Second Chances

SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

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SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

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Acknowledgments Contributors

Photography

Malcolm Anderson Sabrina Espere Carrington Kaitlan Darby Janet Downs Anika Ennett Francheska “Fancy” Felder Chandra Gore Vince Smith Christina Woodard

Trust “Tru” Katsande Shameka Matthews Julian Myles Samantha Sophia

Marketing Francheska “Fancy” Felder

Editor-in-Chief

Jarmel Roberson

VP of Marketing

Shanice Ashbey

Marketing

Treajour Abrams

Marketing

Christina Woodard

Online Editor/Magazine Manager

Porsche Gregory

Jr. Communications Manager

Andrew Horton

Copy Editor

Francheska “Fancy” Felder

Copy Editor

Christina Woodard

Copy Editor

Belle Kadiry

Layout Design

Briana Brown

Social Media Cousin

Letter From the Editor I’m feeling like an old man that failed at life, got reincarnated to do it all again right. So I’m treating every second like it’s an investment, time is money, every second I’m collecting. - Big Sean Greetings All, In this issue, we discuss second chances- second chances at life, business, love, and more. The theme itself came to me when selecting Sunshine Smith-Williams for the cover.

Sunny’s story is all about second chances and what we choose to do with them. It was also interesting to see what the writers came up with after hearing the theme because I honestly didn’t know if we would have enough angles to support it, but it worked out beautifully, in my opinion. The team came up with tips for utilizing second chances, who deserves them, and other aspects of the theme. I am not sure if we ever had an issue to flow the way this one did.

Yet, while in the midst of creating the issue, I had my own second chance in business experience myself. I will go into details at another time, but it was scary and eye-opening. I know several times made me question if I wanted to continue in this line of work, but this experience made me appreciate my business all the more. It feels like a second chance. So I am doing everything in my power to use it wisely.

And that is what second chances are all about, getting a chance to do it right. At this point in life, I feel like everything is a second chance.

It’s taken so long to get to stability that I feel like I’ve lived another life before this one. Sometimes I have to remind myself that things are ok and that within itself is ok. I think this is important as someone who has battled with depression because you don’t think things will ever be ok during those times.

However, the more accustomed to this life and time that I grow, the more I understand that things will be ok, though they may not always be that way, and that it is essential to appreciate the now. The passing of a close friend also makes me grateful for second chances.

With that being said, I’d like to dedicate this issue to my friend, the late David Greer, and wish you all peace and blessings.

With Love, Fancy

Table of Contents 09

Second Chances Can Birth Hope

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More Than Our Hair

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From Prison to Private Practice

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National Wellness Month: Shea Butter for Your Man? Benefits Beyond the Naked Eye

Annika E. explains the importance of second chances and how they can turn hopelessness into hope.

September is Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, so Janet D. dedicates this article to women battling hair loss.

Janet D. shares the story of civil rights attorney Jarrett M. Adams.

August was National Wellness Month, so Sabrina C. speaks about the benefits of shea butter and what it can do for your man.

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Laurinda Andujar on Knowing Your Worth & Showing Grace

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Giving Your Dreams a Second Chance

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Meet the Breast Cancer Survivor Helping Women Keep Their Crowns

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Christina W. speaks with Laurinda Andujar and she shares all about her businesses and her struggles with depression.

Kaitlan D. reminds us not to give up on our dreams.

Fancy speaks with Shayna Simone, founder of Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center. They discuss her battle with breast cancer, her hair journey, and more.

Is a Second Chance the Same as Destiny?

Are second chances and destiny one and the same or are they completely different from one another?

Malcolm A. asks these questions.

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Wealth Educator Sunshine Smith-Williams Talks Life Before & After Incarceration, Police Reform, & More

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Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston Gets Second Chance To Lead NFL Team This Saints Quarterback received a second opportunity to lead the team.

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Black Media Honors Recap

SwagHer Magazine attends the Black Media Honors Awards.

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SwagHer Spotlight: Vikki Wilborn

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Does Everyone Deserve a Second Chance?

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Love Found Me

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The Ultimate Accessory for the Fall

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A Sister Doing More, Terra Fontenot

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Neffe Is Here For The People that are “Suffering In Silence”

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Around the World Cocktails for the Fall Season

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The spotlight is on a nurse and entrepreneur Vikki Wilborn.

Kaitlan D. ponders this question as she gives advice on who is worthy and who is not.

Fancy details her journey of love and learning that the woman is always the prize.

Sabrina C. interviews JD Evans the founder of JStyle District, they discuss fashion and the fedora.

Christina sits down with Virtual CFO & Managing Consultant Terra Fontenot-Beard

Chandra G. interviews Neffeteria “Neffe” Pugh and they talk about reality TV, her new project, and more.

Sabrina C. talks about fall cocktails around the world and why you should try them.

Share Your Story Friday Winners SwagHer Magazine presents the Share Your Story Winners.

Contributors

Anika Ennett: Anika Ennett is the Owner/Editor of Writing Into The Blue, LLC. Anika is also a published author who focuses on helping women find their voices through their own writing.

Email: Anika.Ennett@WritingIntoTheBlue.com Instagram: @writingintotheblue

Kaitlan Darby

Anika Ennett

Janet Downs

Sabrina Espere Carrington

Malcolm Anderson

Sabrina Espere Carrington: Born and raised in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., Sabrina Espere Carrington has always been around creatives, writers, artists and powerful women in business. As a little girl, Sabrina enjoyed writing poetry and even short stories. Little did she know that she would grow to love writing and have the desire to become a columnist/magazine writer. In addition to her writing, Sabrina is also a motivational speaker and Women’s Empowerment Coach. She has been featured on numerous podcasts, live talk shows, and radio broadcasts. Since the Pandemic, Sabrina has been a sought after expert- giving advice and encouragement to listeners around the world. She has been interviewed by some of the best hosts in media. From Patty Jackson (WDAS FM Philadelphia) to Scott Sullivan (Inspired News Radio), Sabrina Espere has had golden opportunities to speak to the masses.

Malcolm Anderson: Malcolm Anderson is a Cum Laude graduate of Reinhardt University. From the beginning of his education, the ideas of creativity and everexpanding curiosity were instilled in him. He loves working with children and helping them believe that they can do anything they put their mind to, a lesson he was taught from an early age. Although his focus is on Sports Media, Malcolm has been writing for various mediums over the past few years and aims to expand his repertoire in efforts to reach as many people as possible.

Vince Smith: Vince D’Writer was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Purdue University. While working as a Sports Recruiter, Vince D’Writer wrote a how-to guide that explained the recruiting process about obtaining an athletic scholarship. Developing a passion for writing, he transitioned to writing urban fiction books and becoming a contributor to multiple media outlets.

IG: @veedwriter

Vince Smith

Christina Woodard

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Chandra Gore: Chandra Gore, Publicist and Consultant assists businesses with building successful and profitable businesses through her boutique consulting and public relations firm, Chandra Gore Consulting. Working with entrepreneurs to help them create foundations for success and tailored strategic communications plans that will bring recognition, build loyalty and trust within their fields of expertise.

Quietly making strides with placements for small businesses, entertainment, authors, therapists and motivational speaking clients on local and national news outlets she has been leaving her mark as a publicist in the industry. She is also an author, festival founder, producer, podcast host and speaker on topics such as Business Strategies, Media Relations and Entrepreneurship.

Janet Downs: Janet Downs is an instructor with over 20 years of experience, having worked with Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. She volunteers and is a resource for the homeless community and is working towards starting her own non-profit. She’s passionate about mental health and seeks to bring more awareness to the black community. She is active in church ministry, a writer, and loves music, hiking, and travel.

Chandra Gore

Francheska “Fancy” Felder

Kaitlan Darby: Kaitlan Darby is a graduate of UL Lafayette. She has a B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in promotional management. She is a publicist, writer, and aspiring actress. She is the founder of Black Mamba Creative, which is her creative arts/services outlet.

Instagram: @blackmambacreative LinkedIn: Kaitlan Darby Website: https://www.blackmambacreative.com

Christina Woodard: Christina Woodard was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. She is passionate about all things related to writing, investigation, family, and crime and hopes in the future to put those passions to good use by becoming an author and paralegal. She is currently the Magazine Manager at SwagHer Magazine and Media. You can find her on Instagram @cstina. nicole.

Francheska “Fancy” Felder: Francheska “Fancy” Felder is a quiet Southern, media mogul in the making. In 2010, she launched SwagHer Magazine, an empowerment and lifestyle publication for the progressive Black community. SwagHer Magazine uses positive media and storytelling to create new narratives and mindsets around Black people, their communities, and the businesses and organizations they lead.

Fancy also co-hosts Theories & Thoughts Podcast with Arnya T.M. Davis.

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SUMFUN Issue

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Second Chances Can Birth Hope By: Anika Ennett

my life views have changed as a result of life-changing events.

My oldest daughter uses the phrase, “life just comes at you,” and that seems to be a fair statement. Have you ever seen the meme going around social media asking, what would you tell your younger self? If I can answer that question right now, my answer would be to listen to the advice of my elders.

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econd chances, who doesn’t want one? Better yet, who couldn’t use one? I know that I can and might I add, in a few areas. Many people live with the theory of “No Regrets” or that they “Have No Regrets.” Well, that’s great for those people, but some people wish for second chances. I had a carefree attitude toward people, places, things, and behaviors in my younger years. However, in my more mature years, my appreciation for those same things changed or, shall I say, matured.

Of course, there are some things that I would never change, and then there are those things that I would do differently because

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There are times where we are afforded a second chance at a better relationship with God, job, relationship, love, leaving an association, or even our health. The examples that I just gave are just a few things that I have heard or felt for myself.

The good news is that sometimes we do get a second chance, and the goal is not to squander it away on old behaviors and repeated poor choices. Sometimes, second chances are not about a do-over with something that happened in the past but the opportunity to create something new based on newly gained wisdom.

Second chances can birth hope, opportunity, new beginnings, and positive change. My hope for you, if you are one of the people hoping for a second chance or are right in the middle of your second chance, is that it brings about all the blessings and positive change to move forward. Take hold of the opportunity with enthusiasm, joy, and the realization that it is a blessing. I also hope that those still waiting for a do-over, second chance are on the way! Just remember, treat it as the precious gift that it is.

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More Than Our Hair

By: Janet Downs

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ada Pinkett Smith, Tyra Banks, Viola Davis, and Ayanna Pressley. These beautiful ladies are easily recognizable by name or face. They are successful Black women who are highly respected as models in television, film, theater, and politics. What they also have in common is hair loss. Within the last several years, they all have spoken out about their challenges with hair loss, how it impacted them, and how they chose to deal with it.

