SYNERGY- Winter 2022 by Gainesville Black Professionals

ISSUE 5 | 2022

Zola Johnson

Zola Simmons Johnson has been an icon and neighborhood matriarch in the Gainesville community for decades.

A COLLABORATIVE GUIDE TO ECONOMIC DISCOVERY

Keira Simmonds: Building Up Gainesville’s Youth

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ISSUE 5 | WINTER 2022

SYNERGY

COVER STORY 68 TARENA STANLEY:

THE SECRET RECIPE

This family of seven have discovered the secret recipe to creating and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

A COLLABORATIVE GUIDE TO ECONOMIC DISCOVERY

6 8

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

TRAVIS HIGHLANDS

TEDREYONCE MOORE

CALEB & BEA AWONIYI

LATORRIA JOHNSON

DAVID ROUNTREE

BRENDA BROOKS

ZOLA JOHNSON

DR. MICHELLE RUTLEDGE: PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE, LEARN FROM OUR PAST

TANIYA DANIELS

KEIRA SIMMONDS: BUILDING UP GAINESVILLE’S YOUTH

JAYDEN TERRY

JASMINE WILLIAMS

RANDY & THERESA WILLIAMS

DORETHA ANDERSON

Homelessness To Humble Leadership: How This Gainesville Woman Is Giving Back These leaders set high standards for themselves and stay focused on their dreams. Twice the Citizen! Thrice the Heart! Get familiar with this young servant leader on the rise.

ARTHUR DAWSON

RUELLE FLUDD

JACQUELINE GRAHAMWILLIAMS

Founder and President of Contemporary Masters, Inc. Art Gallery & Studio Reporter and the weekend anchor for WCJB TV 20.

This leader has a strong connection with her community and finds comfort in them, the theater and the arts.

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

The Operations Specialist for Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott encourages future leaders to work hard. Stephen Foster’s assistant principal continues to impact her students, parents and teachers. An icon and neighborhood matriarch in the Gainesville community for decades has touched the lives of many people.

BODERICK JOHNSON

The head coach for the boys basketball program at P.K. Yonge aims to change and shape the lives of children in his community.

CHASE KNIGHT

WANDA R. LLOYD

Self awareness, evaluating and staying sharp are key to this leader’s personal and professional development. This teacher has been leading with a fiery passion ever since starting her career in education over 20 years ago.

After overcoming many hardships, this young leader encourages readers to never give up. The Director of Advancement for United Way - North Central Florida uses his skills to help direct funds to serve the community.

This young leader wants the world to know that it’s OK not to be OK. Leadership is a quality that is difficult to many people to strengthen, but not for this natural born leader. With their God-given talents, this artistic couple aims to brighten people’s days.

contributorS

GAinesville BLACK PROFESSIONALS

EDITOR Virginia Grant

GAinesville GAinesville GAinesville DESIGNER BLACK PROFESSIONALS

BLACK PROFESSIONALS

Amber Anderson

BLACK PROFESSIONALS

Writers

Beth Herbert Annissa Brockington Kimberly Reveil GAinesville BLACK PROFESSIONALS Samantha Cherry Jennifer Hunsaker Heaven Taylor-Wynn Alicia Jarrett

Photographers Kevin Dowdell Tiffany Altman

GAinesville

BLACK PROFESSIONALS

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The appearance of any individual, organization or company in this magazine is not toFlorida. be considered an endorsement by Gainesville Central However, you are responsible forBlack the Professionals results of (GBP). The stories that we feature are to showcase the success of individuals in our any community and to encourage greater awareness and connectivity in North contacts, connections or collaborations that are made with Central Florida. However, you are responsible for the results of any contacts, connections or collaborations that are made with individuals, organizations and companies.

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LETTER from the Editor Dear Readers, Thank you for your continued support of SYNERGY magazine and Gainesville Black Professionals.. This is our fifth issue and I am so excited to share it with you. I hope that you find the stories and features as interesting and exciting as I have. I continue to be amazed by the wonderful professionals that we have in our community and the relentless service and leadership that they share and provide to our community. It is our hope that in sharing these stories, you will be inspired by the great talent that we have in our community. We live in a community rich in diversity and our hope is that this magazine serves to further highlight and celebrate that diversity. As an organization, we are committed to fostering and increasing communication, collaboration and networking between professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners in order to create profitable partnerships and business ventures. SYNERGY is just one of the platforms that we have created to foster these collaborations. SYNERGY is the concept that the combined value and performance of two entities working together will be greater than the sum of the separate parts. Basically, we can do more together than we can individually. So let’s be SYNERGISTIC!!!

Executive Director Gainesville Black Professionals 6

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Doretha Anderson

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Doretha Anderson

Homelessness to

Humble Leadership How this Gainesville woman is giving back Story By:

Heaven Taylor-Wynn

n an age where fame and notoriety are rewarded, influential leaders rarely find fulfillment working earnestly behind the scenes. However, Doretha Anderson thrives as an advocate for people in her community. An active member of the GNV4ALL - Family Support Committee and Alachua County NAACP Education, Youth Council, and Membership Committees, Anderson is no stranger to advocacy. “I’m a voice for AfricanAmericans [in our community] who are less fortunate,” she said. “People

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S THE END, BUT IF YOU KEEP PUSHING, GOD WILL KEEP HIS PROMISES. -Doretha Anderson

who feel like they may not have the skills or talents to address issues happening in their homes and communities.” Since being raised by her grandmother and becoming a parent at 17 years old, Doretha can easily empathize with many of the people she works tirelessly to help. She asks herself: “How can I help somebody today?” The 46-year-old mother of six - ages 29, 28, 25, 20, 18, and 12 - shared she cares so deeply for this particular group of people because she was once in their shoes. Alachua County is her home, but it took her years after a series of tumultuous events to return to the place she grew up. In the early 2000’s, Doretha owned a child care business. After the Great Recession she lost everything - her business, her home, and her children. She moved to Orlando to build a better life while her children stayed with family. In the following years, Doretha experienced homelessness, uncertainty and betrayal. “I never thought any of

this would happen to me,” she said. “I didn’t know how to pull myself back up.” She eventually made her way from Orlando to Ocala. Unfortunately, her mother took ill and that’s what ultimately brought her back to Gainesville. “It was hard to come back because a lot of bad things that happened were in Gainesville,” she said. Her mother later passed away and shortly thereafter she gave birth to her youngest, now 12-year-old, child. Doretha said she turned her pain into power, channeling her grief and sadness into action. As a woman strong in her faith, she leaned on God for guidance and understanding throughout her life’s journey. “Sometimes it seems like it’s the end, but if you keep pushing, God will keep his promises,” she said. She’s known as a pusher. She sees potential in people and she pushes them to rise to the occasion. Doretha has been actively instilling principles

of community service in her own family. She said her 12-year-old daughter is active on the NAACP Youth Council Committee and regularly participates in community service activities alongside her. Between the time she spends working on behalf of others in her community, Doretha is working towards earning a degree at Santa Fe College. She hopes her story can inspire someone else to make the best out of their circumstances. “I want people to see me and remember there is something good that can come out of the bad that you’ve been through.”

I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE ME AND REMEMBER THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD THAT CAN COME OUT OF THE BAD THAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH. -Doretha Anderson gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Karl Anderson

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND GET OUR MESSAGE OUT. I TRULY BELIEVE WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER. -Karl ‘The Rev’ Anderson

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Karl Anderson

Karl ‘The Rev’

Anderson Story By:

Kimberly Reveil

arl ‘The Rev’ Anderson’s first memory of community outreach was participating in clothing and food drives as a teen. His passion for serving was fostered by his mentor, the late Dr. Hazel K. Williams, affectionately known as ‘Sister Hazel’. “Sister Hazel was a modern-day Mother Teresa, with a heart for missions and evangelism. She would tell me, ‘If you want to catch bees, you have to use honey.’ She took me under her wing and showed me different ways to serve outside the four walls of the church.” His commitment to that method of service would prove to be his trademark. Over the last three decades the Gainesville native has taken a unique approach to outreach by being sure to meet the needs of the whole person - mind, body, and soul. Also, studying the Bible and reading The Purpose-Driven Church by Rick Warren helped him implement the strategies of Jesus to his own philanthropic endeavors. With the help of his church and community partners, Anderson has expanded those efforts to

include addiction counseling, mentorship, widow and foster care, health advocacy, and anti-violence programs, including the annual People Against Violence Enterprises rally. What started as a peace rally in response to the occurrence of monthly school shootings across the country has become a community staple with it’s own day certified by Mayor Lauren Poe. “Over the past 20 plus years we’ve grown from giving 100 backpacks to 3000! We’ve partnered with celebrities, politicians, school boards, and law enforcement to educate the community against violence. It takes a village to make sure we meet the needs of the community and get our message out. I truly believe we’re better together.” Because of his dedication he’s been chosen to sit on boards and hold titles like President of Alachua County Pastors Association, Santa Fe College East Gainesville Instruction Chairman, District Superintendent, and Auxiliaries and Ministries Chairman for the COGIC Church, furthering the assignment to positively impact and represent his community. Many know Anderson by his humanitarian works, but he’s also a business-

man. His roots in broadcast radio reach back 35 years to his time at WJLF 91.7 Joy FM hosting the hit shows, ‘Friday Night Breakaway’ and ‘Spirit’. During his time at Magic 101.3 he drove his gospel show, ‘Churchin’ with the Rev’, to the #1 market spot. At both stations he made headway as a seller to raise sponsorships. Of his many roles, being

a husband and father is most important to Karl. He credits his wife, Brecka Anderson, for teaching him to pace himself while staying focused and present; and that’s the lesson he’d like to share with readers. “You can do all you want to do, but not at the same time. Obedience to God, being prayerful and being methodical is the key to lasting success.”

As so many doors are closing, ours will stay open. We understand that COVID has created impossible challenges for your business. It’s our mission to help connect you to opportunities and resources to do business with UF. Contact us to learn how you can meet with the decision makers looking to buy your products and services. We’re your committed community partner. Let’s work together.

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Caleb & Bea AWONIYI

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Caleb & Bea Awoniyi

Caleb & Bea

AWONIYI

Story By:

Beth Herbert

t is never too late to follow your dreams. Caleb and Bea Awoniyi would attest to this as they are both living their dreams and helping others achieve their goals each day. Originally from Nigeria, Caleb attended the Seminary majoring in religion with a minor in biology before emigrating to the US. After completing his PhD in Medical Physiology in the US, he worked as a research scientist at Johns Hopkins University and later at the University of Colorado, concentrating on developing male contraceptives. However, he did not feel totally fulfilled in this career path. He knew he wanted to study and practice medicine. So when the opportunity arose, he left his full professorship position and his fully funded research lab, to return to medical school. Bea also grew up in Nigeria and met Caleb when they were in high school. Education for women, most especially higher education, was uncommon in Bea’s family but her uncle saw a different and better future for her. He removed her from that environment and decided to invest in

her education. Because of this, he is one of the most impactful people in her life, as his decision to help her attain education despite being female kick-started her career and helped her achieve many of her goals. Bea also expresses that her faith motivates her to put her all into every task and strive to do her best each day. She worked in disability services for many years. Prior to her current position as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, at Santa Fe College, Bea was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Student Disability Resource Center at Florida State University. She considers herself an advocate for others, and lives by the ideal that, “To whom much is given, much is required.” Caleb’s faith also helped him remain persistent when roadblocks interfered with his career goals. At the age of 43, he decided to go to medical school. Despite being the oldest in his class, he stuck with it and completed his desired residency in Anesthesiology. Though the experiences were gruesome at times, they are some of his greatest accomplishments to date. He is currently the Chief of the

Anesthesia Service at the VA Hospital in Gainesville, a position he’s held for the last six years. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Florida and Professor of Anesthesiology at University of Central Florida helping to train future anesthesiologists. As leaders, they both express that they do not set goals, per se, but set high standards for themselves and stay focused on their dreams. Caleb did not foresee himself becoming the Chief of Anesthesia, but his colleagues and loved ones recognized his skills and talents, then encouraged and supported his decision to apply for the position. Similarly, Bea does not choose to lead but sets high standards for herself and her colleagues to encourage them to be

their best and reach their highest potential. They aspire to stay true to themselves and refuse to let their leadership positions change who they are. Direction from God and support from their family and colleagues have helped them stay level headed and humble and achieve their accomplishments. As a couple, they also give each other feedback, seek and listen to feedback from their three children, and continue to be support systems for each other. They advise future leaders to work hard and put their all into every role. To be a leader, you must also be willing and ready to follow, accepting constructive criticism so that you can learn from others and grow as a person each and every day. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Meayki Batie

