A National Brand of Black Excellence
Charlotte Triad
Surviving, That Has Become A New Normal
A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
It appears that out of nowhere the Covid-19/Corona Virus pandemic has arrived. With its onset, the world all of sudden came to a screeching halt. Churches have been closed, businesses are shutdown, the new term of social distancing became part of society’s vocabulary, and it has been alright to shop in the grocery store while being masked. This is our new normal.
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?
As a small business owner who greatly depends on the business and support of other small businesses and their patrons, I have felt the brunt of this global pandemic also. It has caused me to adjust the ways I operate and develop more effective methods to produce and share my products and services, all while to trying to be profitable and relevant. The new normal is quite simply learning how to survive during a pandemic.
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.
With revenue being the most vital component needed to operate and sustain a small business, many owners have been greatly impacted by Covid-19 in a negative manner. How do we survive? How will our bills be paid, and most importantly how will I be able to feed and care for my family? We need revenue and the support and patriotism from those who have kept our doors open. Unfortunately, these individuals are facing the same or similar challenges themselves.
As a result of everything that has occurred, our ability to survive and maintain has become our new normal. The things that we once did, just don’t work the same today. This doesn’t mean the end is near, I believe that God is really telling us that He continues to have all the power and our today and tomorrow still flows through Him. In our complacently of accepting the hustle and bustle of yesterday, God proves yet again that He will turn our world upside down to get us on track with Him. Surviving has become the normal. Lets embrace it and be better than we were before Covid-19.
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.
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
www.huamimagazine.com Email or Telephone terry.editor@yahoo.com 336-340-7844
dallas.huami@gmail.com (336)340-7844
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Get Organized Keokuk T. Domingo
Chef Carlos Brown
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
On The Cover Also Featured 12 20
There is a whole lot of flavor in the way that he cooks. Gullah Cooking at its best. Atlanta, Ga.
Nashville, TN 15
He is the cutest, and has been selected as Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby.
The Impact of Covid-19 Tangee Moore
Cutting At The Next Level Javan Posey
Fashionably Unique Angelique Walker
She is Helping Bosses Build Dominique Rice
Braxton Langston Moore
Andrea Pitts Her scars are uncovered. Meet the founder.
Get Organized By Key
By Terry L. Watson
Keokuk Domingo of Celina, Texas has the spirit of entrepreneurship flowing through her veins. She owns several businesses and often offers her expertise and talents to others who aspire to follow her path.
She is the owner of Get Organized by Key, LLC, Get Staged and Designed by Key, and also Get Signed by Key. “I am a one stop shop for all of your home needs. We can provide assistance with the buying process to turn key. This also includes organizing, staging, insuring, and designing your new or existing space,” she says.
Keokuk is a strong woman of faith, discipline, principles and morals. She’s a leader in the church, podcast host and speaker whose focus is to serve and cater to minority owned businesses. She is also a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and eventually moved to Dallas nearly 14 years ago to work in a supervisory position with the University of Phoenix. She would resign from that position after working with the company for eight years.
Keokuk has sat as the event chair for University of Phoenix. She’s a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University in New Orleans in 1996, and later completed her Masters from University of Phoenix.
With Get Organized by Key, her resilient drive is to help families to decrease their stress, declutter their lives and become organized. “This passion started as a child. My mom forced us to clean, organized, and declutter prior to playing with friends. I believed this was torture for me, but my pain turned into my passion. I am so blessed to be given the opportunity to work within passion which includes designing, organizing, cleaning, and staging,” she says. “My goal is to provide quality work to people’s home and life. It has been such an amazing experience for me.”
Keokuk finds inspiration in various ways. “I’m inspired by several designers, my mom, HGTV, and in others who have come before me. My inspiration is to leave a legacy for my children’s, children now. My mom embarked an imprint on my destiny and I’m forever grateful to her for this passion and zeal to help others live their best life,” she says.
Though the experience as an entrepreneur may get tough at times, Keokuk is built for them. “I don’t see things as challenges, but instead as opportunities to grow, expand, and increase my territory and income,” she says.
