Your Purpose Is Not A Laughing Matter
A Letter From The Editor
A long time ago, when I was a much younger man, and a student at the most prestigious high school in the city of Greensboro, something happened to me that would change my life forever. This segment of time was during my fourth period English class, and the first week of a new school year.
Back then I was mischievous, very sarcastic, and a self-proclaimed ‘class clown’. I would try to set the tone for my classroom amongst my classmates with jokes, and I thought, the bigger the audience, the grander my performance could be. However, in this particular class, the teacher was a formidable opponent. She was short in stature, very elegant and full of finesse, and seemed to lock in on me like a torpedo before the tardy bell even sounded. Her name was Mrs. Kerr, and I would soon learn that she wasn’t one to play around.
One day while in English class, I began to get comfortable and execute my form of cheap humor. I led off with a cough, and a slight sneeze; silly acts that usually worked pretty well with getting my audience into position. But my act was snuffed out immediately. “Don’t you sneeze or cough in my. Take that outside”. Those were the words spoken directly to me and I knew she was serious by the way Mrs. Kerr stared into my eyes. From that point on, I never laughed in her class unless I was led by her permission to do so. I must admit that my ego was a little bruised, but I would eventually get over it.
In so many words, she helped me to understand my purpose in no laughing matter. I genuinely appreciate Mrs. Kerr. She helped me to understand the English instruction she provided was not a laughing matter, and I or anyone else wouldn’t prevent the learning and growth of other students.
As the school year progressed, I began to look forward to my fourth period English class and spending time with Mrs. Kerr. I soaked up every bit of information that she had to offer, studied every poem, and recited them back to her with precision, and made it a point to show her that she changed my life by stopping me from robbing myself of sound instruction.
Mrs. Kerr obviously loved me and her other students, thousands of them she encountered for several decades of teaching. She is my hero. Students like me all deserve a hero such as Mrs. Kerr in their classrooms, either in the form of a peer or instructor. She helped me to understand that my purpose was no laughing matter.
Terry L. Watson
For General Inquiries huami.houston@gmail.com
Atlanta, GA
Good God , Almighty Jarell Smalls
He Knows Good Food Brandon Emmitt
Meantime Max Jay Maxwell
Beannies Body Therapy Juliette Chambers
Karena Washington
Jayresa Sass Through her owns battles
Monica Moyer Her love is unconditional. Her sweet deserts are unbelievably delicious.
Prince Antonio Kelly He is real cutey. Meet Huami Magazine Cutest Baby
Karena Washington writingfrommyheart
By Terry L. Watson
Who is Karena Washington? “I am an educator, author, and someone who enjoys the serene moments life has to offer,” she says.
A native of West Helena, AR, she graduated from Central High School in 2000. Next she enrolled at Central Arkansas, and received her undergraduate degree in business in 2007. With her academic accomplishments taken care of, she then worked with kids with special needs. “This had nothing to do with my degree in business, however caring for kids truly pulled at my heart, so much so that I decided to make a career of it,” she says.
She then moved to Missouri in 2007, settling in the area of St Louis where she eventually learns of a school district whose sole purpose is to provide education and inclusion opportunities for kids with special needs. She got a job as a paraprofessional and the rest is history. She began working on her masters during the Fall of 2009 and graduated December 2012. Three months after receiving her Masters of Arts in Teaching, she was hired as a Special Education teacher.
The Lost Coin is the first book that she has authored, to be specific she actually has co-authored this book along with others. The book makes reference to how women have lost something, who instead of seeking God, relied on thier intitution and direction for sellf fulfillment. Karena shares this decision didn’t make her situation any better, it actually made it worse.
The other part of the book talks about losing her parents. “When you lose your parents, both of them, it makes you feel empty,” she says. While enduring this loss, someone came along, making her feel loved again, and provided her with a sense of family. This was far from what was about to happen. The person she thought was her saving grace would turn out to be a nightmare. She lost emotionally, finacially,
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Photos by Xmedia360
“My testimony is I learned that I am not out of reach. I don’t care how low you may feel, God will come and pull you out of it. God tried pulling me out so many times, but I refused to come along. Things didn’t change in my life until I decided to make a change.”
Pictured with Karena is her sister Kocysha LaShaun, who also co-authored on the book, The Lost Coin.
and physically. “All of this happended because I wanted to be a part of something. I wanted to belong,” she says.
Relief came in the form of abscense. The person she relied on was removed from her life. Things weren’t totally in order. She was living in a hotel. She was working three jobs, and going to school. In March 2013, she began to feel things were getting back in order.
“The biggest message that I want to convey in the book is to let others know who may find themselves in a similar situation, they’re not alone. There has been so many who have traveled this path and survived. I survived and so can you,” she says.
Karena says she is inspired by the impact of her life and testimony. “All that I endured happened for a reason. My pain was not in vain. I believe that others can be helped by learning of my struggle and my journey,” she says.
“My testimony is I learned that I am not out of reach. I don’t care how low you may feel, God will come and pull you out of it. God had tried to pull me out so many times, but I refused to come along. Things didn’t change in my life until I decided to make a change,” she says. “It was a covering that protected me from going down the wrong path. It was nothing but His grace and His mercy that protected me from going down the wrong path,” she says.
With all that Karena has endured, the loss of her parents and being trapped in an unhealthy relationship for years, she still smiles. It’s hard to take the joy from a person who has seen life at its darkest levels, losing on all fronts, and still hanging in the fight long enough to see God move. Her joy has been validated.
The advice she offers to others who may follow in her footsteps as an author is to follow your heart. “Be authentic. Speak from your heart. Listen to your inner voice so that you are following the path that needs to be followed. This will ensure that you reach the people who need you the most. Stay real to yourself and understand that no one cares more for you than you do for yourself,” she says.
It hasn’t been a smooth ride, but its the road that God prepared for her to travel. “Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. Every part of this journey has taught me lessons that have not only been beneficial to me, but has helped others who I’ve crossed paths with,” she says.
In the future, Karena plans to speak more rather than write, about her life experiences. However, she understands that it’s ultimately up to what God says. She understands this all to well, and as fate would have it, she is currently writing a childrens book.
