May/June 2025
Vol. 3 Issue 3
That is How It’s Suppose to Happen
A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
It seems like only yesterday. The year was 2023, and hundreds of individuals arrived at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Greensboro, NC. The anticipation of the first Huami Magazine Community Awards Gala had run its course, and by Friday evening, the time had arrived. As I reminisce about that glamorous evening, I can’t help but think of the kindness and support of everyone who helped make that event successful. It wasn’t just one individual; it was the acts of many who shared their gifts, talents, and resources to honor our community leaders for their great works.
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?
While designing and planning the Awards Gala of 2023, which began many months before June 2023, everything that mattered on that evening was for everything to be in its appointed place. That was the beauty of it all: having so many people do great work behind the scenes for the benefit of honoring others. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, yet I was sure that we were in the right place, at the right time, and for all the right reasons: To honor someone.
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.
Of course, I enjoyed the full ambiance of the evening. I enjoyed putting on my tuxedo and being in the company of a lot of Black Excellence. I enjoyed the wondrous sounds of the live band, as well as the informative information delivered by each speaker. However, most importantly, I loved seeing everyone come into place and enjoy a vision God had shared with me many moons before.
As we prepare for the Huami Magazine Community Gala Awards for 2025, the same feelings come to mind from 2023. Everyone is very excited. We have many honorees from many parts of the country traveling to Charlotte, NC. We have some amazing speakers, an incredible lineup of information and entertainment, and most of all, Black Excellence will be on full display.
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.
I truly thank God for all He continues to do in our communities. I am grateful that He has made provisions for this event. It is impossible to do this without God’s grace and the support of so many sponsors and caring individuals. I ask myself why I take on such daunting tasks daily. I think the answer is that God has called for me to do it. While it can be stressful at times, I love it. All of it, and I am looking forward to the next one. Did I just say that?
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
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder
Inquiries
Photo by Shaw Photography Group
Little Rock, AR
Second Baptist Church
Dr. Maurice Watson
Little Rock, AR
The ROCK Academy
Mayor Frank Scott
Learn more about Audretta Hall’s Quest for Health. Her journey has been amazing.. Greensboro, NC
She is Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby. Introducing one beautiful baby. Her name is Demi Noel Martin.
LUXE The Salon Suites
Alysha Johnson
The Cover
Counseling Services
Bria Whitehurst
Arkansas Honorees Rhonda Aaron
The Power of Healing Jill Carlton
The HEEAT Research Lab Dr. Schenita D. Randolph
Information Obtained from Online Source
Little Rock School District Achieves Significant Literacy Milestone Education
Dr. Maurice Watson Second Baptist Church
Dr. Maurice Watson is a distinguished preacher, pastor, and leader who has dedicated his life to ministry and the spiritual growth of communities across the nation. His leadership has transformed congregations, expanded churches, and inspired thousands to grow in their faith. From his early years at St. Mark Baptist Church to his leadership at Salem Baptist, Beulahland Bible Church, Metropolitan Baptist, and now The Second Baptist Church, Dr. Watson has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in ministry, church expansion, and leadership development.
The Little Rock School District (LRSD) has achieved a significant milestone based on the latest ATLAS assessment results and cut scores. The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announced that LRSD has surpassed the performance threshold outlined in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2913, which triggers additional Coordinated Support from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). As a result, LRSD will no longer be required to participate in quarterly Act 1082 check-ins with the district support unit.
Under Arkansas law, DESE provides Coordinated Support to districts where 40-49% of students score in the lowest performance level on the prior year’s state summative reading assessment. The latest results demonstrate that LRSD’s scores have improved beyond this threshold, signaling a positive trend in student achievement and academic progress.
“This is a momentous achievement for our district and a testament to the hard work of our students, educators, and families,” said Dr. Jermall Wright, Superintendent of the Little Rock School District. “We are proud of the progress we’ve made and are committed to maintaining this upward trajectory toward sustained academic excellence.”
This milestone highlights LRSD’s ongoing commitment to improving literacy outcomes and fostering a culture of learning and growth. The District acknowledges the vital role of community partnerships, innovative teaching strategies, and dedicated educators in achieving these results. Information provided by Little Rock School District h
With a deep passion for serving beyond the pulpit, Dr. Watson has made a lasting impact on every community he has touched. His vision extends beyond the church walls, focusing on community engagement, outreach programs, and initiatives that uplift people spiritually and socially. Whether through leadership development, social justice efforts, or mentoring, he remains dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those he serves.
From the moment he acknowledged his call to preach at 16 years old, Dr. Watson has remained steadfast in his mission to spread the Gospel. His powerful preaching, deep theological insight, and unwavering faith have positioned him as a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences. His legacy is built on transforming lives through the Word of God and equipping believers to walk in their divine purpose.