In 2011, Tyra Banks admitted that she experienced hair loss due to stress. The stress was from the five years it took to write her novel, Modelland, while juggling everything else that she was doing at that time. Viola Davis talked about how at 28 years old, she lost approximately half of her hair to alopecia. She either chooses to wear a wig, or she decides to wear her short natural hair. In an interview with Bravadas in June 2020, Viola talked about living with alopecia and wearing wigs. She said that when she wears wigs, she does so because they are “options, not necessities.” In January 2020, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley revealed that she had alopecia.

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have been ridiculed, shamed, looked at differently, or made to feel “less than” because of our hair loss?

If we are honest, I think many of us can say that we’ve had at least one of these experiences. We have allowed society to dictate what beauty is, but beauty comes in many different forms, not just looks and certainly not based on whether someone has hair on their head or not. Millions of dollars are spent every year on surgical procedures, medications, creams, and oils that promise results. There are hairpieces, make-up, hats, and scarves, just to make us feel and look beautiful. Some of us have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles because we’ve found a stylist that has the magic touch with our hair. All of this to help regrow hair or camouflage hair loss.

She was known for her signature Senegalese twists, but her hair started rapidly falling out. She later decided to go bald. She said she wanted to be free, and she is making peace with having alopecia. Since 2018, Jada Pinkett Smith has been vocal about her issues with alopecia but recently chose to let it all go by shaving off her hair.

Some types of hair loss challenges many women.

September is Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, so this article is dedicated to those who are on this journey.

Alopecia can result from heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of aging. Whatever the reason, hair loss may negatively affect a person’s self-confidence and/or cause depression, anxiety, and social phobias, according to some researchers. Society has always put a lot of emphasis on looks, and let them tell it, hair plays a major role. When was the last time you flipped through a magazine or even paid attention to the cover? How about a billboard? More times than not, if there’s a model in front of the lens, there’s hair on their head.

Then there are those who say to heck with it and totally rock the bald look. Whatever your choice is, it is your choice. Do whatever makes you look and feel beautiful. I’m with you. I support you. I am you. As I sit here typing this article, I look and feel beautiful with the sides and back of my hair braided and a curly topper positioned to cover the middle to the front of my head because there is little to no hair there. Although it’s great to be complimented, I don’t need to be told that I’m beautiful. I know that I’m beautiful, inside and out. It took me years to realize that, but I’m here now, and there’s no turning back.

Joseph Campbell, a literature professor, once stated, “the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” Yes! It’s about self-love, self-confidence, self-acceptance, and power. We hold the key to our own happiness and how we show up on this journey called life. I’m reminded of a song that one of my favorite artists, India Arie, sings, “I Am Not My Hair.” No beautiful ladies, we are not our hair. We are so much more.

Let’s all show up and support each other in a big way!

As early as childhood, kids have walked bravely into their schools without a single strand of hair on their heads, only to be made fun of because they didn’t look like the rest of the kids in their class. How many of us as adult women SwagHer Magazine

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From Prison to Private Practice By: Janet Downs

J

arrett M. Adams is an author and attorney specializing in criminal defense and civil rights cases, both state and federal, across the country. He is a success and a success story. In February 2000, at the age of 17, he was wrongfully convicted by an all-white jury of sexual assault and sentenced to 28 years in a maximum-security prison.

After serving nearly ten years and filing multiple appeals, Mr. Adams was exonerated with the assistance of the Wisconsin Innocence Project.

Mr. Adams was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. One night, he went out with his friends to a party at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. A girl at the party accused him and his two friends of rape. Despite a witness statement contradicting the accuser’s story, they were accused and charged with sexual assault. Mr. Adams said he realized very quickly that it had nothing to do with the truth but about race. He said it was about who was accusing him (a white girl) and how he looked. He said no matter what they said; they were never going to be believed.

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One of his friends was able to hire a private attorney, but he and his other friend could not afford to and were assigned, public defenders. They all went to trial together, which ended in a mistrial because the accuser’s testimony changed. The court called for a retrial. Adams’ friend’s private attorney filed for a dismissal based on the grounds of double jeopardy, arguing that the court could not try him for the same crime twice. The two public defenders did not. Adams’ public defender called for a no defense theory, which would not allow for any witness testimonies. That move backfired.

His friend, who had a private attorney, never spent a day in prison. However, Adams’ no defense strategy would not allow for witness statements, so he was stuck. He and his other friend were sentenced to 20 years in prison, but when given the opportunity to address the court, the judge added eight more years to his sentence because Adams didn’t “show remorse” and refused to apologize for the rape.

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In May 2015, Adams graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Today, he works for his own private practice and helps to bring justice to others. Again, a success story.

It’s an intriguing story. One that evoked many emotions while reading it. It’s also one that we hear about all too often. Our young black males are wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn’t commit because they can’t afford adequate representation. That’s a story for another time.

I wish to focus on Mr. Adams. He is truly a poster child for the proverbial phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

About a year and a half into his prison sentence, he conversed with his cellmate, an older white man who was serving two life sentences. The man told him that innocent people are in the law library, not playing chess and basketball every day. Adams said that conversation served as his wake-up call. He began to read everything he could at the prison’s law library. It would later help him to prove his own innocence.

In February 2007, Adams was released from prison, and in May, he enrolled in college, receiving his associate degree. Right after, he paid his way through Roosevelt University in Chicago, graduating with honors and receiving a bachelor’s in criminal justice.

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Second Chances Issue

Redemption, vindication, and second chances are also words that come to mind when I think of his story. While justice was delayed, it wasn’t denied, and it finally came for Adams.

In a situation that could have stopped him from moving forward in life, he grabbed the bull by the horns and rode into success. Adams stated, “I really want to live a life as an example of what can happen when people are given the opportunities and the tools to reintegrate successfully back into our society. We can’t repair what is going on in our impoverished areas in the state of Wisconsin by locking everyone up.” Mr. Adams shares his story of hope and redemption in his memoir, Redeeming Justice, which is scheduled for release on September 14, 2021.

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National Wellness Month: Shea Butter for Your Man? Benefits Beyond the Naked Eye By: Sabrina Espere Carrington It’s true. The benefits of Shea Butter go beyond moisturizing dry skin, fading scars, and discolorations, but can be used as an anti-aging cream to regain skin elasticity, reduce razor irritation and bumps, and rejuvenate the skin around and on the “male organ” and erectile dysfunction.

According to the Newswire.com article, “Caring for the Male Organ with Shea Butter - Tips for a Healthy, Responsive Manhood,” Shea Butter is a miracle ingredient that can (positively) affect the male organ. “...a man needs to take care of what he’s carrying around in his pants; after all, if he doesn’t take care of the equipment, it may just fall into a state of disrepair. One ingredient that can help rejuvenate and revitalize the skin of the male organ -- giving it a youthful glow - is Shea butter.” (https://www. newswire.com/caring-for-the-male-organ-with/253431) Gainwave.com published an article written by Alvaro Ocampo, M.D., titled, “Can Shea Butter help with Erectile Dysfunction?” this past July. The article gave encouraging reasons on why men should use the African extract - from enhancing skin integrity to being a great source of Vitamin E to help with ED.

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hea Butter is no stranger to the black community. Hailing from Western Africa, from Guinea and Senegal to Uganda and South Sudan (UN.org), extracted from the Karite Tree, this silky moisturizer has seriously been in the news spotlight since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ladies! Don’t sleep on this neighborhood buy. In the past few months, heavy hitters in the media such as The Today Show, Medical News Today, Good Morning America, International Business Times, Newswire, and countless other news sources have talked about the benefits of Shea Butter or have endorsed skin and hair care products that have the coveted natural ingredient in it. Some news sources have beamed in on the positive “bedroom” effects of Shea Butter and have even applauded its assistance in the arena of ED (Erectile Dysfunction).

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“Adequate vitamin E levels in the body mean more penis resistance UV-A and UV-B rays. These rays usually interfere with the signal transmission in the penile nerve network.

If you can resist these rays, you’ll experience more blood flow, hence quick arousal. In other words, vitamin E from African Shea extracts could be the answer to your health and pleasure complications.”

While so many companies are hopping on the “Shea Butter Bandwagon,” they should highlight and work towards bringing awareness to the possible extinction of the tree in Africa. With all its benefits, the saving of the tree should be important. The United Nations website promoted the saving of the Shea Butter Tree with a Youtube video that should go viral (https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/video/longwalk-save-shea-butter-tree-africa). Much like many of the African plants and trees that we so badly need for healing, there are many who abuse what we need. Fact is, if many of these companies would put money back into the lands in which they retrieve such “goodness”, maybe the same benefits can continue to go on and on - for generations.

CHANCE Issues Second Chances Issue

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Laurinda Andujar on Knowing Your Worth & Showing Grace By: Christina Woodard

L

aurinda Andujar, an author/ entrepreneur, the founder of SheBlinked LLC and Heal the City Inc. Laurinda is the middle child of four. Being that middle child, she states, giving her a competitive edge and the desire to stand out.

Laurinda states when you are in the middle, you are neither first nor last; you’re just there. Being just there was not something that Laurinda wanted to get used to. The Florida native is the mother of three boys and one angel. She has a passion for music and poetry and has written well over 300 poems and songs. The author was heavily influenced by Maya Angelou and Bo Didley, whom she met during her high school years. She even was presented the opportunity to record with Bo Didley but ultimately declined.

worth or my SwagHer, because I most certainly do. To answer the question of what makes me who I am is my desire to see people healthy, happy, and whole in every sense of the word.

What makes me, me is the fact that I genuinely care about seeing people win, I know it sounds cliché, yet it is the truth.

I know what it is to struggle or question my worth. I know what it is to beat yourself up because I don’t fit in a while, not realizing you were never meant to fit in.

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Laurinda, Laurinda?

I know what it feels like to look at your mundane existence, all the while knowing there has got to be more than just merely waking up, going to work and paying bills, and not knowing how to get started on your journey to personal and professional development. I have made it my life’s journey to leave people better than I found them. If that means being a mentor, a coach, or a sounding board, I’ll be that. If that means sharing trade secrets or connecting the person to the resources, I’ll do that too.

What makes me, me is the ability to see potential in others and either provide the platform for their growth or share my network of leaders to produce other leaders. My SwagHer is being “leadership” in both deed and action, and not just in word.

Laurinda: I can tell you that there is nothing spectacular about me. Now, don’t take this as me saying that I don’t know my

Christina: What inspired you to begin SheBlinked LLC and Heal the City Inc.?

Nonetheless, poetry and music provided the means of escape that Laurinda so desperately longed for. She has coined herself a survivor as she has battled with depression, low self-worth, and a myriad of other issues and attempted suicide on numerous occasions. These challenges drove her desire to want to see others healthy and whole.

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Laurinda: Honestly, I was in the in-between. I had known for a while that my 9 to 5 was not it, and I constantly saw the signs. I was tired of being coined the angry Black woman in the in the corporate world. Even though I was making excellent money, I grew tired of working for an organization that knew my worth depending on who I was standing in front of that day and what I could do for them.