To learn more about Karena Washington, please purchase a copy of the book, The Lost Coin by visiting her website.
karena@unabridgedsolutions.net thelostcoinap.com/karena (to purchase book) h
Lately, the world’s lens has been focused on maintaining better skincare. Beannie’s Body Therapy & Botanicals does just that. The owner, Juliette Chambers, gives consumers the chance to embark on their skincare journey.
Huami Magazine caught up with Chambers and allowed her to explain how she became the innovative entrepreneur she is today.
What key elements from your background have contributed to the foundation of Beannie’s?
I’m an original Charlottean, (Charlotte, NC) but don’t ask me for directions because I give landmarks, not street names. LOL.
My mom was an LPN and honestly, I developed my love for nursing and helping people from her. My father was a man that worked with his hands and could perform up to any task, so he had several irons in the fire.
When I was born, my father said that I looked like a butter bean because I was fat and yellow. He also chose my first name, Juliette. However, the name “Beannie” came from my cousins because they didn’t want to say Butter Bean. “Beannie’s”, came about because I use the beans and the seeds of plants in every product that I make.
Explain your journey from nursing student to business owner.
As a nursing student, I was following the footsteps laid down by my mother. I inherited the want and natural inclination to nurture others. Working in the inpatient pharmacy at the hospital for years eventually left me with a bitter taste for the medical system. I didn’t take medications and, I couldn’t see shoveling them out to patients at such a large capacity anymore. I wanted to do some sort of holistic healthcare.
My mother had started seeing a massage therapist around 2004, and was raving about how great that she felt after years of wear and tear on her body as a nurse. I was excited to learn how massage therapy could heal a person! And, In massage therapy school we talked about the open opportunities of being an independent contractor and working for yourself, which was music to my ears.
So, I did holistic massage therapy for nearly 10 years before I set out to move in another direction. In 2015, I took my bucket list career as a flight attendant and decided that wherever I got based that I would just move there. While it was an amazing career, I could never loose sight of my passion.
Seeing that black businesses are prospering right now, how does it feel to have a successful black business?
This is a wonderful and interesting time to be Black and a Black woman! As a Black woman in business, it feels amazing to receive patronage from my people. The explosive movement to “buy black” has been important in maintaining our companies so that we can continue to serve.
How are you able to not give in to imposters syndrome while there are various companies in your industry?
I have been making products since 2007, so there has been a lot of trial and error. There was no Youtube University when I started doing this. I quickly stopped worrying about what others are doing because a rose does not look to other roses to see how they are growing, it does its own thing.
Regardless of the saturation in the skincare market, there is plenty of money out there for us to all be successful. Beannie’s Body Botanicals utilizes minimal, key ingredients that deliver maximum results. Made specifically for those with ultra-sensitive skin is why I don’t use a lot of ingredients.
During the development of your brand, what were some hardships you faced? How were you able to overcome them?
Since starting to develop a brand, I have faced challenges because I wasn’t given a handbook on how to build a successful business on my own. I have never had a business partner and so I have always had to be a jack of all trades. There have been issues in the past where I reached out to other companies for things like help with my labels/packaging, website design, and business development/coaching. However, I ended up with incomplete work, loss of money, or stolen ideas. I just keep doing what I can do on my own 13 years later. I am still in this, and very happy to be.
Good God, Almighty
“I came from a single parent home and I was raised by my grandmother and mother who are both great women of faith. They raised me and my siblings through difficult circumstances ...... Even though I didn’t grow up with a father in the home I still had a great covering because my grandmother really stressed the importance of being in church and prayer.”
By Marrissa Dick - Photos by Jarell Smalls
Music is an important part of our daily lives. Many people listen to music from the time they wake up in the morning to the time they go to bed. Through music, artists write stories that cause you to become emotional because the listener can identify with the words. It would be fair to say that music is a cultural way of relating to people and its variety of sounds are endless; however, no genera of music has the rich history of Gospel music. Gospel music has been relevant in American society for over a century and its impact is still prevalent till this very day.
An English playwriter, William Congreve, once wrote, “Music has charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” This famous quote has been put to the test in the medical community with both humans and animals alike to witness the calming affect that music has on the brain and the body. Research has shown that music has both calming and healing properties. These healing properties can be seen in Gospel music as people have been known to fall down on their knees in worship to release their heartache, pain, fear, and even their joy. Gospel music could possibly have this type of affect because it was born from “Negro Spirituals” which were hymns that were sung by slaves in the South. Such songs as “Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd”, “Wade in the Water”, and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” were bellowed aloud while working in the fields to send coded messages to runaway slaves on how to get to freedom - - the Underground Railroad. Gospel music is so inspirational that it can invite The Holy Trinity to “come on in the room” and He will indeed enter. Meet Jarell J. Smalls, Gospel singer extraordinaire, minister, COVID-19 survivor, author, and one who pays homage to his ancestorial Gospel roots. Minister Jarell is a native of (downtown) Charleston, South Carolina and was raised by his grandmother and mother in The New MaryAnn Missionary Baptist Church located in unincorporated towns of Cainhoy, Wando, and Huger South Carolina also known as DC or “Deep Country”.
It is through this ministry where he initially gained an appreciation for “Good Old Fashion Church”. He shares, “I came from a single parent home and I was raised by my grandmother and mother who are both great women of faith. They raised me and my siblings through difficult circumstances. I mean we lived in the projects and we survived off of government assistance. Even though I didn’t grow up with a father in the home I still had a great covering because my grandmother really stressed the importance of being in church and prayer. So, I grew up in a little church called The New
MaryAnn Missionary Baptist Church and that’s where my gifts were founded. I remember always getting in trouble at church because I would tear up fans so I could use the wooden handles for drumsticks. It was my grandmother who would tell everybody to leave me alone because I was going to be somebody one day and she was right. And so, the drums became my passion and eventually I got my first drum set and I went down in the church history as the first recorded drummer ever in the church.” Being a survivor isn’t new to Jarell. In 1989 when hurricane Hugo made his presence known Jarell can remember “wading through the water” with his family to reach the Gilyard Auditorium which had been converted to an evacuation shelter. Like most who survived Hurricane Hugo, the Smalls family lost everything but St. James 5:16 tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” and it was being immersed in prayer that he and his family came through by always keeping God first in their lives in good and bad times.
