Huami Magazine Cleveland Sept./Oct. 2021 by Terry Watson

Sept./Oct. 2021

Volume 1 Issue 4

Events On Ridge

Old Ways Don’t Work On The Driving Course

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter From The Editor

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter from the Editor

It seems like such a long time ago. The moment had arrived for me to become a licensed automobile driver. I was only 16 years old. For the most part, just a little young guy, full of ambition and excited about driving a car. I had enrolled in a driver’s education program at school. The classes were conducted after school for six weeks and included several other soon-to-be legitimate juvenile drivers. We were all ready, but I don’t think anyone was more eager than I was.

A Letter from the Editor

What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?

On the driving course, there were several cars with an automatic transmission. However, there was only one vehicle that contained a manual transmission (a stick shift). As fate would have it, I was the only student familiar with a stick shift, as I had gained prior instruction and driving experience from a few experienced drivers. I knew the gear pattern and understood how to manage the clutch and gas paddles, and knew how to keep the car powered while doing so. I would choose that vehicle to drive during class.

I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.

I appeared to be in a league of my own on the driving course amongst the other student drivers. I handled the curves well, and didn’t run over any of the cones. I managed the straight paths like a pro, and looked pretty comfortable while driving in reverse. I was good, at least that’s what I believed.

One day in class, the vehicle I was driving was at the front of the pack on the driving course. I jumped out the gate fast, and that was my first mistake. As I went around the curves, I used little brakes, and the tires on my car were screaming. “Stop!” That command was screamed through the megaphone held by the driving instructor. He made me park the car and get out for the remainder of the day. I laughed it off while trying to keep my cool amongst my classmates, but on the inside, I was embarrassed. I would eventually drive again and eventually completed the program, but it was clear that I almost jeopardized all of that from happening.

The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.

At the time, I didn’t realize how I had put myself and others in danger by becoming arrogant and comfortable during a moment when I should have been learning and listening. I made the mistake of applying invalid experience in a setting where I was supposed to gain experience to be validated. God showed me on that day, when I try to do things my way and use information or instruction that didn’t come from Him, I am just an accident waiting to happen. Yet, when I do listen and obey His commands, He will qualify me to drive on the roads and highways of life.

Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

Terry L. Watson

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby Tegan Kennedy

Vernon Veteran Services Vernon Vandavid

Divine Lemonades Patricia Neal

Indianapolis Community Leader Tevin Studdard

Alisha Norris

Mac Royals

Zeola

Melton

By Terry L. Watson

Events On Ridge

Norris

Sufficient planning must occur to pull off a successful event such as a wedding reception, banquet, retirement party, or corporate gathering. Without it, the door is left open for any mishap to take place, potentially deflating the enthusiasm and cheer from any such occasion.

Every precaution is taken for event planner Alisha Norris to ensure no such surprise appears at her production. Now in her fifth year of being a serial entrepreneur, Alisha is the owner of Events On Ridge Event Center located in Parma, Ohio. She’s also the owner and operator of Creative Indulgence Party Designs and Co-creator of Westside W.R.A.P 216, a networking group for entrepreneurs. Her Real Estate License complements her skillsets; something she utilizes to help thriving business owners find the best location for commercial property.

Events On Ridge is a 1700 square foot intimate event space that accommodates social gatherings, micro weddings, and corporate meetings. “We specialize in offering the full event planning and decorating experience from start to finish. We love to serve smaller businesses with the opportunity to utilize our space for vendor events, continuing education courses, and community outreach programs,” Alisha shares.

Events On Ridge began as an event planning business in 2016. It quickly expanded into an event space in the fall of 2020. Alisha shares she opened her center after recognizing the need for an intimate event space in the city of Cleveland that offered updated amenities and quality staffing.

Photos Provided by Alisaha

Alisha says the most valuable lesson she’s learned: understanding mediocrity is not an option for life. She explains, “As an entrepreneur, you have to be excellent intentionally every day to move that needle closer to greatness. Developing this mindset has impacted how I operate in my personal life and in business. One of my mentors, Neo Davis, always says, “It has to work or it has to work””.

Alisha considers herself to be an amazing wife to her business partner and husband, Eric Norris. Together, they share two children, Ajia and Ashton. She received her BA and MBA in Business Management from Capital University in Columbus, OH. She has served for nearly 15 years in hospitality and worked for multiple hotel chains. In these roles, she discovered her passion for event planning and logistics.