I saw the huge disparity in leadership opportunities and understanding for those that looked like me. As the saying goes, I wanted to be the change that I wanted to see. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I wanted to create a legacy for my family that would help generations beyond me see that the only thing that could stop us was us.

I needed to prove to myself that I was more than what people coined me. If I could do it, I could teach others how to unlock their potential; while fostering an environment that was conducive to collaboration and growth, I knew I would be successful and accomplish all I had set out to do.

Christina: What services do you provide at SheBlinked, LLC? Laurinda: We are a professional development company. I help others learn the unwritten rules of business.

I also connect them with mentors in other fields. I am blessed to have global connections that would happily assist others in the areas of professional and personal development. I have well over 30 years of experience in the area of management and talent development. People tell me this is impressive, especially because I am still in my 40’s. I also write content geared toward growing the individual contributor as well as the team. We help professionals unlearn unproductive behaviors that negatively impact the workplace. We focus on soft people skills mainly, because if issues arise in leadership, the inability to play nice in the sandbox is what causes most people to struggle in the arena of professional development.

When people have mastered the art soft skills, they will be viewed as mindful, strategic, collaborative, trustworthy, and possess many other employable skills.

Christina: You have battled with depression and low selfworth. What is some advice you can give others who battle with thesame things?

Laurinda: Give yourself some grace is the biggest advice I can give. It does nothing for us when we continue to beat ourselves up, and I do mean nothing.

We also must be self-aware and continually holding ourselves accountable for self-care and things that feed our souls. Depression can sometimes surface as a result of not dealing with unresolved grief of some sort. So, what do we do when we are grieving? We pick up all these other tasks to keep ourselves busy or sink into a deep hole. We must stop doing this to ourselves. Please find a trusted advisor with whom you can confide. Start journaling those moments where you find yourself going into depression and pay attention to your triggers and discuss them with a professional.

Educate yourself on ways to destress. Try to find creative, low-cost ways and getaway. Go out and travel.

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Christina: Who are your favorite poets, and why?

Laurinda: The incomparable Maya Angelou, she helped me find my voice! I had the pleasure of hearing her speak front and center when I was in high school; her story, much like mine, changed my life!!

God is my other favorite poet. I mean, look at all the splendor that was created. The Ideas and songs that were birth through us! Tupac is a close runner-up!!

Christina: What does success mean to you?

Laurinda: Success is never quitting on my dream. I get knocked down a lot! Yet I learn from each experience, and I live to fight another day. To me, success is growth and holding myself accountable for my actions while not enabling the poor behaviors of others. Success is being my beautiful chocolate self with all my flaws despite what this old world says about me. Success is loving my family even when I do not feel that love is being reciprocated. Success is learning a new skill. Most importantly, success is knowing when to rest and say “NO.” Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects that you would like our readers to know about?

The pandemic has provided us with so many ways to travel on a budget. Tools such as Quad Pay, PayPal 4 Pay, After Pay, and more allow us to break away guilt-free without blowing our budgets. Find a getaway and go, if only for a weekend. You deserve it. You can also start a new hobby.

I started painting again during my stressful moments. It is so relaxing to me and allows me to place my thoughts in something I can see. This helps me focus on the problem at hand and work through it in a healthy way.

Christina: Why is poetry so important to you?

Laurinda: Poetry, like music, soothes the savage beast.

Poetry allows one to capture their thoughts in prose in a safe and non-judgmental way. Whatever I feel, I can put it to paper and revisit my emotions when I am in a better state of mind. Penning also allows you to see how human you are. Yes, we can be strong, and life deals us a solid uppercut in the next moment. We may fall, but we will have clear evidence of how strong we are every time we get up.

Poetry helps us introduce ourselves to the world in digestiblesized chunks that help us safely tell our story. Poetry also helps others relate to us and shows how much alike we all really are, which builds common ground, which is the foundation for any successful relationship.

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Laurinda: Yes, and yes! I am currently accepting speakers for our new series, “Life is Tough and So are YOU!” I do not charge speakers to come on my platforms because their story is essential. Their stories are important because someone is stuck in the muck waiting for their story’s debut.

People need to know that they are not alone in this thing called life. They need relevant information delivered in a raw, authentic way that will break people free of bondage, which is what this series is about. Life and trials are not always pretty; our stories are necessary. I have many things coming down the pike. I encourage everyone to connect.

Christina: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Laurinda: I encourage everyone to connect. If you have a story, I want to hear it. If you are looking for a mentor, I have connections. If you want to grow, let’s get it done. I love to collaborate, and I am here for your success. I must give a special shout-out to my team SwagHer family. I love you all!

Remember, you are worthy of all of the success you wish for others. Thank you for having me today.

Connect with Laurinda below: Website: www.laurindaandujar.net Instagram: @I_Am_Laurinda_Andujar, @SheBlinked_LLC, @Heal_The_City Inc Facebook: @Laurinda Andujar, @SheBlinked LLC, @Heal the City Inc, @She Blinked: The Book of Me LinkedIn: @Laurinda Andujar

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Giving Your Dreams a Second Chance By: Kaitlan Darby

W

e often find ourselves saying, “it’s too late.” Too late to learn something new, too late to go back to school, too late to start over. We’ve been conditioned to let ourselves believe that we should give up on ourselves and our dreams at a certain point in life.

We’re forced to believe that if we aren’t millionaires by the time we hit 23, that it’ll never happen for us. We’re tricked into thinking that if our business doesn’t explode after a year that it never will.

too. Just because something takes a long time doesn’t mean you should be deterred from doing it. Because that time will pass, and you’ll be doing something else other than going after what you really want.

Ageism is something that exists in many industries and paired with sexism, it can feel like the entire world is

The reality is that we should never give up on the things that move us forward, especially if the only reason you want to give it up is that it’s not lining up with someone else’s timeline. Some people are lucky enough to be born into wealth, so chasing their dreams isn’t something they need to work hard for. Some people just get their dreams handed to them on a silver platter and never have to lift a finger.

We aren’t all that lucky. Some of us have to put in a lot of years of hard work to get what we want, and that’s okay, SwagHer Magazine

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against you, but you shouldn’t quit. In acting, sometimes you’ll get passed over for roles because you look too mature; that shouldn’t stop you from auditioning for more roles.

Sometimes, if you want to learn something in your 30s or 40s, someone may say, “it’s too late to go back”; you may be the person to say it. But it’s not too late. It’s never too late.

If there’s anything that you should invest in besides stocks and good bed sheets, it’s yourself. Investing in yourself is the most important thing that you can do. You’re the only person that is going to carry you through good and bad times. No one is going to back you up, like you. Your body and your mind are carrying you through this insane life, and the least you can do to thank yourself is to take the leap of faith.

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Take the leap and invest in your dreams, whether it’s taking a cooking class, learning how to sew, learning how to paint, going back to school, skydiving, opening a business. Whatever it is that makes your heart feel like it might explode from happiness.

As cliche as it sounds, apparently, things take time.

Relationships, businesses, learning something new, becoming good at that new thing- it all takes time. The amount of time it takes should not be a deterrent from going after what you want.

We all give second chances, sometimes to those who don’t even deserve them. If anyone truly deserves a second chance, it’s you. No matter what that second chance is.

Be bold and live a life that you won’t end up regretting.

Second chances matter, and they mean something, do yourself a favor and take one.

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Meet the Breast Cancer Survivor Helping Women Keep Their Crowns By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

When Shayna isn’t working hair magic, she and her husband, Darius, are on the go, cheering on their three children, Darius, Jr., Jon, and Morgan in various sport and dance competitions.

Fancy: You began studying trichology while healing on your breast cancer journey. Can you describe what that was like?

Shayna: Right before my diagnosis, I started feeling unfulfilled in my beauty career. I wanted my journey in the industry to be purpose-filled. I was diagnosed in March of 2020 the same week of the COVID shutdown. I was also studying my trichology courses during this time. I pushed through because I saw the end goal. I knew I could help so many women battling hair loss, but now I was experiencing the emotional side of hair loss too. As a hairstylist, I’d listen to women explain their confidence issues but experiencing it was a totally different journey. Now that I have been in my clients’ shoes, I relate better to my clients which fuels my passion even more than ever.

S

hayna Simone is the founder of Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center in the Metro Detroit, Michigan Area. With over eight years of experience in the hair and beauty industry, Shayna is a certified Trichologist with the World Trichology Society and a Hair Loss Practitioner with the International Associations of Trichologists. She specializes in treatment and care services to help with various forms of hair loss, hair thinning, and scalp problems.

Prior to Shayna’s hair loss restoration journey, she graduated from the Aveda Institute as a licensed Stylist. In 2015, she opened the Amora Luxe hair salon that provides the highest quality of professional haircare products, service, and personalized education, including luxury hair, MicroLink, ITIP, and tape-in extensions.

Her credentials include Certified Trichologist, WTS; Hair Loss Practitioner, IAT; and Holistic Practitioner of Trichology, HPT. SwagHer Magazine

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Fancy: At what point did you decide, “ok, I want to be a trichologist”?

Shayna: When I first heard of trichology in beauty school, I knew I wanted to pursue that path. However, I needed the experience dealing with hair and scalp conditions as a stylist. My journey as a hairstylist was very successful at a fast pace, and I kinda lost my way because I was so busy. I started losing sight of the end goal which was trichology, but I started praying and God reminded me of trichology. I started researching different training programs and from that point, I made my decision and started my training.

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Shayna: Most of my clients are Black women ages 25-55.

Fancy: So what can attendees expect at your grand opening of the Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center?

Fancy: Being that breast cancer runs in your family, did you assist any of your family members with their hair loss?

Shayna: I want my grand opening to create awareness for the hair loss community and educate the attendees on how hair loss starts and how to treat or prevent any hair loss they may be experiencing.

Fancy: What type of clients do you usually see?

Shayna: No. My aunt lived in a different state and my grandma did not have to do chemo. She only needed surgery and radiation, so she did not lose her hair.

Fancy: Why do you find your work to be important?

Shayna: There are so many conditions that are being overlooked, especially in the Black community. It is so important to be aware of any underlying conditions. I point out the problem and create an action plan. If there is an underlying issue on the scalp, it can definitely lead to hair loss. I don’t only study the scalp and hair, I look at any internal issues. I inquire about my client’s eating habits, medication, and water intake. Once I access the type of condition of my client’s hair I create a holistic healthy hair growth plan.

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Fancy: As a breast cancer survivor, what would you like other women or even men, who may be battling breast cancer to know?

Shayna: I want them to know that this does not always mean the end is near. I realized stress can induce more sickness. I made sure I protected my peace and energy during this time. Self-care is definitely necessary. It is time to take care of yourself. If you are not good, no one around you will be good.

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Is a Second Chance the Same as Destiny?