Meayki

BATIE Story By:

Beth Herbert

eayki Batie, a Gainesville native, currently serves as an executive assistant for Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), providing inclusion awareness to her colleagues and members of her community. She has served in her current role for over a year, and has been with GRU for almost 5 years; when she heard the title “Office of Inclusion,” she knew she had to be involved in some way. The idea of inclusion inspires her to be her best self everyday and she is grateful for the opportunity to help better and serve her colleagues by coordinating ways to share what inclusion means to her. Before landing her position as an executive assistant, Batie had over

25 years of experience working in leadership roles; she does not believe that leadership is simply about leading others, but about serving a greater community. At GRU, she enrolled in a program that matched her with a mentor who provided her training for public speaking and building her brand. With their guidance, she was able to network with other admin and staff who taught her more about the organization, the Office of Inclusion, and helped her land her current position with GRU. Meayki believes in the power of goal setting and its ability to keep her and other leaders on track. Without setting goals, she would not be where she is today and would not have achieved her accomplishments thus far. Despite her achievements, she occasionally faces chal-

lenges in her role that she must overcome. Because the colloquial definitions of inclusion and diversity vary from person to person, she finds it difficult to get people involved in the events she organizes. Occasionally, she also finds it difficult to get others on the same page as her to truly define and enforce her ideal of inclusion. But she is able to overcome these challenges by finding alternative methods to resolve these conflicts. By talking with her mentors and others in her community, she is able to get their insight based on their past experience to conquer whatever roadblocks interfere with her success. Rather than taking these issues personally, she keeps the bigger picture and her greater goals in mind, and she encourages future leaders to employ this method whenever they

face challenges. Batie’s inclination for leadership has always been in her blood, and her goal in this new role is to create action plans, and continue to change reactions and perspectives when it comes to inclusion and diversity. Her inspiration to be a servant comes from her mother and grandmother who also loved to serve and ensure their family and community were cared for. She encourages future leaders to set goals and think about where they want to be down the line; never get stuck in the weeds when struggles come your way. Adjust, be flexible and continue to respect and support authority. By doing these things and more, Batie has been able to invest in her own success and fulfill a role that she has always been passionate about. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Victoria Bennett

Victoria

Bennett Story By:

Jennifer Hunsaker

INNOVATION IS HUGE HERE. I CAN HELP STARTUP COMPANIES DEVELOP THEIR PRODUCT AND TAKE IT TO MARKET. -Victoria Bennett

ictoria Bennett’s journey took her from Gainesville to Atlanta to New York, then to DC and Paris until she finally came back home. She also changed careers, starting as a mechanical engineer then shifting to film and eventually to patent law. Along the way, she’s constantly had to prove herself in work environments. Luckily, her upbringing prepared her for her unique career. Bennett went to school at PK Yonge, a small school connected with the University of Florida. Her classes were small and the students were incredibly diverse. It was here that she got to build close relationships with people

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

that weren’t like her. “They became more like cousins than classmates,” recalls Bennett. Being so connected to the university made Bennett more open to leaving Gainesville. PhD candidates would teach her courses, showing her what could be accomplished outside of her tight knit community. Another big influence in her life was her mother—an attorney for the state of Florida—and her mother’s friend, Phyllis Kotey. Both are very successful women. And the apple doesn’t fall far from this tree. Bennett started at Georgia Tech and studied mechanical engineering. Unsurprisingly, there was one other woman in her classes. This proved to be a

subtle hint to what her field would look like professionally. After graduation, she worked for the Federal Aviation Administration. While she liked the work, she wasn’t in love with the environment. So, she started to explore film—one of her other passions. She worked on sets in New York as a production assistant where she met many producers who were attorneys and engineers. It felt like kismet. She went to law school and after graduation she worked for firms in New York, Washington DC, and Paris. In DC, she got a front row seat to watch and learn from some of the best litigators in the country. And in Paris, she gained experience in intellectual property and patent law.

Victoria came back to Gainesville and started her practice in 2020—admittedly not great timing. But she wanted to be closer to home and bring her international and domestic patent knowledge to a growing city. “Innovation is huge here. I can help startup companies develop their product and take it to market.” She helps local clients with a variety of business needs. As Gainesville is well-placed for international exports, she can serve those businesses so owners don’t need to travel to Tampa or Orlando. Victoria seems to be the perfect fit for Gainesville and she couldn’t be happier to be home.

Brenda Brooks

BRENDA BROOKS Twice the Citizen! Thrice the Heart! Story By:

Alicia Jarrett

he official motto for the Army reserve is ‘Twice the Citizen,’ and this certainly rings true about Brenda Brooks. Brenda’s devotion to her country and passion for helping others led her to serve in the United States Army Reserve. She served for 30 years; her primary role was as a field medic, and her secondary role was in transportation. While she is retired now, her abetment to her community is far from over. Brenda’s humanitarian journey began at a very young age. Being kindhearted was instilled in her

by her beloved grandmother and great-grandmother. In conjunction with her faith, she has devoted her time to helping others in her personal life and her city. She is an active campaigner for those she can discern are for the people and fighting for the right reasons. She will stand by them to ensure their word gets out there.

Some notable mentions are her diligent fight for better education and employment opportunities for youth in the Gainesville area. And her commitment and focus on criminal justice reform and increasing opportunities for growth in underprivileged areas. Although her goal is to

try to implement positive changes, Brenda sometimes encounters adverse reactions when promoting them. These reactions don’t hinder her as her passion is to help others, and she knows that some people don’t understand. Her philosophy in life allows her to overcome adversity, which is ‘not to judge others.’ She suggests analyzing oneself rather than focusing on others’ faults, as we all have made our share of mistakes.

Her advice to those who desire to take on a leadership role is “pray about it” “when you pray about things and in your spirit, you feel like it’s right, then you’re at peace about it then you can take that step

and move forward.”

While she is a model citizen, these achievements didn’t occur overnight. It took much time, dedication, self-reflection, and faith. Brenda quoted Michael Jackson when he said, “ If you want to make the world a better place, you got to look at yourself and make a change,” as this is just what she regularly does in her own life. Her focus remains on being the best she can be, so she has the confidence and grit to support those around her. Brenda will continue to fight for the causes that will lead to the betterment of her community, all the while inspiring our younger generations to do the same. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Shankeives Carr

Shankeives

CARR REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER I DO, I KNOW WHAT MY PURPOSE IS: TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. -Shankeives Carr

Story By:

Beth Herbert

ot many children know what they want to be when they grow up, but Shankeives Carr has always dreamt of becoming an officer of the law. Having displayed innate leadership qualities as an adolescent, it was clear that he would achieve his goal of becoming an authority figure who is not only a positive influence in his community but also generates change. Born and raised in Gainesville, Officer Carr graduated Eastside High School in 2018. As soon as he graduated, he went to the police academy to pursue his dreams. He studied at the Sante Fe Institute of Public Safety and is currently as-

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

signed to the Department of the Jail at the age of 22. When he was growing up, his father was his biggest fan and greatest motivator. He was a single parent raising eight children by himself and instilled in Shankieves the value of hard work and determination. When his father passed away during his senior year of high school, his goals and ambitions to attend the academy began to diminish; without his biggest supporter, he started to lose his hard working mentality. Thankfully, his church family and community were there to motivate him and they pushed him to accomplish his goals, despite his grief. They encouraged him to be successful and make his father proud.

He states that his greatest accomplishment thus far in his career is how far he has come, despite the roadblocks and hardships he has faced. Many people are unsure what they want to accomplish after graduating high school; Shankieves experienced this feeling as well, as he could have chosen to play college football, rather than pursue a career in law enforcement. However, he knew that, though the process to become a detention officer is long and nerve wrecking, he was determined to start his career early. So far, he thoroughly enjoys what he does each day. When working with the inmates, he has to juggle many different roles -- like being a mentor, therapist and leader -- he has a great

relationship with every one of them. He enjoys being able to help influence them to turn their lives around and cause positive changes. Though there are negative connotations that surround law enforcement today, Shankieves is determined to cause a domino effect by dedicating his career to being the best police officer he can be. He lives by a quote from that states: “Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose is: to make a difference in people’s lives.” Using his leadership qualities, Shankieves strives to be a positive representation for his community, his fellow officers, and other Black professionals in Florida.

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Taniya Daniels

I WANT TO CHALLENGE MYSELF TO BECOME SOMEONE WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, NOT SOMEONE WHO’S JUST IN THE WORLD TO BE IN THE WORLD. -Taniya Daniels

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Taniya Daniels

Get familiar with this young servant leader on the rise Story By:

Heaven Taylor-Wynn

hen you think of a “community leader,” chances are the image in your mind isn’t of a middle school student. However, 13-year-old Taniya Daniels is proving servant leadership has no minimum age requirement. The youngest of five children, alongside her fraternal twin sister, Taniya explained she wants to fulfill a bigger purpose. “I want to challenge myself to become someone who makes a difference in the world, not someone who’s just in the world to be in the world,” she said. She’s actively giving back to her community and making an impact at her young age. The eighth grader is the current Howard Bishop Middle School student council president. She and her best friend campaigned together for president and vice president and were victorious. In a recent interview for the School Board of Alachua County the young leader said she talked about her experience attending a swing school while other campuses in the county undergo construction. As a leader she’s following the examples that have been set for her by

adults in her family. She has female role models around who are active in sororities and service organizations that help young people. One of the organizations Taniya participates in regularly is the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma Zeta Youth Auxiliary. As a middle school student she’s classified as an Amicette among about 20 other young ladies. According to the Delta Sigma Zeta chapter’s website, the Amicette program is “for junior high/middle school age young ladies (9 -13) who desire to emulate Zeta’s ideals.” Facilitators of the program provide opportunities for the young ladies to “learn about themselves, help others and internalize qualities that will make them good students and community citizens.” They meet monthly via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having previously served as president of the Amicettes, Taniya said she looks forward to going to high school next year and advancing to an Archonette, the classification for young women in the high school age group. She said she loves it because of the people in the program and the service activities that they’re involved in. “Personally it’s my favorite because I get to give back

to people and it encourages me to be a better person,” she said. Her supervisor in the Youth Auxiliary, Shareen Baptiste, fondly described Taniya as a reliable, engaged young lady. Baptiste also serves on the Board of Directors for Dream on Purpose, an empowerment organization for young girls. “Taniya even comes to Dream on Purpose events, prepared and ready to take notes,”

Baptiste wrote. “You can always count on her to ask for the PowerPoint afterwards. You can always count on her!” Taniya is charting her own path as a role model for her peers and she’s only getting started as she aspires to become a lawyer or doctor, something that would allow her to help a lot of people. “It just brings a lot of joy into my heart and I love it.” gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Arthur Dawson

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Arthur Dawson

Arthur

DAWSON Story By:

Annissa Brockington

ave you ever heard the proverbial phrase, when life serves you lemons, make lemonade? Anyone who has pushed through life’s challenges with a get-erdone attitude, can relate. This optimistic approach to managing one’s reality was adopted at the ripe age of seven for Arthur L. Dawson— Founder and President of Contemporary Masters, Inc. Art Gallery & Studio. Dawson’s pathway to harnessing his gift began with a keen awareness of his family’s financial state as a young boy. And using art, as a means to create things that his family could not afford, was just the beginning. In Dawson’s world, the everyday sock was used for far more than just to provide warmth and comfort to one’s toes. His socks could be transformed into interactive puppets, and assuming the role as a Superhero was easy when you possessed the skillset to create your own customized comic books.