Alisha says she is an event planner at heart. “The ultimate joy comes from seeing a client’s face light up when we have executed their vision perfectly.” Like most businesses, Events On Ridge faced some new challenges with the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic. “We often questioned if this was the right decision. However, when you believe in your purpose and truly put things in God’s hands, nothing but good can form from it,” she says. Because they were faithful, Alisha says they are now experiencing great success and are in the process of opening their next venue.

For Alisha and Eric, the adage that “teamwork makes the dream work” proves to be true. “As I work tirelessly to build our brand, he continues to work in a high-level position at a local college. He never complains about working 40 hours in the office and giving an additional 20-30 hours per week at Events On Ridge. His drive inspires me daily to keep going so that I can one day tell him it’s time to put in your two weeks’ notice,” she says.

Her advice to anyone who may be considering entering into event planning is to be consistent. “Consistency is key to operating successfully. Know your reason behind building your business because that will keep you motivated even when things aren’t looking great initially. Most importantly, do your research, understand your market, know your target demographic, set your price, and then add tax,” she says.

Alisha says her plans moving forward are to acquire multiple event spaces and related businesses throughout Ohio. She also hopes to continue to push fellow business owners to operate in the gifts. Ultimately her goal is to build generational wealth for her family and generations to come.

To learn more about Events On Ridge, please visit their website.

I Am Made For This

By Gamal Williams

Photos by Tevin Studdard

A young boy sits with his family as they watch television. On the screen, the results of a nationwide talent search unfold. They hover in anticipation, hoping that their favorite contestant is declared the winner. When the results are announced, the family erupts with glee. The boy, while elated, saw something more. He saw someone that looked like him, someone that chased their dream and reached it. His mind opened to a world of possibilities. The boy saw his future.

Hold that thought.

Tevin Studdard was born to Donald and Lynn, two hardworking, loving parents. The family spent time in two of the roughest areas in Indianapolis, IN; Haughville on the west side, MartindaleBrightwood on the east side. Donald, a photographer, always had a camera in his hands. He loved to capture his favorite subject: his family, whether taking pictures or recording family videos. It was in front of that camera that Tevin found the comfortability to perform. It was there that Tevin began to blossom.

“I was eleven years old and started doing talent shows in church and school, but when I started playing football, I got the opportunity to go to a really good school. While I was on the team, I ended up writing my first jingle. It was a song about our team called ‘Irish Nightmare’ and they played it during the game. Just to be in high school and hear my song over the loudspeaker while I was playing was crazy. What got me though, was when the other team started singing it. It got me hype. I realized I could start writing songs for other teams.”

During his senior year, Tevin sent some of his songs to then WNBA power forward and 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings loved them and wanted Tevin to write a song for the Indiana Fever. There was only one stipulation the brazen high school senior demanded: if the song got played at the arena, HE would get to perform it. Ms. Catchings and the Indiana Fever honored his request.

Tevin’s songs’ growing popularity led to a scholarship to Indiana State University, for which he also penned a song. Next, a song for the Ball State University softball team in Muncie, IN. The song was so loved, every team in the Mid-Atlantic Conference wanted one. By the end of his freshman year at Indiana State, Tevin had written and performed a unique song for over 40 colleges, including the University of Southern California, Ohio State, Baylor, Florida, and Kansas Universities.

“My dad has always been there for me. He’s the reason I work with kids so much because he was there to love and protect me. He had my back. My dad has a servant’s heart.”

“I would take the team roster and write raps that included all of their names. Everyone loved it. I booked my own shows, so I would have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, then Friday through Monday I would be on the road performing.”

In 2016, Tevin took a break from writing songs and began working as a substitute teacher. He also taught an after-school music program, and once again, music poured back into his life.

“We wrote a song called ‘I Can Change the World’ and recorded a video for it. The local news station picked it up and did a story on us. After that, I was offered a local radio show. I focused on the high school kids; some were athletes, some musicians, but almost exclusively high schoolers. They were the most consistent and loved being featured. I think in that first few months, we featured over 400 kids throughout the city.”