By: Malcolm Anderson

W

hen I hear “second chance”….. I can’t help but think of what might’ve happened to the first one.

Was it just not the right time, right place, right person? All things considered, could it perhaps have been something that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place?

It reminds me of the “Destiny” concept, “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be. “ To be fair, in the grand scheme of life, there’s definitely truth to that happening for those that set themselves up or prepare to receive what’s coming their way but does that still apply if you go out your way to place a round peg in a square hole.

the commotion subsided, but steadily, the noise naturally increased, and they warned you a second time? But this time was different. Yes, that one kid barks, meows, or moonwalks the class to the point of no return, and then boom, no more chances. At that point, the teacher is fully justified in taking whatever it was away because the class was given a second chance, and they squandered it.

Does life give out second chances for that? Better yet, should life give out a second chance?

Just stay with me for a second. Y’all remember growing up and being in school when the class kept carrying on, and the teacher threatened to take away recess or something everyone was looking forward to doing? After that warning, SwagHer Magazine

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I feel like in life, we as a people tend to get in our own way.

Whether it’s intentional or not, we simply can’t help it. We want the best for ourselves and the people we care about, and rightfully so, the issue starts when we begin to pacify the means to an end. Rather than ask for permission, we’d rather ask for forgiveness as long as we get to where we want to go.

Forgiveness itself is a word that is often ill-interpreted with the healthiest of intentions. The root word “Forgive” can be traced back to the Latin word Perdonare which means to give completely, without reservation. It really gives off altruism vibes. Unfortunately for people, we tend to lose our altruistic nature in childhood. Life transitions from “sharing is caring” to “what have you done for me lately,” all while we expect the end result to be the same.

Hopefully, this isn’t the first time you’re hearing/reading this, but not everything in life is here for you or for your benefit. Some things, including some people, come your way to do just that, be in your way. They come in, they mess stuff up, and they leave, that’s it. Their intended purpose for your life and for their life at that time is done.

Whatever it is, it goes in the rearview mirror, and we move on all the wiser and more durable to face the next obstacle in life, or at least that’s what we’re supposed to. We, the people that try to fit that square into a circle, want to bring that dead weight with us. We want to give whatever that weight is a second chance. The crazy thing is, we say we do it to help them, to bring them up to where we think we are, but we don’t. We do it because it helps us to feel good. Instead of taking that next step forward, we take a step to the side and let them catch up.

That’s us giving life into dead situations; that’s us not putting on our mask before assisting others as the plane is losing pressure. That’s us saving others before saving ourselves when the reality is that is simply not how it works.

I’m all for giving Second Chances when one is deserved.

What I’m not for is losing my way trying to help somebody else find theirs. Not to be religious, but the Bible speaks of people being equally yoked and how that is the true testament to compatibility and efficiency. Ideally, this is in reference to marriage, but it can and should be applied to all relationships in my eyes.

If somebody is willing to put in as much as they’re asking me to take out, we’ll have as many chances as we need to get whatever is right. However, if a person asks me to turn a blind eye to a missed chance they didn’t take in the first place by giving them a second one? I’ll gladly point them toward the definition of INSANITY.

Please don’t get me wrong I’m all for helping others and bringing people up and out whatever they happen to be in but what I find hard to believe is that it’s our job to go in a hole and help somebody climb out when they would rather stay in the hole. Life is hard enough to navigate without a map, but now you want me to follow mine while drawing yours? Ain’t no way. That’s us expecting that same result.

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“Change your Mindset, Change your Life”

Micaela “Cae” Thomas Author/Motivational Speaker/Life Coach www.micaelalthomas.com Strippedtomytruth@yahoo.com (614) 845-9011 P.O. Box 27116 Columbus OH

Social Media Handles: SwagHer Magazine

@strippedtomytruth

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Wealth Educator Sunshine SmithWilliams Talks Life Before & After Incarceration, Police Reform, & More

By Francheska “Fancy” Felder

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work out for her like it worked out for my grandmother who raised ten children,” Sunny says. “So I needed that balance; I needed to see a strong woman win it by herself. But I also needed to see this strong woman [her grandmother] do it with the help of my grandfather. That was the dynamic I saw for just a short period of time.”

“Though I don’t have any regrets, I do wish that we would focus more on family values with young girls,” she further states.

“If you ever read the book called The Willie Lynch Project, it tells you that they wanted to have the nigger boy and a nigga girl grow up in different households. They wanted the nigger boy to grow up without a father and the nigger girl to grow up without a father. This was to ensure that the boy would not respect women, and that the girl would not need to respect men. And when the two came together, it would be a horrific situation and it wouldn’t work out,” she continues. “Well, I broke that generational curse because that nigger boy grew up to be my husband and that nigger girl grew up to be me. And we are still together--14 years together, 12 years married with children. So that’s a generational curse broken in itself. But as far as my childhood, I’ll be honest with you, I wanted things, and we all know that wanting things cost money. If my mom couldn’t afford to get it, I would have to do it for myself. So at the young age of 13, I found myself selling crack cocaine with my cousin and a childhood boyfriend.”

Sunny told me a story about the time she and a childhood boyfriend got into an argument while in a well-to-do neighborhood. They were reported to the authorities, who started to pursue them. He was wearing a backpack full of drugs. The two split up to avoid the cops. The boyfriend was caught, but Sunny was not.

I

first learned of Sunshine “Sunny” Smith-Williams when she and the Pink Panther Clique were featured on our website.

While the feature did not go deep into any of the women’s stories because it was the whole clique, I was delightfully intrigued to see Black women making something of themselves despite all life can throw at them--including incarceration. I wanted to know more because I had witnessed how prison had changed my own mother in not such a good manner. Yet here were these women who had re-entered society and gone on to do amazing things. Fast forward a few years, and here I was with the incredible opportunity to sit down with Sunny and hear her story in full.

Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, New York, the five-time author and wealth educator was an only child living with her single mother who often struggled to make ends meet. Sunny, a latchkey kid, often spent time with her grandmother who was the matriarch of their family. Sunny’s grandmother hailed from Natchez, Mississippi, home of renowned author Richard N. Wright, a great, great uncle to Sunny. Writing is in her blood.

“I come from a solid foundation. My grandmother showed me what it was to be a wife, to be a mother. She taught me how to cook meals, not taking anything away from my mom.

My mom was struggling because she was coming out of a relationship with my father. Though he married her, it didn’t SwagHer Magazine

Recalling the moment, Sunny says, “that was a sign for me to change my life around. ‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘If he just got hit with five years probation, and I’m already a youthful offender for getting into arguments with girls, and I already have been through the system, it wouldn’t have been that way for me.’

And we’re talking about 1994, where the Rockefeller drug laws were just being implemented. And they didn’t care if you were 14 or 15; they were going to give you what we call football numbers, which are numbers in double digits to teach you a lesson. So yes, my childhood was good with my mom, great with my grandmother. It was overall good with my peers. But I wanted money because I lacked it, and I was going to find any way to make it.”

“But you graduated school and went to college, correct? You had successful jobs.” I ask Sunny.

She replies, “I can get into some bad shit, and I can get into some good shit at one time. That was the uniqueness of me. I didn’t care if I was getting nine to five money.

I wanted double over here. I always felt like the world was created not to allow us to be the best forms of ourselves. And I felt like after reading about the history of America, and how it was built upon corruption, I said, ‘Well, if you put me in a place where you haven’t given me all the tools [I need, then I must resort to unconventional measures to get mine.]--I rationalized that shit. I rationalized that you did not give me everything that you were supposed to give me.’ Finding out that I was partially

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Native American and doing powwows, I said, ‘You stole my land anyway. So what does it matter if I do some shit to you? You owe me that shit,’” Sunny explains. “That’s how I rationalized that.

I really did.”

Mrs. Williams would continue this fast living for a few years until she ran into an old associate from her old neighborhood in Jamaica, Queens. According to Sunny, this guy was the cause of her being arrested in upstate New York for having a bag of his counterfeit money in her possession. The guy had been washing the money by going into stores, buying things, and then returning the merchandise in exchange for legitimate cash. In one instance, he gave the bag of money to Sunny. While leaving her in the car, he went into a store. She unknowingly waited in the car until she was surrounded by police and subsequently arrested.

The incident led to her indictment for conspiracy with counterfeit money and her incarceration at Danbury Federal Prison. There she spent a year. When asked how prison changed her, Sunny replies, “Prison changed me for the better. It actually allowed me to realize that family is everything to me. We don’t talk about what impact it has on our children.” She continues, “I had a couple of traumas, and that was because they were unresolved; I was unhealed; I didn’t forgive him [Her childhood friend]. So because you don’t forgive someone who hurt you, it will always be an open trauma. I got a little wisdom from it, but I was hurt.

I was hurt by a friend who would set me up to take me away from my family. So what triggered [my transformation] was the day when my son and my husband came to visit me. It was the day after Thanksgiving. Well, I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving because of the Native American culture. However, the day after is Native American Day, and they both came on both days. On that particular day--Native American Day--which was on a Friday, my son said to me, ‘Mommy, let’s go home.’ And it hurt me to my soul that I couldn’t give him what he wanted. So imagine your son at the age of six saying, ‘Mommy, let’s go,’ and you can’t go with him because you’re there in prison serving your time.”

“At that moment, I realized it’s not about you. It’s about your son and the decisions you make for your child; everything you do right now moving forward will affect him. When you nurture kids, you will be resented or rewarded. I would like to be rewarded, not resented, because I don’t want them ever to feel like ‘You put me in this situation.’ And that right there changed me! It made me be a better mother, a better person. It made me look at situations from a whole aspect.

It changed me to be more mindful of my surroundings; I became careful of what I indulge in and who I indulged with.

It changed me to be more alert, more aware. It made me become more of an introvert. Now I only let people in when I have three or more common connections with them.”

During her time at Danbury, Sunny met Jamila Davis, another Pink Panther Clique founding member. The Pink Panther Clique is a sorority of women, who are restoring their lives after the pain of incarceration. They have joined forces to pool their contacts and resources to build a brighter future, help their prison sisters rebuild their lives, and create awareness about the epidemic of women in prison and mass incarceration in theUnited States.

Jamila’s mom had been Sunny’s seventh-grade teacher, so it wasn’t difficult for the two to connect.

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Sunny went on to explain, “I feel like a lot of the women that I served time with were little fish made to be big fish. And I said, ‘Okay, well, if they want to make us big fish, I’m going to create this platform, and I’m going to make sure you are bigger fish.’

So like I said, when Pink Panther Clique was created, it was designed to give a voice to the voiceless—to those that I felt were ripped apart from their freedom and their life and their rights by being overly sentenced. That’s where it came from.

So it was myself and Jamila who started Pink Panther Clique.”

The Pink Panther Clique would grow to be a group of seven women who would write an anthology about each woman’s time behind bars. Every woman went on to build her own personal brand platform as an author.