For Dawson, “Art had a purpose.” Yet, the world would not experience the works of Dawson as a youth. Instead, he would take part in the “normal” activities of a teen by participating in extracurricular activities such as basketball, football, and track. After completing Wakula High, Dawson enlisted into the United States Army where he faithfully served his country for six consecutive years. His years and experience within the Army would lead him to securing employment with the Department of Corrections (DOC) where he served as a Corrections Officer. After a brief stint with the DOC, Dawson would transition to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Never losing sight of his true-heart’s desire, Dawson would initially work as a Crime Scene Investigator—but ultimately land in the place where his artistic talent would be maximized as a Forensics Artist. After graduating at the top of class within the Department of Law Enforcement’s Art Academy, Dawson would be called upon to demonstrate his

skillset within the four main disciplines in the field of Forensic Art: Composite Art or Imagery (sketch artist), Facial Reconstruction, Age Progression, and Demonstrative Evidence. The time had come for Dawson to shed all external distractions and immerse himself into his purpose- “...creating something from nothing”. Dawson’s belief that there is so much education in the fabric of every stroke, is abundantly clear. His colored pencils and brushstrokes of education would range from his series of work on the Buffalo Soldiers, to his unveiling of the Tuskegee Airmen in bronze. Nature versus nurture? Dawson would proclaim it to be nature, but takes pride in his journey to nurturing his God-given talent as an artist. Unlike other artists, Dawson’s multifaceted innateness would enable him to produce pieces across a variety of art genres (e.g., visual arts, literary arts, etc.) resulting in no signature for which he will accept. Many would agree that Dawson speaks several languages within the art world. “At

AT THE END OF THE DAY, A CLEAR MESSAGE MUST BE IN THE WORK. ART IS A LIVING THING THAT POSSESSES YOU. WHEN IT DOES, YOU BEGIN TO CREATE. -Arthur Dawson

the end of the day, a clear message must be in the work. Art is a living thing that possesses you. When it does, you begin to create.” It’s indisputable that Arthur Dawson’s work will continue to speak to us for decades that follow, each piece finding its way to its rightful owner. If the present and future works of Dawson teaches us nothing else, it demonstrates that when we let go of worldly depictions of self, we increase our ability to experience and share the raw gifts that we each innately possess. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Satori Days

WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY PURPOSE, THERE’S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT IT IS CENTERED AROUND HELPING OTHERS TO NOT ONLY DO BETTER, BUT BE BETTER. -Satori Days

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Satori Days

Satori

Days

Story By:

Annissa Brockington

y mother always said, never judge a book by its cover. And never has a saying rang more true, than in the case of Satori Days. At a mere 5 feet 4 inches tall (with heels), she continues to be a force to be reckoned with as the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners Community Stabilization Program Manager. Although Satori initially imagined herself pursuing a career within the hospitality industry, she quickly learned that a paycheck, without passion, is just that—— a paycheck. Born and raised in Archer, Florida, Satori Days spent the first few years of her professional career learning the fundamental skill of how to serve others. Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Bethune-Cookman University, Days would immediately put her degree to use as a Concierge Agent and Recreation Coordinator within the hospitality industry. She credits much of her current success to a village of mentors who corralled around her as she navigated through the

stages of life. Their lessons ranged from helping her understand what it means to be a community advocate, to recognizing that good leaders provide opportunities for others to lead. It was through these timely life lessons that Days discovered the tenacity to get back up, when life knocked her down. “I asked questions that everyone else was afraid to ask, and learned to be okay with wearing leadership shoes, without always being recognized as the leader in the room.”

The endurance to push through in spite of outside noise, enabled Satori to earn her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Georgia College & State University. She takes pride in sharing that she was able to accomplish this goal—debt free. “The goal I set for myself was two-fold: invest in something that would offer a personal and professional return, and acquire it without creating a long term liability.” Days believes that investing in self is one of the most valuable things a person can ever do. “You bring more value to those around you when you are in a place and space of fulfillment and peace.

You’re able to create programs and initiatives that are life-changing because they were birthed from an unimaginable level of passion, giving, and love.” This space has enabled Days to create and implement a number of impactful programs such as the series of Youth Money Management workshops, College Prep Seminars, and the County’s Foster Grandparent Program. With a portfolio that screams, I’m in it to make a difference, Days civic engagement has ranged from volunteer work within the City of Archer’s Cultural and Progressive Organization, to serving as an Advisory Board Member within the Davis Center of Santa Fe College. “If you want to know what resources are available in your community, just say the word. And if you call me and tell me that you have a goal that you want to accomplish, I will do everything within my power and authority to help you accomplish it.” So what’s next for Days? Well, if you listen intently you’ll faintly hear McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t no stopping us now” as Days prepares herself for the next levels of leader-

“I ASKED QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS AFRAID TO ASK, AND LEARNED TO BE OKAY WITH WEARING LEADERSHIP SHOES, WITHOUT ALWAYS BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE LEADER IN THE ROOM. -Satori Days

ship within local government. One thing is for certain Satori Days is on a mission to equip her community, and those she encounters with the power of knowledge. And in the words of Days, knowledge plus action, changes lives. “I will never pass up the opportunity to empower others to grow. When I think about my purpose, there’s no doubt in my mind that it is centered around helping others to not only do better, but be better. “ gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Ruelle Fludd

WE LOVE TO UPLIFT EACH OTHER AND COLLABORATE SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS TOGETHER AS A TEAM! -Ruelle Fludd

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Ruelle Fludd

Ruelle

Story By:

Fludd

Beth Herbert

Prior to being the weekend anchor, Ruelle started as a nightside reporter and worked with others who had been in the industry for over 30 years; working alongside them showed her the importance of networking, building relationships and being fearless, even though she felt intimidated at times. She did not expect to be accomplishing her dreams this early in her career, but she is incredibly grateful that these achievements have fallen into place so perfectly for her.

he Gainesville community has welcomed Ruelle Fludd in with open arms, which encourages her to be a leader, even at a young age. She is originally from the Bronx then lived in Miami prior to moving to Gainesville this past January 2020. Fludd expresses her love for her new, close-knit community in Gainesville and is grateful she is able to impact the people around her in so many ways. She is constantly looking for opportunities to invest herself into her community by highlighting stories that will be the most impactful to them. As a reporter and the weekend anchor for WCJB TV 20 at the age of 24, Fludd believes she has been so successful because of her alma mater, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). At FAMU, she graduated in broadcast journalism and received encouragement from her professor and mentor to pursue a career as a reporter; her mentor showcased her talents and helped her land the position when the job

achieve their goals together as a team!”, acclaims Ruelle.

opportunity arose. As the weekend anchor, she is not only in charge of leading her team to complete the weekend show, but she is also the “face” of the show and ensures that it remains relatable, conversational and picture perfect for the audience. She has been working in her role for a year

and loves her station, workplace culture, and opportunities to have a voice in the newsroom. Her colleagues are some of her greatest supporters: when she was applying for the role as the weekend anchor, they mentored and poured blessings and prayers into her. “We love to uplift each other and collaborate so that we can

Though, like all leaders, she faces challenges at times, Ruelle is proud to have the opportunity to give back to her community and stick by their side. Hard work pays off, but so does being genuine and respectful to others; in her field, she occasionally faces apathetic and critical people, but she holds steadfast to her goals and morals so they do not change her heart. She is thankful for Gainesville and glad to be living in this moment, with hopes to impact her community for years to come. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Dawn Girtman

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Dawn Girtman

Dawn

Girtman Story By:

Beth Hebert

awn Girtman, a self taught floral designer and event decorator in the Gainesville area, did not have the most traditional upbringing, but through hard work, dedication and putting her all into her artistic gifts, she has been able to excel in her business and become a role model for aspiring event decorators and designers nationwide. She began working at a local craft store when she was 19, where she learned how to make wedding and floral designs. She quickly discovered that this was her passion, and her loved ones pushed her to start her own business and design for herself. She worked part-time for the first 5 years of her career, then, as business began to boom in 2005, she started working for herself full-time and has been living her dreams ever since. As a teenager, Dawn was in the foster care system and became

pregnant at the age of 16; there were people who did not think she would be successful, but she found loved ones in the system who took her under their wings, taught her forgiveness, and believed in her dreams. While in school, she would enter into poetry contests and take art and creative writing classes. She completed two years of college, and then decided to leave school because she had two young kids to take care of and they needed more income. When Dawn started her business, decorators around her were mainly designing as a hobby rather than a career, and there were not many minority leaders in the world of event decorating. She had to attend conventions across the country to teach herself how to be a better decorator and keep up with different design trends, which led to her becoming a certified balloon artist. With all of the experience she has acquired over the years, she now

serves as a decorating leader. Those who decorate as a hobby or aspire to open a decorating business can call on her for advice. She recognizes herself as a leader now and feels proud knowing that she can help others in her field so that they do not have to teach themselves or go down this difficult career path alone, like she had to over 20 years ago. She has achieved many great accomplishments to date, but her proudest moment was when she won two international balloon competition awards in 2007, making her internationally known. Additionally, she feels accomplished whenever she is able to teach others; she has been featured on the morning show in Jacksonville and on TV20 to showcase her talents. Because most of her clients are corporate based, she finds that it is occasionally challenging to be a minority leader in this business. It has taken her many years to establish her reputation around the

Gainesville area, so she always tries to put her best face forward and exceed all expectations in order to change any negative connotations that surround minority business owners. Though there are many other decorators in the area now, she does not see them as competition; she aspires to be a resource for up and coming decorators and, in 2022, hopes to teach more oneon-one classes with artists who want to increase their knowledge in this field. Finally, she urges young professionals to seek help from experts in the fields they are interested in, not to be intimidated, and to never give up on your dreams, especially when God has given you a gift and talent -- He will always make a way for you. Her past experiences have helped her see that we are not meant to go through life alone: surround yourself with those who uplift your dreams, strengthen your weaknesses, and help you improve upon your gifts each day. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Jacqueline Graham-Williams

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Jacqueline Graham-Williams

Jacqueline

Graham-Williams Story By:

Beth Hebert

acquelyn GrahamWilliams has always been known for her leadership and ability to teach others; she argues that it takes a servant’s heart to be a good leader, and to fulfill a leadership role requires one to know how to be led. Growing up, Jacquelyn was led by many influential members in her community to help her become the best version of herself. Because she was embraced and encouraged by these leaders, she has gained the confidence to show other kids their potential by tapping into their raw talent. Jacquelyn grew up surrounded by iron; she was the student body president at Eastside High School, so her circle of friends were always very hardworking and driven. She and her classmates pushed each other academically, encouraging one another to apply for scholarships and pursue their dreams. Many of her teachers were members of the Zeta Phi Beta National Sorority, so they also exhibited and instilled the values of excellence, poise, leadership and intel-

ligence into Graham-Williams and her classmates. She has a strong connection with her community and continues to find comfort in them, the theater and the arts. Though she faced many hardships growing up in a home that was stressful and unsupportive at times, it caused her to be humble and has sparked a desire to give back to her community and be a positive figure in Gainesville. Like the teachers and community leaders who helped uplift her, Jacquelyn is returning to her hometown with the hopes of spreading her knowledge of the theater and arts to aspiring young performers. Her talent and lovability

provided her opportunities to showcase her gifts at prestigious events at Alabama State -- her undergraduate alma mater. After earning her graduate degree from the University of Florida, Graham-Williams moved to New Jersey -- in the hopes of performing on Broadway. Due to the effects of COVID-19, she feels drawn to be closer to home and has return to the Gainesville area. Today, she is living her dreams of working with the city of Gainesville and is a community leader, but she would not be where she is today without the help of her colleagues, classmates and teachers from her childhood. She has worked on a

number of performing arts programs since deciding to return to Gainesville, including a Juneteenth concert at the Hippodrome Theater. She has also helped lead an intensive musical theater program tailored to help train middle and high school students, making them audition ready for theater programs and performances. People were amazed by how hard they pushed the students, but Jacquelyn has always valued pressure and raising the bar; though these students were deeply talented and had been applauded on their abilities, she wanted to push them further, as she believes there is always room for improvement. To Graham-Williams, being a great leader requires one to be fearless, to push through whatever you may be afraid of, and to learn to collaborate with others. She encourages other leaders to go after their dreams, step out on faith and dream big. She has returned home to accomplish this herself by giving back to the community that raised her, with the hopes to continue to entertain, teach and be a voice for her community. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Ebony Hayes

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Ebony Hayes

Ebony

HAYES Story By:

Beth Hebert

eadership comes in many different forms; for some, those qualities are brought out at a young age. Ebony Hayes, the CEO and founder of Ebunny Creations, is a great example of this. Hayes is currently in the 7th grade and attends P.K. Yonge in Gainesville, Florida. Two years ago, with help from her mother, Hayes started her candle making business and, most recently, launched her website, ebunnycreations. com. When Hayes first began making candles, she and her mother created them as a hobby. They started going to vintage markets to sell their candles each month and, as popularity grew, they developed their website to reach a broader community. Over the past years, they have sold and made over 200 candles, utilizing a small area in their house as a workshop, and their business continues to grow. Each week, Hayes orga-

nizes and works on her goal to make at least 50 candles a week, so that she can continue to serve her customers. Because her candles have become more popular, she has been able to expand her distribution beyond the vintage markets; now, they are currently being sold at Renew Facial Spa in Gainesville, as well. Though Hayes faced some adversity at the start of her career, her mom has helped motivate her to keep her business up and running by encouraging her to push through any challenges she faces each day. Though Ebunny Creations is one her greatest accomplishments, Hayes is also accomplishing many other things outside of her business. Currently, she is a member of the Feminist Club, Book Club and National Junior Honor Society at P.K. Yonge. Additionally, she continues to excel in her schoolwork, stating that Math and English are her favorite subjects. Though she has many years to go, she dreams of going to Spelman College with the hopes of majoring in business or eventually attend-

ing law school. Ultimately, Hayes desires to accomplish whatever she can to make herself and others feel good. The sky’s the limit for Ebony Hayes and her business! In the future, she hopes to continue to expand her brand and sell her products on a wider scale. She has considered making T-Shirts and scented soaps so that she can sell them on her website and at the markets, as well. As her business continues to grow, she hopes to add a few more employees to her current team so that they can create and sell more products. Though she is young, her leadership qualities and maturity levels are unmatched. She is an inspiration to her community, and encourages other young professionals to pursue their dreams. She leaves readers with this advice: “Sometimes you may feel like you want to give up because your dream isn’t as rewarding as something else, but in the hardest moments you can find the greatest treasures. There will always be something around the corner.”