In the mid-1930’s Black churches began using the Hammond organ, a cheaper version of the pipe organ, during its services. This newly invent organ afforded musicians the opportunity to control melodies while simultaneously being able to play the bass using their feet. Soon the Hammond organ became an essential companion to the rhythmical preacher and forged the sound of praise break music. Jarell recalls, “I worked at a music store in Charleston called Fox Music House. I had a wonderful mentor there by the name of Mr. Charles Fox. Mr. Fox trained and taught me how to sell drums, keyboards, and he also taught me how to demo the Hammond organ. One of my strategies was to demo the organ at the church that wanted to buy it. So, when I arrived at that particular church, I would play that Hammond organ like I was in church and they would fall in love with the organ. In 2009 I was voted the top Hammond salesman in the USA.” This is one of Jarell’s first accomplishments, but it was one that could have made or broken his musical career. He shares, “I was doing really well still playing the drums and the Hammond and then I had an opportunity with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Well, I didn’t have formal training in any of the instruments I played so I couldn’t read music; I played by ear. I was always able to slip through the cracks until one day the gig was up. The Official Conductor, Mr. Vincent Dan, came in, we went over a song, and I missed one chop on the song. It was scripted by notes, but I didn’t know that because I couldn’t read music. Of course, he caught it, stopped the rehearsal, and threatened to sue me because he thought I would mess up his show. But God is good, and he gave me another chance. I will never forget what he said to me. Mr. Dan said, “It’s okay to fake your way through, but it’s even better to know your way through”. That experience and those inspirational words helped shaped who I am as an artist today.” Constructive feedback when given in the right spirit can be appreciated by anyone. Thank goodness Jarell Smalls was humble and emotionally mature enough to accept it.
As Gospel music progressed it did so initially with male dominated quartets singing a cappella. The similarities of how Gospel music has emerged throughout history certainly parallels Jarell’s beginnings. “My family had a Gospel group called, The Sensational Gospel Singers, but all I did with them was play the drums. I was introduced to Huilo Johnson and we started a group called, The Gospel Inspirations. When we got together, we recorded our first cd entitled, “Get Ready”. Now that song became very popular, and it afforded us the opportunity to travel all over the country performing it.” Jarell credits his time with the quarte as one that matured him as an artist. After a prosperous season of performing with the quartet, Minister Jarell, eventually embraced his calling as a solo artist in the Gospel industry. He credits Lee Williams and The Spiritual
QC’s for his style of singing. “I grew up listening to his music on the radio. Everybody called me little Lee Williams he was my mentor, and he didn’t even know it. Then one day I was afforded the opportunity to meet Mr. Williams and sing for him and it’s been a blessing ever since. Through that meeting the doors were opened for me to meet other Gospel bedrock groups such as Darrell McFadden, the Canton Spirituals, and Doc and the Hi-Lites. We all know that favor ain’t fair, but it’s certainly a blessing for the person that the favor is bestowed upon. Throughout his career Jarell has recorded many notable songs that have gone viral. Such songs as “We Wish You A Merry Christmas in July” and “Mary Rock The Baby” afforded him the opportunity to travel overseas and throughout Europe singing those coveted titles. When he returned home those songs were even more popular and still today are the most requested songs. In 2016, Jarell recorded a song entitled, “Prayer Room” a remix rendition of “Come On In The Room” originally sung by the Georgia Mass Choir. He put his own spin on the old Gospel song then gave it away for free. How many of us know that when you plant good seed in healthy soil and water it with a truthful heart it will not return to you void. Jarell also gave that song away and his harvest returned like a boomerang as that song went viral, too. Throughout his career his music has garnered national acclaims as his music has been considered for both the Grammy and Stellar Awards. Jarell Smalls and Company has currently released another hit single entitled, “We Need Your Power” which is steadily climbing the Gospel Billboard charts.
Jarell’s musical career has also allowed him to sing for many notable people. He shares, “I’ve sang for events with the NAACP. I even sang for Senator Burnie Saunders campaign. I’ve played for then vice president, Joe Biden, and I’ve sung for Hillary Clinton. My music career has allowed me to work with and learn from notable singers like Ty Trippet, Hezekiah Walker, and Anthony Brown. I mean from Pastor Kim Burrell to Leandra Johnson. All of these Gospel giants support my work.” So, what makes these Gospel greats so enticed by Jarell’s music?
“I’m told that people enjoy my music because my style of singing separates me from everybody else. I just call it Gullah Geechee Gospel. I have an accent that causes a lot of people to mistake me for being Caribbean or Jamaican, but I’m neither.
I’m from downtown Charleston so I sing the way I talk. I don’t try to add any bells and whistles or runs. When I sing my intent is for you to keep your mind on Jesus. That’s probably why I really appeal to the great aunts and uncles, the grandparents, you know that generation because they can relate to the sound and the words.” Thank goodness for The New MaryAnn Missionary Baptist Church. It was on those hollowed and prayed up grounds where the Spirit moved over his body, went underneath his skin, ebbed through his bones, and rested in the marrow for such a time this.
Often times when people start out with humble beginnings and they achieve financial success some have a tendency to squander their monies, but that was not going to be Jarell Smalls story. Instead, he thought about investing his monies, so he opened a restaurant in 2019 called, Mama Pearls Kitchen in Allensville, South Carolina. The restaurant became a success as it served southern cuisine like your grandmother used to make until COVID-19 forced it to close its doors. Jarell shares, “The pandemic didn’t just shut down the restaurant, it shut me down too. It almost took my life. When I first started not feeling well, I quarantined myself for 11 days, but I wasn’t getting any
better. So, I went to the hospital and I was told that I had pneumonia. I was given antibiotics and a steroid, and they sent me home but that next day I took a turn for the worst. I called my sister because I was having difficulty catching my breath. She suggested that I go back to the hospital, but I didn’t want to do that because I was there the day before. Well, she came over, took a look at me and called 911. When the paramedics arrived, they looked at me the same way my sister did, and they rushed me to the hospital. I must have passed out because the next thing I remember is being in a glass room and feeling pain shooting through my leg. I understand now that the doctors were trying to drill a path for an IV to be inserted through my bones, but because I was fighting, they couldn’t finish the procedure. I remember seeing the doctor throw up his hands and I heard him say, ‘We’ve done all we can do,’ and then I was left there by myself. It was like they were waiting for me to die. When I woke up again it was three weeks later, and I was strapped down. I was told by Nurse Charles that I had died three times and had been placed on a ventilator to keep me breathing. Spiritually I must have known something was happening because I kept telling myself that I wasn’t dead I just couldn’t accept that but at the same time I still see things going on, but nobody could hear me. I was in the hospital for almost a month before I could even speak to anyone. After I was released, I started having panic attacks so I had to go to therapy which was the best thing that could have ever happened. Through counseling I gained an understanding of what happened to me. I learned what panic attacks actually are, why I was having them, and I learned how to handle them. I was also able to gain clarity on other things in my life.” It suffices to say that freely sowing musical seeds paved the way for Minister Jarell Smalls to find favor with the Roper Charity Foundation because he was blessed to have his $300,000 hospital bill paid in full. You see, when you give out of the abundance of your heart you shall reap the reward.