Dr. Watson believes in investing in the future by mentoring and equipping young people with the tools to succeed spiritually, academically, and personally. His commitment to children and youth is evident through his leadership in church programs, educational initiatives, and his own lifelong pursuit of knowledge. His influence extends beyond the present, shaping future generations of leaders and believers.
Residents Obtaining Community Knowledge
Here are their first-person accounts:
Tonisha Davis
We know that civic engagement makes us a stronger City, so in 2025 we are focusing on innovative ways to expand community connections and foster positive outreach. These efforts include our new Mobile City Hall program as well as ongoing courses like R.O.C.K. Academy.
R.O.C.K. stands for “Residents Obtaining Community Knowledge,” and in this immersive, seven-week program, participants learn the nuts and bolts of city government. R.O.C.K. Academy offers a comprehensive understanding of the aspects of city operations, and it helps to strengthen the bond between the City and its residents.
This past week, we finished the 2025 cohort of R.O.C.K. Academy, with 28 new graduates. I asked several of this year’s participants to share their thoughts about the experience. We appreciate their willingness to join the program and to share more about what they learned.
I’m proud to have completed R.O.C.K. Academy, an immersive, hands-on experience in city government that deepened my understanding of how our local government operates, mirroring the structure of our state and federal systems. From engaging with the legislative branch through the Little Rock Board of Directors to gaining firsthand insight into the executive branch under the leadership of Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., this academy equipped us with the tools to be informed, engaged, and effective advocates for our communities.
Through this program, I’ve had the opportunity to build connections, collaborate with passionate peers, and explore real pathways to civic engagement — whether by serving on a commission, attending board meetings, or simply showing up and speaking out. I’m committed to staying involved by advocating for R.O.C.K. Academy and encouraging more residents to step up, speak out, and help shape the future of our city. Together, we can drive meaningful change.
Joshua Dunlap
I proudly completed R.O.C.K. Academy with the City of Little Rock, a seven-week course designed to teach residents how city government works from the inside out. I joined the program to better understand how our city operates so I can more effectively serve my community in Southwest Little Rock as a mentor with Pulaski County Youth Services and through the Upper Baseline Neighborhood Association.
Each week, we had the unique opportunity to hear directly from city leaders across departments like the Police Department, Fire Department, Finance Department, 311 services, and Community and Homeless Services. We learned how each department functions, how they collaborate, and how residents can access and benefit from these services. One of the most memorable moments was when Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., personally visited our class to speak about leadership, transparency, and the importance of civic involvement. His words were both inspiring and affirming.
Our class was led by Melissa Mitchell, a fellow Little Rock Mills graduate, who brought knowledge, heart, and patience to every session. She made the experience not only educational but also empowering. R.O.C.K. Academy reminded me that change begins with understanding and involvement. I am excited to take what I have learned and continue building a stronger, more informed community.
Press Release from Mayor Frank Scott h
AlyshaJOHNSON
LUXE The Salon Suites
LUXE The Academy
“CEO, Beauty Mogul, Mastermind”
By Terry L. Watson
There is so much more to Alysha Johnson than styling hair. While her professional styling skills have taken her to heights and opened doors in her life that she never imagined possible, the North Little Rock, AR, native and businesswoman continues to use her platform to serve others.
Alysha was raised in North Little Rock and has called “The Rock” home her entire life. She comes from a family of five and is the mother of an eightyear-old daughter, an aspiring entrepreneur. She is also raising her brother whose mother passed away.
For most of her life, Alysha has always loved to style hair. “My mother taught me how to braid hair when I was seven years old. From there, I would do everyone’s hair around me. My mother wanted me to go to college as she stated that hairstylists didn’t make money,” Alysha says. After graduating from North Little Rock High School in 2008, she attended The University of Central Arkansas to study Business Administration for two years. While in college, Alysha never lost her passion and love for styling hair. “I was doing hair in my dorms when I got out of my classes. I would eventually let my advisor know that my interest was to style hair. She connected me with someone who was an instructor at Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School. I enrolled there and loved every minute of it. That was in 2010, and I haven’t looked back.”
“My mother taught me how to braid hair when I was seven years old. From there, I would do everyone’s hair around me. My mother wanted me to go to college, as she stated that hairstylists didn’t make money.”