I am curious. “So was it your time in prison that sparked your interest in prison reform and prompting rectification for the death of your friend Shereese Francis, feeding your passion for police reform?”

“Yes,” replies Sunny. “What sparked my interest in prison reform was me serving my time in prison. But I became interested in police reform way before prison reform existed.”

She further explained that Shereese, the sister of her close friend, was killed by the police during what was supposed to be an EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person) call. It became a 911call, so the police were sent out. Shereese suffocated as the police tried to restrain her on a bed.

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These events occurred in 2012, but Sunny was between jail and prison from 2013 through 2015. There was never any time where I could pay attention to my friends. I was also in mourning. It took a lot out of me, you know. This was not just a fly-by-night friendship. This was my friend’s little sister, with whom I bonded and had a great relationship.”

Sunny goes on to say, “I would like to call myself more of a ‘violence interrupter’; like, I’m the person that if I saw little girls getting into it, I would jump right in and be like, ‘Now why you will not, like…?’ I am relatable. I have flashy cars, highend jewelry, and fur coats. And you know, little girls always look up to me on how to fashion; they like that. They don’t want to hear about what you are doing. You have to find a relatable thing for them. Catch their eye. And when you grew up in South Jamaica, Queens, New York, it’s about the fashion. It’s about the culture. So for me, I could always intervene in any type of argument with the young girls around the way. They always say, ‘Sonny, we want to be like you.’”

within the last year with all the riots and so on--that anything has changed? Do you see any progress made?”

“I’ll be honest with you,” Sunny says. “I feel like the media controls the narrative. I believe that what is not being reported can influence our perception. So it’s like a catch 22 question because if it’s not reported, we will think that everything is okay. Right? When it is reported, we go, ‘Oh, my God!’ I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I also tell people,‘If you break down the word television, it says ‘to tell a lie using your vision.’ For example, with the Coronavirus and COVID-19, they’re saying the numbers are spiking up now. But this [dissemination of information] can also control thenarrative in the future--Now, we shut down the world. If you cause chaos and mayhem, it starts to make you upset, makes you nervous, and starts to get you clammy.”

By the intensity of her tone, I feel that Sunny has given great thought to this topic. She continues: “And it makes it easier for people to become what I call “docile.” When it comes to the George Floyd episode and that girl filming that, once it got into our hands, it made us warriors.”

Sunny smiles. Her genuine passion for what is dear to her heart illuminates from her soul. She believes in rejuvenation.

She believes in intervention for the sake of healing. She believes in community reconstruction.

“When I say police reform, I didn’t get into it until I started writing [legislative] bills after George Floyd had passed away. This triggered me.

So again, you know what I say--when it’s not healed properly, it’s a trauma; when it’s healed properly, it’s wisdom. There will never be any wisdom from Shereese’s death; there will never be any wisdom from the cop killing her and compressing his knee on her back. There will never be any wisdom from that; there will be traumas built, and me taking and transforming that trauma into pain and purpose. I have to transfer that. But no, there will never be [wisdom from that act]. So prison reform started in 2014. For me, police reform--the initial mind state--has always been there with violence, interrupting or trying to stop kids from doing things. I have always been a youth advocate.

It just became more prominent when I got home because then I had a book in hand to pretty much use as a basis for a curriculum or for workshops to help people understand. But after the George Floyd episode, the Shereese Francis Act was created.”

Wanting to know if she felt there had been any progress, I ask, “So do you feel like- especially SwagHer Magazine

However, Sunny shared that when renowned activist Tamika Mallory of Until Freedom along with Sunny’s former brand manager Latoya Bond of the BBM Agency asked Sunny and Francis’s family to join the “National Day of Outrage” honoring the countless Black women who were killed by law enforcement, she could not attend. She could not do so because the situation triggered something uneasy in her. Sunny says, she “wasn’t emotionally ready to re-open wounds, and she was attending the memorial service for Aamir Griffin, the young teenage basketball player who was killed by a stray bullet while practicing on the basketball court in Baisley Projects where he resided.”

She also observes that Black-on-Black crime is now getting more attention in the area where she resides.

She ponders if it is merely an excuse to justify the killing of unarmed Blacks.

“Let’s talk about why the police are killing unarmed Black people--period!” she remarks. “Why is it that there’s an Asian no-hate crime bill passed, and we [Blacks] haven’t gotten our crime bill passed? These are questions we need to ask ourselves. So when someone asks if it is getting better, I say NO! Laws make things get better, and if laws are not passed, things won’t get better.” Sunny sternly believes that until the elite stop giving false narratives to the media regarding Blacks and other groups of color, nothing changes. She declares the elite want to control society’s agenda on dealing with racial matters.

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With that being said, it’s important to note that Sunny wrote the Shareese Francis Act, which is now in the bill stage. The bill stipulates that police will be accountable for their use of deadly force--including chokeholds and prolonged knee pressure to a person’s back. It will protect the mentally ill. The bill also includes mandated training for law enforcement officers for detecting and dealing with mental health disorders in the people they serve.

“This bill will give EMTs or mental health practitioners the legal [responsibility] to protect the patient. Violence by law enforcement has to stop! In the situation leading to Shereese’s death, EMTs were told to stand down and back away from Shareese. Those police officers weren’t qualified to make that decision,” Sunny points out. “Chasing my friend around her home in a nightgown doesn’t sound like they came to protect and serve. Mental illness is a disease and not a crime. Under the bill, the requirements to become a police officer will include obtaining a GED or a high school diploma, earning a post-secondary education degree, and the completion of Academy training. We pretty much wanted to change everything.”

Sunny then pitched the act to Chief of Staff member Jamal Wilkerson of District 28 and Adrienne E. Adams current member of the New York City Council from the 28th District in her area.

Former New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, has become involved with the Shareese Francis Act and George Floyd Bill to ban the chokehold in New York.

Besides being an author, Sunny is a wealth educator who is a firm believer in financial literacy and ownership. “I believe that financial literacy should start in the home, so I created Wine and Wealth Academy. Wine and Wealth Online academy was created to assist in better financial planning. In most African American households, the resources are not there. You may have been taught to get a “good” government job with benefits. Many times, we started late with getting knowledge, and as a result, horrible decision making and poor money management led to tons of debt, bankruptcies, and the list goes on. After attending college, I realized you spend more time working to pay off school debts than you do to obtain assets. Making money alone doesn’t make you rich; it’s how you invest money. Therefore, it is important to start early when teaching your children about credit and incentivize good behavior that will help them build credit when they are ready.

Wine and Wealth Academy is an online school for financial literacy. The school offers lessons like cryptocurrency trading and credit repair courses, and the classes are as low as $600. The school launched in late July and already has over 1,500 people enrolled.

“Volume one is credit. Volume two is entrepreneurship. Volume three will be about wills and estates, and volume four will be about investing in real estate. We have to create a narrative of teaching our children in-house before school starts. It’s teaching them early to understand the power of credit and how money works,” she shares.

“My husband and I have made millions of dollars off of cryptocurrency by investing in it at the right time, putting our money in, and knowing what to do at the right time. A lot of our Black and Brown communities don’t know about that.” The Black community is said to fall far behind the United States population as a whole when it comes to financial literacy. There is said to SwagHer Magazine

be a significant lag behind the white population, according to the​​ Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA).

Sunny goes on to say, “We find out late, and by the time we find out, the laws change for us, and we aren’t able to capitalize financially. I remember back in the days when doctors and lawyers could file bankruptcy on their school loans, but bankruptcy laws changed when we [People of Color] started to file bankruptcy including our educational loans.”

I ask Sunny, “Who is Sunny, the woman? How would Sunny describe her swagher? What makes Sunny, Sunny?”

“What makes Sunny, Sunny is her uniqueness. As an entrepreneur, I could definitely tell you that being a multitasker is a unique thing on its own. If I have four different projects, I can work on all four various projects and give myself to each project. There are different sides of me. One side might require more physical engagement, another may require more visual attention. A side might allow me to contribute my mental, while another might require me to be more spiritual. I can utilize my gifts all at once to handle tons of projects at one time. My swagher is doing it effortlessly like a swan on water. If you ever saw a swan’s legs, you’d notice that they›re very small, and they get very tired. But when a swan floats on water, it looks effortless. You don›t know how much drama, pain, trauma, and [situations] that swan is going through just to get to the other side of that pond. If you can see under the water, you can see its feet working away. And I›m telling you, I›ve watched it. I said, “Wait a minute, I believe that there›s some type of connection between a swan and me.”

When asked how she practices self-care, Sunny replies, “So selfcare for me is through spirituality. I meditate in the morning, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., every day. I’m a very spiritual person. For me, to practice self-care is to be self-aware. Selfcare is me aligning my chakras. I don›t know if you know anything about your chakras aligning, but this is my third eye right here.” Sunny points to her forehead and between her eyebrows where the third eye is located.

“I have a fireplace in my home. I like to sit in front of the fire- even in the dead smack of summer-- to open up my third eye because that self-care is needed. For you to be self-caring, you have to possess self-consciousness. That means protecting yourself.”

Sunny likes to get physical as well. “I also take time out to run on the beach. I like to run. I know it sounds corny, but I run on grass to stay grounded. My home has a red wall, and I use my red wall to align my other chakras. I am in a very spiritual place in my life. I do yoga. I go to the gym often. I don’t really like people touching and massaging me because I understand people’s energies, and I don’t want that energy to be on me.

Sunny is currently working on another book, which will be a hybrid--a book and a workbook. Her latest work, Speak It Until You See It, is also available. Wine and Wealth Academy is still open for enrollment.

Photography by Shameka Matthews of Smile 4 Meka.

Interview has been edited for clarity and length.

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Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston Gets Second Chance To Lead NFL Team By: Vince Smith

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or young football players across the United States, making it to the National Football League is the goal.

It’s the recurring dream they regularly have. These athletes all strive for the luxury of playing professional football and getting paid a substantial amount of money to participate in a sport they love. Unfortunately, every individual player won’t see their dream become a reality.

When you break down the numbers, you will notice that over a million athletes play high school football in the United States. A mere 6.5% of those athletes will play at the collegiate level. The numbers take a more significant dip when you analyze the statistics regarding the transition from the NCAA to the NFL. Approximately 2% of college football players will progress from the NCAA level to the NFL level.

If you look at it on paper, the conversion from one level to another sounds simple, but in actuality, it’s complicated to execute. Quarterback Jameis Winston was able to follow the blueprint successfully.

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A product of Bessemer, Alabama, Winston played football at Hueytown High School. The sports recruiting website Rivals. com ranked Winston as the best dual-threat quarterback recruit in the nation. The 6-foot 4-inch quarterback was drafted by Bowl Championship Series contenders such as LSU, Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State. When he made his decision, Winston decided to sign with the legendary Seminoles of Florida State. As the Florida State signal-caller during the 2013 season, Winston made an immediate impact.