In May 2021, Tevin started The Tevin Studdard Show on the All INDIANA Podcast Network. Since doing so, he expanded his guests to include local high school students, athletes and community activists, business owners, artists, medical professionals, and religious leaders from all over Indiana and beyond. On September 1st, Tevin opened Tevin’s Vision in Washington Square Mall. The Black Vendor Expo highlighted the grand opening, and featured 136 vendors, and packed the mall.

Tevin’s Vision is an all-inclusive, multimedia facility that features a full television studio, complete with a kitchen to highlight local, Black-owned restaurants and catering companies. There is also a digital publishing suite to develop a magazine to highlight high school athletes and coaches in the Indianapolis area, a recording studio, and an audio/video mentorship program to teach children how to be in front of the camera and behind it. Tevin is committed to seeing the youth of Indianapolis chase their dreams.

Speaking of dreams, remember the little boy that saw his favorite contestant win? That little boy was Tevin. The contestant? The winner of American Idol season 2 and Grammy Award Winner, Rueben Studdard, Tevin’s older cousin. But long before Rueben’s win, his father, Donald, laid the foundation for his greatness.

“Rueben’s win exposed me to something different at a pivotal age. It showed me that I didn’t have to be the negativity I saw around me. My dad has always been there for me. He’s the reason I work with kids so much because he was there to love and protect me. He had my back. My dad has a servant’s heart. He says ‘Your arm will get tired if you pat yourself on the back.’ He told me to go put in the work. HE is why I work so hard. Some kids don’t have a father figure as I did. I can be that for them.” h

The son of McKenzie and Chris Kennedy

Divine Lemonades

By Terry L. Waton and Tonya Dixon

“I started by delivering lemonade in my personal vehicle, and now I have multiple work trucks that deliver Divine Lemonades to parts of Southern Virginia and as far south as Gastonia, NC.”

It’s time for a celebration! The dream of Divine Lemonades became a reality in September 2016, five years later, Patricia Neal is in a position to enjoy the “flavorful” fruits of her labor. The journey has come with a few peaks and some valleys, and there have even been moments when Patricia felt like throwing in the towel, but the God fearing woman isn’t built like that. She was purposed for the moment, and just like everything else in her life, what she starts, she will finish.

“I’m just a little country girl from Reidsville, NC. I have always had a great work ethic passed down from my parents, which requires that I operate in excellence,” she says. With that standard set, Patricia has grown her Divine Lemonades brand impressively and stocking the shelves of 68 grocery and convenience stores and some restaurants throughout Virginia and North Carolina. These areas are Ridgeway and Danville, VA, Eden, Reidsville, Stoneville, Greensboro, Salisbury, Lexington, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Gastonia, NC.

Understandably, some new challenges accompanied Patricia’s growth spurt. She even had to refuse some business because she had reached production capacity where she manufactured her products. Yet, God stepped in and blessed her with a building outfitted with the space and equipment she needed. The doors to Divine Lemonades manufacturing plant opened on September 10, 2021, at 303 SE Market Street in Reidsville. Her new space will be used strictly for manufacturing so that Patricia can service her existing stores. By 2022, the goal is to open to the public and offer specialty beverages and Divine Lemonades apparel. “I started by delivering lemonade in my personal vehicle, and now I have multiple work trucks that deliver Divine Lemonades to parts of Southern Virginia and as far south as Gastonia, NC,” she says. Divine Lemonde is also shipped nationally and internationally.

After only one taste of Divine Lemonades, nearly everyone has the same reaction: Amazing! That tastes great. I need more. It’s usually followed up by a battery of questions and comments such as, How did you make that? What are the ingredients? It can’t be good for you! It has to be full of sugar, right? What’s the recipe? How did you come up with those flavors? The list goes on and on.

Photos by Toni Shaw

Most people can’t quite adequately articulate the rich, yet light and refreshing taste of Divine Lemonades; but to put it quite simply, Divine Lemonades taste…divine. It’s partly how the drinks name was derived, but more importantly it’s because the business and recipe came through “divine” impartation. There are only two problems with Divine Lemonades: once people taste the refreshing drink they simply can’t stop drinking it and Patricia can’t seem to quench their unending thirst. Of course, that’s more of a dilemma for their pockets, but most people are more than willing to pay as long as they can get some of Neal’s “Heaven In A Bottle.”