Photos Provided by Corrie Wilson
Alysha attempted to return to college as she didn’t want to appear as a college dropout but found it impossible to juggle the responsibilities of growing her business and being a college student at the same time. She would eventually work inside someone else’s salon for about six years. She says that her goal was to have her own salon, and in 2016, that goal became a reality. “My first salon was an open floor plan. The experience was enjoyable, and it taught me a lot, but it wasn’t as profitable as I thought it would be. It wasn’t producing like I wanted it to. Then, the Covid pandemic arrived, and I realized that my clients needed more privacy. I installed curtains in my salon with an open floor plan, and my clients and other stylists enjoyed that. Soon, I began looking for another location to convert into salon suites. I found one and created 10 salon suites, and that is when my business became more profitable,” she says.
After opening her first salon suite location, Luxe The Salon Suites, Alysha saw a demand for a more personalized experience. Three years passed, and she grew her location into 20 suites in downtown North Little Rock, which encompasses 5000 square feet. Within a few months, all 20 suites were occupied, and Alysha says there is a waiting list for nearly 20 people.
Alysha is a “Boss” and it’s very safe to speak that. “I love being in the position that I am in. It feels amazing,” she says. Not only does she focus on providing the best locations for professionals to work and run their businesses, her goal has also been to educate and provide financial literacy and teach other stylists how to manage their money and businesses. She has done this with her product, LUXE The Academy. LUXE The Academy is an online school for continued education in the beauty industry. With courses like Road Map to 6 Figures, they crack the code on how to add structure and ultimately gain financial freedom behind the chair. They
also help their clients access money to grow their businesses as well. Alysha shares, “I understand the aspirations and ambitions of beauty professionals looking to thrive in their careers. I also recognize that realizing your dreams often requires knowledge and financial support. That’s why Luxe the Academy proudly extends its commitment by offering business funding solutions tailored to the unique needs of beauty professionals.” With Luxe the Academy Funding, Alysha’s clients gain access to up to $100,000 in funding and capital to foster business growth without depleting their personal funds.
Alysha shares that she loves many things about her business. “I love the transformations that take place in my styling chair. Some of my clients suffer from hair loss and Alopecia. I appreciate the opportunities to help other women regain their confidence,” she says. That is from the service side of her business. As a salon owner and the creator of Luxe The Academy, Alysha enjoys being able to offer her clients and other stylists a luxurious experience. “Aesthetics are everything, especially for women. Our location makes my team and I want to come to work and perform to higher capabilities as a stylist. I appreciate the opportunities to help other stylists develop exit strategies out of our profession. I am helping them to plan for their futures, which is something that is not often talked about as hairstylists.”
As successful as she has become, Alysha says it couldn’t have happened without the love and support of family and friends. “My mother has always been everything a mother and woman should be to me. Becoming a mother has been the most life-changing experience I’ve had. All the things my parents taught me and realizing they could only take me so far based on what they knew only heightened my obsession to learn more. I want to create a legacy for my daughter. I am ensuring that she will have one by creating business opportunities for her to manage and own. I want to leave something other than money and debt for my daughter. It’s deeper than leaving money. I want to be a solution to a problem. I want to leave something that her kids and their kids will enjoy. I have been told that if what you are doing only benefits you, it’s too small. What we do should be benefiting and helping others. I want to be a vessel and allow things to flow through me and not stop with me.”
Inside of the Luxe The Salon Suites, Alysha offers more than just professional styling services. There is a beauty supply store that offers a wide variety of products and supplies that stylists who work there will need. For Alysha’s daughter, Journee, there is a vending machine that she manages and runs. “The vending machine is 100% my daughter’s. She makes her own money and it’s being invested for her future,” Alysha says. Additionally, hair extensions and other products are available online and in her store. From the sound of it, there are many streams of income flowing through and around Alysha.
Pictured with Alysha is her mother, Tejuana, and daughter, Journee
While there are many things that have been happening in Alysha’s life, both personal and business, there isn’t much she would change. “I lost my brother a few years ago, and that was a very traumatic experience for me. That was the hardest thing that I have ever been through. Besides that, all of the other things that I have faced, I believe that I needed. The ups and downs, the failures and roadblocks, I needed all of that to help me become the woman that I am today,” she says.
Looking ahead, Alysha is looking to open an additional salon suite location. Her focus is to take Luxe The Academy to new heights. Most recently, she has developed a Salon Suite Master Course, Mastering The Salon Suite Business: The Blueprint, which includes a step by step plan to create your very own salon suite business with little to no experience at all.
In closing, Alysha continues to express her gratitude and appreciation for what life has offered her. “When I think about Harriett Tubman and how she led so many people to freedom and how her efforts helped to provide me an opportunity to dream, I do not take it lightly. I am grateful to be the answer to my ancestor’s wildest dreams and let them know their work was not done in vain.”