SOMETIMES YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO GIVE UP BECAUSE YOUR DREAM ISN’T AS REWARDING AS SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IN THE HARDEST MOMENTS YOU CAN FIND THE GREATEST TREASURES. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING AROUND THE CORNER. -Ebony Hayes

gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Travis Highlands

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Travis Highlands

Travis

Highlands Story By:

Beth Hebert

urrounding yourself with leaders and positive influences will not only directly impact your personal development, but tends to take you down a path of leadership as well. Travis Highland was born and raised in Gainesville; while he was enrolled in middle and high school, he participated in the Reichert House after school program. The program, which was sponsored by the Chief of Police, Tony Jones, was designed to help at-risk males transition into adulthood. Highland was adopted as a baby, so being able to look up to community leaders has helped his leadership qualities flourish over time. Upon graduating high school, Highland attended Florida Memorial University then came back to the Gainesville area to finish his studies at the University of Florida. He currently serves as an Operations Specialist for Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Gainesville at the young age of 28. He has been in his current position for a year, overseeing the day to day operations like housekeeping

and maintenance, while managing six front desk agents; he ensures all of his agents perform under Marriott guidelines and strives to lead them to be the best they can be each day, both in the eyes of the company and their guests. Because this is a new role for Travis, he finds that his greatest challenge is trying to live up to his predecessor, as Highland started working as a full-time manager with very little experience. Though he had gone through extensive training prior to accepting this position, he is still learning how to do the day to day operations the Marriott way; he describes that what they taught him in training is often very different to what he has to put into practice when issues arise; he must be flexible so that he is meeting the needs of every guest while keeping the needs of his team members in mind. Nevertheless, Highland loves what he does and cannot complain; he feels proud and blessed knowing he has found what he wants to do in life at a young age. He has goals set in place to help him transition from the Operations role to higher positions like Director of Sales or becom-

ing a General Manager. Ultimately, he is grateful that his current bosses have trusted him in this position and is excited to be the face for Marriott; he is able to represent his team at corporate conferences and charity occasions, and loves the leadership opportunities that have come his way. Travis believes he has achieved what he has accomplished today not because it was given but because he worked

hard for it and showed his tenacity, endurance, and dedication. He encourages future leaders to work hard -- despite any outside influences -- and opportunities will come your way, but only if you show you have what it takes. Additionally, because of his strong faith, he lives by the ideal that if you stay with God, He will stay with you. He is in this position and thriving today because of his positive mindset, energy, and a smile that never leaves his face! gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Daniel Jerkins

SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY TO ASSURE THAT EVERYONE RECEIVES EQUAL TREATMENT IS PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT TO ME. EQUAL TREATMENT IMPLIES EQUITY, AND THAT’S THE GOAL TO WHICH WE IN THE NAACP DEDICATE OURSELVES. -Daniel Jerkins

Daniel Jerkins 36

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Daniel Jerkins

Story By:

BETH HERBERT

hen your passion becomes your profession, it no longer feels like a job, and leadership tends to flow naturally. Daniel Jerkins, disc jockey (DJ) and owner of FLA Hip Hop Radio, can attest to this statement, as he has been able to turn his hobby and passion of listening and talking about Hip-Hop, Rap, local news, and community issues into his career. Jerkins started out in radio in 2019, where he briefly worked for WGOT 100.1 so that he could see what it would take to start his own radio station. He learned that business is shaped by personal characteristics, so he used his entrepreneur mentality, leadership skills and connections in

the world of radio to help make his dreams become his reality. After working fulltime jobs to save and increase his finances, he took everything he learned from other DJs and decided to test out being his own boss by starting a radio station. He encourages all aspiring, young professionals to learn from his journey and put your all into whatever you are passionate about: you never know what pathways it can lead you down. Jerkins has always had a hardworking spirit and continues to push himself each day to achieve his goals. He credits the late Akeem “DJ Terrah” Thompson for believing in him and introducing him into the world of radio. DJ Terrah was one of his greatest influences and helped kick start his career, without him, Jerkins would not be where he is

today. Jerkins takes pride in all that he has accomplished thus far and continues to strive for excellence for himself, and especially for his family. Outside of his radio career, Jerkins is also a full-time journalism student and is eager to see what opportunities come his way upon graduating this Spring. Additionally, he describes his mother and father as leaders and great parents. He strives to exemplify his mother and father’s leadership as he navigates parenthood, hoping to improve his performance daily so that he can provide his children with the best opportunities possible. Today, he is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Gainesville community and people around the state through his radio platform.

He advises readers and listeners to believe in themselves and not be afraid to try or to fail. His passion for the culture of hip-hop transformed his life and is now his profession. Though it is his “job” he does not consider it work, as he would do this all for free. Find what you are passionate about and try to make it your career so that your personal characteristics can shape your business. Keep striving for excellence and never give up, but do not be afraid to start from the bottom and ask others for help when the need arises. Jerkins’ mentors were instrumental in getting him where he is today. By absorbing all they offered and taught him, Jerkins has reached heights in his career and refuses to quit until he has fulfilled all of his dreams.

gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

LaTorria Johnson

LaTorria

Johnson Story By:

Beth herbert

aTorria Johnson strives for excellence in all aspects of her life, and encourages her students and future leaders to have the same mindset. Having grown up in Alachua County, she considers herself a Super Gator, as she was educated there from her time in daycare to earning her bachelor’s degree in biology. At the University of Florida, she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which has shaped her into who she is today; having guidance and support from her sorority sisters helped her achieve her goals through their exemplification of leadership. She began her career in education at Howard Bishop Middle School as a math teacher in 2013, and now serves as the assistant principal of Stephen Foster Elementary School. Equity is a value that is not only important to Johnson, but one that has also

driven her throughout her career in education. While at Howard Bishop, Johnson taught math classes in the traditional program where most of the students were in drop-out prevention and a majority of them were at a disadvantage, being one to two years behind academically. Though she worked with students who had these disadvantages or disabilities and took on this role knowing it would be a challenge, she did not lower her standards of excellence for them, despite their circumstances. With her tenacity and refusal to give up on her students—nor let them give up on themselves—she was able to help them earn passing scores. She takes pride in Howard Bishop because of how she was able to change the students’ lives. Some of them, who were told they would not succeed, were able to get into AP and magnet programs, because of her high ex-

pectations and their hard work. She wholeheartedly believes in working hard and refusing to accept anything less than mastery, she has changed the trajectory of many students’ paths. Johnson has accomplished many achievements over her career, including receiving letters from the governor recognizing her as a high impact teacher, but her journey to success was not easy. She would continually work overtime in order to support her students in the Traditional Program, so it was no surprise when her administration came to her in her fourth year of teaching to move her into the Magnet Program. She accepted the assignment with a vision to improve the program and make it equitable and welcoming for all students. This mindset helped open the doors for her to serve as Differentiated Instruction Professional

Development Specialist in the public school system. Her role required a collaboration between district stakeholders, school leaders, classroom teachers, and students and families to support the needs of all learners. By holding onto her beliefs and dedicating herself to find a way to bring about change, she has used her passions to push herself and other leaders around her forward, providing teachers with tools to help educate and encourage their students to achieve their goals. Today, she continues to impact her students, parents and teachers at Stephen Foster as their assistant principal. Her husband, family, memory of her father and her Gainesville Community continue to give her the support and motivation she needs to keep being a positive influence and role model in the school system. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Zola Johnson

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Zola Johnson

Zola

Johnson Story By:

beth herbert

aring, nurturing and loving to all, Zola Simmons Johnson has been an icon and neighborhood matriarch in the Gainesville community for decades. Her sweet spirit, combined with her dedication and love for the Lord, gives her the strength to take on each day and continue to be a motherly figure to everyone she meets. Unlike most leaders who are highlighted in SYNERGY Magazine, Johnson is not a leader in the professional world, but has been a mother, grandmother, auntie and sister to so many people amongst Gainesville’s Black culture and church scene for decades. She was born and raised in the rural side of Gainesville on a farm with 40 acres of land; she is the second oldest of 10 children, and she and her siblings were raised in a church going home with parents who instilled values of hard work and gratitude. Though her family was less fortunate

when she was growing up, her parents still provided for her and her siblings, keeping them in school and church, even if they had to go barefoot! She moved to Gainesville proper after getting married and has lived there for almost all of her adult life; over the years, she worked many odd jobs -- from cooking, to baking, to owning a shoe store in Gainesville. Since retiring, she has had a chance to travel all over Gainesville and touch the lives of so many people in her community. She loves the Lord and allows His spirit to guide her footsteps each day, which is why she believes she is able to build such strong, loving relationships with others. As an active member of her church, she serves as an usher, and also visits those who are sick and shut-in, either in their homes or in the hospital. Recently, covid has made doing this more difficult, but she believes it is her calling to care for the sick and shut-in, so if she cannot visit them in person, she will make frequent calls for

hours to ensure that they all feel loved. She finds the strength to be such an impactful community leader because of her desire to share how great the Lord has been in her life; not only has He helped cure her from cancer, but His word has helped her get through losing loved ones, dealing with adversity, and overcoming all of life’s obstacles. At the age of 87, she is so appreciative and happy for everything that has come her way, and her smile never wavers. Though she has made such an impact on the Gainesville community, she does not consider herself a “community leader,” per se. When she is called by Him to serve, she answers; whatever she sees in her community that she feels needs to be done, she does it without needing to be asked or recognized for her actions. She simply wants to help everyone have and be their best. If there is ever a situation where she feels unsure, she never deals in worry but only in faith in God; as she believes in the power

of praying to God when challenging situations arise, and accepting whatever outcome He allows. As her community relies on her, she relies on her community and family for help as well, and asks them for prayers and to call out her name anytime. She is so grateful for such a rich community behind her and expresses her love to everyone she comes in contact with, including myself as I interviewed her for this article! She encourages everyone reading this to turn a deaf ear to negativity and foolishness; let all of it go and keep doing what you believe in your heart is right, in your job, home, and family. She believes that to love God she must first love others, and encourages readers to also internalize this value; as long as she has Jesus on her side, she has everything she needs. She keeps smiling each day knowing that He is walking with her and will continue touching lives in the Gainesville community, from the youngest to the oldest. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Gainesville Housing Authority

Creates More Affordable Housing in the City of Gainesville According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition: In the state of Florida, there are only 28 affordable rental units that exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) is committed to closing this housing gap for Gainesville residents by managing and developing new affordable housing opportunities. This commitment was outlined in the agency’s most recent strategic planning session for the 2020-2025 Business Plan. In the strategic plan, the Board of Directors tasked GHA with creating at least 500 additional affordable housing opportunities by 2025. At just two years into the execution of the strategic plan, GHA has already added 207 affordable units to the agency’s portfolio. These affordable housing units include obtaining additional vouchers through HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program, and acquiring, or developing new properties. In 2021, GHA put their commitment into action through partnerships with City of Gainesville, private real estate developers and with collaboration from the Gainesville Housing Management Development Corporation (GHDMC) – GHA’s real estate development nonprofit. These projects included the construction of a new duplex, the completion of a modular home con-

struction project, and secured a long-term agreement which creates city’s first-ever voluntary inclusion of affordable housing in a proposed mixed-use development.

GHA and GHDMC Add Two New Affordable Housing Units for the Elderly and Disabled through Construction of New Duplex In August 2021, GHA and GHDMC began construction on a new two-bedroom/two-bathroom duplex. These units were designed to make affordable housing units more accessible will provide affordable low-income elderly, disabled or veteran families. Construction of the duplex is expected to be completed in January 2022. When this project is completed, it will be the fourth and fifth brand new affordable housing units developed by GHDMC since 2020.

and multifamily developer, to build affordable housing in a proposed mixed-use development. The new 10-story, 280,000 - sq- ft mixed- use development will be located just blocks from the University of Florida. Plans for the development currently includes 151 housing units, structured parking, commercial space, and an enhanced urban pedestrian streetscape.

