional horizons.

#4 Switch to whole grain bread Swap your white bread for whole grain bread. This is an easy change to make and it’ll add more healthy whole grains to your diet. You can amplify this whole grain change and switch to steel cut oats and brown rice instead of instant oatmeal and white rice. Small changes make a big difference. #5 Eat fewer sweets If you’re like many people you probably have several sugary snacks each day. Resolve to cut back. That may begin by tracking how many snacks you normally eat each day. Cut back to one snack each day or one sugary snack each week. #6 Drink a glass of green tea each day Green tea has been shown to provide fantastic health benefits. Add a glass of green tea to your day. Drink it in the morning or have a glass in the afternoon. If you’re sensitive to caffeine then don’t drink it in the evening.

Green tea does have a small amount of caffeine. #7 Stop eating in the evenings People often make poor eating decisions in the evening. Drink a glass of water. Find something interesting to do to distract yourself. If you must eat due to hunger, then eat something high in fiber like a banana or whole grain cereal.

As you’re looking forward to your New Year and contemplating living a healthier lifestyle, be specific. Help yourself achieve success by setting specific goals designed with a plan to help you lose weight and get healthier.

Delayna Keller-Watkins is a global and award winning Registered Nurse and Certified Wellness Coach in the areas of self-care and personal wellness.

For over 2 decades Delayna has been serving wellness seeking women and young girls through her seminars, products and programs. She is an author, motivational speaker, and founder of Delayna Keller Watkins, Inc. and Healthy Soul, LLC a lifestyle company designed to help women achieve optimal health and wellness through the integration of mind, body and spirit. Since pursuing her passion, she has been featured in the Women’s Journal Magazine and appeared as a Women’s Self-Care expert on several Internet Radio Shows and Local Public Television.

Delayna has provided seminars or presentations for companies such as Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI), Dimensions Healthcare, Sisters4Sisters, Inc., Prince Georges County Public Schools, Kennedy Foundation, Inc., Sisters Network, Akoma Project, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Georgetown University, and others.

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I AM THE ANCESTOR: BEFORE I DIE..I MUST SHARE MY STORY Searching for her Legacy..S. Monique Smith

15 yrs ago, my world was shattered in a way that I couldn’t ever image. When something happens to you that causes you to breakdown and cry until you can’t even take another breath….it’s very traumatizing. It’s seemed like I totally lost myself in an out of body, out on mind kind of experience. I panicked, but quickly took action with everything that I had. Franticly, I approached every avenue and available resource that I had, to no avail. Each reply, be it via face to face, telephone or

mailed correspondences were all to me simply ….. REJECTIONS. That was back in 1996. I quickly redirected my energies and focused as I’ve always done, on my children any my mini empire. Having to live under the radar was not new to me, just very different this time. So again, I put back on my happy face and continued to live my life and enjoy. I was loving, educating, working, building and fighting every step of the way. Cruise control was set on automatic and high impact and I felt like a force to be reckoned with. Developing systems for me and mine and sticking with it was a piece of cake until October 2010………I can assure you this, the third time around is not always a charm! My story will take not most of you, but ALL of you by surprise……for it surely did me AGAIN I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it’s half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of people who cared enough to help me.” - Althea Gibson

2X WNBA Champion “You Will Win If You Don’t Quit”

Is a step-by-step guide that teaches readers how to map out a plan for achieving their dreams and empowers them to overcome any obstacle in the process. This single mother of four shares her powerful story of inspiration and encouragement. It is a must read for anyone who has big dreams and even bigger outcomes to overcome..

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Beauty Expert Fashion Expert Art & Culture Blogger Goodness It’s a New Year Tifini Lewis

Honestly, I really avoid corny and cliché. I don’t like jumping on the fancy slogan bandwagon that fly around these times of the seasons. I just want to concentrate on truth, and integrity because, it’s just supposed to be. I am not filling my social media pages with repeats of the same thing being said in different ways. It’s a new year for goodness sake, so I really want to be new. Nope, no resolutions, no promises to myself and others that I will fulfill something astronomically hard to obtain. I worked very hard last year on loosing myself

from associations that didn’t add to my life positively. I actually struggled like a dog if I may be honest. Working on the TheophaniStyle brand, maintaining my home and my family, showing up when I felt I didn’t have anything to offer to opportunities that presented themselves.