If you are in North Little Rock, stop by Luxe The Salon Suites and Luxe The Academy to enjoy The Luxe Experience: The Best Luxury Suites, Hair Extensions, and Beauty Professionals.
The H.E.E.A.T Research Lab
Centering Black Women’s Health, Research, and Community Power
By Terry L. Watson
Photos Provided by Jason Prince
Since 2015, The HEEAT Research Lab (addressing Health Disparities through Engagement, Equity, Advocacy, and Trust) has conducted research to address the health disparities that exist in the African American community, specifically in the areas of sexual health and HIV.
The HEEAT Lab consists of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and community members who are dedicated to addressing health disparities through equity, engagement, advocacy, and trust. Led by Founding Director, Dr. Schenita Randolph, Nurse Scientist, their work has been intentional about normalizing conversations about racial discrimination, racial socialization, racial identity, stigma, and distrust, as these have a major impact on health outcomes of Black communities. The lab uses a system that fosters bidirectional partnership with trusted community members, such as barbershops and beauty salon owners, to co-create education and resources necessary to lower health disparities.
Since 2015, they have co-designed with the community culturally and socially relevant interventions to address the HIV epidemic in the Black community. Most recently, the HEEAT Lab obtained a multi-million dollar federal grant that will allow them to continue their mission in North Carolina. As a part of this grant, the HEEAT Lab was able to hire a Clinical Research Coordinator, Niasha Fray, MA, MSPH, to lead the implementation of the grant, which aims to raise awareness about PrEP uptake among Black Women.
Niasha is a North Carolina native with over 20 years of experience in health equity, community engagement, and HIV/AIDS research. She holds two master’s degrees—one in psychology and one in public health—and is also the CEO of Niasha Fray Consulting LLC and host of the podcast Questions You Didn’t Ask. For her, joining the HEEAT Lab is not a new direction, but a continuation of her mission to put people at the center of systems change. Niasha’s work is guided by both her professional experience and her personal passion.
She has worked on national health studies, written reports for Congress, and created her podcast to help more people understand health equity.
In her role, Niasha manages the entire UPDOs study. She works with salon owners and stylists, helps recruit participants, and ensures the study follows all the rules required by the grant and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). These rules are in place to protect the rights and safety of the people who take part in the study and to make sure the research is done in an ethical and responsible way. She also helps train the team, keeps track of data, and makes sure the voices of Black women are heard and respected throughout the project.
“The rules we follow aren’t just paperwork—they’re there to make sure we’re protecting people and doing research the right way,” Niasha explains.
A clinical trial is a type of research study where scientists test new ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat health problems. In these studies, people volunteer to try out a health-related approach—like a new medicine, treatment, or educational program—to see how well it works. Clinical trials follow strict rules to make sure participants are safe and treated fairly. These rules are reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which helps protect the rights and wellbeing of everyone involved.
Naisha Fray, MA, MSPH
Dr. Ragan Johnson
The UPDOs Protective Styles Clinical Trial is one of these studies. It is designed to help Black women learn about and access PrEP, a medicine that can prevent HIV. Starting in fall 2025, the study will begin outreach to 32 hair salons across North Carolina, with the goal of reaching 1,000 Black women. The trial will continue through fall 2029. By using trusted community spaces like salons, the project aims to make it easier for women to get information and support in a place where they already feel comfortable.
Participation from Black women in this kind of research is extremely important. Studies show that Black women are more likely to be affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections than women of other races. Yet, they are often underrepresented in research studies that are supposed to help them. When Black women are included in clinical trials, the results are more accurate and the solutions are more likely to work for their communities.
The UPDOs project is designed with this in mind. It doesn’t just study Black women—it centers their voices, experiences, and leadership. By participating in this trial, Black women will help shape a future where HIV prevention is more effective, more inclusive, and more accessible for everyone.
One of the unique contributions that the HEEAT Lab brings to this work is the leadership of Black women in this research. Their lived experiences and expertise are a gift to this work. Dr. Ragan Johnson is an Associate Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Nursing and CoInvestigator on the grant. She earned a DNP with a public health concentration in 2012 and a MS in Nursing in 2005, both from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. She received her BS in nursing from Tennessee State University in 2001. Her nursing and advanced practice nursing career has focused on improving health equity and caring for patients from underserved communities. Through educational interventions, she has developed nurse practitioner educational innovations that prepare students and nurse practitioner preceptors for caring for patients from marginalized communities.
Dr. Johnson says, “It is important that we contribute to health equity in research and understanding what the community needs. But it is equally important that we merge culture and arts to share the information with the community as well. That’s how The Science of Soul was born.”