TRIO at Lincoln Heights Ribbon Cutting In September 2021, GHA officially completed construction of three modular home new construction project, called the TRIO at North Lincoln Heights. Each modular unit is a two-bedroom/two-bathroom handicap accessible unit. included the construction of three modular units that will provide affordable housing to low-income elderly, or disabled residents. Funding for the project was a collaborative effort between GHA, GHDMC, the City of Gainesville and the Alachua County Board of Commissioners. •

City of Gainesville – donated the vacant lot, where the three homes were built. The city also has granted $15,100 from their HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs funds. •

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Alachua County – contributed $150,000 from their State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP). •

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The objective of the HOME Program is to develop a viable urban community by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate income.

SHIP creates partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing to serve very low-, low- and moderate- income families.

GHDMC – as an instrumentality of GHA contributed $273,500.

GHA Partners with City of Gainesville for the city’s first-ever voluntary inclusion of affordable housing in a proposed mixeduse development In October 2021, the Gainesville Housing Authority announced a partnership with the City of Gainesville and Lincoln Ventures, an Austin-based student housing

“The need for affordable housing in Gainesville is crucial to the livelihood of the city’s workforce,” said Pamela Davis, CEO of the Gainesville Housing Authority. “As the city continues to evolve, and new developments are constructed – this agreement will ensure that there are still some low-income housing opportunities available for Gainesville’s workforce, who otherwise may be priced out. We appreciate the City of Gainesville’s commitment to affordable housing, and we look forward to similar partnerships with real estate investors, like Lincoln Ventures. Through the agreement, the planned development will provide a minimum of 15 two-bedroom housing units or 10 percent of the total constructed units as affordable, low-income housing in perpetuity. The affordable housing units will be rented at an affordable housing rate to qualified applicants who must be considered a lowincome household as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Area Median Income (AMI) limits. The AMI limits for this development range from 50 percent to 80 percent of Gainesville’s AMI. The calculation will include adjustments for families of different sizes. The Gainesville Housing Authority will approve these applicants and provide subsidy vouchers to support the participants’ rent.

More about the Gainesville Housing Authority The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) was established in 1966 by the Charter of the City of Gainesville. GHA provides housing opportunities to 4,455 residents, including 600 children in the City of Gainesville. GHA operates over 2,100 affordable housing units and administers more than 1,500 Housing Choice Vouchers. The agency also provides a wide array of supportive services to its residents and was awarded the highly coveted Jobs Plus grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2019. In addition, GHA formed a non-profit, the Gainesville Housing Development and Management Corporation (GHDMC) in 2014 to “provide, develop and manage affordable housing opportunities and properties for low- and moderate-income persons and/or families”.

Boderick Johnson

Boderick

johnson Story By:

beth herbert

orn and raised in Gainesville, Boderick Johnson has served his community for decades and continues to be a mentor for many adolescents today. After achieving one of his greatest accomplishments of earning his degrees in criminal justice and social work from Florida A&M University (FAMU), one of Johnson’s first leadership roles began when he started working for the Department of Juvenile Justice. With the Department, he was able to help create positive change in the juveniles’ lives by helping them get involved with their community and develop better lifestyle habits. His affinity towards working with adolescents, has led him to become a Prevention Specialist, a role he has been serving in for three years. Aside from his professional career, Johnson has coached basket-

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ball in various capacities for many years. He has coached students from P.K. Yonge -- where, in 2012, he was able to lead and witness his daughters win a high school championship as their assistant coach -- all the way up to the collegiate level at Palm Beach Atlantic University. After coaching in Palm Beach, he returned to Gainesville and has been the head coach for the boys basketball program at P.K. Yonge since 2018. Johnson also serves in leadership roles through both of his alma maters, FAMU and Gainesville High School. Johnson is currently the president of the Alachua County Alumni Chapter for FAMU. At Gainesville High School, he leads a group called Hurricane Happening which strives to serve and inspire the adolescent community by organizing

events such as backpack drives, Thanksgiving baskets, and special gifts like movie tickets. Similarly, he serves as an officer for the Gainesville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Guide Right program, which provides mentorship and guidance to male high school students. In both his professional and personal life, Johnson is able to change and shape the lives of children in his community which truly gives him a sense of great satisfaction and accomplishment each day. Johnson credits positive influences from his mother, and mentor, Clarence Mills, have given him the courage to be a leader. He urges young, Black professionals to stay steadfast in their goals and in their vision for themselves. “Though challenges may create roadblocks in your path, learn to persevere and fight

through them.” Whenever he is faced with challenges, he pushes through by setting goals and believing that leadership is in his blood. He continues to have tough skin and stays strong in his ideals regardless of any adversity he faces by holding onto his vision, but recognizes that being a leader requires him to be flexible. Over the years, Johnson’s ideals, as well as his personal and spiritual foundations, have grown stronger, which have helped his professional career grow as well. Ultimately, his affinity towards adolescents in his community, motivates him to continue to be a leader to the Gainesville area. Each day, he strives to teach this message to everyone he encounters: accomplish your goals, do not lower the bar, and set high standards. Everything is doable.

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Shari

Shari jones

Jones I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LIVES OF THOSE I TOUCH CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. -Shari Jones

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Shari jones

Story By:

Kimberly Reveil

hari Jones is known as a visionary in the social services community of North Central Florida. While working at Alachua County Sheriff’s Office she played a major role in implementing the Inmate Transition Program providing therapy for cognitive behavior, substance abuse, and employability skills for inmates reentering society. As a counselor with The Department of Children and Families she used her skills to help stabilize homes and keep children with their parents. Local veterans found suitable housing, medical care, financial assistance and job placement during her time at Family Endeavors. And most recently, her team and clients at Family Promise benefit from her heart and hand as she serves as

Director of Operations and Lead Case Manager. This “visionary’s” gift of foresight led her team to surpass a ninety percent success rate for the past five years. Meaning, over ninety percent of families in the organization’s programs have sustained stable housing for at least one year. When asked how she creates effective plans to reach such a grande achievement she answered that her main focus is helping her clients overcome one major obstacle - poverty. “When studying my client’s different situations it was clear that everything goes back to defeating the cycle of poverty. If you can defeat poverty, you can defeat housing insecurity, education insecurity, and job insecurity,” she shared. Shari has dedicated her life to empowering people and communities. Many would be surprised to know

she earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Law but forsook a law career in exchange for grassroots social change. “I realized by the time I became a lawyer and these cases came across my desk, it would be too late. I’ve been successful because I was following my truth. Doors will open for everyone who does the same,” she explained.

With resolve to her core values of education and financial freedom, she recruits students to Grow with Google programs, allowing them to gain certificates that enable an immediate break in the cycle of poverty. Along with that, Shari is a member of Newberry Opioid Task Force and the Prevention Subcommittee of North Central Florida Task Force.

The decision to live in her truth has set the trajectory of her career. In partnership with local organizations she pushes initiatives like Mindfulness for Kids and Photovoice, giving children an opportunity to express their feelings creatively and without judgment. Also, Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.), comprehensive courses that provide awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and hands-on defense training against sexual predators.

She encourages those going through a rough patch to view their obstacles as opportunities and believe there is nothing you can’t overcome. For neighbors desiring to become more involved she advises to take cues from your community, then you’ll know where to start. Besides truth, legacy is an anchor for Shari and a filter through which she makes decisions. “I want to make sure the lives of those I touch change for the better,” she said.

gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Chase Knight

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Chase Knight

Chase

Knight Story By:

beth herbert

elf awareness, evaluating and staying sharp are key to one’s personal and professional development; Chase Knight uses these tools each day to motivate himself to continue achieving his career goals -- for himself and his family. Chase was born and raised in Jamaica in a small, rural, farming and agricultural town. Though it is uncommon for people in his hometown to move out of the country, Chase’s parents instilled values of education and excellence in him from an early age. They were intent on ensuring he had tough qualities and access to education, so that his eyes would be open to the world outside of their environment. After graduating high school in Jamaica, Chase decided to move to the United States and attend Florida A&M University. Though he graduated in 2008 with his Bachelor’s

of Science in Chemical Engineering, he struggled to find immediate employment, as it was not only difficult to find work as an international student, but he had also graduated during an economic recession. These factors influenced his decision to attend Florida State University to earn his doctorate degree in industrial engineering, which kick-started his professional career with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) in Gainesville as an engineering specialist. He was with the DOT for over 8 years and was able to grow, develop and learn more through his experiences in his leadership position; because he is goal oriented and continually aims to pursue greater challenges to further his career, he recently shifted his career path from working with the state to the Public Works Engineering Department for the city of Gainesville. In his new role, he is able to manage projects for the city, like new roadway developments

and improvements, and is an integral component for his team as he uses his skills to create each concept, design and construction for the projects. As with all new roles, there are challenges and learning curves one must overcome, like shifts in responsibilities and figuring out what needs to be done each day in order for he and his teammates to accomplish their goals. Learning and developing is something he has been doing his entire career and he uses his strong religious foundation to help him push through these challenges whenever they cross his path. He also expresses that his father was one of his greatest role models, and his memory continues to motivate Chase to be his best self; his dad was always tenacious and never gave up when he faced a challenge, so Chase thinks of him when roadblocks interfere with his goals, never giving up until he finds the resources he needs to

overcome any obstacles. Chase firmly believes in the values of learning and developing; it is convenient to be complacent, but it is more beneficial to strive to push yourself further each day. He believes he is able to grow in his career because he sets goals on a continuous basis; goal setting is vital for his personal and professional growth because it prevents him from moving backwards. He uses goal setting to evaluate his current position so he can recognize where wants to be and where he may be headed, ensuring he is always moving forwards in life. He hopes to pass these lessons he learned from his parents and past experiences down to other leaders. Though his immediate family still lives in Jamaica, he is grateful to his wife for being his greatest supporter and hopes that he will be able to mirror all that his father taught him to his own children and future generations one day. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Sophie Lancaster

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Sophie Lancaster

Sophie

Lancaster Story By:

beth herbert

ophie Lancaster’s diverse background and experiences have not only shaped her into the leader she is today, but they have also helped her positively impact the lives of many people in her community today and for generations to come. Sophie was born in Zimbabwe and had the opportunity to travel to and live in many different countries, as her father was an entrepreneur and her mother was a diplomat. She studied International Trade at Georgia Southern University and, since she attended high school in Japan, she minored in Japanese as well. After moving to the Gainesville area in 2003, she began working as a wealth manager. She was fortunate to have been exposed to the business of financial planning at a young age and has made it her goal to share this knowledge by advising people on the best ways to create wealth and maintain it, especially

those who would not have had access to these tools. With her passion in mind, she worked for a financial services consulting company in order to gain insight into what it takes to run a firm so that, in 2009, she could start her own firm in Gainesville. Sophie has made it her goal to empower individuals with information, resources and tools to gain financial independence so that they can build wealth that can be passed down for generations. Not only does she help people restructure their budget and finances to improve their credit, but she also provides them with investment strategies to help grow their wealth. Ultimately, because her parents and past experiences exposed her to wealth management at an early age, her vision is to encourage everyone to invest and achieve wealth for a purpose; this vision gave her the inspiration to write her first book this year, Live for Purpose: A Journey to a Wealthy Place, which aspires to connect people to more than just a dollar figure by establishing a

reason to have money and give wealth. Outside of her career, Sophie is also an ordained, licensed minister; she is the Young Adult Ministry leader at her church, and her ministry, Activate, inspires others to activate the purpose that God has for them. She has mentored youth for almost 20 years and just transitioned to teaching young adults; she loves that, in every aspect of her life, she is able to help multiple families leave legacies by creating goals for themselves and establishing their own visions. Though it is not always easy being a leader, Sophie finds that goal setting helps her stay on the path that God has set her on, which continues to give her the courage to be a leader. Sophie Lancaster’s greatest motivation to be a leader lies in seeing potential in others; her desire to help others reach their fullest potential and the pride she feels when they reach their goals fills her with joy each day. She chose to lead her church’s Activate ministry because she saw sparks in the students.

Likewise, in her business, she recognizes that her clients have goals. Though it is challenging when her clients or students do not follow her guidance, she continues to have compassion for everyone she leads and advises other leaders to do the same. She encourages everyone, to continue to pursue their goals and, if roadblocks interfere, then “fail your way to success.” gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Wanda R Lloyd

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Wanda R Lloyd

Wanda R.