Jarell Smalls has made significant deposits into the lives of many congregations throughout the land. He is a man full of wisdom, strength, faith, and power. He desires to continue traveling the world singing and preaching the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. Be on the lookout for his first book entitled, “I HAVE A REASON TO LIVE: Surviving COVID-19” which is soon to be released. You may want to purchase an advanced copy because everything he does in the Kingdom has the tendency to go viral.
h
Her Love Has No Limits
Monica Moyer
By Fanta Dorley
by Dorjae’ McClammey
“You never know what God has planned for you but keep the faith”. Famous inspirational words from a small-town girl with a great heart.
Monica Moyer was born and raised in Martinsville Virginia. While surrounded by the loving support of family and friends, she always knew there were great things planned for her life. While growing up in a close-knit community and helping her mother and grandmother bake in the kitchen, she had her hands full, but still enjoyed every moment. She found herself always thinking of different crafty baked experiments, and even connected with local party planners to provide treats for events. And just like that, Monica found something that she was not only good at, but loved to do as well: Bake, bake and bake some more.
Remember, that baking was a huge part of her life as a child. So, in the early 2000s, Monica decided to perfect her craft by taking classes for cake decorating. Although she enjoyed the class, the magic didn’t happen all at once. As a matter of fact, things were beginning to take a great toll on her. She was in transition with moving and adjusting to a new city, in addition to getting married and raising a young family, life became a lot. That didn’t stop her, though it may have slowed the progress down a little, her spirit and drive motivated her to continue to learn more about baking techniques and owning a business.
The opportunity of entrepreneurship came quickly in 2019. With her husband’s support and encouragement, Monica prayed and decided that it was time to go after her dreams.
Like all divine transactions, there was a post on Facebook advertising a bakery for sale in Archdale, N.C. Now with every dream, there is a level of reality that sets in and makes you ask yourself questions like: “How can we afford this?” “Is this the right time to own a business?” “Am I ready for all of this?” Monica shares these questions troubled her, as she had to make the decision quickly as to whether to pursue this bakery location or wait for another opportunity to come. She decided to step out on faith and go after what she wanted.
“My bold faith walk did not come without obstacles and a roller coaster of emotional decisions. I placed a bid on the location but was lost to another bidder in the first week. This could have been a devastating blow, but my faith reassured me this was my time for success,” she says. Monica and her family continued to pray for direction and strength to endure. A couple of days later, she received a call from the owners of Archdale Bakery saying that the bid fell through and the opportunity is still available.
Monica and her family were overjoyed by the news, though they had more questions: “Can we afford this, and how can this work?” Again, Monica stepped out on faith and asked the owner to give her 60 days to pay full deposit amount. The owner agreed with one stipulation; she must start in March 2020 instead of July. So, she did, and the Moyer family became proud owners of Archdale Bakery.
Photos
Pictured with Monica is Tiwanna Hairston
Photo by Demetrius Covington
“What Tawanna didn’t expect was for Monica to share some life changing news with her; she was a match. Of course, tears flowed, and joy spread throughout the building.”
Photo by Demetrius Covington
March is the month when seasons change, and opportunities develop, however Monica wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen. It was around the same time that COVID 19 hit the nation as the world’s greatest pandemic, two weeks after opening day. More questions began to settle in Monica’s mind about did she make a mistake about purchasing the bakery. Furthermore, she had no clue as to how long the pandemic would last. “When you have the level of faith as I have, those type of questions only last for a moment. I immediately began to regroup and redirect my services,” she says. The location adjusted to offering curbside only service per government regulations. With some help from Jackie White of the Greensboro Black Cash Mob, the bakery was able to start getting online orders. Not only that, but Monica’s former employer at a banking call center began to make orders for events and allow employees to make orders. Things were looking up for the bakery. Monica and family were overjoyed with the areas of blessings and opportunity.
Monica knew that to whom much is given, much is required. While still building the brand of the bakery, Monica and family continued to strengthen their faith by attending a local church. This is the same church that the Moyers met their good friend Tiwanna Hairston. “She is more than just their good friend; she is like family. Tiwanna and I have experienced so many things together, but she has always been a constant encouraging force,” Monica shares. One day at church, Monica noticed that Tiwanna’s social media page was asking for anyone to be a match for a kidney donation. No matter how Monica tried to shake it, the page just kept tugging on her heart. She even tried to explain the feeling away by convincing herself she just needed to pray for Tiwanna, hoping that someone else would step up. As time passed, no one did step up and after talking it over
with her husband, she knew what she had to do. As fate would have it, she was a match. Monica and Tiwanna’s daughter decided to present this news to her in a special way. The church choir decided to bring Tiwanna in for a special tribute to her mother, who had passed away a few weeks prior. What Tiwanna didn’t expect was for Monica to share some life changing news with her; she was a match. Of course, tears flowed, and joy spread throughout the building. The journey has now begun.
During the recovery period, people can give you advise as to what you should expect, but it does not quite pinpoint what you will experience. On October 6, 2020, the surgery was performed, and it was a success. The kidney transplant brought two families closer together. Tiwanna’s daughter even expressed her gratitude to Monica for helping her mom be there for her future graduation and wedding. For Monica, physical recovery was a challenge. She was out of work for six weeks which really took a toll on her business. Yet through the support of her awesome staff, she was able to take the recovery time needed and bounce back.