In March of 2025, The HEEAT Research Lab produced the Science of Soul event in Raleigh, NC. The mission of the event focused on advancing health equity for Black women and communities through culture, arts, and science. Led by Dr. Randolph and Ragan Johnson, The Science of Soul was a two-day event that brought researchers, clinicians, and community advocates together to focus on the communities they lead. The combination of culture, arts, and science is well documented. Storytelling in the Black Community pre-dates the Transatlantic Slave trade and is a powerful medium for sharing information, community mobilizing, and resistance. Through powerful storytelling, intentional calls to action, and visual and musical art, The Science of Soul is an agent of change. The event offered TedX-style talks, panel discussions, a luncheon, and a live performance by R&B star Raheem DeVaughn.
In June of this year, The HEEAT Research Lab will serve as the Presenting Sponsor for the Huami Magazine Community Awards Gala. This event will take place in Charlotte, NC, and Dr. Schenita Randolph will be one of the Guest Speakers.
Dr. Schenita D. Randolph is an Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing and Founding Director of the HEEAT Lab. A registered nurse for over 25 years, Dr. Randolph is advancing nursing science by using community partnerships to address the health inequities among Black Families living in the United States south. Her work has received national attention in the popular media and has been supported by public and private funders. She has publications in numerous journals including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association that highlight population health and community engagement in education and research. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing which represent nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. She is a proud HBCU graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University. Dr. Randolph is dedicated to partnering with the community to develop culturally and socially relevant interventions that will advance health equity and improve health outcomes for minoritized communities. She is also committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of nurse leaders and scientists.
“It is one of my core values to make sure that the community is engaged in our work throughout to dissemination. HUAMI magazine has been a great partner for sharing our work with the community and for learning about the work of other leaders and advocates,” says Dr. Randolph.
Producing events such as The Science of Soul and partnering with Huami Magazine are actions that the HEEAT Research Lab will continue to do.
Looking ahead, Dr. Randolph and her team will continue to build business models that will sustain and grow their work beyond grant funding. They will continue to seek partnerships with creative agencies and other individuals such as Tivi Jones and Crystal Taylor.
“Tivi and Crystal have been amazing partners in this work. Their creative development of our UPDOs entertainment series has allowed women to see themselves in the messaging around HIV prevention and PrEP.“ Our plan is to integrate HIV prevention efforts not only in clinic settings but also into culture and integrate them with other health-related topics and social determinants of health,” Dr. Randolph says. “This includes entertainment, social media, beauty salons, and everyday spaces.”
Dr. Randolph reiterates the importance and significance of everyone’s collaborative effort to ensure the success of their work. She says, “I want everyone to get involved, spread the word, and consider participating in clinical trials.” To learn more about The HEEAT Research Lab, please visit their website.
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Dr. Schenita Randolph
Audretta Hall
My Quest To Gain Health
Photos and Information
Provided by Audretta Hall
The Quest to Gain Health is a never-ending journey that started for me when I was just 10 years of age. By the age of 10, I had chocolate fudge barred my way to a pot belly, flabby arms, and 140 plus pounds. This is when I went on my first diet. I must say I had some knowledge of affective weight loss because I started with exercise. I remember placing brooms on the floor of our basement home in the shape of a square. Then I turned on the “Go you Chicken Fat Go” song on the record player that I had gotten the Christmas of 1975. I ran around and around that square until I was panting and sweating like a young piglet. I lost a lot that spring….15 lbs. and any desire to exercise ever again.
As the years went on, I gained the weight back. The first 10 came back when I started my cycle. The next was gained over the years so slowly…. like dipping a candle…so I barely even noticed.
I do remember mentally noting certain weight Milestones: Graduating from High School at the age of 18 and the weight of 208 Getting Married at 24 and the scale registering 224 Getting Divorced at 31 and ballooning up to 284!
That last mark scared me into action because 284 sounded too much like THREE HUNDRED POUNDS. And, to add insult to injury, my blood pressure had gone up, my Cholesterol was sky high, and my neck had turned BLACK from eating so much sugar it was damaging my liver. (Note: Anything Happening in your liver shows up on your skin—YIKES!)
The visual evidence of liver damage fueled the fire to gain knowledge. I began to study every diet, eating habit, and exercise hack imaginable, including a few spiritual ones as well. (I literally put the Bible in the Kitchen and read scriptures each time I entered for a snack---one of the most powerful health hacks I had used to date because I dropped 10 lbs. in a matter of days! I guess knowing that God was watching because I had invited him into the meal space made me make better food choices?!!)
The more I studied (googling ingredients on weight loss products that were safe and actually worked), the more information I USED, and the more weight I lost. My blood pressure went from 133/95 to 115/80. My Cholesterol went from 248 to less than 180, and my ‘good’ cholesterol level was higher than that of my bad Cholesterol. And I lost close to 100 lbs. over a period of seven years. Slow and steady really worked for me because I have managed to keep most of the weight off and have made it to the year of my 60th birthday on ZERO medication!