He had the greatest freshman season in college football history. The 19-year-old quarterback led the Seminoles to a 14-0 record, and he became the youngest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy. A few weeks later, he helped the Seminoles win the BCS National Championship game.

During his sophomore season, Winston showed he still had the magic touch. He led Florida State to a second consecutive undefeated regular season. Unfortunately, they suffered their first loss in a BCS playoff game versus the Oregon Ducks.

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Winston announced his plans to forego his remaining college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft a week later.

With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Jameis Winston. The rookie quarterback’s NFL career got off to a terrible start as his first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

He would bounce back and collect a season total of 4,042 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Winston had a solid sophomore campaign with the Buccaneers, but the following three seasons were plagued by injuries, turnovers, and off-field issues. During the 2019 season, Winston threw for 33 touchdowns and a league-high 30 interceptions. His problem of turning the ball over, questions about his maturity, and lack of leadership factored into Tampa Bay’s decision to part ways with the former number one draft pick.

Tampa Bay signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, and Jameis Winston landed on the free-agent list.

Winston followed the blueprint in reference to the transition from the amateurs to the pro level, but he didn’t follow the pro level template correctly. In a perfect

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world, the number one pick plays out his rookie contract, becomes the franchise’s face, and four years later, he signs a nine-figure deal. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for Winston. Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville always stated the NFL stood for (Not For Long). The average NFL career lasts approximately 2.5 years. Due to turnovers and character issues, it seemed like Jameis Winston’s football career would be over in five. As Winston’s name marinated on the free-agent list, teams showed a lack of interest.

Finally, in April of 2020, the New Orleans Saints made Winston an offer. He signed a below-market one-year $1.1 million contract with the Saints. He was brought in to be the back-up for future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.

A year later, Brees retired, and Jameis Winston got a second chance. He has been awarded a second chance to prove he can be an elite quarterback at the NFL level. He gets a second chance to prove his worth and sign a mega-deal.

Most importantly, he has earned a second chance to be the face of an NFL franchise and lead his organization to that elusive second Super Bowl victory.

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Black Media Honors Recap

BMH Recap SwagHer Magazine attended the Black Media Honors awards presented by Empower Media Group in Atlanta, GA at the Twelve Hotel on August 22, 2021.

Brittany Passion covered the red carpet for us.

Photography by FABUtainment.

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SwagHer Spotlight: Vikki Wilbon By: Christina Woodard

She ensures she is up to date and fluent with regulations, policies, and procedures. She is a subject matter expert; which assists with her clients’ state, local and federal surveys.

Vikki’s vision for Rosebud Healthcare and Training is to provide training at a higher caliber and advocate healthcare holistically….mind, body, and spirit.

Being the giver she is, Vikki also has a nonprofit organization, Rosebuds, Inc, which was started in October 2017 and later became a 501c3 affiliate in December 2019. The organization believes in collaborating with others to get the community what is needed. They have many community partners whom they enjoy working with.

Rosebuds, Inc, with collaborative community partners, started the first mobile COVID testing in Baton Rouge in May 2020. The company has collaborated with several community partners to service the Baton Rouge community, such as food distributions, drive-thru PPE give-aways, homeless distribution, and feeding the homeless.

This womanpreneur is a passionate wife and mother of two sons and a daughter. When she is not working, Vikki enjoys attending sporting events and spending time with her family.

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Vikki, Vikki?

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ikki Lee Wilbon has a thriving career in nursing and healthcare education. She earned her Associate of Nursing from Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing in 2007. For the past fourteen years, Vikki has served as a Registered Nurse in various departments such as Medical/ Surgical, Cardiology, Mental and Behavioral Health, and Nurse Consultant.

Rosebud Healthcare and Training also provides clinical and non-clinical training, consulting, and management services focused on the development of life-long learning skills, compliance, and growth. Their objective is to develop partnerships with governmental agencies, private companies, regional and national organizations to increase the sector between the private companies, similar organizations, state institutions, and national organizations in support of positive changes in the education sector to properly address the correlation between labor market demand and educational supply in communities.

The Baton Rouge native is a certified Train the Trainer instructor as well as, a CPR and Crisis Prevention instructor.

She is also a Childcare Health Consultant. Vikki has been teaching Medication Administration for eight years, where she caters to adult learners and their success in learning.

She also consults PCA, group and residential facilities.

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Vikki: My SwagHer is the genuine love and affection I have for everyone. It’s also my smile and heartfelt gestures.

Christina: Why did you want to get into the healthcare industry?

Vikki: My grandparents were elderly but raised us. When they became ill, I would be the one to go with them to the doctor. I can remember riding the Greyhound bus with my grandfather to Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He couldn’t see well, and I was his right hand. I loved every minute.

Christina: Tell us a little about Rosebud Healthcare and Training.

Vikki: RBHT is a healthcare entity that has grown in my two years of service. I started my company on April 21, 2019. At that time, I was in the business part-time. I would do trainings and assessments on weekends and after hours. I went fulltime in the business during the pandemic in May of 2020. I still offer CPR courses, Medication Administration, Safety Classes, Assessments, and Consultant for the Residential Homes, Group Homes, PCA companies, and MHR I serve. However, now I’m staffing nurses, HCP to educate on Covid 19 and sitters, administering Covid 19 vaccinations in my office, as well as performing Covid 19 testing... just to name a few of the services I’ve added since the pandemic.

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Christina: Do you have any advice for aspiring nurses and healthcare professionals?

Vikki: The sky is the limit. Do not set limits; set goals, and don’t quit until you’ve accomplished them. If they don’t let you sit at their table, bring your own.

Christina: So you also have Rosebuds, Inc. What inspired you to start it?

Vikki: Rosebuds, Inc is my nonprofit. I’ve been active in my community for some time. I was the team mom, an active parent while my kids were in school. I would help with different events with our organizations and clubs. Rosebuds, Inc started because I wanted to say “yes” to heartfelt events without a second thought or a vote. I wanted to collaborate with other community partners and control what was going to be done.

Christina: How do you practice self-care?

Vikki: I’m actually trying to get better. I love massages.

However, Zonda Barnes’ famous facials, or Nichole Daniels mani-pedis make my week. When I started RBHT, I used my personal number. My thought was I want to be personable with everyone who wants to do business with RBHT. However, now, I think it’s time for that assistant and a new office number. Lol Christina: Name three things you could not live without.

Vikki: God, my family, and peace Christina: Who or what inspires you daily?

Vikki: I’m inspired by good deeds and the heart of others.

It inspires me to see the good in others and their heart while they are doing things.

Christina: What does women empowerment mean to you?

Vikki: Women empowerment to me means inclusion, uplifting, supporting, and inspiring at all times. Not just when you need something from someone but at all times.

Being a listening ear, not judging someone when they have bad days but pushing them because you KNOW they can do it—smiling at someone when they walk through the door—crossing my sister’s “t” or dotting their “i”—seeing her get upset and giving her the eye to take 10. Giving her advice that I’ll actually do and not give her a fairy tale version to make myself look better.

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you would like our readers to know about?

Vikki: Christina, I’m excited to say I have about 3-4 projects I’m working on diligently. However, Covid Rapid testing is our latest project. We were offering Covid testing with a 2-day turnaround, but I have a COVID Rapid tester now. This will allow me to ease minds on the spot instead of waiting 48hours. I will also offer concierge services with my COVID testing. Covid numbers are rising, and we want to keep our clients, family, and community just a little safer by coming to them.

Connect with Vikki below: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ rosebudhealthcare www.instagram.com/rosebuds_inc Facebook: www.facebook.com/rosebudht www.facebook.com/rosebuds4community Website: www.rosebudhealthcare.net SwagHer Magazine

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Does Everyone Deserve a Second Chance? By: Kaitlan Darby

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he whole theme of this issue is “Second Chances.”

Some things do deserve second chances for sure.

But does everyone deserve a second chance? In my book, there are requirements to giving someone a second chance.

For one, if someone hurts you, they need to acknowledge the fact that they hurt you. We’ve all been crushed by someone who was oblivious to the fact that they hurt us or just didn’t care. It’s just like the stages of grief; acceptance will set you free.

The second thing you need to be aware of when giving SwagHer Magazine

someone a second chance is that they need to prove themselves when it comes to showing that they won’t hurt you again. Talk is cheap; actions mean everything.

If someone really wants to be in your life, the effort should be there, right? Of course, I’m right. And part of that effort means actively showing actions that represent them trying to do right by you.

Because many people can easily be distracted by pretty words, but that can bite you in the ass, can’t it? Of course, it can. Words don’t mean anything if there isn’t any action behind them. Second chances don’t only go for romantic interests either. These second chance

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requirements apply to everyone, friends, family. It doesn’t matter.

At some point, you must have the respect and the confidence for yourself to move away from things and people that aren’t serving you. Sometimes that means leaving behind people that you don’t want to leave behind.

And like I mentioned earlier, you will very much go through the stages of grief. You will be angry that they didn’t try hard enough, and you’ll feel like you aren’t good enough. That’s not the case. You’ll try to bargain with yourself that there would be a different outcome if you only did this differently. That is also not the case.

The truth is that there’s nothing you could have done differently, and by giving them a second chance, you’re giving them another chance to disrespect you, which you shouldn’t do. No amount of empty promises is going to change that. Again, it is completely your choice if you want to give someone a second chance, but you should definitely hold them to a certain standard and have them meet certain criteria before allowing them back into your life.

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Love Found Me By Francheska “Fancy” Felder

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ove and I have always had problems. It would come into my life, whisk me away, stay a bit, then gradually begin to fade away, or I would learn of some ultimate betrayal. I’m a romantic, but as a Libran woman, I’m also one of the lovers. Love is a part of me. Love and I are supposed to be together whether I like it or not. However, earlier this year, I took a stance and decided that while I could no longer feel Love’s presence, I would set myself free of its grasp for once instead of vice versa. Love would have to find me.

And if you follow my #FancysThoughts blog on SwagHer Online, you may have read my post entitled, “Love Will Have to Find Me,” where I share how I abandoned love.

I was over it. Done.

And it was not all by my choice. A big part of things was my medication for my depression. It was blocking my ability to feel, and to be honest, I liked it initially because I did not want to feel. Feeling too much is what gets me in trouble, and when I feel, I feel everything, like I feel

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the energy people may not even know they are giving off.

But I don’t know if that is worse than the feeling of getting curved 5011 times because looking back, I realize that is exactly what was happening when I wrote my blog. Only back then did I not see it that way. I thought the man I loved was not sure about what he wanted.

So in return, I tried to be everything I imagined he wanted and then some, only to find myself exhausted and drained of love, or so I thought. I was really ready to give up. I had lost all attraction to men and anything sex-related.