Through this entire experience, Monica is grateful for every outcome. Her friend’s life is restored, and she was able to play a part in her rebirth. The transplant also caused a change in her family. She has always been active but never really health conscious. Now her husband and son are more aware of their health and decided to start taking vitamins and seeing the doctor regularly. Monica says, “It is very important for those in the African American community to know their blood type and be an organ donor.”
Monica reflects to a teacher calling her the black unicorn; saying that she is “royalty in the world that people can’t see.” She shares, “what life has taught me is that family is everything and lessons are learned every day. I can see the life lessons being learned through my son working at the bakery. He started off putting out the cookies, but now he is creating items for the menu, and adding input to daily operations. His role is very promising for the extended future of the bakery.”
Monica plans to have more programs that will help develop the creative and entrepreneurial talents of the youth. Until then, the community will continue to enjoy the sweet and savory delicacies that Archdale Bakery provides. Although many of the same recipes of the original bakery are still being used, Monica and the crew are creating new crowd pleasers like Cracked Grapes, Candy Apples, Famous Strawberry Crunch Cake, and Banana Pudding. They have even started doing gourmet donuts that are a big hit at local corporate meetings.
The future for Archdale Bakery is looking delicious and it is strengthened by a strong, willing, and compassionate owner who has a giving heart for her community. To satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by their location. h
By Fanta Dorley - Photos by Michael Duncan
“The community was always supporting me, but I know it was God that was guiding me”
From the family kitchen to kitchens around the world, Chef Brandon Emmitt has earned his place as one of the nation’s premier Chefs. If you ask him, he’d say, “I’m just doing what I love to do”. With an armor of modesty and humility, along with a spirit of curiosity and skill, Chef Brandon shows us how carving a path can be all that it’s cooked up to be.
Brandon Emmitt was born and raised in the Dallas/Frisco area of Texas. Being the younger brother of the five children, he was the recipient of life’s lessons and benefits. “My dad kept us in church and busy with school so there wasn’t much room for anything else,” he says. “As a rising high school football star, many of the community supported my journey, and even encouraged me to pursue a professional career in the NFL,” Brandon shares.
At the time, that did not seem too far-fetched to achieve being that Brandon had begun receiving awards and was looking forward to landing a full athletic scholarship at a local university. As the young NFL grew into adulthood, he began to develop strong morals and values which placed him in a dilemma with his environment. He remembers, “As I grew older, I realized that I couldn’t be in the NFL, because It directly went against my spiritual values of working on Sunday,” he says. Brandon believes Sunday is sacred and should be used to spend time with God and family. So, he had to find something else to do.
Just about that time, tragedy struck his childhood. His parents decided to get a divorce which hit him emotionally hard. “I thought what am I going to do? So much is going on and I just don’t know what to do,” he says. During this time, his mother became sick and most of his family was scattered around the country, and Brandon found himself in a position to make some tough, life decisions. However, he did what he knew best. He got down on his needs and began to pray.
Through his increased prayer-life, he was able to reflect on things that molded and shaped his values in order to give him direction. So instead of going to college as planned, life’s challenges took him on a path of self-reflection and seeking direction.
First, he reflected on his father. He shares, “I watched my father work 12-hour days and still came home and cooked for us. And when he cooked, he threw down”. Being from Louisiana, you can just imagine the various dishes that grazed the table. Hot water cornbread, black eyed peas, and fried chicken. He next reflected on head culinary chef instructor and school mentor, Robert Bifulco. When Brandon’s parents divorced in 2002, he decided to stick around and help his mom out instead of going away to school. While working odd jobs, Brandon was encouraged to take advantage of a program offered at a local community college that provided him with an Associate of Applied Science Culinary Arts Degree. “That’s when I came across Mr. Bifulco. He stayed on me and kept me grounded,” he says. Brandon realized that he not only needed skill development, but also personal development. That’s what Robert Bifulco provided.
After finishing at the top of his class in the Culinary program, Brandon worked at a major hotel kitchen and that was the beginning of his of his life’s career. “I decided, I wanted to travel the world and learn how to make dishes from other cultures,” he says. After starting at a
hotel with a friend in California, he sought opportunities that was posted through the hotel. The position allowed him to make bold and risky moves like transferring to the hotel’s location in South Beach Florida. After he learned all that he could from the Floridian culture, he traveled to Puerto Rico and worked there for one year. Next of the map, Chef Brandon travelled to San Bernardino, CA but didn’t stay long due to a great opportunity to work in the Dominican Republic, after a short stay there, he moved back to Dallas.
By 2014, He reunited with his old childhood friend and got married. In addition to having his son that year, he also gave birth to his dream of catering.
Unfortunately, in 2016 he had to start all over after going through a divorce. “God got my attention. I began to pray more and ask God for direction,” he says. He felt like God was punishing him for not being obedient, but soon came to realize the bad experiences were just inspiration and motivation. In the beginning of March 2020, he decided to make a post on social media of a dish he made. He posted a dish online every day for five months. His consistency paid off. “I can remember God saying, ‘You post your food, and I will send them to your page
Next, he rented community kitchen spaces to prepare meals and Emmitt’s Catering was born. His niche is not having a set menu. “When a client calls to tell me what they want to eat, it is a good challenge for me to create that experience for them,” he says. Although based in Southland, TX, Emmitt’s Catering is open to travel and has a staff of six people and can offer services as a personal chef, meal prepping, and online cooking classes.
Chef Brandon also finds time to give back to the community by providing meals from frontline workers as well as those experiencing homelessness. He has developed a go fund me page called “Ware Against Hunger since November 2020.
Cooking for other gives him a level of satisfaction and pleasure that is indescribable. “When I see the happiness, my food brings to people, I can’t pick a favorite dish because it’s trumped by the common feeling of providing their favorite experience,” he shares. “With everything I do, I want people to know that their food was made with love. So, I tell them that with every delivery.”
Moving forward, Chef Brandon plans to take his “experience” around the globe. He is not sure how God is going to connect all those dots, but he knows it will happen. Currently, he is the number one ranked in a nationwide contest called “Favorite Chef”. This win will catapult his vision into place by awarding him a $50,000 cash prize, as well as a feature in Bon Appetite Magazine. When asked how the ranking makes him feel, he responded, “It is not about titles but more about the inboxes that I am getting with people honoring me and asking my opinion.”