Being on Zero Medication was a Goal I set for myself in 2006. Being retired and spending money on medication sounded like a backward way of living. I wanted to ensure that when I had time to do what I wanted and money to spend, that time and money would be spent on VACATION, not medication!
19 years, trial, error, and weight Loss and health success later, I can share with you what the weight loss industry does not want you to know in a few (I have about 15) key, life-changing bullet points:
FIGHT Inflammation---not Fat:
Why fight inflammation? Inflammation TELLS your body to store and make Fat. Sugar is the highest inflammatory thing you can put in your body. Dark Green vegetables, Extra Virgin olive oil, garlic, onions, ginger and turmeric are just a few of the foods and spices that FIGHT inflammation in the body. Vitamins A, E, D, and K are fat-soluble vitamins. If you don’t have good Fat in your diet (Olive oil, Coconut Oil, butter) your body cannot adequately absorb the nutrients.
Gut Health:
Meat, cheese, Alcohol, bread---The breaking down of these items causes the body to poke holes in the lining of the intestine. Fortunately, the lining of the intestine replaces itself every 15 to 21 days. So just go for 2 to 3 weeks without eating cheese, meat, alcohol, and bread. Eat lots of green veggies, make soups with bone broth, and add extra virgin olive oil with as many things as you can. High Fiber foods increase the positive microbiome in your gut. Eating fermented foods like Kombucha, Kimchi, Pickles, Sauerkraut, and Kiefer Milk, and Yogurt will help with positive flora in your system. Improved gut health has been shown to improve mood, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, and acid reflux! Improve your gut improve your LIFE.
Blood Health:
Your blood is the life source of the body. It brings the organs oxygen and nutrients and takes away waste products. Build your blood and build a better body. Dark green veggies and dark red juices (tart cherry, pomegranate, beet, and prune juice, to name a few) are also available. Low Sodium V8 juice and coconut water also help with the level of water in the blood.
Deep Restorative Sleep:
Deep sleep is when the body heals itself. Oxygen is what helps to put the body into deeper sleep. While laying in bed, concentrate on taking deep breaths---in through the nose and out through the mouth—Repeating breath work 30 to 60 times usually works for me. Sleep in the room at a cooler temperature—65 degrees. If you sleep on your side, sleep on your left side because your liver is on the right side, and its nightly function is to filter the blood in the body. Laying on the right side may interrupt this cleansing process.
Move Daily:
A GOOD stretch early in the morning, a 30-minute walk, and 20 minutes of dancing around the house were better than the gym that I WASN’T going to. Circulation is KEY because fat stores where there is a blockage and a lack of circulation. Now that I know that muscles burn more Fat, I spend more time doing push-ups and squats to stay toned and burn more calories.
Count Nutrients---Keep Calories in Mind— Reduce Chemical Intake
Your body needs certain nutrients to stay healthy. This point was driven home to me when I counseled a young lady who was 5’7”, a buck twenty-five, and had cholesterol readings well over 300! She didn’t eat that many calories, so she was skinny….but what she ate was off the chart. French fries, chicken nuggets, and a HUGE sweet tea. Again, their caloric intake was low, but the lack of green, fruit, and lean protein—NUTRIENTS---had her Cholesterol through the roof!
What to Count?
Protein, Fiber, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium. Reduce the amount of chemicals introduced into the body because chemicals cause irritation, and irritation causes swelling. They tell your body to store and make fat! I went on a diet and only ate things that had five ingredients or less. I lost weight so fast people thought I was on crack! Seriously!
With my Cholesterol in check, blood pressure, and weight down, I now teach all that I learned over the years and have helped countless thousands of pounds, reducing and eliminating medication and feeling better about themselves.
I became a certified nutritional counselor along the way. I am not a Doctor, so please, if you are under a physician’s care, consult with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness regimen. Again, Health and Wellness is a journey. Start with that in mind. It is a minute-by-minute, mealby-meal choice and choices!
Getting healthy can be hard; being unhealthy can be hard. I chose the healthy hard and continue to choose the healthy hard daily!
Thank you for reading this article in its entirety. I listed six of the 15 things that the weight loss industry does not want you to know. If you like the other nine, please just email me. Be sure to put “The Other 9” in the subject line.