For those who may follow in her footsteps, Keokuk encourages them to push through and follow their dreams. “It will get tough, but find your ‘why’ and try to stay focused.” In the future, she will be expanding her brand into different cities. She also planst to get a show on the OWN television network and become one of the top three designing firms in the country. She shares, “my goals are huge and scary, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Photos by Keokuk Domingo
The Impact of Covid-19
Tangee Moore - Avail Outreach
How has the Covid-19 Pandemic affected or impacted your practice?
Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC is a private, mind-body practice focused on empowering and healing the total person- mind, body, and soul. Avail services are healing focused, personcentered, and goal directed. Avail offers outpatient psychotherapy, empowerment coaching, and holistic healing services such as Reiki, Yoni Steaming, Mindfulness Meditative Practices, Nutrition Psychoeducation, and Physical Fitness. In addition to programs and services, Avail offers holistic healing products such as yoni steam herbal blends, sage, Palo Santo, CBD products, and more.
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Avail has followed through with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation of social distancing. Many people have had to change the way they conduct business—this includes private practices such as Avail. To reduce in-person contact, Avail’s programs and services are now being offered completely online through virtual platforms. Avail has been fortunate to have always had wellestablished business continuity plans in place. In 2017, Avail launched TelAvail™, an online
platform for clients with transportation issues, health issues, or daycare issues. Prior to COVID19, we were able to operate from multiple locations and in a highly secure work-from-home capacity. At this time, we have been able to continue to manage our operations through this evolving situation.
It is important however to note that in offering online treatment to clients, we face lower or no reimbursement from insurance companies and payers. The main barriers to maintaining usual care by telehealth require changes that are unlikely to come from the federal level. Commercial reimbursement, Medicaid reimbursement, and credentialing are the states’ domain. Only 20% of states require payment parity between telemedicine and in-person services. Fortunately, both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and some local commercial payers have modified payment policy in response to Covid-19. We hope others will follow suit.
What has been Avails response?
Avail has taken proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of our therapists, student interns, and clients. We recognize the personal impacts that the current uncertainty may have on our clients and the emotional uneasiness it may cause. To that end, we have continued to monitor the situation closely, providing weekly emails with resource information from reputable sources to our clients and staff. We have assisted our clients with safety planning, made contact calls outside of scheduled therapy sessions, remained involved with providers outside of our practice for treatment coordination purposes, and kept our website www.availcounseling. com updated with information regarding COVID-19 and ways to continue to access our programs, services, and products. Avail’s social media platforms to include Instagram (@ availcounseling), Twitter (@availcounse1ing), and Facebook (Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC) remain active offering uplifting messages or quotes and information to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and educate the community in which we serve on ways to meet unmet mental and physical health needs.
We recognize that individuals are using homeopathy, essential oils, and other forms of alternative medicine to prevent COVID-19, or to treat it. Avail does not have a cure, but we do have mind-body, holistic healing products to help ease one’s distress, lower anxiety, and find their center. Our online shop offers essentials that can help individuals with dis-ease in an effort to avert stress that will only weaken the immune system, making one more susceptible to any virus, infection, or disease.
one hour session that includes physical Movement (workout routine that incorporates Hip-Hop, Afro-beats, and Latin dance moves), and Mindfulness techniques (mindful breathing, visualization, and movement) by qualified professionals.
The Avail Workplace Wellness program is designed to support and encourage a holistic approach to employee wellbeing by creating an organization culture of health. Avail Workplace Wellness Program provides a series of interactive and engaging online workshops that includes the following topics: Effective Communication, Cultural Competency, Mind-Body Balance, and Self-Care. Each workshop provides practical yet effective tools that employees can readily access and easily implement. Each workshop is led by Avail’s MindBody experts who are clinical licensed social workers, certified fitness instructors, and corporate leaders.
Avail, in partnership with Education Connection Academy (ECA), a nonprofit organization, continues to host our monthly series titled, “Girl, Take Off Your Cape”: Community Chats about Superwoman Syndrome online. Avail contributes to “Cut to the Chase,” a safe space for men to discuss men’s mental and physical health issues. This has continued online.