I dodged bullets of hatred and antagonism. Many times I wanted to cower, and hide. I mean, all I wanted to do was make a little difference in the world, one color and one curl at a time. Not sure why it had to be so hard.

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OMEN 2 WOMEN:

Q: IN LIFE THERE ARE QUOTES AND OR WRITTEN WISDOM FROM ONE SOURCE OR AN OTHER.,

TIFINI HOW ARE YOU IN-

SPIRED?

A: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6) Often throughout my life, when pressed with hardships, failures and disappointments, this was the one quote that ALWAYS let me know that none of those things counted me out of anything, because a good work not only has begun in me, but the good work will come to fruition and be completed. What a promise, and I daily choose to believe it in every circumstance:) "Do it afraid", which is my own quote. My oldest son used to be afraid to go in the basement of my house. He needed to get something out of the basement that was important to him, but he was paralyzed with fear. I told him that being afraid wasn't the problem, it's a natural emotion. but letting the fear stop him from getting what belongs to him. I too, have experienced fear in the face of the unknown, and having to obtain something that was rightfully mine. I chose to pursue my dreams and passions without having any clue as to what it entailed. I chose discomfort of challenging myself towards something new, rather than staying complacent with the fa-

Her Message

miliar. You are featuring me know because I "did it afraid". Look at all the things that came along with the little gently nudge from the inside and outside telling me to do it regardless to what I felt:) Tifini Lewis Q: MESSAGE TO ALL YOUNG LADIES! YOU MATTER! YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE IMPORTANT! YOU ARE SOMEBODY! YOU ARE THE FUTURE! A: Don't allow yourself to be limited by anyone's labels! Do not compare yourselves to the women on TV, magazines or models on the runway and tear yourselves down. Do not idolize women on reality TV shows and start believing you lack beauty because you don't have the television fame. None of them have perfect lives. Take Evelyn Lozada from Basketball Wives for example, very pretty woman. Nice clothes, shoes and all of the above. Yet, she too experienced a downfall with love.

Do not think just because you are not attractive to the “lil Wayne's” of your age group that you are missing out. Even Lil Wayne got one of the prettiest girls on TV “Lauryn London” pregnant the same time he had R&B singer “Nivea” pregnant. Lets not forget about the situation with Chris Brown and

Rhiana, she too another very beautiful and talented young woman experienced a bad situation with love. The moral of this message is NOT to down talk any of them but to UPLIFT each of you young ladies, while helping you realize NO one is exempt from growing pains! It is all part of experience, which allows us to make things right when they are wrong and easy when they are hard!

BE the BEST BEAUTIFUL YOU and love yourself for who you are! How you look, what your talents are and what you are capable of! BE YOU! Get to know who you are!

Get to understand who you are! Accept who you are and LOVE who you are! Do this and you will never allow yourself to be limited by anyone's labels because you will know that you are so much more Akissi Brooks-Hill Q: What ONE thing would I say should push a woman out there to launch/start her own business?

A: PASSION! When you truly have a passion for what you do, that alone should give you the faith to jump out there.

When people "love" what they do, they still get nervous about taking it to the next level. But when there is a true passion for it...nothing can stop them!! I say find your true passion and take it from there. Author Sharon Fox

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"If you believe with in your heart you'll know, that no one can change the path that you must go... Believe in yourself right from the start, you'll have courage and you'll have a heart...."

“Believe in yourself but go where you are celebrated not just tolerated.

Find people who will support you and want to see you succeed and do well.

Focus on your celebrators and not your haters.”

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Lacey C. Clark..

feature

Opening dialogue between women not REALITY TV Lacey C. Clark our feature progressive black woman’s bio, impressive for sure. Her profession career working with some of the best in the industry at all levels has to be commended. I choose Lacey as our feature not because of her accolades, but mores for her commitment in being a leader amongst her peers.

Her ultimate goal inspiration for our young women in these times of Reality TV, Lacey gives other options for long-term success.