Email Address: audretta515@gmail.com
To get free downloadable e-books visit www.linktree.com/Audrettas411
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Audretta Hall
Certified Nutritional Counselor
Healthy Lifestyle Advocate
Audretta’s 411
www.intstagram.com/Audrettas411
Demi Noel Martin
The daughter of Jasmin Richardson & Danny Martin
Whitehurst Bria B.A. Counseling & Consulting
By Terry L. Watson
Bria Whitehurst is a Southern Belle who was born and raised in South Carolina. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a believer in Christ, and she leans on her faith daily. In addition to fashion, fitness, and travel, Bria also has a passion for brunch. She says, “If there’s a brunch involved? Count me in!”
Professionally, Bria has worked as a licensed clinical social worker, having 11 years of experience across the field. This includes supporting unhoused communities and at-risk youth to advocating for mental health and maternal wellness. Bria obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She is licensed in both South Carolina and North Carolina and has her eyes set on obtaining licensure in Connecticut.
Presently, Bria is the owner of B.A. Counseling & Consulting. She describes her brand as being rooted in lifestyle, love, fulfillment, and empowerment. “It’s more than a practice, it’s a movement,” she says. “It’s about helping people, especially Black women build lives they don’t need to escape from. Lives that feel soft, secure, and aligned.”
Bria’s journey started in 2018 when she worked as an intern in an inpatient behavioral hospital. From there, she worked as a psychiatric social worker in an emergency department, moved into maternal health, and eventually stepped into the world of telehealth. Each step she says taught her something powerful, which she now utilizes when serving clients on their own healing journeys.
Bria shares that B.A. Counseling & Consulting is where clinical excellence meets cultural connection. “I weave in therapeutic skill with real-life tools and affirmations so people walk away not only feeling seen, but equipped. Whether you’re starting your healing journey or seeking that next level of selfunderstanding, this brand is here to empower you. I offer individual therapy for adults navigating anxiety, depression, perinatal mental health, life transitions, low self-esteem, boundary-setting, and more. I also provide diagnostic assessments for community mental health agencies. Whether it’s personal growth or professional collaboration,I’m here to help folks grow, heal, and breathe easier,” she says.
Through Bria’s virtual mental health practice, she supports adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, perinatal and maternal mental health, low self-worth, and boundary-setting. However, at the core, she offers space. “Space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with who you are and who you’re becoming,” she states. Bria also provides diagnostic assessments for community mental health agencies.
Photos Provided by Bria Whitehurst
Bria shares her testimony is all about obedience and trust. “I didn’t always know exactly what the path would look like, but I kept walking, one step at a time, and led by faith. I’ve been the helper who also needed help, the strong friend who had to learn to rest, and the woman who realized that healing isn’t a destination, it’s a lifestyle. God didn’t just call me to hold space for others; He called me to be a light, too, and I honor that every day. I love watching people realize: “Wait, I’ve had this power in me all along.” That moment when someone feels more confident, more grounded, more themselves. That’s why I do this. Helping people manage life’s stressors and walk in their truth—that’s the magic,” she says.
Even more, Bria expresses her love and concern for Black women. She adds, “I admire the way we show up, share resources, uplift each other, and create space even when no one gave us any. We carry so much, yet we still create joy, rest, and community.” For the most part, Bria is inspired by Black people. “Our resilience, our culture, our ability to rise, even when the odds are stacked, but especially Black women.” Bria also shares her life has been shaped by networking, conferences, sisterhood, and by the clients she serves. “Each one has taught me something I didn’t know I needed.”
As a therapist, Bria holds space for so many people and says that it’s easy to carry their pain with her, even after the session ends. That can be challenging. She manages this by staying grounded in her faith, exercising reguralry, giving herself permission to pause and refill. Bria also surrounds herself with love, family, friends, and moments that remind her that she is human.
What does the future look like for Bria and her practice? It definitely involves expansion. Bria is planning to grow B.A. Counseling & Consulting by offering clinical supervision to future therapists, booking more speaking engagements, and continuing to elevate the conversation around Black mental health. She is also a visionary and says that one of her biggest dreams is to be a guest therapist on talk shows, documentaries, or panel discussions. “I want to bring therapeutic insight to wider audiences and help normalize mental health care in everyday conversations. Therapy deserves a seat at every table, including on your screen,” she says. h
Corrie Wilson The W Agency Little Rock, AR
Rhonda Aaron
Sister Friends United, Inc.
Little Rock, AR
Our Arkansas Honorees
Jill Carlton
LCHMHC, LPC, NCC
By Terry L. Watson
Jill Carlton of Greensboro, NC, isn’t bashful about expressing her love for people and the black culture. Originally from the foothills of North Carolina, Jill is the youngest of six siblings. She is an alumnus of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro and Livingstone College, which is located in Salisbury, NC. At Livingstone College, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and at NC A&T, she received her Master of Science (M.S.) in Human Resource Agency Counseling. Her additional leadership experience involves Church Leadership and international missionary work.