Chef Brandon understands that when God gives to you, the more you must give to others. With all of his life experiences, he rose beyond the concrete and proved that all experiences do make you stronger and all gifts will make room for you. You just must keep focused and stick with it. To learn more about Chef Brandon, please contact him directly. h
Jayresa She Is Bringing Others Up
By Terry L. Watson
by Jay Resa
Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at? These three words were made famous by the late, great rapper, Notorious Biggie Smalls. Ironically, March is the month that celebrates women as well as the birth month of Christopher Wallace (Biggie Smalls). Though there isn’t any blood connection, if you’re from Brooklyn, then you are family, so Jayresa is family.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Jayresa Sass wears many hats and offers her love unconditionally. She is a mother of two, a dog mommy of two, and a plant junkie. She is also a Certified Spiritual and Trauma Informed Coach, speaker, author, healer, humanitarian, visionary, mentor, talk show host, radio host, and solopreneur. Her journey throughout life has been full of laughs and some tears. There have been ups and some downs, some gains, and a few losses. Though not defeated, Jayresa says those moments have shaped her into the total and complete woman she is today.
Jayresa started her career in coaching after experiencing several traumatic incidents throughout her childhood. She searched for answers and an outlet to manifest true love within herself. Eventually, she decided that sharing her unique story would change the lives of others. One way was to create a unique media platform under the brand, She is Not Her Trauma. Through this platform, she shares her own message while also teaching women how to strengthen their emotional and spiritual mindsets. They learn about avenues for restorative healing, support, engagement as well as how to embrace their truth, their trauma, and their transformation. “I seek to change the narratives for women during their difficult moments by hosting several interviews, masterclasses and workshops. These programs are focused on teaching them how to recognize and insert themselves into the healing process, from trauma, helping to define freedom and success,” she says. She is Not Her Trauma is designed for women and coaches to educate and empower them on how to share their stories, which opens new conversations people often shy away from. The platform provides exposure on all social media platforms, including iHeart radio and other streaming services.
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There’s also Jayresa Sass, LLC, through which she provides one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and workshops for women looking to define freedom and success after trauma. Through her business, I Am Enough, Inc., she equips people with mental health and intellectual disabilities on how to improve their social life both virtually and physically within the community.
In August 2019, things began to happen real fast for Jayresa. She lost two full-time jobs due to a knee injury. Not knowing what her next steps should be, she decided to utilize her skills to make a living. During October 2019, she was invited to a domestic violence event to speak, encourage women, and share more about I Am Enough, Inc. “When it was my turn to speak, in that very moment, God used me to share my testimony on my experiences with domestic violence. From that moment I began to learn my own story from childhood with God’s direction,“ she says.
It’s obvious that she is walking in her purpose. Things are happening and lives are being transformed all because she opened the windows of her life and provided a transparent experience for the pains and fears of others. “My favorite part of business is helping people who once felt lost gain exposure and provide them a place to shine their light on the world through their stories. I am encouraged simply by encouraging others. I’m inspired by laughter, healing, and anything that has the potential to create and maintain the passion of healing. This gets my heart and creativity pumping,” she shares.
While the road could have been easier, there isn’t much she would change about it. “To learn about my own trauma so late in life showed me how we are all silently crying out for help. God has designed my journey in a way that anyone who needs my services can find me.”
For others who may follow a similar path as Jayresa, her advice is simple, “Become the scientist of your own life. Ask questions regarding those things that once left you curious.” Her plans moving forward is to continue creating and developing outlets for people to take ownership of their story and shine their light on the world. To learn more about Jayresa Sass, please contact her directly, or visit her website. h
ArshawnaWarren Christian Branding & Marketing
By Jalessa Rogers
Photos by Arshawna Warren
In the era of smartphones and social media there are many ways that both can help establish and grow your business. For example, in the middle of a pandemic, social media has presented itself to be a useful platform for businesses such as churches and other ministries. Arshawna Warren, a Cleveland, OH native, is a Christian branding and marketing professional. With her business, I Am Arshawna LLC, she has been successful utilizing social media as a tool to help ministries stay active and spread their message and information.
Born and raised by a single mother in Cleveland, Warren was an active child, involved in singing, dancing, painting, acting, and ministry. “Being an only child raised by a two-time breast cancer survivor, my mother made sure I was educated on selfbreast exams,” she says. During a self-exam, Warren discovered a lump and was later diagnosed with breast cancer at the tender age of sixteen. After being examined by her doctor and having a lumpectomy, her cancer was discovered and removed in surgery.
After her experience with breast cancer, Warren started a workshop called Be Pretty in Pink, in 2013. “My workshop was created to educate middle school and high school girls about breast cancer, encourage them, empower them, and teach them about the seriousness of breast cancer,” stated Warren. Her willingness to help other young girls and educate them about breast cancer gained national attention, and she was invited to be a guest on the Steve Harvey Show. In 2015 with the help of Steve Harvey, she was able to turn her workshop into a nonprofit organization.
As a recent psychology graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, Warren reflects on how her childhood was the reason she chose her school and major. “Being bullied as a child made me want to help young people with their mental health. Although I did not want to stay close to home, I felt that God wanted me to go there,” she says.
“Whatever God has for me, whatever that is, I am going to be helping somebody reach their full potential,” said Warren.
Growing up as an active church member helped Warren figure out a growing market that she could navigate and be successful in. “As a Christian branding and marketing professional my goal is to help different ministries, churches and brands navigate the social media world and market themselves in a professional way,” stated Warren.
Now that it is the third month in this new 2021 year, it has been almost a full year since the first stay at home orders were announced throughout the United States. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of churches and ministry leaders decided to close places of worship and stream their services online. When asked about working with ministries and navigating them during this time,
Warren stated that helping ministries navigate social media and their online presence is a big part of her business and has been even before the pandemic.
“I genuinely believe that my ‘why’ and my purpose is to help people, but it starts from the home. How you cater to the people who are around you, your family members, and your friends, they are what motivates me. I’m truly encouraged by their love and their support.” stated Warren. She feels that her motivation has always been her family, and they are one of the biggest reasons she has accomplished so much in her young life. Motivation to her has been labeled as her “whys” and her “whys” are her family and the people who she serves.