Speaker, Author and Life Coach is the CEO of Sisters' Sanctuary LLC. She is an award-winning expert in solving the communications challenges that exist between younger and older generations of women of color. She has created the Self-Love Day Monthly Observance (13th), The Self-Love Celebration Series for female youth of the Hip-Hop Generation, The Sisters' SanctuaryTM Inner Beau-Tea Parties, the workbook/journal Celebrate HER Now!, and the The Phenomenally U Summits for young women of Reality TV Era. She has shared stages and platforms with Grammy© awardwinning artist/actress and humanitarian Jill Scott; actor/author Hill Harper, poet/activist/author Dr. Sonia Sanchez; motivational speaker/author Les Brown; and psychologist Dr. Robin Smith of the Oprah Show just to name a Lacey C. Clark! is a contributing writer to the Philadelphia Weekly and monthly columnist for rolling out. She is the author of the forthcoming book series, The Phenomenal Philes.

Lacey! is dedicated to inspiring young women to live healthy lifestyles in the Reality TV era. With mantra's like "Because I am sacred", "Celebrate HER Now!" and Cr8 Ur Own Reality," Lacey C. Clark! is an award-winning Speaker, Author, Life Coach and expert in solving the communications challenges between younger and older women of color. She is the CEO and Visionary behind Sisters’ Sanctuary, a holistic empowerment company for women and teen girls that was inspired by the harmful effects of media.

Her insights heal wounds and bridge the gap created by our changing culture. She has shared stages and platforms with, Jill Scott, Hill Harper, Dr. Sonia Sanchez, Les Brown, and Dr. Robin Smith of the Oprah Winfrey show. Lacey! has over 16 years of experience in empowering youth and adults. A graduate of the prestigious New York University, Lacey holds a B.F.A. in film

and television. In addition, she is an NYU Founder’s Scholar and recipient of the William H. Cosby Future Filmmakers Award.

Lacey’s professional career includes working in the Development Department of Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule and teaching abroad in Ghana, West Africa at the National Film and Television Institute. With over 300 successful keynotes and presentations delivered since 2002, Lacey C. Clark!’s message of self-love has reached millions of women, young and old. She was invited to present Sisters’ Sanctuary™ at the World Federation of Mental Health Biennial Conference in Melbourne, Australia in February 2003.

Lacey C. Clark! has created various signature events such as the, The Phenomenally U Summit for Mothers and teen daughters and fathers and teen daughters, The Sisters’ Sanctuary Inner BeauTea Party™, The Worldwide Self-Love Holiday (13th Day of every month), The Annual Community Celebration- The 13 Days of Self–love (February 1-13) and The Sisters’ Sanctuary Summer Selflove Celebration. She has authored, The workbook/journal, Celebrate HER Now!, The Sisters’ Sanctuary Self-love 101 Curriculum, The 5 Disc Collection, Healing the Gap, The Phenomenal Philes and the forthcoming Documentary, “..And in Search of My Phenomenal.” Sisters' Sanctuary™ has also partnered with Jill Scott's Blues Babe Foundation and has consulted with such agencies as, The United Way, The Philadelphia School District, Job Corps., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Temple University, Keystone Mercy Health Plan and The American Cancer Society just to name a few.

Her message has been seen in Heart and Soul Magazine, The New York Amsterdam News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and BET. She has been heard on Radio One and Clear Channel Radio. Currently, she is a contributing writer to such publications such as The Philadelphia Weekly, AfroElle Magazine and a national columnist at Rolling Out. Lacey C. Clark! has won numerous awards and has been celebrated by local and state politicians from Philadelphia to California for her powerful leadership abilities. In the winter of 2007, Clear Channel Radio recognized her as an Unsung Shero. Her hobbies include people watching, spa going, and dancing to inspirational house music. She resides in Philadelphia, PA.