Lloyd

Story By:

beth herbert

anda Lloyd has been making her passion her purpose for life for many years as a teacher; recently she has found a way to combine her love for dance and helping students further their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Lloyd has been teaching for 24 years and is currently a 3rd grade teacher at Talbot Elementary in Gainesville. In 2014, she started taking dance classes as a hobby and form of exercise, but after a couple years it became her passion; she started being an adult dance instructor because, after teaching her students a dance for their graduation, the adults wanted to learn to dance, too! So, in 2016, she launched her own dance class for adults, Smooth Flava DanceGainesville. Around the same time, Lloyd had also been teaching at a science summer camp -- I Am STEM -- at Caring and Sharing Learning School. While at the camp, there were a few students who wanted

to complete the program but their parents could not fulfill the last weeks’ payments to keep the kids in the camp. King and Lloyd immediately worked to resolve this problem and brainstormed ways to prevent this from happening to other students in the future. Because of this issue, Lloyd decided that she wanted to donate the profits from her new dance program and turn it into a fundraiser so that more students could participate in the I Am STEM summer program.

Wanda loves the programs she leads and the positive impact it has had on her community; not only can she and the members of her dance class practice their hobby each day, but they are able to dance for a purpose. Her Smooth Flava Family are some of her greatest motivators today, but Lloyd also expressed that her grandmother, who passed away in 2008, has also been very influential in her life. With their love and support, and the memory of her grandmother, she has been set down a path that she never would have known about prior to starting her own dance classes.

She believes that she has been so blessed and has achieved her accomplishments today because Smooth Flava Dance is geared towards dancing for something so positive and impactful. She finds the courage to keep leading each day because of her love for dance and her desire to help and serve the children in her community, despite any roadblocks or financial shortcomings. Because of her passion, she has been able to attract other leaders who also want to help sup-

port this cause, making it a team journey; she hopes to keep this energy for years to come and expand her numbers to the maximum -- nationwide, if possible! She has traveled many places and made connections that have only helped her vision become more of a reality each day. She has been leading with a fiery passion ever since starting her career in education over 20 years ago, and she continues to surround herself with leaders who keep that fire lit. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Ashley McClellan

I AM COMMITTED TO HELPING GIRLS NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND, BUT TO EMBRACE SELF-LOVE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT THESE GIRLS CANNOT DO OR BECOME. -Ashley McClellan

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Ashley McClellan

Ashley

McClellan Story By:

Annissa Brockington

ne of the most challenging aspects of an educator’s role is to know where to draw the line in the sand. By the very nature of the profession, an educator by default must wear a multitude of hats. They’re magicians in the most practical sense— able to transform into a medical provider with bandaids within reach at any given moment. And when emotions and meltdowns are on the horizon, tissues are merely a smock-pocket away and ears of compassion are always on standby. Teaching is not for the frail and weary. Yet, many still debate whether good teachers are born or made. One thing is certain, regardless of the journey taken, or path with which an educator enters, one cannot remain in the field without a sincere love and passion for those served. Mrs. Ashley McClellan, is among the hundreds and thousands of educators who have vowed to change the lives of what Lisa Delpit would coin as “other people’s children”. Far from the tra-

ditional route, Ashley would describe her pathway into education as pure destiny. She credits her natural inclination to help others to her father, who is a pastor. Her initial introduction to teaching began as a substitute while attending graduate school. It wasn’t long before others took notice of Ashley’s natural knack for teaching and connecting with students. Principals and teachers alike began recruiting Ashley for their long term teaching assignments. She admits that although outreach had always been a part of her life, teaching had not been a part of the original plan. It was clear however, that someone— much higher than herself— had a different plan in mind. Within twelve months, Ashley would fulfill the necessary requirements to obtain a Florida Teaching Certificate and shortly thereafter, be offered a full time position as a 3rd grade teacher with Stephen Foster Elementary School. Not realizing the extent of her reach, Ashley found herself, as so many educators do, uncovering those external challenges that impede or get in the way of a stu-

dent’s ability to maximize their potential. Ashley discovered that in many cases, girls appeared to face an entirely different host of challenges less experienced by boys. These observations led to her decision to begin a mentoring program for girls within her school. Embracing the philosophy that every child deserves a champion, the mentoring program provided girls with a platform to be themselves, as well as, a part of a community that could relate to their unique (but sometimes shared) experiences. “Students should never be judged based on the environments from which they come. I encourage my fellow teachers to research the neighborhoods where their students live. Seek to understand their story. Invest in their happy ending.” As the weeks passed, word about the mentoring program spread. Each month resulted in additional girls wanting to take part in this all girl championed community. So in 2019, Ashley officially launched the Concrete Rose Foundation, a Non-Profit Organization whose name symbolizes the tough backgrounds faced

THESE GIRLS HOLD THE KEYS TO OUR FUTURE. -Ashley McClellan

by the program participants and the beauty that still finds its way in spite of their circumstances. Girls who participate in the Foundation’s Programs not only receive tools that will assist them in navigating through life, but also exposure to unimaginable possibilities such as college. “These girls hold the keys to our future.” Ashley makes no apologies for her organization’s mission. “We cultivate a sense of self-worth and equality in adolescent, minority females, which in turn will afford them the same opportunities regardless of their environment and socio-economic status.” I am committed to helping girls not only understand, but to embrace self-love. I wholeheartedly believe that there is absolutely nothing that these girls cannot do or become.” gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Tedreyonce Moore

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Tedreyonce Moore

Tedreyonce

Moore

Story By:

beth herbert

edreyonce’ Moore learned the importance of being a leader at a young age, and the motivation and support she has received from her loved ones encourages her to be her best self and achieve her goals every day. She was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida and, while attending Eastside High School, she joined their TEDx program which enables students to speak their voices within the community and discuss many of the issues that are present in America today. Because she considers herself a normally shy and nervous person when it comes to public speaking, she did not immediately decide to join the club. With some motivation from her friends, she was able to find the confidence to attend some meetings and become a public speaker for TEDx. As a leader in her school and community, she has learned the importance of never allowing anyone to dim your light, including yourself; once you have discovered what you are passionate about, continue to strive for greatness. She quotes Seth Go-

din, who says, “Leadership is about creating change you believe in.” This program not only enhanced her communication skills and strengthened her inner voice, but also helped her discuss her younger sister’s battle with AML to a broader audience. Tedreyonce’s sister, Tionna, has had the largest impact on her journey to success, as she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rare type of blood cancer. six years ago. Despite the hurt and pain that she and her family faced at that time, they remained strong for Tionna. The perseverance, strength and faithfulness that her sister possesses each day has given her the power to believe in the impossible. Her greatest accomplishment so far has been her journey to complete high school with dual enrollment at Sante Fe College; today, she is an official college student at Santa Fe with the hopes of obtaining her Arts and Association degree, then transferring to the University of Florida. One important lesson that she would like to share with others is to not allow the fear of failure to impede you on your

journey to success. As a college student who has already experienced many hardships, she is discovering the importance of failing and learning from her mistakes and understanding herself better, as mistakes have the ability to mold and shape us through divine intentions. Even though failure hurts, it enables us to grow and improve as human beings. She believes that having endurance and making goals in life help you better understand the potential that you have within yourself. Her friends and family continue to encourage her to be a leader each day, even at a young age. They have always been there for her when she needs them most, giving her the

utmost support when her confidence wanes, reminding her to keep fighting to achieve her goals. As her loved ones encourage her, she encourages readers to never give up on life. Though there are times she feels depressed, unmotivated, or weak, she does not let these feelings steal her joy as she recognizes that they are a part of life and something everyone deals with. Although it may be easier said than done, she believes that this is a thought process that is helpful for everyone to implement into their lives; every morning you wake up, you are given the opportunity to take a stab at life as a leader which is an opportunity we should never take for granted or squander. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Providing Local Talent With A Place To Perform Impacting the community by providing a platform to showcase the gift and talents that reside within our area. Looking to connect and build strong partnerships with local businesses and organizations for continued support of the Theatre.

Rhonda Wilson

EXECUTIVE/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

STAR Center Theatre 11 NE 23rd Avenue Gainesville, FL 32609

www.starcentertheatre.org

Asley Pollas

Asley

Pollas Story By:

jennifer hunsaker

peaking with Asley Pollas for 20 minutes will make you believe in people again. His energy seems endless. His smile is infectious. But mostly, he is hopeful. In college, he failed his first semester, earning less than a 1.0 GPA. Since his on-campus job was dependent on his grades, he lost that, too. Pollas describes this moment in his life as his reckoning. “I took a break [from school] and realized that I needed to take control.” When he went back to school, he earned a 4.0 GPA. He developed a habit of working out, waking up early, eating better, reading more often, and listening to better music to reshape his outlook. It really worked. His own transformation informed his calling. He had to help young kids realize their own potential, espe-

cially those who are easily forgotten or dismissed. When he was 22, he worked as an advisor and had a caseload of 120 at-risk students. His goals revolved around helping them be successful in the classroom and making sure their home environments were set up to help them be successful. Pollas remembers one young woman who worked a lot and lived really far away from the school she was attending. Naturally, her grades started to suffer. She needed to attend school closer to home and Pollas needed to get her dad to fill out transfer papers. Her dad didn’t have a car to get to the school, so Pollas brought the paperwork to him. The young woman’s neighborhood would be described as rough. “Wasn’t sure what neighborhood I was going

into, but she was worth it.” With a mentor’s help, this young woman was able to graduate from high school. Another memorable afternoon was spent with a young man who got kicked out of his English class and was sent to Pollas. Pollas didn’t lecture him. Instead, they spent the afternoon listening to J. Cole’s recently released 4 Your Eyez Only. In every song, the young man heard his life and connected with someone who understood what it was like to live with an absentee father and in a violent neighborhood. Pollas recalls, “I didn’t need to say anything, J. Cole said it best.” Pollas has since founded the company Noble Sheep that helps kids and adults reflect excellence and reach their goals. They put together assessments to help people evaluate where they are and put

together a path to success. He travels all over the southeast inspiring and motivating young people. He met a young man while traveling and speaking in North Carolina. They exchanged numbers and this young man still reaches out to share his highs and lows or ask questions. “To see his willingness to have a man in his life who will invest in him sticks with me,” said Pollas. “He wants someone to celebrate with him and say ‘I see you. I’m proud of you.’” Perhaps that’s the secret to Pollas’s success. He sees the people he works with, not their report card or prior experiences. He sees their worth and God-given potential. One of Pollas’ favorite quotes to live by is “People will never forget how you made them feel.”, by Maya Angelou. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

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David Rountree

David

Rountree

Story By:

Staff Writer

ot many people answer when they are called to serve, but David Rountree has not only answered his call, but will continue to for years to come. Rountree moved to the Gainesville area in 2004 and started working in nonprofits as a student at the University of Florida to raise money for breast cancer research. Currently, he is the Director of Advancement for United Way-North Central Florida and works closely with the Director of Impact to better serve the community and ensure everyone has access to equitable tools and resources to be successful; their nonprofit focuses on youths in the community, education, health, financial advancements, and immediate needs -- like the effects of COVID-19. His parents have instilled in him the value of giving back to his community and, upon graduating, he has been using his skills in marketing, volunteering and fundraising in the nonprofit sector to help direct funds to serve the community. Rountree notes that, historically, older White men in the nonprofit sectors have led these organizations, despite the fact that the people they are serving do not usually look like them. With his leadership role, he is able to teach other individuals in the community what it means to serve on these boards, focusing on finding other professionals, regardless of their skin color, who are currently doing or desire to do fundraising work. After many racial injustices occurred in 2020, he has found that there are numerous people who want to make a difference in the

community, but do not know how. He helps lead these individuals so that they can understand what it means to serve on a board, providing tools and resources to help other nonprofits grow. Though he is passionate about serving his community with this line of work, he still faces challenges in his leadership role. He notes how it is difficult knowing that he is doing impactful work, but the results of his labor are not shown instantly: it can take at least 18 months in the nonprofit community to convert a major gift donor. People can be deterred by this because we often crave instant gratifications and reactions, but instantaneous change often leads to making the same mistakes. Rountree loves what he does in his current position and is eager to continue providing people with more opportunities to make a positive impact on their community; he focuses on selling this opportunity, rather than simply making money. Other leaders in the Gainesville community, like Yvette Carter, have impacted his journey and inspire him to continue leading and staying persistent. He advises aspiring leaders to stay true to themselves and be authentic. Support from others -- loved ones and mentors -- who challenge him and make him think critically also help him open his mind to more opportunities to serve. He takes on these challenges knowing how he feels today may not be how he feels in the future. He encourages other aspiring leaders to take on every opportunity they can to serve their community and stay tenacious when it comes to achieving their goals. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Dr. Michelle Rutledge