In response to COVID-19, majority of our programs are being offered online to both our local and global communities. One of our programs used by many schools and daycares is “Mindfulness, Movement, and Motivation.” We are currently offering this online to students at E. W. Wyatt Middle School in Greensville County for their 21st Century after school program using the Zoom platform. Students receive a
To learn more about Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC visit www. availcounseling.com. Attached is also a flyer that shares how to support Avail during COVID-19.
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Helping Bosses Build Dominique
By Terry L. Watson
by Dominique Rice
Dominique Rice is a serial entrepreneur. At the age of 22, she started her first company, Perfect Fit Placement. She is also passionate about helping people and inspiring women entrepreneurs.
Dominique currently owns Dominique Rice Consulting and INFLUENT. Dominique Rice Consulting is a consulting firm for women entrepreneurs that focuses on helping them grow and scale their company. INFLUENT is a travel company that allows women to travel in style with groups. Their first trip is scheduled for the continent of South Africa in January/ February 2021.
“I am regularly sought as an adviser to global and North American CEO’s and business leaders. My plan will help your company reach your earning potential. I am driven by my relentless passion to help visionaries get what they really want in business and life. My clients come from a wide range of industries, including consumer packaged goods, childcare development, and professional services. My coaching structure is built on my belief that CEO’s and business leaders can have tremendous business success, along with an enriching and adventurous lifestyle,” she says.
Dominique started Perfect Fit Placement in 2012. “I was a nanny and wanted to start my own firm. This company quickly grew and became in high demand. Before I knew it, I was placing high profile and high net worth clients. I was really rocking it in the corporate baby-sitting world and decided to divide my company in half. All baby-sitting was to shift to the franchise we acquired, College Nannies Sitters and Tutors, and Perfect Fit Placement was to continue doing the entire nanny placement. I knew I could grow the baby-sitting service to the point of selling in a short amount of time,” she says.
Over the last three years Dominique has primarily been consulting. She has helped a handful business owners scale their businesses. Once she sold the baby-sitting service, Dominique knew it was time to really focus on helping others. She used everything she learned along the way and it worked. It was then when she officially launched Dominique Rice Consulting.
“I love helping people the most that is what I am proud of. I am truly inspired by Beyoncé. Not the singer, but Beyoncé the entrepreneur and mother. Beyoncé is one of the greatest not just because she is talented but also because she works the hardest. She is a wife, mother, and creator. She expects perfection from herself and those around her. I admire her hard work and work ethic,” Dominique says.
While being faced with many challenges in business, Dominique has persevered. “I’ve had former employees leave and start their own business while stealing valuable content and work for competitors. I have faced all the issues with growing and scaling too quickly. I feel like I have faced it all and through that, I am able to teach others and help them to learn from my mistakes,” she shares.
Moving forward, Dominique plans to take her business ventures to even greater heights. She clearly understand there is a great deal of work to do and is preparing herself to meet the challenge. “I want to continue to help all women entrepreneurs. I also look forward to having the ability to work aboard and travel. I truly enjoy the perks that being self employed offers such as the flexibility to spend time with my family and friends,” she says.
Photos
Dominique Rice
By Terry L. Watson
Executive Chef Carlos Brown is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of C3Culinary Group LLC. He believes that “Food that Makes You Smile” and “Saving Hospitality”.
He began cooking at the young age of eight. By the time he was 16, he was declared to be a professional. “It started at home. I was raised by two great women, my mom and grandmother,” he says. Fast forward, he eventually created the Chef Carlos brand which includes Gullah On The Go, Private Stock, Kitchen by Chef Carlos Brown, Authentic Shrimp & Grits Cafe by Chef Carlos in Atlanta, and Charleston SC. His arsenal includes Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, Hospitality Consultant, speaker, personal and private chef, philanthropist, multi-product developer, and author.
Carlo’s career as a chef is more than food on a plate. It’s artistry, developing, teaching, and training. Under the Saving Hospitality umbrella, he shares his talents with kids who have special needs. “That’s special to me because the love bring families, communities, and homes together,” he says.
Today the impact for me is not allowing my failures to stop or slow me down. Because I realized that my cooking is more food, its an encounter! This catapult me to build a stronger career as a celebrity chef.