But I was lonesome in another way. It’s the “we are not meant to live our lives alone” type of loneliness. So I decided to check out Bumble, and I met several guys, but most of them could barely hold a conversation, which was annoying. But there was this one who sent me these “good morning” texts every morning. He actually happened to be the first guy I had swiped on, but I didn’t pay him much attention.

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Over time, he and I exchanged numbers, and then we finally went on a date. However, I still held back because a part of me didn’t know how to move forward. I had been so caught up in giving my all to the man before him; I had no idea of a life without him. I no longer knew what I wanted.

Fortunately, Bumble Guy (as we will call him) did. Since he now had my number, he sent morning messages every day though I’d take days to respond at times. It was not intentional, but rather my mind was elsewhere until I realized that Bumble Guy was at least consistent. That caught my eye.

He just seemed nice. He appeared to be educated and had a career, but most importantly, he didn’t seem to be about games or sporadically go missing. I almost would have called him boring in another life, but the more mature me considered his behavior to be more along the lines of a grown man. I realized I had been complaining about men being consistent and actually pursuing who they wanted, and here was a man consistently pursuing me, and who had even told me that he was dating with a purpose, marriage, and I was ignoring him.

With this conscious decision, I realized that I need to make myself available to love if that is truly what I wanted. I could not be closed off and cold and expect my love life to change. It was not going to happen that way.

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So I opened up, gradually and with caution. I’ve had horrible experiences with men in the past, and I was not about to open myself to hurt again. It was a slow process, but the more I got to know Bumble Guy, the more I could see he was not like the rest of the men I dated who were emotionally unavailable or unable to express their feelings.

Unlike them, Bumble Guy had no problem expressing his feelings about me to me. I no longer had to sit in confusion and worry while trying to decode someone’s intentions.

His actions matched his words, and love and partnership were the endgames.

And over time, love crept in. However, this time, I don’t feel like I’ve been whisked away. I’m not dangerously in love, and I don’t wish to be. I feel more grounded. I feel more certain about where we are going, and it is a good feeling. I feel like we equally give and receive; it’s not a one-sided relationship. I don’t stress myself out wondering if Bumble Guy loves me or not because he tells me all the time, and I appreciate that.

Our story makes me think of how people say, “You will be amazed at what happens when you take your hand off the wheel.” And I am. I took my hands off the wheel and let God take over. I realized that women aren’t supposed to find men. The man finds and pursues the woman, and in return, the woman chooses. She chooses the winner, and her heart is the prize.

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The Ultimate Accessory for the Fall By: Sabrina Espere Carrington amongst different communities or entertainment.

Now, in 2021, the beloved hat is making a statement as both men and women have considered it to be “the ultimateaccessory,” and the fashion industry has included it as a necessity for Fall.

Meet JD Evans, founder of JStyle District, a cutting edge one-stop-shop and the designer behind the JStyle Fedora. This designer, stylist, and fashion expert has responded to the call for color and more color this fall season.

Fashion experts have deemed Fall 2021 the season of rejuvenation and refreshment – allowing the colors to mesh with the soul and needs of the people. Amid the pandemic, the fashion industry and every industry had a plummeting moment, not sure of what to expect in the world. With so much trouble, dismay, and uncertainty in the world, different industry heads were forced to look at what would bring a necessary comeback in the hearts and minds of the people. The answer in the fashion industry was the reintroduction of color and creativity in style.

The Everlasting Fedora

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he Fedora. A hat that will never go out of style and is shamelessly flooding social media. The history of the Fedora is quite interesting. A hat that was worn first by the ladies in 1882 and popularized by the first production of the play, “Fedora” by French author Victorien Sardou. According to The History of Hats (www.historyofhats.net), after the play was a success, “…the hat was soon a popular fashion for women especially for women’s-rights activists”. Later on, men adopted the accessory as an alternative to the bowler hat, and that was all she wrote! Year and year, the Fedora would make an appearance, either SwagHer Magazine

Evans birthed his collection of fedoras during the pandemic. “It was a faith walk, but I did it, and the people responded.” He wanted to do something different, so he came up with an outstanding line that will never go out of style. “From Autumn to Merlot, I have colors that will make any outfit pop and anyone feel runway ready.” Evans agrees that the colors for Fall are perfect, different, and exude fun and even power.

“Colors are very powerful because they bring out a special mood or a feeling – especially with certain looks! Bright colors may represent happiness and promote enjoying life. This fall, everyone needs a bright pop of color to ignite their personal fall season. Use accessories like scarves, and jackets, colors that can really make “you” standout. The colors I feel that are really going to pop this fall are your yellows, burnt oranges, electric blues, fuchsia and hunter and olive greens,” says JD Evans.

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Evans is no stranger to the art of fashion, having styled for many, including Ms. Plus America 2019, Iesha Farmer. He has always enjoyed styling throughout his career, contributing his expertise in the world of retail and professional styling. Evans created JStyleDistrict, which is a dream becoming a reality.

This one-stop-shop is described as “…the right location for all your apparel, accessory, and overall styling needs. From sleek to savvy, smart to chic, we have something to fit your needs and get you right. Our options and quality of care for our product ensures that you are receiving superior service that is sure to boost confidence in your fashion and yourself. Come on over to the District…JStyleDistrict!”

Follow JStyle District below: Website: www.shopjstyledistrict.com Instagram: @shopjstyledistrict

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A Sister Doing More, Terra Fontenot By: Christina Woodard

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ith over a decade of experience in managing staff, day-to-day operations, and millions of revenue dollars for corporate organizations, Terra FontenotBeard offers a unique blend of leadership, expertise, and knowledge. She has established an entrepreneurial platform as a triple-threat entrepreneur, 2x author, mental health advocate, and an accounting and business operations outsourcing consultant at Fontenot & Associates Solutions, LLC, as the founder. Her desire for financial freedom ignited the aspirational launch of The Cookie Box Beauty Supply Store, an online hair, skin, and beauty supply store. Terra is currently the co-founder of Sisters Doing More, a business platform that educates and empowers women, children, and families within the community to become mentally and financially healthy.

Terra has been recognized in many blog features for her accounting and business knowledge for other business leaders and influencers. Through the assignment of various roles, Terra has been able to take her hands-on experiences to cut costs and reallocate manpower to developing real-time accounting and an updated organization system for small to mid-sized businesses alike. In 2016, Terra was recognized as one of the Courageous Business Women Who Take Charge in Courageous Woman Magazine.

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As a native of Galveston, Texas, Terra is a proud mother of five and an alumnus of Texas Southern University where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

She is passionate about using her skills and knowledge to improve the success rates of new and existing service-based entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Christina: What is your swagher? What makes Terra, Terra?

Terra: Wow, this is such a great question. Terra’s swagher is the ability to give creatives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders one of the best gifts of all time. Time! As a creative asset, I love working behind the scenes providing back-office support, and delivering solutions that change the current lives of leaders and their future goals and finances.

Christina: You are a consultant for Fontenot & Associates Solutions, LLC. Tell our readers a little bit about what you do there.

Terra: As a Virtual CFO & Managing Consultant for Fontenot & Associates Solutions, LLC, we provide full-service accounting, tax, and business operations outsourcing solutions. Our solutions deliver critical back-office support that helps change the SBA small business statistics by increasing the success rate.

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We believe and stand side by side with our clients as they strive each day to accomplish their dreams. Having a supportive team is necessary, and we are that team!

Christina: You are most definitely a serial entrepreneur.

You are the founder of The Cookie Box Beauty Store and co-founder of Sisters Doing More. Can you give our readers a brief description of your businesses?

Terra: The Cookie Box Beauty Store is an online hair and beauty supply store for men, women, and children. We offer the many hair and beauty care products used daily. This was an opportunity of a lifetime to join a billion-dollar industry, and we took the risk. Our customers love the convenience, and we love, once again, giving our clients back more time to be with their families or pick up dinner for the night.

Christina: This question is a bit similar to the one above. You have a business with your sister, Sisters Doing More. Why did you decide to go into business with your sister?

Terra: Starting a business with my sister was a purposeful journey for us. We would talk every day, sometimes multiple times a day, about our goals and dreams of starting numerous businesses, and one day, we said to each other, why are we doing similar business interests separate? From that moment forward, we just knew by starting this business together, we could accomplish so much more. This is one journey where we both can use our knowledge, skills, and experiences and not feel like we have to hold back on just how awesome we really are as individuals.

Sisters Doing More is a business I created with my sister, Kamisha LaTrey, to empower men, women, and families to be mentally and financially healthy. This business was a breakthrough for our sisterhood because we had a shattered relationship that left us not speaking to each other for five years. Our mission is to support and advocate for more family discussions about mental health, and the importance of understanding what building a financial foundation looks like. Having the opportunity to educate families about mental and financial health is an honor in itself. We can give vision and insight into how they work closely together and it is just the beginning of building financial foundations.

Christina: You were recognized as one of the Courageous Business Women Who Take Charge in Courageous Woman Magazine. How important was that recognition for you?

Christina: Tell our readers about your book, Through the Wave Of It All: The Journey of Finding Purpose Through Sisterhood. Where can they purchase it?

Christina: What are three words your closest friends would use to describe you?

Terra: Through the Wave of It All is a book written by my sister and me. The development of our book was a healing journey for us, and we wanted to share it with the world. Our journey could help many others address broken relationships and help to mend their hearts and minds. Our book provides powerful daily affirmations, a journaling space for reflections, and a story of our life from childhood to adults. This is an excellent read for book clubs, young adults going away for the first time, a kickstart to mending family relationships, and a self-help and motivational book.

Christina: Why did you start The Cookie Box Beauty Store? What’s the story behind that?

Terra: I started The Cookie Box Beauty Store to reach another industry of customers, create another stream of income and have an entry into a billion-dollar industry that is stable and vastly growing. I love everything about beauty and hair care, and it just felt right to start an adventure that provides solutions to my community and one that I can grow with. While The Cookie Box Beauty Store is known for hair and beauty products online shopping, we plan to manifest this into so much more. When I created the name, I thought of my mother, who passed away in 2003 at the young age of 44; they called her Cookie. So when I looked up the definition of cookie, it was a confirmation for me! It also means “an attractive woman”. The Cookie Box is just getting started!

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Terra: Being recognized as one of the Courageous Business Women Who Take Charge was undeniably a spotlight I will forever be grateful for. It was a reminder to myself of the sacrifice, the struggle, and commitment to deciding to become an entrepreneur. I don’t give myself enough credit for what I can accomplish, and that mentality changed after my recognition in Courageous Woman Magazine.

Terra: Three words my closest friends would use to describe me would be compassionate, driven, and strong.

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you would like our readers to know about?

Terra: Fontenot Solutions is working on building a unique platform for creatives and startups that will offer one-stop accounting and business operations solutions for building a successful business. It will provide digital and team support options. Follow us on all of all social media platforms, @ fontenotsolutions, so that you stay up to date on progress and go live.