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P

oetry Corner

Melisha Anderson-Ruiz

About an age of outlandish flights of fancy Rag dolls and building blocks Sweet tea and blackberry jam Unkempt hair and denim overalls Indian summer nostalgia quickly pulsates through my mind I remember your smell as clear as crackling embers and burning oak wood Here I, a childish schoolgirl in love with a man’s man, some wife’s man, Hiding deep in reed grasses watching you cool your body in the still pond I imagined things never before seen by my virgin eyes, yet I craved you While holding tightly to my redheaded pale-faced doll It seemed your glittering eyes urged me to leave these childish things behind It seemed as if your lips moved to utter my name As I drew closer to you I clearly heard your breath in sync with pond tapping mosquitoes Drawn to submerge my adolescent body into the water Sending small waves ………………………….

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. Wilma Rudolph

The Crush

crashing around your naval, I waded…...Waiting for you to say how you’ve longed for me so or how you’ve dreamed of the Moment when you could touch me and I could touch you But that hour seemed never to come That hour seemed so very long while you stared into my wanting heart careful not to Reveal your disappointment with my plain face, unkempt hair, flat chest and narrow Behind Embarrassed, I wished I could call for my innocence to rescue me But she lay silent and dead next to my redheaded pale-faced doll in the reed grasses The sun no longer in my eyes and yours having lost that wonderful glitter Somehow I knew tomorrow’s tea tasted bitter, momma’s blackberry jam spoiled Building blocks would tumble and my fancy would no longer be thoughts of you nor Would I need the hand of that damn rag doll

NEW ARTIST: Brittanie

Thomas

Brittanie’s debut single, “I Need You” was released in October 2012. Expect a new single release on January 31, 2013 entitled "Better." Her debut album entitled “Two Chords and a Pen” is set to be released in the winter of 2013. You will be sure to hear music infused with the sounds of neo-soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, and many other popular genres. While it may not always be an easy task to frame the artist to one particular genre, what does remain consistent through each melody is the honesty, passion, and love for world music, and people alike.

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The Crash Chere Cofield This book is designed to encourage and motivate anyone who has gone through stressful times in life and found that inner strength to endure. This book will give you a glimpse of my personal struggles, the enormous amount of stress I was under, and the techniques I used to effectively manage my stress. This book will assist you in effectively identifying signs of stress as well as the effects stress can have on your body. This book will

teach you how to effectively manage your stress by giving you warning signs, practical suggestions, self-assessment/ quizzes, and relaxation techniques to perform in an effort to reduce, relieve, and/or eliminate harmful stress that can lead to serious health problems. After reading this book you will be able to identify 10 ways to add 10 years to your life through effective stress management.

You will be able to journal how you are able to implement each step into your personal life and/or document ways you can improve in each area.

CREDIT SENSE Q: Does my budget make sense?

A: If your budget does not make sense, your credit issue is being impacted by your financial loss. You must deal with this first before effective credit counseling can begin.

Tara Colquitt, The Credit Woman. I will assist you in learning to manage your credit, money and debt to create opportunities in real estate, job creation/ retention and overall financial health. I have actively assisted clients in credit counseling, money management, debt elimination and negotiations. In other cases, I have assisted small business owners who have “mixed credit scores” that interfere with their ability to secure business contracts. I have a proven track record of helping others improve their credit scores and I educate and mentor clients with diverse circumstances about using credit properly to gain access to wealth.

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Dream House Boutique specialize in celebrity fashions for less offering a variety of apparel, jewelry, footwear and accessories. DHB's goal is to be the fashion destination to women of all demographics who wish to be in tuned with the hottest trends at an affordable cost. I take pride in high quality products and superior customer satisfaction.

Akissi Brooks-Hill Mrs. Arkansas U.S. 2010 Using her crown to embrace and encourage young ladies Akissi Brooks-Hill is an ambitious 24 year old young woman who loves to motivate and encourage youth to strive for excellence. She has a passion for giving back to the community through public service and loves encouraging and assisting the young ladies of today become successful women of tomorrow! By interacting with young ladies, her goal is to Inspire them to become leaders who will inspire others.

Akissi and her two younger brothers were raised by her mother, a single parent who instilled in them the importance of education at an early age; leading Akissi, a first generation college graduate, to become the first on both sides of her family to attend graduate school.