Chef Carlos loves food and finds inspiration in cooking. “It’s starts with having a love in our strong culture of Gullah. I believe that food is an experience. I was born in the low country. Being a black executive chef was so hard and almost never heard of. But I believed that I was born to create art. That belief pushed me to move forward, reach back, and pull others up and show that we can be whatever we desire,” he says.
Chef Carlos shares there have been some ups and downs in his career as a chef. “My wife LaShawn has been the greatest support. She has been on this joinery with me since it began. I’m grateful to be a part of history located in Smithsonian African American Museum For Authentic Shrimp & Grits in Washington DC. I am a 2020 National Black Chef Awards Culinary Excellence Award Winner, and I received the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Award Kingston Chef Scholastic Award Diamond Culinary Medal in 2017. Even more, in Charleston, August 23rd is declared Chef Carlos Brown Day,” he shares. He has also had the pleasure to work with and serve some great celebrity clients that include Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, David Oyelowo, Shaquille O’Neal, Julius Tennon, Jim Carrey, Phyllis Newhouse, Danny Glover, US Congressman John Lewis, US Congressman Jim Clyburn, US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Bo Jackson, Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Susan Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, Mack Brown, Bill Bellamy, TI, LIl Wayne, Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Fantasia, Rashaun Williams, Darlene McCoy, and many more.
Some of the challenges Chef Carlos has faced have been investors, who tend to run away from restaurants because most restaurant fails. “That happens when owners don’t understand the concept of hospitality or how to effectly run this business,” he says. “We have developed a winning concept to be successful.”
Moving forward , Chef Carlos plans to open new restaurants and expand the Chef Carlos brand that includes several products. He also plans to work with kids who have special needs, juveniles, and continue to share his talents with schools.
Photos by Carlos Brown
Exceptional Creations with Toccara LLC
By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Toccara Cara Samuel
Toccara Lachell Samuel of Greenville, SC is a daughter, sister, aunt, and great friend to many people. She is also a licensed esthetician and founder of Exceptional Creations with Toccara LLC. Her company specializes in products for all natural hair growth and care, beard growth and care, skincare, and wellness. Additionally she has also served as a former Training Director for the Chick-fil-A food franchise.
Toccara says her love for entrepreneurship began in 2003 as she began working in the skincare and beauty industry in Aiken, SC. It was at Beauty on The Go, that is owned and operated by Jeanette Breeland. From there she spent years working for other companies such as Bath and Body works, Arbonne and Estee Lauder. She started Exceptional Creations with Toccara LLC in 2018 after finishing Esthetics school at the Academy of Hair Technology and obtaining her Professional License. She also owned and operated a spa suite from December 2018 until December 2019 at Cornerstone Studios in Simpsonville, SC.
Toccara currently freelances and travels with her services and product line. “Traveling and freelancing allows me to reach other states and areas, and hopefully countries,” she says. On top of being an esthetician and businesswoman, she sometimes speaks at colleges and other venues about entrepreneurship, developing positive affirmations, and creating a vision plan. She is a Life and Wellness Coach and advocate for Mental Health Awareness, Domestic Violence, and Suicide Prevention. Her advocacy was sparked from watching her biological mother battle those illnesses and from her own battles in those areas as well.
Toccara shares how diverse her product line is. “My products are all natural and vegan friendly. They were developed to help with all areas of needs ranging from hair care, skincare, beard care, and wellness. Most importantly, each item is developed and formulated personally by me. My hair growth oil was developed because of my own experience with hair loss and finding out this was a need by many people. I formulated it several times before finding the perfect combination of oils. From developing the growth oil and servicing male clients, I developed the beard oil. The beard oil helps with the health and the growth of the beard but is formulated with essential oils that are appealing to a man.”
Toccara also makes hair butter, hair moisturizer, beard balm, beard moisturizer, beard wash, skin care kits, body butters, soaps, wellness oil blends, and many other items and kits that are helpful to the human body and the environment. Her wellness blends help with pain and many other ailments in the body and are specially formulated for each client that orders them.
Exceptional Creations began with Toccara taking small steps. “I started with just 25 recipes and now I have close to 100,” she says. On of her top product lines are the skin care services for all genders and also beard treatments for men.