Today, there are now 60 different flavors available in the Divine Lemonade line. Some flavors include Danyez Mango Fusion, Apricot Suprise, Mamie’s Mix, Ryleigh’s Cherry Plum, Summer Breeze, Cailen’s Candy Apple, and many more. A few of Patricia’s products, such as the Lavender Lemonade has medicinal properties that have helped individuals who suffer from headaches and insomnia. “Everything about the drinks is all natural. God gave me the recipe and I’ve been making it for nearly 21 years. It’s a combination of different things that gives it such a smooth and divine taste,” said Neal. “The business just grew out of something I just always did for myself. I’m the baby of eight siblings and whenever we had family functions, I always made tea and lemonade. I’ve always had the recipe. But it just wasn’t time yet for [the business] to be birthed.”

Patricia’s resilience and determination have also been on full display as she has overcome some personal battles. In 2013, her doctors detected a huge tumor in her breast, and she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She had to endure surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but even in her seemingly dire and desperate situation, God worked a miracle.

The cancer spread throughout her breast and doctors told her she would have to have a mastectomy, endure strong treatment options to keep the cancer from further invading her body and ultimately live a diminished-quality life. But Patricia said God worked a miracle.

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These battles and her ability to conquer them are in alignment with who Patricia is; a warrior. “Many people have counted me out and said I would not amount to anything. Despite naysayers, I’ve always had the strength and determination to push forward and defy the odds. For that, I give God all the glory,” she says.

Patricia’s success is rooted in her ability to surround herself with those who will tell her the truth even if it hurts. “My children (Danyé, Morgan, and Sam) and my grandson (Danté) are my driving force. I love them and want to leave a legacy for them to carry on for generations to come,” she says. She also acknowledges her mentor Nasi and her Divine Lemonades team, including Pastor Lannie Robertson, Salina Barksdale-Clark, Sonja Walker, Tammara Broadnax, Tora Ballard, and Orlando and Lesha Herbin. “My sister in love, Darlene Neal, helped to get my products on the shelves of my first store. She, along with my brother Leon, sisters Vanessa and Kaye, have supported me. I am grateful for my entire family, friends, and Divine Lemonades supporters who push me to never give up!”

With the opening of Patricia’s first manufacturing facility, she is looking forward to expanding the reach and presence of Divine Lemonades on store shelves, healthcare facilities, sports arenas, and college campuses. “I want Divine Lemonades to be internationally known like other major beverages we see daily in stores and commercials, and I see a larger manufacturing facility in the very near future. I want to give back to my community by creating more jobs to stimulate the economy and help in drawing business to my hometown of Reidsville, NC.,” she says.

Now that Patricia is an eight-year breast cancer survivor, she invests her time and resources to support causes connected to her fight. One of them is Living Pink, a nonprofit organization founded by her friend and twotime breast cancer survivor, Kristie WallaceBarrow. Her organization conducts health fairs and provides gas cards, supplies Christmas gifts, meals to individuals currently going through treatment for breast cancer. Patricia shares, “If I can help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain.”

To learn more about Divine Lemonades, and find a location to purchase some of their products, please visit their website.

By Jalessa Rogers

Photos by Vandavid Vernon

For years men and women have dedicated their lives to service through the different branches of the United States Military. After serving, many of them share a common feeling; finding it difficult to readjust to society. With knowing this, veteran Vernon Vandavid Jr. created a program, Vernon Veteran Services Inc., designed to provide information and assistance for veterans seeking to get reacclimated with society. It’s also a place where military veterans and their families can belong and relate soldier to soldier, shipmate to shipmate while acquiring resources, training, and mentorship programs.

Born and raised in Spartanburg, SC, Vandavid did not grow up with dreams of joining the military. He actually dreamt of becoming a professional football player. Growing up as the only boy with two older sisters and two younger sisters, he was accustomed to making a way for himself and standing out, which he did really well on the football field at Dorman High School in Spartanburg.

After gaining attention from powerhouse college football schools, he decided to take a season off and try his hand at basketball. Basketball did not work out, but he learned a valuable lesson about being a part of a team. “The football coaches benched me in my final football season because they did not trust that I wouldn’t abandon the team again,” he says.

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After high school, he attended Greenville Technical College and Maryland University but soon decided to join the military after the birth of his first child. “I joined the military at 20 years old because I felt it was the best option for my family,” stated Vandavid.