In her business, she has worked diligently to help ministries spread their message about God in an effective way. Warren’s main goals are to have a perpetual effect and reach more people, and to pay it forward as much as possible. She is also a big advocate for mental health because she was bullied as a child, so she plans to “give back to so many people who are struggling,” said Warren.
The future looks bright for Warren and she isn’t displaying any signs of slowing down. She shares her motivating mantra, “whatever God has for me.” To learn more about Arshawna Warren, please visit her website. h
Honeyed Lips and Skincare LLC
By Laci Ollison
Rising entrepreneur Autumn Shelton is taking the natural beauty industry by storm. At just 23-years-old, the Nashville, Tennessee native has managed to disrupt the status quo for individuals her age by starting her own beauty brand and opening up a brick-andmortar location in her hometown.
Autumn is the owner of Honeyed Lips and Skincare LLC, also known as Honeyed Natural Healthy and Beauty. Through her business, Autumn sells and crafts handmade products for her customers.
“I sell and craft handmade all-natural organic lip care, skincare, and wellness products for the overall wellness inside and out,” said Autumn. “Our products are designed to target skin types such as sensitive and dry skin, rashes, eczema, acne, and psoriasis.”
Autumn says that she is adamant about helping her customers achieve healthy skin. “Our main goal is to promote healthy skincare,” she said. “So, we do not use any harsh fragrances, chemicals, alcohols, or steroids!”
It was also her customers that inspired the young entrepreneur to start her business. “[I was inspired by] helping others through the process,” she said. “I have struggled with eczema, sensitive, and dry skin, my WHOLE life. All the dermatology appointments and endless products that did not work for me was just mind blowing.”
After Autumn realized the hard work it took to find products for her skin, that’s when she realized that she had to do something for her own skin, and to help others with similar issues as herself. “Afterwhile I started doing my research and learning about my own body and specific needs,” Autumn said. “I was tired of the steroids and irritants in the soaps and other skincare products I was using and wanted to head in a more all-natural direction.” From there, Autumn gathered the knowledge she had gained and began applying it on her own skin.
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Photos by Harazim Photography
“That’s when I started crafting my own products and changing bad lifestyle habits, and it worked great for me,” Autumn said. “My eczema is now almost completely gone!”
When Autumn realized that she was able to clear up her own skin, that’s when the inspiration to start a business came to her.
“Once I started getting into making products for myself and seeing how beneficial it was and could be for others, I decided to turn what I was doing for myself into something for everyone,” Autumn said. “I started small with family and friends, got great feedback, and then decided to expand with a plan.”
Her products have helped many of her customers get the skincare results that they have been searching for as well. “I have customers that have noticed a wide variety of results,” Autumn said. “From clearer glowing skin, lightening blemishes and dark spots, evening skin tones, less inflammation, and allergic reactions.”
Autumn’s wellness products have also had a positive effect on her customers overall physical wellbeing.
“When it comes to our wellness products,” she said, “sea moss gel and elderberry syrup customers have reported more energy, fewer aches, and pains, as well as better immunity, digestion, weight loss, lower cholesterol, improved a1cs, and longer/stronger hair and nails.
Although her business is now growing, Autumn says that she did face some challenges during the process of opening up her physical store location. “The hardest part was just trying to get everything together from a product aspect and to a shop aspect,” said Autumn. “I wanted it to be an amazing outcome and create a comfortable space for everyone. I always carry a homey vibe and that is what attracts people to me. From a product perspective, I had a lot of new things I wanted to make and get on the shelves before opening.”
Autumn says that she is also still learning to balance all of her life responsibilities as well.
“Balancing everyday life, my healthcare career, and my business can be challenging sometimes yet very rewarding. It just requires having a strong structure and organization. I love what I do in every aspect of my life. Working in health and beauty is my heart and calling.”
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Even with the normal challenges that come along with building a business, Autumn says that there is nothing about her journey that she would change. “I absolutely love being a product of my environment and rubbing off on others and helping them understand a better way of living,” said Autumn. “Change can be uncomfortable but very needed in some cases. You cannot expect results if you don’t try.”
Autumn also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to give up in the pursuit of their own dreams. “Never give up. No matter what challenges are thrown your way you have to keep going,” she said. “No one ever said it would be easy. Build relationships and understand that everything is not for everyone but what you are doing is for someone and they will be grateful for what you are doing.”
And when things do get hard, Autumn says that it is her own journey that keeps her motivated. “My own personal journey motivates me to keep going,” she said. “I have been able to touch and help so many who have some of the same challenges as me and to be able to talk to them and tell them ‘hey we’ll try this or do this to see if it works for you’ makes me feel so good. It’s a blessing to be a blessing.”
Over the next few years, Autumn hopes to continue to grow, scale, and expand her business. “I see myself growing and venturing into other sectors of health and beauty,” said Autumn. “Opening Up another Honeyed location outside of TN is in the plans as well. I am working very hard to improve the overall aspect of Honeyed’s products and services!”
To learn more about Honeyed Lip and Skin Care, please stop their new location, or visit their website.
Pictured with Autumn is her
By Trea’Sure Prince
Jay Maxwell, also known as Meantime Max, was born in Newark, New Jersey to a creative household. He later moved to Greensboro, N.C., and attended James B. Dudley High School. After graduation, Maxwell went on to attend Winston Salem Barber College and obtained his professional barber’s license. He eventually became a successful barber in the triad area.
Maxwell was the youngest of three and has two older brothers. He was raised by a single mother and stated that his mother did her absolute best to make sure that she would raise strong black men, even if she had to do it alone. “My creativity was inspired by “school-teacher mother,” he shares. “She has always been artistic, and her gift eventually rubbed off on me.” To keep him busy, Maxwell’s mother allowed him to assist with creating bulletin boards which ignited his passion for a larger scale of art.
Other than seeing his mother taking art courses in college when he was younger, Maxwell hasn’t had any former training but has always been passionate about street art and graffiti. Unfortunately, his interest led to some trouble and mischief. As a teenager, he was charged for painting the wall of a local grocer, Winn-Dixie. After that, he decided to put a stop to it. After his break from street art and graffiti, he evolved to draw and create mixtape covers for other artist and musicians. He also created flyers for a rap group of which he was a member of at the time. Life would happen and he stopped painting graffiti and street art. Then something horrific happened in our country that would inspire artists from all walks of life to become involved.