Being an entrepreneur has its perks. Toccara says she loves the fact that she is able to be exceptionally authentic and creative. “It allows me a chance to manage my own time and grow my business. As a child growing up, I didn’t understand my creative mind and why I was into so many different things. I found myself having a love for the arts and crafts. It all started to make sense in 2016 when I realized I could go to school and obtain a professional license that would allow me to be creative and not only help people, but also provide for and help my family,” she says.
She finds inspiration in her late grandfather Henry A. Samuel Jr. who also owned his own businesses until his heavenly transition in December of 2009. “He inspired me to push and never give up no matter what happens and that I can over come any battle in my life,” she says. The second person who inspires Toccara is her adopted mom, Christabell Fulmer who came into her life at the young age of six, after her mom passed away. “She taught me that it’s okay to be myself and to be authentic. She has loved me all of my life and cared for me like a mother should care for her child. She has taught me strength and showed me how to obtain every goal I want in life. I couldn’t ask for a better mother figure in my life,” Toccara says.
Like most small businesses, Toccara has faced her share of challenges. One for her was learning how to let the word “No” roll off her back without allowing herself to be discouraged. “The answer “No” is just the journey towards the “yes” that cam change your life. It’s not an easy journey to develop and grow a business on your own but it’s definitely worth it. I’m thankful for my sister, Rhonda Burgess for being in my corner at all times. She keeps me encouraged with my business.
The future surely looks bright for Toccara. Moving forward she plans to add more products to her product line, and branch out to other states and countries. She also plans to open up some new businesses locally.
Go Hard Performance Systems LeRone Gray
By Terry L. Watson
LeRone “Roc” Gray is a Richmond, Virginia native as a graduate of Henrico High School, an alumnus of Virginia State University, and a former multi-sport athlete. Roc is a devoted son, loving Fiancé and visual artist. Most importantly, he is a passionate Strength & Performance coach that specializes in holistic health, pain free functional movement, and sports performance training.
Roc is the owner of Go Hard Performance Systems in Richmond, Va. Go Hard Performance Systems is a strength and performance coaching provider that offers services in functional training, strength development, and sports performance with a holistic approach. Additionally, Go Hard Performance Systems offers services in-person, via online platforms, and has a full line of wearable merchandise. “GHPS is for those individuals who want to move pain free, be challenged mentally as well as physically, and ultimately grow in greatness,” he says.
Go Hard Performance Systems originated in 2016 after Roc graduated from college. It was rebranded in January 2020. “I had been an athlete all my life and like many others, I aspired to play football professionally. In pursuit of that throughout college, I devoted myself to strength and conditioning by researching programs, following prominent coaches and eventually earning a degree in Health and Physical education. During this time span aided quite a few athletes based on the work and changes I had achieved for myself. This along with the dream of being a successful business man I had as a adolescent, I took the time to make my business official,” Roc shares.
Photos by Roc Gray
Roc says he loves the grind of his business. This is often accompanied with interacting with new people, earning their trust, setting a plan of action based on their goals and deficiencies, and ultimately seeing them expand as a person. “I feel great about the relationships I build during the process of transforming someone’s mind, body, and spirit. Although the money earned is great and needed to maintain a living, seeing the impact my efforts makes is astounding. I can honestly say I’ve had people I worked with years ago reach out and mention how something I did still positively effects them to this day, which is an indescribable feeling,” he says.
It is people who Roc says he is inspired mostly by. “The fight they show on a daily basis and taking opportunity after opportunity to better themselves is amazing to me. Even when times are hard, people find a way to strive forward. I know for some that isn’t easy so those who do it and thrive, that is all the inspiration I need. I want to be a helping hand in those stories where people achieve lifelong dreams, make a huge health change, and honestly become the greatest version of themselves,” he said.
In the future, Roc has set a few things in motion to take GHPS to the next level. “The main goal is to continue to grow and expand in a way that makes more positive impacts across the city. I would love for Go Hard Performance Systems to become the strength and performance provider for local high schools this year. That will afford opportunities to showcase what Go Hard Performance Systems is all about as well as filling a huge void for schools in the area. Within two to five years the goal is to have a facility for our clientele base to call home,” says Roc.