A program that was started as a “let’s talk face to face,” is what Vandavid was aiming for when he created Vernon Veteran Services Inc. “Personal experience is the greatest teacher when searching for something or trying to understand someone that has been through a tough situation,” he says.

After being a part of the military, coming back to what felt like a whole new world was something that Vandavid and many other veterans struggled to readjust. “I don’t want to say that I wasn’t welcomed back, but there were no relatable people that I could talk to, and resources were hard to find,” stated Vandavid. “I set out to create a program that would provide and be the resource that veterans need. The moral to my story is not to throw things down to the soldier I see stuck in a hole, but to jump down there with them because I’ve been there before, and I want to show them personally how to get out.”

Mr. Vandavid has worked really hard to make the transition back to society easier for veterans through this nonprofit program by making donations and paying for them himself. Although everything has not been easy, he has had some amazing success stories. As a new program, his biggest success story was when a veteran made him realize it wasn’t what you could provide for them sometimes, it was just being there and listening to them.

“Meeting and helping different veterans are effective ways to assist, but sometimes you learn that listening and asking simple questions can provide a lot more,” he says. “Providing knowledge that we are there no matter what, and knowing that any time you need a veteran, you have someone to talk to has been one of his biggest lessons and goals so far.”

Vandavid’s next goal for his program is to take it to a national level and make it available on military bases for active duty service people. He is also looking into providing housing and jobs soon for veterans.

For further information about Vernon Veteran Services Inc., please visit their website.

By Terry L. Watson

Melton

When you think of professional attire, one may imagine pantsuits and long sleeve shirts. It is deemed professional when the design of clothes covers the body and doesn’t remotely make you seem provocative or alluring. This kind of everyday style can condemn your thoughts. Ultimately, you begin to believe that fashion and work cannot coexist. Makeisha Melton has made it her purpose to challenge this notion.

Makeisha is the owner of Blue Gems Boutique, an online store located in Dublin, GA. Makeisha mixes vogue with sass, and comfortability with white-collar attire, assuring her clients that style and professionalism are not foreign concepts. “I have something for all body types. My collection ranges from two-piece sets to jumpsuits and casual wear, including dresses, t-shirts, and jewelry,” she says.

The idea for Blue Gems Boutique came to Makeisha mind in 2019, but the online store was launched in 2020. By doing so, it helped Makeisha to be able to express her creativity on a much grander scale. “I knew I wanted to do something with fashion. I was like, I think I can do this. I’ve always loved fashion and had an eye for colors and texture,” she shares. “I believed my eye for fashion could help women in the African American community.”

Her creative repertoire shows through her human interest also. From hair school to constant hours of Youtube trials, her pins for fashion and designing grew to the online boutique. It also gave her a platform for what she was born to do. She took inspiration from preppy-textbook looks and IMartha, another fashion boutique, and created unique items for herself and her.

Photos by Makeisha

“I love when my clients feel confident in it. It means that I have reached my goal of providing comfortability, confidence, professionalism, and compassion.”

Being a relatively new small business, Blue Gems Boutique has been making big waves with women because of its versatility and various size options. It was important for Makeisha to capture the essence of women at work and in everyday loungewear. Her goal is to make her clients feel confident and happy with themselves. “I love that I see people, well women, embracing their body types,” Melton describes as she explains what her line is about. “I love when my clients feel confident in it. It means that I have reached my goal of providing comfortability, confidence, professionalism, and compassion.”

Makeisha is inspired by the kinds of women that she represents and the willingness to get better at what she does. She also loves the opportunity to engage with clients, both new and old, and to be able to show them a side of themselves that has never been seen. “My customers keep me going. The reviews get me super excited. As well as the emails, feedback, and encouraging words from people I don’t even know. It keeps me going. It keeps me level,” she shares.

Of course, every entrepreneur is perceived to be strong and courageous. Still, Makeisha’s biggest challenge was not only surviving the Covid 19 pandemic but also getting the Blue Gems Boutique name out there. “In the beginning, I was worried about being shy and quiet. I’ve never really talked to many people in my hometown, so I was a little apprehensive about networking,” she says. Still, she knew for her business to survive, she would have to talk. Even more, without proper exposure, Makeisha feared that it might not be the right time to start a brand. Her business knowledge was not so strong, but she believed that God had a plan.