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Dr. Michelle Rutledge

Dr. Michelle

Rutledge

Plan for our future, Learn from our past Story By:

staff writer

ommunity, to some, is a body of people who live in the same general area, but to others, it means so much more. Dr. Michelle Rutledge is an individual who sees her community as more of a fellowship, a foundation, and a family. So, when she got the news that there was a proposal to install a utility-scale solar array, she did not think twice about researching the impacts, speaking up when she realized that the changes would have a bleak outcome for her neighborhood. Michelle was born and raised in Archer, Florida, in a small neighborhood named Saint Peter after the local church. The church was the center of Michelle’s life as her father was a minister. Michelle and her family spent most of their time at church, even outside of services. Michelle’s mother was in

the Grand Female Protective Society. Being raised in this environment, surrounded by these strong figures, Michelle witnessed a lot of giving back, volunteering, and other acts of charity, so it became a part of her natural way of being. She went to Newberry High School and graduated from Florida A & M University (FAMU). Her desire to help others led her to become a pharmacist, but she makes sure to find time in her busy schedule to volunteer. She has volunteered many years in The Junior League to promote literacy and the National Diamondback Pharmacy Alumni Council. Michelle also gained experience organizing community programs such as health fairs and medication counseling events in local communities. While researching, Michelle discovered that the proposal would use 650 acres of land for solar arrays, surrounded closely by residences. She em-

phasized that she and the community DO support renewable and solar energy; they are just raising awareness of HOW it is being done. Since she saw that this proposal would adversely impact her beloved town, she attended all meetings to discuss the proposal and bring light to the undesirable effects on the area and how those effects outweighed the positives. Due to Michelle and other members’ consistency and valor, the proposal application was denied, preserving the land for the community. There is a core similarity in all that Michelle does. She always looks to be of service to the greater good of all. We can make a difference, even as individuals. Michelle said, “this is a time now for reflection, at least for me and just finding purpose. Reflecting on what really matters, what solutions can we add to this world to make it a better place?” We all have a purpose

here, and we cannot be afraid to speak up when we see we can do better. Michelle encourages others who want to advocate “If there is a willingness and a heart for what’s right, whatever advocacy there is, you will be prepared for it, and you will be impactful.” She advises that when one starts to volunteer or takes on advocacy roles to make sure that you still take time for yourself, as the wise quotes from Audre Lorde,” caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Michelle takes time to do what she loves, like read. She enjoys reading about history and is interested in preserving it. She is proud of where she comes from and feels honored to know about her and her community’s lineage and what they have done for us. Michelle plans to continue to help her community plan for the future while still honoring her ancestors. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Keira Simmonds

Keira Simmonds Building Up Gainesville’s Youth

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Keira Simmonds

Story By:

Jennifer Hunsaker

eira Simmonds has always been destined to a life of lifting others. Born in Queens and raised in Jamaica by a single mom, she learned from a young age the value of love and comfort. They eventually moved to Gainesville for her mom’s health—sunshine does wonders for the body and soul—and Simmonds started building a career in service. “My career has always been around young people. I worked at Project YouthBuild and it set me on a trajectory to understanding my purpose.” That purpose is to help young people, especially those classified as “at risk,” understand that they can grab hold of the opportunity to create the life they want. Through skill building and helping them find jobs or go to college, Simmonds wants every young person she works with to believe and see a path better than the life they’ve been conditioned to accept. “I see the various stages

...WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING AND GUIDANCE, THEY CAN BREAK GENERATIONAL CURSES, KEEP FAMILIES WHOLE, AND SURVIVE. -Keira Simmonds

of youth development. There’s more beyond the path of a CNA or basketball player. With the right training and guidance, they can break generational curses, keep families whole, and survive.” Simmonds started her own non-profit, LYFEhouse, to help the youth focus on their personal and professional development. LYFEhouse offers career preparedness programs, but more importantly, they focus on personal growth and self-leadership—all those traits and qualities that can’t be learned in books. They focus on things like intent, being able to follow through with the vision in your mind and being able to pivot, adapt, and be resilient when reality doesn’t fit the plan.

“It’s all about feeling comfortable in not knowing the answer, while being confident that you can do it.” This concept of selfefficacy and growth is at the center of everything Simmonds does. She brings life and possibility to youth that seem reluctant to dream. Young people, she believes, are that fundamental spark to the future of every community.

IT’S ALL ABOUT FEELING COMFORTABLE IN NOT KNOWING THE ANSWER, WHILE BEING CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN DO IT. -Keira Simmonds

Mistakes and wrong turns are inevitable. Through LYFEhouse, Simmonds surrounds young people with people who believe in them and allow them to try some new stuff out. Looking to the future, Simmonds hopes to be in every middle and high school to normalize meaningful career conversations. And to prepare families to have the same conversation and forward-thinking attitude at home. It’s obvious that the career landscape has changed so much. That entry-level, 20-year path has shattered and there’s no way to guarantee which careers will be out there in 10-20 years. Helping parents reframe their thinking from “what do you want to do” to “who do you want to become” is vital to navigating an ever-changing career landscape. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Kendrick Smith

I’M NOT A ROLE MODEL. I’M A PERSON WHO MAKES MISTAKES, TOO. -Kendrick Smith

Story By:

Beth Herbert

endrick Smith is a lifelong Floridian, happy Gainesville transplant, and general manager for Dave & Busters. “Gainesville is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. I needed to decompress, so this is great!” He recently moved from Memphis to open up the new Dave & Busters. Opening up a new restaurant in a college town during a pandemic seems anything but relaxing. Especially between the obvious health concerns, developing a good business culture is difficult when the workforce is competitive. So how does one run a business under these conditions? Smith is a natural born leader. In fact, he grew up wanting to be a math teacher. He has the look

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of a police officer and an open-door policy of a counselor. He remembers family names, hard times, and other bits of personal info about his employees, so they feel seen and appreciated. And he makes sure he has candy and energy drinks to hand out to the college students working for him. Smith makes sure all of his employees know that even though he’s strict, he’ll always listen and understand when mistakes are made. “I’m not a role model,” he explains. “I’m a person who makes mistakes, too.” This is a hallmark of Smith’s leadership style. He freely acknowledges that he didn’t get to where he is on his own. Over his career, he’s met many different people that taught him to be a better teacher and coach. He hopes to be that influence

for anyone who needs it. To listen to Smith talk about leadership and how he manages his restaurant feels like a masterclass. For him, leadership is an innate quality based on a person’s desire to patiently and consistently teach. It’s a way of life and not something you can turn on and off. Smith boils his philosophy down to two principles. 1. Push, don’t pull. His Push Don’t Pull rule is the base to finding and developing future leaders. He pushes people to do better, but fully expects them to put in the work. Like any good teacher, some of his former employees have thrived and are now leaders themselves. 2. Once you learn the rules, pass ‘em on. Kendrick used to work with a young man who—like any-

one in their youth—didn’t understand or appreciate what he was being taught. Now he’s a general manager of his own store for a different company and will occasionally call Smith to commiserate or say, “Oh, I get it now.” After inspiring and grooming tomorrow’s leaders, what’s next for Smith? First, he’s looking forward to doing more with the Gainesville community. Business leaders play a unique role as sponsors, benefactors, and employers in the community. Though he’s been busy opening the new store and training the staff, 2022 should allow him to do more work outside of the restaurant. When asked if he had any other mantras to share, he suggested we all try coffee with lemon.

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Tarena Stanley

The Secret Recipe

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Tarena Stanley the Stanleys’ recipe a winning combination.

Story By:

Annissa Brockington

f you’ve been fortunate enough to have crossed their paths, then you know that the Stanleys are not an ordinary family. You see, the family of seven (Leeantwan Sr., Tarena Stanley, Leeantwan Jr.(LJ), age 7, Laila, age 9, Ayanni, age 14, Aniya, age 19, and Jay-D the 1-year old Yorkie) have discovered the secret recipe to creating and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you ask each family member (with the exception of Jay-D-of course) how it all seems to come together, you’ll discover that although their perspectives vary, they all agree on the key ingredients that make

Leeantwan Sr, would equate their synchronization to the lining up of the stars (i.e., luck of the draw) —for he categorizes himself as more of a gowith-the-flow kind of guy. However, Mrs. Stanley firmly attributes a lot of their ability to maintain balance to the handy-dandy set of calendars (paper and electronic) that adorn themselves in three different (but easily accessible) locations, throughout their home. These calendars not only give insight into their busy lives, but also provide the Stanleys with a detailed description of the daily routines, extracurricular activities, general tasks, and scheduled appoint-

ments. But before I spill all of the beans of the family recipe, let me tell you more about how this love story all began. Tarena (born and raised in Miami, Florida) met Leeantwan at the ripe age of 19 while attending the University of Florida. Tarena majored in and earned her BS Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies on a Quantitative Track with a Minor in Business Administration and Math. In November 2003, she met Leeantwan (a student at the University of South Florida), while attending a Greek new member presentation. Leeantwan (a Communications major), was among the many men scheduled to present that evening. Unbeknownst to Tarena,

Leeantwan would one day be her husband, provider, and father of their four children. As the night grew longer, numbers were exchanged and within a few months Tarena and Leeantwan proclaimed themselves a couple. After six years of long-distance dating, and navigating through the “normal” challenges that accompany any relationship, the two were led by faith and fate to commit to cherishing one another until death do them part. Ecstatic by the idea of becoming one unit was only a part of the Stanleys happily ever after. In November of 2012, Tarena would also say yes to Leeantwan’s two daughters—making “commitment to the whole

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Tarena Stanley package”, one of the key ingredients to the Stanleys’ winning recipe. As Tarena would describe it, “I committed to a packaged deal. I loved him and he loved them. It was his love for them that enabled me to love and embrace them too.” That year, the Stanleys would welcome their third child Laila. Weighing only one pound and 10 ounces, the Stanleys would spend the first 77 days of Laila’s life in Shands Teaching Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NiCu). And in the year that followed, LJ was born. The family was named one of the March of Dimes Ambassador Families —assisting the organization with its mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. It was life changing events such as this, that proved to the

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Stanleys that surrounding themselves with a village was another key ingredient that was essential to creating and sustaining their healthy work-life balance. Tarena recounts instances when members of her village were willing to stand in her absence, cheer her through her victories, and prop her up through her storms. “I had a circle of prayer warriors, sorority sisters, colleagues, and friends who I knew I could call upon during a time of need.” As you might imagine, the managing of a family of seven not only requires a village, but also some choreography. According to Tarena, her mom did a superb job of preparing her the various movements, steps, and sequences that would be necessary for her to be successful in her future roles as a mother, help-mate, and wife. In

addition to instilling the importance of education, Tarena’s mom was consistently involved in her daily life. “My mom was extremely active and present in my life even though she worked. She never missed a performance or practice. I could always locate her in the crowd. I knew that I wanted to model this same quality for my children.” Being present is not only essential, but a shared responsibility within the Stanley home. While Aniyah is heads-down in accomplishing her goal of becoming a Pediatrician, LJ is actively preparing for his multiple roles in an upcoming play. So if you’re looking for a Stanley Monday through Saturday, you can expect to catch both or

one of them in between tutoring, violin, dance, drum or theatre lessons for Laila and LJ, sitting amongst the fans in the bleachers at one of Ayanni’s volleyball matches, or on the road retrieving Aniya from Alabama State University. And amidst the hustle and bustle, and drop offs and pickups, the Stanleys have found that togethertime becomes a much needed ingredient to break-up the jam-packed days. So each evening the Stanleys carve out time to sit as a family for a meal and catch up on the day. And when time permits, paint night or game night is among the most requested family-time activities. “We believe in the gifting of experiences for our children.

Tarena Stanley Toys and gadgets may easily be replaced. Time, memories, and moments are priceless and irreplaceable.” Leeantwan agrees that being actively engaged and carving out familytime is important. But also adds that, it’s important to be cognizant of the things that each child finds of value. “I acknowledge and recognize that each of my children are unique and require different expressions of my love. I make sure that they each feel valued and heard. My efforts and investment in my family are intentional. They deserve

that.” Tarena also points out that he-time and me-time are equally important to the sustainability of a healthy family life. “We plan mini-getaways as often as feasible, and find pockets of time for each other after the children are put to bed. I’ve also learned to take time for self-care and rejuvenation in order to be the best possible version of myself for both my home and work family.”

This also reigns true in the case of the Stanleys who all agree that communication is paramount to their family’s wellbeing and healthy work life balance. “We acknowledge God’s work in everything we do. He enables us to park our feelings at the door, practice grace for one another, and provides us with the necessary wisdom to seek guidance and counsel when needed.”