Fall of 2007; Akissi graduated Cum Laude from Philander Smith College, with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Accounting. Before graduating, she was initiated into the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Summer 2009; Akissi received her Masters degree from the University of Phoenix and is employed with the Arkansas State Government. As for her community involvement and passion for community service, Akissi started a Non-

Profit organization-ABH Projects, where she promotes her "BE Smart! BE Safe! BE Responsible!" platform offering scholarships for high school seniors, Annual Teen Conferences for young ladies. May 1, 2010 was proclaimed as "BE Smart! BE Safe! BE Responsible!" awareness day by Governor Beebe and started the "First Annual Arkansas Single Parent Proclamation Luncheon" which Governor Beebe proclaimed as March 20, 2010. Akissi is also a participant in the Arkansas AIDS Foundation, Women on the Move for Prevention program as a Certified Basic HIV Edu-

ABH Projects

cator and has served as a panelist for a few events such as the African Women’s Health Project International "Youth Walk for Africa Press Conference" and the Simones Home Inc: "Girls Circle in the Rock! Empowerment Conference 2010" Akissi lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Tony and their three year old son T.J! She is very family oriented and loves spending time with all of her family.

Akissi's words of wisdom are "Sometimes you have to go through things in life to make things RIGHT when they are WRONG and EASY when they are HARD." She lives by this faithfully because no matter what she has been through, there has always been a “Blessing in every Lesson!”

Akissi was named Mrs. Arkansas U.S 2010 and is using her crown to embrace and encourage all young ladies within her reach to BE Smart! BE Safe!

BE Responsible Sometimes you have to go through things in life to make things RIGHT when they are WRONG and EASY when they are HARD! I live by this quote faithfully because no matter what I have been through there has always been a blessing in every lesson!!

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OMEN 2 WOMEN:

Q: You are inspired by someone special I can tell, who may this be?

A: I think the thing that inspires me most is my children.

They genuinely believe that they can accomplish anything. When I listen to them confidently speaking about all the things they are going to do when they grow up, it reminds me that I can do anything I want as well.

Their dreams are so huge and their belief is so strong that I am totally convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that they will far exceed their wildest dreams, and that inspires me to always follow mine! My advice: Get to know yourself; have clarity of who you truly are. Be very clear of your core values and beliefs. Know what’s important to

Her Message you, what you can tolerate, what drives you, what moves you, your passions.

People that know themselves tend to have confidence in their decisions; they trust their instincts. Confident people understand their strengths and know how to handle their weaknesses in a positive way. Only after you know your true self can you accept who you are and then begin to love and take pride in who you are.

When you have confidence, your faith is strengthened, your attitude is positive, and doubt is generally banished from your psyche. Eddie Simpson

“Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way. ” – Nikki Giovanni

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Comfort Food for the Mind, Body & Soul Mind, Body & Soul Author Sharon Fox under stands the importance of feeding the spirit from the inside. Her love for flavor is more than a culinary experience, it’s apart of new lifestyle experience.

How does a cookbook fit into my purpose? Well, everyone has to eat. Everyone has to eventually COOK! God has blessed me with this passion for food and cooking. Food is something that can destroy all barriers...race, creed, sex, age, etc. It is the one thing we all have in common, so my gift for cooking is an International gift! It's a way to break the ice and get into the hearts of people. It's my way of inviting you all to the table for dinner and conversation!

In my lifetime, I've endured many painful events.

I can relate to the pain of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse by family members, child molestation and rape, emotional abuse, death of the only people I ever trusted, divorce, being stripped of my dreams and goals, living as a single parent, living on disability, having nothing and no one to turn to… But through it all, I had... (and still have) my faith in God. I had to inspire MYSELF and never gave up on the dreams I have.

I have worked diligently everyday to write these cookbooks which also contains many testimonies and inspirational words to help others find their inner strength. We all have something inside to help us get over the pain and obstacles in our lives. Sometimes we just need a little push or inspiration to get us to recognize it...and use it. That's my reason for living.

My purpose in this life is to encourage and inspire God's precious people to keep their faith. If I never had to cry, I'd never appreciate the joy of laughter. If I was never hurt, I could never open myself to comfort others.

I know there are so many people who have gone through worse events in their lives than I have. I just feel that MY purpose is to use my story to touch as many people as I can, and to let them know that their faith can bring them out of any situation.