After hearing the news of George Floyd’s murder, a black man who was killed at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, MN, the country responded with swift anger and emotions. Many businesses, including those in Maxwell’s home of Greensboro boarded up their business out of fear of being damaged by vandalism. Turns out, that many of these infractions weren’t being committed by the protesters who marched in peace in response to the killing of Floyd. But instead, were being carried out by criminals.
The city started allowing local people to paint on the plywood boards. While taking his daughter to go painting, Maxwell noticed there just were not enough black artists out there participating. So, he got busy and soon many of his works dawned the building of downtown Greensboro. Later the city of Greensboro established a Street Mural Program. It was a huge accomplishment for him to be invited to participate in the “One Love” project in downtown Greensboro. Artists painted “One Love” on Davie Street. Here, he met a lot of the big-time artists who were in town to contribute to this unified cause.
enjoy how random they can be, as well as the freedom of expression my artwork provides,” he says. In his pieces, he also wanted to stop making black men look like victims. Maxwell stated, “I wanted to give black men their power back.”
Photos by Keisha Heggie h
Maxwell has a variety of artwork that he does. His artwork ranges from graffiti and wall murals to canvases and poetry. Mainly his creative energies lead him to create large street art. He described his creativity as “a free bird flying.” “This comparison may be cliché but, it is accurate.”
It is also important to Maxwell to produce pieces that are purposeful. “I did not want my artistry to be put into a box. I
One of his most memorable experiences or works came about a year ago when he lost a good friend of his. Maxwell decided that he wanted to make him into what seemed to be a “black superman” like figure. This piece was very emotional for him, so emotional in fact that he had to stop and take breaks to help keep himself maintained. He also wanted to make sure that he got this particular piece done exactly right. It was done such as it should be, and the finished work has been applauded by onlookers and friends of his deceased friend.
So, what lies in the future for Mr. Jay, “Meantime Max” Maxwell? He plans to use the art to catapult other projects that he has been working on, and he would like to continue selling more canvases. As of right now, Jay Maxwell is continuing to pursue his passion for art. He is also a local barber who owns a barber shop and has been working on producing music. “Meantime Max” is simply a jack of all trades.
If you would like to support artist Jay Maxwell, he uses Shopify, but he accepts direct messages on Instagram where he goes by the handle “MeantimeMax” for serious inquiries.
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By Gamal Williams
How does one turn tragedy into legacy? When the Butler family experienced the tragic murder of her father, the question wasn’t first and foremost in Khadijah Butler’s mind. Craig Butler’s life was an inspiration to Khadijah. Her face lights up when speaking about him. “My father was a family man; he was the life of the party. He was big on having a moral compass, and how my sister and I were to be perceived in the world. He was also a very giving man. He was murdered when I was 19, shot in the groin by a 14-year-old boy over a dispute. Yet, in that short amount of time in my life, he dropped so many jewels on me,” she shares.
The trial of her father’s murderer took a toll on Khadijah. “My first year at Temple University was tough. The trial was over the summer; it was on television and in the newspapers,” she says. She remembered her father’s lessons on education and fearlessness and stayed the course. After graduating summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (the study of the mechanics of body movements), the native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, saw herself working for her hometown team. “I initially wanted to be an athletic trainer for the Eagles! I thought it would be such a cool thing not only as a woman, but as an African-American woman,” she says. When Khadijah went to ply her craft, the hurdles necessary to break into the NFL as an athletic trainer left her a bit discouraged.
“I had to decide and learn how do I pivot. Initially, I though about nursing, but then an old friend said ‘Why don’t you get into clinical research? You have such a big heart and already give back so much. That is an industry you don’t see us in,’” Khadijah says. The idea intrigued her. “I thought ‘Okay. I could still use my degree. I could still focus on science. I could be a part of a new medical treatment or medication that could help people, especially with what’s going on today with COVID-19. Plus, I saw that there wasn’t really a lot of African-American women in that field.”
Undeterred and renewed, she decided to recommit herself to school and obtained her Master of Science in Management from Rosemont College. “I get my work ethic from my father, my fearlessness from him,” she shares. Khadijah accepted a position as a Project Data Manager for Clinical Research Organization, an opportunity that became extremely fulfilling for her. Yet, despite all of her success, Khadijah felt she could be doing more. It was then
His Legacy Lives On
she remembered the life of someone that molded her into the strong, black woman she is today, her father.
Khadijah wanted to honor her father’s memory while helping the youth of Philadelphia. “We all know the gun violence that occurs in Philly, the educational gaps that exist in America, and when I think of the 14-year-old boy, who is now a man and still in prison, I wondered how could I tie all of that together to honor him? I wanted to redirect our youth on education and not gun violence,” she says.
In January 2020, Khadijah started the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation with the goal of providing scholarships to deserving students. According to the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation website, the CDB aims to aid young adults from under-served populations to pursue higher education. Each year, the CDB Scholarship Foundation will seek future high school graduates to offer financial support as they pursue their dreams in the aftermath of gun violence. The CDB Scholarship is an annual, merit-based competition, that focuses on instilling philanthropic values in ambitious, driven, goal-oriented individuals.
“I didn’t want to make the scholarship centered around what happened to my dad,” Khadijah explains, “but so many people became connected to my story. I decided if I was going to start a business, I wanted to do something to memorialize him. I toyed with the idea for years, then finally decided to just do it. I said, ‘This is the time!’ I wanted to do something to give back and build our family legacy,” she says.
Khadijah smiles now when she talks about her father, because it always leads to discussions of the CDB and how his legacy lives on. “It’s been twenty years since his death, and I miss him, but I am giving back to Philly and getting his name out there in a positive light through the scholarship,” she says.
Hard work. Sound morals. Giving back. Principles that define who Craig D. Butler was as a man, husband, and father, and now his legacy lives on thanks to his daughter for future generations to emulate.
To learn more about the Craig D. Butler Foundation, visit www. craigdbutlerscholarship.com or you can email Khadijah at info@ craigdbutlerscholarship.com.
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Photo by CDB Scholarship Foundation Inc
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