Jill is Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)- NC and Licensed Professional Counselor-SC and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She received a Reducing Racial Disparities in Healthcare Certificate from Harvard University Online. Utilizing her education and experiences, Jill founded Jill Carlton Counseling Services, a privately owned and operated counseling [practice that focuses on assisting her clients build their inner strengths, through spiritual counseling, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy utilizing a holistic approach. She works on two counseling platforms: Headway and Sondermind. These platforms allow Jill to serve clients throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.
Jill shares how she really appreciates growing in the field of counseling and has made a special effort to help and serve those often shunned by others. These are sex offenders and those dealing with drug abuse. She adds, “I really focus on the spiritual aspects of counseling and breaking the stigmas for our communities of color, as well as other communities.” Around eleven or twelve years ago, she shifted into the corporate sector and worked with a major insurance provider. Her last position there was working as a Senior Clinical Strategist. “In that role, I focused on mental health equity and realized that people needed access and a better understanding of what therapy is. I learned that many people were unaware of the difference between a counselor, therapist, and psychiatrist. I was also involved in a project that brought depression screening into our faith-based community. All of us have had some type of hurt. We have had work-hurt, family-hurt, and friend-hurt, but we have also had church-hurt. Realizing that need and learning there is where a lot of people go with their problems, I knew there was more that could be done. You can pray and see a therapist, but many people were not doing so.”
Photos Provided by Still Shots Photography
More than anything else, Jill shares that God has impacted her career as a therapist. “While at Livingstone College, I started out as a Biology major, but Chemistry told me “no”. I knew I wanted to obtain a bachelor’s degree at the very least. The holy spirit directed me to speak with Dr. Robert MacKinnon in the Psychology department, who was my mentor and advisor. He told me I could start right into the Psychology major based on my academic accomplishments. He told me to work and go to school so that after I finish school, I would be in a good position to succeed,” she says. After Livingstone, Jill would set her sights on obtaining her master’s degree. She attended NC A&T and was even able to land a paid internship while in school. The advice she received from her mentor continued to pay dividends in her life.
Life has come with a few ups and downs for Jill. To be honest, those challenges have helped to make her who she is. “I have been emotionally and physically abused, as well as sexually abused. I was part of a marriage that didn’t work. What I had to realize was that I had to love myself first. Having a foundation in a church home at Love and Faith Christian Fellowship helped me in more ways than I ever could have imagined. I felt right at home there. I became involved in the church, which allowed me to be more than a member. I am in leadership and serve as a Deaconess. I am also one of the leaders for our greeters, and I sing in the Mass Choir. Additionally, I have worked in the prison ministry, the hug and hot soup ministry, and the Healing and Restoration ministry. Being a part of Love and Faith has blessed me. Pastor John Goins and Bishop Michael Thomas are doing a great job of leading God’s people. Knowing that people accept me for who I am and still love me regardless,” Jill shares.
Within her practice, Jill shares that one of the biggest challenges she has faced is organization. Ironically, that is one of the biggest spiritual principles that is taught at Love and Faith. “God has a plan to simplify our life. When I started, I focused on in-person. Now, managing a private practice virtually calls for more balance, both in life and business. I find myself emptying out to people a lot, but I have to ensure that I have time for myself. I have to ask God to fill me back up. I have to make time for myself.” Finding her balance and making time for herself doesn’t mean that Jill has slowed down. Amazingly, she has found ways to do more for others. “I am learning how to do more and move forth. I am partnering with other consultants. In particular, we are bringing a healing conference to Chesapeake, VA the first weekend in October. I have learned that while I am serving and helping others, I am really happy,” she says.
When asked if there is anything she would change about the way things have happened in her life, she says, “Learning things quicker instead of having to go through things over and over. Having to learn things about myself, situations, people, and relationships, I wished that I had figured things out quicker. You don’t always want to go through those bumps in the road. However, in the end, it’s those bumps that make it better, and I would not be here without those learning experiences.
Looking ahead, Jill is working on obtaining additional licenses and certifications. She has also set her sights on working outside of North Carolina and South Carolina. More than anything, Jill is excited about continuing the work that God has called her to do. “I want to continue to work to break down the stigmas about therapy and mental health in the black and brown communities. I am called to be the salt and light of the world. Being a therapist and aligning my work from a spiritual perspective is why I am here,” Jill says.
“I find myself emptying out to people a lot, but I have to ensure that I have time for myself. I have to ask God to fill me back up.”
A L W A Y S A C C E P T I N G N E W C L I E N T S