Christina: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Terra: I love the difference we make for creatives, startups and business leaders. I am a dreamer, and I am here to help make dreams come true!

281-686-0182 terra@fontenotsolutions.com www.fontenotsolutionsblog.com PO BOX 6570 Katy, Texas 77491

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Neffe Is Here For The People that are “Suffering In Silence” By: Chandra Gore that - suffering in silence. This project is an extension of her equipping others with the knowledge of what it means to take your energy, power, and yourself back. As she had to do just that, she states, “within my time span of being not only in this industry but within life itself. Like, I had to take my power back from, you know, this last divorce that I went through, it was horrible. Still, I had to take my power back; I had to take me back, you know.

I had to understand that I’m a woman, a mother, and a grandmother. I have love! I can get out here, and I can parasail. I can jump off a damn cliff if I want to. I can live!”

Neffe wants individuals to understand how to truly live and to use their voices. “Suffering in Silence” is for the people that do not have a voice. By creating this movement, she wants to encourage people to use their voices. With her new endeavor, “Suffering in Silence,” she is making it her focus to make sure people understand that we can stop suicide, teen pregnancies, and sex trafficking with a mindset change. Then we can help prevent mental breakdowns and stop the need for self-medicating ourselves. When we begin to understand why we should not continue to suffer in silence, she goes on to state that she wants to “use my platform for our people. Whether they are Black, white, Hispanic, Russian, all over the world, men, women, and children, get it out so that we no longer have to suffer the way that we have been suffering. And it’s just again, it’s just not in our community. It’s all across the world.” She is thoroughly excited about her new project and her new path.

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here is something about Nefetteria “Neffe” Pugh; she is more than a reality TV veteran. This mother, producer, radio host, and inspiration has been sharing her life with us for years. I was introduced to her through my TV screen and knew she was really real from the moment she appeared. She puts the real in reality and is unapologetically her.

The joy in her voice when she exclaimed,”I’m excited about my journey. And I’m excited about my children and my grandchildren taking part in this as well. And that’s a beautiful thing.” She is bringing other generations into what she is doing and changing people’s lives. This is an even greater impact; this is legacy building.

I was able to catch up with this amazing woman to see what she has been working on. When asked, she shares that she is most excited about coming back to television as an executive producer, which will provide more control about what is being seen and shown. Most importantly, she is excited about her project, “Suffering in Silence.”

Neffe reminded me of the passage from the Bible when God blesses you -you a lot is required. Because of what she went through to get to this point, it is her job to now use her voice to be exactly who she was called to be. Her journey is not in vain. She has found that it is now her time to show others they can do the same, step out on faith, and stop “Suffering in Silence.”

This project is “For the People,” she states. This title alone is what stands out because so many of us are doing just

This new project is set to remind us that talking about your suffering is therapeutic. If you are unsure, this

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project will help you acknowledge and seek help because you will see others who are no longer suffering and be inspired to speak up and speak out. This will ensure the cycle continues with others speaking about their journey.

As we began to chat about her radio show, From Reality2Radio. She broke it down to me and explained that her show focuses on real life. She is using her voice to inspire and motivate people. Due to Neffe being who she is, she wants people to understand what it means to truly live in reality. We can see around us that a lot of people do not even understand their reality or how their suffering is causing them not to see they are not living in their truth.

As Neffe embarks on this continued journey, we can’t help but realize that she created a blueprint for women in reality TV production. We have to give credit where credit is due.

We have continued to watch Neffe grow, and she has continued to inspire positivity and show others how to work towards a goal.

As we wrapped up this interview, she left the readers with some amazing words of encouragement. Neffe says, “If you are feeling like you can’t go to your next chapter and can’t pursue your dreams or that goal, try prayer. First and foremost, prayer does work. Don’t ever, ever think that prayer does not work.” Continuing on she says, “Also, remember that when you pray for what you want, you have to walk in that authority. Don’t just say it, and then sit around. That’s not how that works. You have to pray and get up and walk towards what you asked God to do in your life.”

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Finally, she adds, “Most importantly, surround yourself with positive people and be who God created you to be.

Ask questions. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions can help you to grow and be better.”

Be sure to follow Neffe on social media via Instagram at www.instagram.com/therealneffeteria and tune into her radio show on ATL Hits 92.3 https://atl923hits.com/.

Second Chances Issue

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SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

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Around the World Cocktails for the Fall Season By: Sabrina Espere Carrington W hen the seasons change, everything changes. The spring brings flowers and picnics. The summer brings “fun in the sun” and bikinis. The fall brings a change of weather, leaves falling, and my favorite, FALL COCKTAILS! Yes, this is a great season for “Hot Toddies”

and “Irish Coffees,”as you nestle up with the one you love (or at least like). This piece is dedicated to cocktails around the world! Celebrate the season with me by expanding your mind and trying new things! Here are some of my favorite picks for “Autumn.”

Scotland - “The Famous Hot Toddy” Talk about international influence! All of my life, I thought that this famous drink was something “country” folk drank when they felt a little tickle in their throats. I never knew that “The Famous Hot Toddy” hailed from Scotland! According to Masterclass.com, “(The Hot Toddy is) believed to have been invented in Scotland sometime in the eighteenth century...a popular cocktail during the cold months and especially around Christmas.” I know, I know. Some of you would use a good old-fashioned black tea bag and put in your choice of whisky and maybe a lemon.

But the original recipe doesn’t call for a teabag, but rather a tea that you make with water, lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and finally, the whiskey! Rachel Hollis (msrachelhollis. com), a known blogger and media guru, has a fantastic recipe that is worth trying!

Peru - Algarrobina Cocktail This exotic cocktail is made with Pisco, a Peruvian brandy that is known for being uniquely made. According to Eater.com, “More specifically, pisco can be made from eight varietals, including the non-aromatic grapes which the Spanish originally brought over with them for wine production—Quebranta, Negra Criolla, Uvina and Mollar, and the aromatic grapes— Moscatel, Torontel, Italia, and Albilla.” A very popular brandy that was truly made popular by Johnny Schuler, the master distiller of Pisco Portón. Algarrobina is a syrup made from the Black Carob tree that is the star of this cocktail, along with Pisco brandy. The two combined make this amazing cocktail a hit! Visit Perudelights.com for the recipe details!

France - Warm Spiced Calvados Cocktail In the fall, the smell of warm apples and pears is so inviting. The French have this covered with their Calvados brandy, from Calvados - a department of Normandy in France. The namesake cocktail has its beloved brandy along with clementines, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and even cloves - all of which have amazing healing properties. The warm spiced cocktail is great for a midday cocktail or a nightcap during the season. Check out www.Tasty.co.

SwagHer Magazine

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Ireland - Irish Coffee This drink is so popular that it has a coffee creamer named after it. Irish coffee is the perfect blend of good black coffee, whiskey, and tons of whipped cream! So comforting at night after dinner or, for some, a brunch fave. “The traditional Irish Coffee contains just four things: Irish whiskey, sugar, coffee, and cream,” says Belfast Live, who recently put out a challenge for the “perfect Irish coffee.” I would love to partake in that challenge (the tasting part, at least)! Check out TheSpruceEats.com and get the best recipe ever!

Puerto Rico - Coquito Not to be confused and never compared to Egg Nog, Coquito is a creamy taste of Puerto Rico normally served in the Fall and Winter months. It is a social drink, shared amongst friends and family, with the best ingredient combination. Typically made with two types of milk and the star of the drink, the “Coconut,” this drink will give you a sense of being on a holiday vacation. This drink has evolved throughout the years. Originally using White Rum, mixologists are now becoming more creative trying dark liquors such as Dark Rum and Hennessy. Want an amazing recipe, or are interested in ordering Coquito? Check out @joseferrerselects on Instagram.

Ukraine / Russia - Berry Kisel “Almost like a punch, but it is very thick. Almost like a pudding, but it is a drink. And yes, don’t forget the Vodka”, says Igor Tarasyuk, a native of Ukraine, now residing in Philadelphia. This drink is very popular in both Ukraine and Russia. “It is all around very common in eastern Europe.” This drink can be served cold or hot, but Hot Berry Kisel is served all the time in the fall. Milkandbun.com has a great recipe. Add this favorite to the cocktail list this Fall.

Middle Eastern - Pomegranate Punch One thing I absolutely love during the fall is pomegranates! In the Middle East, they serve up the best punch in the cold season: sweet, a little spicy, and very nice! This punch will definitely be a hit at a holiday party, beginning with chilled pomegranate juice, with very chilled vodka, cinnamon sticks, and orange; this punch will definitely be a hit at a holiday party! Visit www.taste.com/au and try it out!

Asian Fusion - Blackberry + Rosemary Sake Bramble Last but not least, my new favorite cocktail. The perfect union of blackberry and rosemary.

It is made with blackberry and rosemary simple syrup, which is the best combination ever!

Mio Sparkling Sake makes you warm and toasty! For me, it is all about the garnishes with this drink—sprigs of rosemary and a couple of plump blackberries. Visit www.itsyozine. com for the recipe.

SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

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Meet our Story Sharing Friday Winners: Every Friday we host a room on Clubhouse that allows our participants to pitch their stories for a chance to win a feature on SwagHer Online and in our print issues.

Brittany Veney: Brittany Veney is a former married stay-at-home mom who found herself constantly looking for the light at the end of the tunnel until one day, she woke up and realized that she was the light and deserved to do life differently. Now, as an (almost) divorced Mompreneur, Veney strives to live life with purpose and profound meaning, and one way she’s done so is by building a business helping others shine authentically in their brands by way of brand and website design.

Tamika Shuler Washington: Three of the most important aspects of Tamika’s life are God, family, and service.

In 2018, Tamika and her husband, Devin Washington, launched a coworking space on August 23rd and officially opened their doors to Converspace on November 24, 2018. Converspace was created to support entrepreneurs from all walks of life, and through challenging days, rebranding, and pivoting, they’ve shifted their business model. Tamika has learned many lessons as Converspace has experienced what many businesses experience in financials, marketing, pivoting, and more. Through Converspace, Tamika hosts online and onsite events, including the launch of The Start-Up Academy, created just for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs.

Kimbralon Barnes: Kimbralon Barnes is a licensed professional counselor in Arizona. She grew up with a mother who was not the best nurturer; this left her feeling empty and insecure.

She became an accountant, but after being approached by strangers while sharing their stories, she left her high-paying accountant job to become a counselor. Barnes spent years doubting her abilities because of her past insecurities. She has been a counselor for ten years, and she is also a mental health advocate. She decided she wanted to pursue this outside of her counseling room, and she created a podcast named, Under The Scope. Under The Scope is a platform to invite guests to share their knowledge, skills, and abilities and contribution to mental health awareness to eliminate and reduce stigma by promoting mental health treatment.

SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

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SwagHer Magazine

Second Chances Issue

Page 56