In the future, Makeisha hopes to expand her boutique to a storefront. With pop-up shops, and her brand growing on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook, she believes that she will achieve her dreams. The determining factor for Makeisha is that she has a strong will to survive. I will not give up, and I can’t give in. I have to stick to the plan.”

To learn more about Makeisha Melton and The Blue Gem Boutique, please visit their website..

By The Book Services LLC

By Ellen Richardson

While most use their career to become a financial success or a powerhouse that the younger generation looks up to, there are those who take the path less traveled. A path that allows them to become a voice for the voiceless.

Zeola Charles began her job path with the U.S. Army and eventually became a part of the Las Vegas insurance game. Yet, her career path would change after returning to a dream born at the tender age of eight.

“Ever since I was an 8-year-old girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. However, life would take me along a different path, and I joined the army at the age of 18,” said Charles. “During this time, I also obtained an associate degree in paralegal studies, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After leaving the army, I obtained my MBA all while starting my career as a litigator in the insurance world, where I remained for more than 20 years. Although this career path had an air of legal air to it, I kept feeling my childhood dream calling, so I returned to law school at 38 years old.”

Along with making a career change a bit late in the game, Charles would also begin her path to greatness with a move from Las Vegas to Alabama for law school and eventually North Carolina.

“It is funny because we decided to move to North Carolina after a spring break road trip where we fell in love with this state,” said Charles. “It was just so beautiful and ran well by people who cared about each other. Seeing the pride that everyone had to make this state the best possible was also something that I had never seen before, so I knew that I wanted to start our family’s new life and adventure in North Carolina.”

After deciding to settle down in the Triangle of Raleigh/Durham area, the woman with a passion for the law started her new career path as an employment judge for the North Carolina Division of Employment Security Commission. “I am one of those people who enjoys being the ultimate decision maker, so when I was offered this opportunity, I could not pass it up,” said Charles.

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Photos by TMF Photography

Despite her love for being a decision-maker, it wouldn’t take long before the born litigator would decide to return to her calling. “Within a few months of working in North Carolina, I decided to leave the bench and make my way back to my first love – being a lawyer,” said Charles. “The truth is, I’ve always loved arguing a case and I began to miss being a part of the true art of law, which involves arguing a relative message to 12 jurors, hoping that your voice helps them be decision-makers in your favor,” said Charles.

Today, Zeola Charles and her family’s private law practice, By the Book Services Charles & Associates, is becoming the legal voice for those who need assistance. By The Book Services offers services in the realm of real estate law, family law, civil or criminal trials, traffic violations, and more throughout the Raleigh/Durham area. “Honestly, we provide attorney services in almost every area of law with the exception of wills and estates,” said Charles. “I am even contracted with one of the largest legal firms in the state for legal debt collection.”

Picuted (on the opposite page) with Zeola and Chad is their daughter Ladeja

According to Charles, the primary goal for this firm is to be the voice for and to serve the underserved in this area. “The fact is that I want my life and career to have purpose rather than seeking after financial gain,” said Charles.

“Making a decision like this took a lot of prayer and the support of my family, who were there for me through the entire transition, including moving states, going back to school, and even starting my own practice. In fact, my husband was so supportive that he became my paralegal.”

“Ever since I was an 8-year-old girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. However, life would take me along a different path and I joined the army at the age of 18 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.”

Prior to going into business with his wife, Chad Charles was also on a different career path. “I started my career in the Army alongside my wife but was injured. After retiring from the U.S. Army, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in engineering, after which I worked as an engineer in several different industries in Las Vegas,” said Chad.

Despite he and his wife working in separate careers, Chad and Zeola Charles would begin a new career journey alongside one another following this family’s move to North Carolina. “When we moved to North Carolina, my wife needed to be fingerprinted and also needed a notary, so I started my new career path by obtaining a license to become a fingerprint technician and notary,” said Chad. “This is actually how we started By the Book Services.”

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Following Zeola’s decision to return to a calling given to her as a child, Chad also followed his new calling. “When my wife decided to leave the bench and become an attorney, I knew that the best way I could help her was to go back to school and become a paralegal. So, that is what I did, and I am excited to say that I received my certification as a paralegal from North Carolina State University on August 12th,” said Chad. “Now, we can work on cases together and build a business that can help our family and community for years to come.”