Author Sharon Fox Food Editor for P.E.A.S Magazine, Tru Magazine and Latino Connection Magazine, also named The Official Culinary Artist of the Social Networks

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RELATIONSHIP STATUS Questions to Determine If You're Ready for a Relationship Denyce Gartrell, Life Empowerment & Relationship Strategist Recently, I did a radio show entitled, “Are You Ready to be a Wife”?

up, or fill the emptiness and/or pain that is inside their heart. And,

Since then, many of you sent emails to me, asking how to know if you are ready to be a wife, or are ready for love. Here’s my list of Top 12

because they are not emotionally healthy or available, this is exactly the WRONG time to go into a relationship. However, just because you're

questions you should ask yourself to determine if you're ready for a relationship. And, may I add, these points apply to men also. So, grab a

not ready, doesn't mean that you can't become ready with the proper tools.

pen and paper, find a quiet spot, and answer them as honestly as you can. Remember, you’re the only person reading your responses, and your first answer is usually the most accurate. Therefore, don’t try to convince yourself otherwise. Being honest with yourself is the only way to know if you’re ready; or, to improve some things, if you’re not.

1. Are you still emotionally attached, or in love with your ex?

2. Are you still carrying feelings of bitterness or anger against an ex?

3. Are you looking for the next person to help you forget about the last person?

4. Do you dislike who YOU are as a person?

5. Do you feel empty, lonely, desperate and totally miserable because you don’t have someone else in your life?

6. Do you feel that you don’t deserve to have a good mate in

There are times in our lives when we are ready to be with someone else, and times when we need to be with someone else, and times when we need to be alone. You may need to take a “Relationship Fast” and take the time to heal, to evaluate, to find your mistakes, to improve yourself, and to devise a new plan and outlook on relationships.

This is critical, so that you won’t feel so dependent on someone else to BRING you happiness, but can already BE happy when the right person arrives. REPAIR & PREPARE...and you’ll be less likely to repeat the same choices or mistakes. Keep in mind that, "fasting" requires discipline, but in the end, the results are greater than the sacrifice. You'll realize that what you thought was important, really wasn't essential to your survival. You just gave it more value than it deserved, that's all.

Conversely, for those of you that answered “NO” to every question, it sounds as if there’s a strong possibility that you’re ready for love! However, be cautious and make sure that the person you meet also exem-

your life?

plifies similar qualities as those stated above.

7. Do you feel that no one would want to be in a relationship

In other words, can they also answer, “NO” to the same questions? You

with you?

don’t have to interrogate someone like an FBI agent, as soon as you meet them, but do pay attention to red flags, and don't be afraid to ask

8. Do you shy away from relationships or meeting people because you don’t feel that you would be of value to anyone right now?

9. Do you find it almost impossible to feel any emotion, or feel that relationships only lead to hurt and pain?

10. Do you see all members of the opposite sex in a negative

some questions about their past experiences, and their future goals.

(Perhaps, I'll write about appropriate questions in another blog). And certainly, if you find that they may be someone of interest for the long haul, then you’ll want to observe, ask deeper questions, and listen closely to their responses. AND, DON’T IGNORE THE ANSWERS, OR-

light?

BRUSH THEM OVER JUST BECAUSE YOU DESIRE TO BE LOVED! Again, that would be trying to fill an empty space & you answered, “NO” to

11. Do you have ANY addictions that need to be dealt with?

that one, right?

12. Does it seem as if there is a neon light on your forehead that keeps attracting the wrong types of dates?

If you answered “YES” to even one of these questions, you’re not ready to become a mate, or to be in an intimate relationship with anyone.

Either you haven’t recovered sufficiently from a previous relationship, or

Denyce Gartrell is a both a national and internationally known Relationship Strategist, Leadership Consultant, Speaker and Radio Personality. For more information on her services or to become "Relationship Ready" contact her at: www.facebook.com/GLCCS"

your self-esteem is so low that you can’t possibly love another person because you have yet to learn how to love yourself. Many people go from relationship to relationship, looking for another person to cover

29 SCMzine SHOWCASE Magazine Premiere Edition

30 SCMzine SHOWCASE Magazine Premiere Edition