As we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times, it’s refreshing to know that the goal of creating and maintaining a work-life balance is attainable. The Stanleys have demonstrated that a winning recipe is possible with the right combination of healthy ingredients, a toolkit of resources, and shared commitment to prioritizing those things deemed most important.

As with any good recipe, some ingredients serve as the base for pulling all of the flavors together.

gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Jayden Terry

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Jayden Terry

Jayden

Terry

Story By:

samantha chery

ayden Terry wants the world to know that it’s OK not to be OK. Jayden, a freshman at The Rock School in Gainesville, has experienced many of the changes other teens have faced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She couldn’t travel or hang out with friends over the summer because of the spread of the virus. And although she’s returned to faceto-face schooling, the learning environment isn’t the same as before 2020: She’s started high school, and she’s had to adjust to wearing masks throughout the school day. “I’ve learned to live in the moment, because you never know what’s going to happen,” Jayden said. With all of the challenges fueled by the pandemic, Jayden noticed that a lot of the people around her were struggling

mentally, but they tried to hide the way they were feeling. And in some ways, Jayden said she was guilty of this too. She loves playing basketball and volleyball, as she’s grown up in a sports-loving family. But for a time, Jayden became anxious before basketball games. She received a lot of praise for her skills as a player, but the attention overwhelmed her. She felt an enormous pressure to do well. “I felt like I had to do good for everybody else,” she said. “I never told anybody. I just kept it in and acted as if everything was OK.” Finally, she talked about how she was feeling with her mother, Sheena Lewis. Her mom helped Jayden realize that she had to play for herself, and she didn’t need to worry about pleasing everyone. So that’s exactly what Jayden set out to do. It worked. “I try to ignore everything else going around, and just play and

have fun,” she said. After this experience, when Jayden was tasked with writing a poem for her Language Arts class, she knew what she wanted to write about. She titled her piece “I’m Fine.” “I like lifting up people,” she said. “And I noticed a lot of people often have things they’re going through, but they keep it in and lift up other people, or just put a smile on their face.” Her poem focuses on the idea of “putting on a mask and saying you’re fine, but you’re really not.” Her poem received a low class grade because it didn’t meet her teacher’s list of assignment guidelines, Jayden said. However, Jayden won a poetry contest with her submission. “It shows that people actually care,” she said. “They can see that you’re going through things, and you shouldn’t have to hide it.” Anxiety wasn’t Jayden’s first run-in with adversity. When she was a young girl, she had a severe

I’VE LEARNED TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. -Jayden Terry

kidney issue. To fix the problem, she had to have surgery to remove half of one of her kidneys, along with many follow-up doctor appointments. She recovered, and her scars serve as a reminder of her resilience. Jayden’s setbacks have given her the confidence to know she has the strength to overcome obstacles thrown her way. Instead of giving up when life gets hard, Jayden strives to be a role model to other kids in her life, encouraging them to stay motivated in school and follow their dreams. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Tara Thomas

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Tara Thomas

Tara

Thomas Story By:

Beth herbert

t can be challenging to willingly go down new pathways when life throws curveballs, but Tara Thomas was able to find her true career passion by being open to changes and new opportunities. Tara moved to Gainesville after enrolling at the University of Florida to study engineering. Upon graduating, she began her career at Bellsouth as an engineer. After working there for some time, she received an offer to further her engineering career in California and decided to move there with her daughter. Despite her love for engineering, the job was not the best fit, as it did not offer her the best work-life balance. She decided to move back to Florida where she landed a position at Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) as a conservation analyst. At first, she did not know much about her new position and did not start out in leadership. Overtime, her knowledge and love for her new role grew, and she has been working for GRU for over 20 years. Though she believed engineering was

her lifelong passion when she began her career, she now recognizes that this role was truly meant for her, as she loves working in the community and helping people each day.

Thomas notes that there are a number of people who impacted her journey to success, including her father who always believed in her and encouraged her to reach her fullest potential. He, along with her other mentors, pushed her to stay persistent. Thomas believes that their encouragement, combined with the courage she gained working as an engineer, led her to believing in the importance of keeping an open mind and not being afraid to step outside of her comfort zone. She is a strong proponent for being her best self and putting her all in every task, no matter how big or small it is. Showing her dedication and love for her starting position caused others to see her leadership capabilities and believe that she desired to do more. By being open to these life changes, she has not only been able to skyrocket her career, but also develop two major programs that have helped

shape her community. Her first program was integrated into the K-12 school system to help students learn how to budget their money and show them how their lifestyle affects their financial development, and her second program -- that is still active today -- is a low income program that has helped thousands of financially challenged households find comfort and stability. She developed this program from the bottom up and has watched it progress into something greater than she had ever dreamt. From her beginnings as an engineer until her current role at GRU, Thomas has remained courageous

and confident, standing up to whatever comes her way. She continues to develop, train, and believe in her abilities, knowing that what she accomplishes can help positively impact others. Though she faced many challenges in her past, and continues to encounter them, she goes in with a fresh face, keeps pushing, and handles whatever is thrown at her; she may have to earn other’s respect, but they also have to earn hers. She embraces where she is in life daily and continues to learn, research, study, and identify subject experts who believe in and support her so she can continue achieving her goals. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Jasmine Williams

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Jasmine Williams

Jasmine

Williams Story By:

Beth Herbert

eadership is a quality that is difficult for many people to strengthen, but not for Jasmine Williams. Many members of the Gainesville community would argue that Jasmine Williams has been a natural born leader, even at a young age. Williams is the oldest of all of her siblings: having grown up in a split family -- with a father who constantly travelled and a hardworking mother -- she regularly took care of her sisters and quickly became a pillar in her household. Additionally, though Williams experienced bullying from her classmates, she continued to be a proponent for education by starting the Diamonds in the Rough organization. With the help of her school counselor, Williams was able to develop her leadership abilities further by kick starting her Diamonds organization, which was geared towards helping other high schoolers gain confidence, work hard, and value academics.

Her innate leadership qualities helped her take the initiative on many occasions, but she still experienced hardships and setbacks that impact her life today. Though Williams took many upper level courses and participated in the International Baccalaureate program at Eastside, she was denied admission to her dream school. This failure caused her to judge herself and focus on her weaknesses; she attended another college, but initially felt embarrassed, feeling that she had to prove herself again. During her first semester, she moved away from home to focus on her academics, but she quickly encountered some distractions. Williams overwhelmed herself and her course schedule so that she could rush through junior college. But with her coursework overloaded and unexpected tragedies happening in her family, she was unable to fully focus on her schoolwork and her mental health, causing her to fail her first set of college classes. She began to rely on drugs and alcohol; though she knew this was

not her true personality, she needed the escape. Luckily, through the grace of God and motivation from her friends and father, she was able to bounce back from these hardships. Her loved ones helped her move past the challenges she faced and pushed her to join the corporate world so that she would not only find her confidence again, but also continue to support herself and family financially. Though she was saddened leaving school, she knew that she had the skills to become successful in the world of real estate; her father helped to encourage her to face her fears, earn her real estate license and further develop the skills she has today. She is going into her third year in real estate and truly loves what she does. She has not only been able to help multiple families find their forever home, but this role has also helped her regain her confidence, become more outspoken, and reignite those leadership qualities she has always had. Her story helped her realize that she may not be perfect

and has made mistakes, but her past will always shape her into the woman she is meant to be. To this day, she is proud of herself and how far she has come, but expresses that her city is still very conservative and prejudice trickles down. After living and working in Tampa, she has returned to Gainesville with the desire to change this narrative by using her leadership abilities, with the hopes of helping others in her community follow her footsteps and find success in the corporate world. She has learned over the years to humble herself and know that, by diversifying who she works with, she can build up her network to move higher in her career. She urges young professionals to be open minded and step out of their comfort zone. By doing this, Williams has found the strength to learn from her mistakes, rather than feel ashamed by them. She has gotten to a place where she feels comfortable in her skin again, and continues to be a pillar in her community for other young professionals. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

Randy & Theresa ADAMS

SYNERGY MAGAZINE

Randy & Theresa ADAMS

Randy & Theresa

ADAMS

Story By:

samantha chery

bout three years ago, Randy and Theresa “Tea” Adams made a life-changing decision. Tea knew her career was coming to an end. She admitted that her job as a preschool teacher was causing her too much stress. Randy, who had already retired a few years earlier, told her to do what she enjoys. Tea’s last day of work was the last day of school. With the burden of their work lives behind them, the married couple could focus their attention on their passion: crafting connections with others through art. “I’ve been blessed to be doing this enough years that I’ve met a lot of people,” Tea said. “It’s cool to see people smile.” Together, Randy and Tea make up Wayward Productions. They have traveled to different arts festivals throughout Florida and beyond with their pottery pieces and dolls for about two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped them from traveling as

widely, but they’re ready to reenter the arts scene. Randy is a potter, better known as “The Wayward Potter.” The eccentric artistry evident in his bowls, pitchers and pots goes against the grain of other artists’ concepts. His fusion art draws from a number of inspirations, like the Bible and the music he grew up with: ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll. Pottery makes Randy feel like he’s part of the universe, like he has a purpose in the world. Tea handmakes dolls, which she calls Tea’s Chirren. “The Raggedy Anntype dolls vary in skin tone to reflect God’s love for people of all skin colors”, Tea said. The idea to collectively call them chirren hearkens back to what Tea’s Southern grandmother called Tea and her siblings when they were kids. Each doll is sewn with a unique personality and comes with a certificate bearing his or her name. Their work has garnered interest. Randy was a display artist for the Joseph House Gallery Cooperative in Columbus, Georgia. Some of Tea’s dolls have

been donated to Doctors Without Borders and appeared at the reopening of the Waldo library. But the couple doesn’t produce art for prestige or profits. “It’s about me sharing with others and giving them something they can cherish,” Randy said. He first experienced the magic of clay in elementary school. It was Christmas time in 1965, and his class was using clay to make Christmas trees and ornaments. Randy’s parents didn’t have the money to allow him to participate in

the art project, so 9-yearold Randy molded his own clay creations from the scraps that fell to the ground as his classmates worked. His teacher at the time, Ms. Nielsen, saw how fascinated Randy was with clay, so she let him make pottery with the class. He never forgot that moment. Ever since then, his heart has never strayed too far away from clay. Ever since Randy and Tea retired, their creativity has exploded. With their God-given talents, they produce what they love: brightening people’s days. gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com

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GBP is the largest network of professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners in North Central Florida. We are the only organization that consistently creates and maintains platforms that elevate and showcase Black Professionals while promoting Unity, Diversity and Equity. Our platforms include: • Annual Leadership Conference • Quarterly Networking Mixers • Weekly Podcast • Minority Business Directory • Monthly Newsletter • SYNERGY the Magazine

Draw and Submit Your Own District Map! Through April 2022, you’re invited to create and submit your own district maps for consideration using an easy-to-use online mapping tool, or to provide feedback to the Gainesville City Commission on draft maps. Redistricting is often considered one of the least transparent processes in democratic governance. To ensure transparency and public involvement, the city has made it possible for everyone to easily draw suggested district boundaries for our city through a web-browser. For more information or to participate, scan this code or visit our website.

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352-334-5015

www.cityofgainesville.org

Get involved in your community by joining an advisory board! The City of Gainesville is accepting applications for a number of advisory boards and committees. From development review to public parks to human rights, find a board that interests you. Visit our website for a listing of current vacancies to see which board interests you and how you can get involved by having a bigger impact in the areas you care about most.

Check our vacancies by scanning the code or visiting https://tinyurl.com/GNVBoards.

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Find a board that fits your interests or expertise. Apply online or in person.

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352-334-5015

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You already work hard. It’s time to Achieve!

Every graduate from our local public high schools can go to college! College opens the door to new opportunities. Starting with the class of 2022, the Santa Fe College Achieve program will support every student in our district who wants to go to college. SF Achieve provides students with access to mentorship opportunities that prepare them for college, and scholarships that help cover tuition and books. Our community will, in turn, have a strong workforce built upon the legacy of our local families.

Mentorships Every local public high school has an SF Achieve specialist offering college coaching to students and their families. That support will continue as when students enroll at SF.

Scholarships All SF Achieve Scholars get free college textbooks. Eligible students will receive the SF Achieve scholarship, which kicks in where financial aid leaves off, covering tuition for up to 60 credits.

Partnerships A generous gift from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation helped launch SF Achieve, but the future of the program is in our hands. Now is the time for families, educators, community members and future employers to get involved!

Learn more at sfcollege.edu/achieve