Along with this family’s new business becoming the legal voice for the underserved in the Triangle, the Charles family and By The Book Services is also doing their part to assist other bright minds in the community in their future success.

“I know how expensive it can be to obtain a higher education, which is why I worked the entire time that I went to school,” said Zeola Charles. “In order to help students like my 16-year-old daughter, who will be graduating summa cum laude from Chatham School of Science & Engineering and obtaining her associate degree in applied science this year, succeed in furthering their education we are offering work from home opportunities where these students can set their own schedule and make a few dollars to pay for materials like books, etc. We are also offering a $500 scholarship to an area student in need.”

Now that their purpose has been realized, Zeola and Chad Charles are pursuing their God-given calling and proving that one can accomplish some things, but together, a team can do a great deal more. The team of By The Book Services is proof that anything is possible when you make your purpose your priority.

I Was Created For Greatness

By Dorjae McClammey

Malcolm Allen, better known as Mac Royals is someone you can describe as super talented. The 29-year-old musician who grew up in Wrightsville, Arkansas, is a musician, photographer, videographer, director, artist consultant, and chef.

Music has always been a part of Mac, even from birth. Everyone in his family sings; his mother, father, brother, sister, even his grandfather. He was a part of the children’s choir until his voice became so powerful that he was moved up to the adult choir.

In elementary, Mac started to dabble in different aspects of the arts. He chose to play the violin for a couple of years, with the help of one of his teachers, Mr.Crips. “I loved him to death because he was very stern. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with music the way I did,” he shares. From there, He started writing his own music and falling in love with it more and more.

Unfortunately, his father was incarcerated for most of his early childhood and teen years. Still, Mac kept focused with the help of his community around him, especially his guardian angel, older cousin Marcus Wilson. Marcus was a rapper himself, so he would set up studio sessions for him and his cousin. This was when Mac recorded his very first song at the young age of 13.

To say Mac is talented is an understatement. He described his style of music as “feels.” “I perceive music as power because it can shift an atmosphere any of a room, space or mood. Do you understand how powerful that is, and I have the ability to do that at will,” he says.

The road to becoming who Mac Royals is today has not always been the easiest. There were so many ups and downs, “everybody wants to be a part of the mountain, but nobody wants to be a part of the valley.” His artistry is his everything and he has to live a very transparent life, so he lets people know that it’s not easy, nor is it for the soft-hearted. Mac even states that he’s glad he did not win the American Idol competition he particpated on in 2013, because the individual he was then would not have been able to handle what was to come.

Photos by Mac Royals

“I didn’t even know that I deserved to be in spaces like this, but I had to be so that I would understand that my creator gave me this opportunity.”

He went through a major depression once he was eliminated from American Idol because he felt that he failed to take care of his family. Once he returned home, he stayed inside for a month. No one even knew he was back. He remained in this state until someone finally sat him down and told him to think about where he came from and what he accomplished. “You won by even getting out of here. You won the moment you believed in yourself enough to try it, even though you didn’t know what was going to happen,” Mac says. He realized he was so focused on the negative that he didn’t even focus on the fact he made it to the top 20. “I didn’t even know that I deserved to be in spaces like this, but I had to be so that I would understand that my creator gave me this opportunity. Learning this allowed me to see a glimpse into what I could be if I just kept working.”

Another challenge he faced was differentiating between real life and artistry. Sometimes he can get so caught up in his artistry that he forgets about real life. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad because in some of those spaces where I forgot about life, I created something so beautiful that when I came back to life, I felt a bit out of touch,” he shares.

I asked Mac what inspires him the most, and the answer was simple “life.” “My inspiration comes from life, and being a musician, I have to find inspiration in life to write about life. The heartache, the love, the anger, frustration. I have to be open enough to write and sing about it all.”

As for the future of Mac Royals, we can all expect big things. While continuing to make music, he plans to drop an autobiography along with a whole new line of products on his website. There, he has all-natural body butters and sugar scrubs, bath bombs, candles, and more available. They are made with his very own formula he calls Royal Honey. Additionally, all of these products are handmade by amazing black women, right in Arkansas.

Mac shared some advice for those who may follow a path similar to his. “On your journey, there are going to be a lot of people that tell you, what to do, how to do it, and how they believe you should do it, but never allow someone on the outside of the vision to distract you from it”.

To learn more about Mac Royals and his music, please visit his website.