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LeRone “Roc” Gray Go Hard Performance Systems
PROOF THAT GOD HEALS
By Terry L. Watson
by Judith Hill Photography
Andrea Pitts of Nashville, TN is a burn survivor, community advocate, and very kind hearted person. She also believes in the power of a simple smile and laughter from the heart, and thrives off making others smile with positivity and helping those who are less fortunate. These are all qualities that assist her with managing Scars Uncovered, a nonprofit she has been cultivating since 2014.
Scars Uncovered is an organization that encourages survivors to uncover their scars, and to be transparent and free. I have my good and bad days in this area but hearing “Scars Uncovered” continues to give me, as well as those we serve, encouragement.
At the age of 18 months old, Andrea was involved in a traumatic incident that left her with severe burns on approximately 30% of her body. “While in the kitchen and watching my mom as she cooked one day, she turned her back for a quick second to get something out of the refrigerator. In that quick second, I instinctively reached for the ladle she had been using on the stovetop, trying to imitate her. This caused a pot of scalding hot water and beans to spill over me. In pain, I was rushed to the hospital and began a recovery process that would greatly shape the rest of my life. In the midst of tragedy, the nurses always told my parents that my smile spread happiness through the burn unit. I went through surgeries and countless hours of occupational and physical therapy and the medical
bills steadily increased. Unfortunately, my parents did not have adequate insurance coverage. The hospital even threatened to terminate treatment at one point, but thanks to the persistence of my parents and the help of others such as the Shriners, I was able to continue my stay. After my hospitalization, the lives of my parents as they knew it changed a great deal. I had to be given special baths, daily wound care changes, and taken to several follow up appointments. My parents were very resilient and endured quite a bit of challenges in order to get me where I am today,” she shares.
That ordeal is the reason why Andrea pushes so hard today. Scars Uncovered was founded November 2014 with an understanding of the journey that encompasses coping with a burn injury. What started as an idea for a walk for burn survivors has evolved into the creation of an entire nonprofit organization. Andrea shares how she started hosting small fundraising efforts in order to obtain funding for start-up cost. “We were simultaneously in communication with hospital facilities surveying their needs and sharing what services we intended to provide. This process lasted for approximately a year and we provided our first set of care packages to Vanderbilt Burn Center in January 2016. As we collaborated with more healthcare entities, we were able to partner with more facilities to provide services and add on the financial assistance component of our services,” she says.
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Photos
Scars Uncovered has assisted over 1,000 burn survivors. Their focus is to give comfort and support to burn survivors and their families. They provide resources that ease the burdens that often come with the tragedy of a burn injury. They also partner with burn units to deliver “Boxes of Love” care packages to recovering patients and/ or family members. These are specialized care packages filled with necessities hand-picked with the needs of survivors and their families in mind. Each care package costs approximately ten dollars to produce, however Andrea says the impact is priceless. Currently, they are able to provide care packages to Vanderbilt University Regional Burn Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, OH, and the Reginal Burn Center in Memphis, TN.
Andrea’s personal experience of being a burn survivor hugely impacted her life. Even today, she shares how dynamic the journey contines to be and she has a great understanding of the mental, physical, emotion, and financial trauma that can be experienced throughout the healing process. “Being a burn survivor and creating an organization to support other survivors has helped me in so many ways, especially as it relates to the healing process,” she says.
Besides having compassion and a geniune concern for others, Andrea shares what she loves most about helping others. “I love when I hear from or see a patient that has received a care package or financial assistance from our organization. The gratefulness in their heart is rewarding and so fulfilling. To know that we are helping to make a difference in someone’s life during such a critical time makes it all worth it. Even if we do not hear from a survivor specifically, knowing that you are paying it forward with no expectation of anything in return is a great feeling,” she says.
As a woman of faith, Andrea proudly shares how God is using her to help so many others. “I believe we sometimes go through difficult times in order for God to strengthen us to be used by Him. Through this experience I have learned that it is a blessing to share your testimony. The very thing we try to hide is sometimes the very thing God uses to bless us, and others as well.”
Andrea says they are blessed to have volunteers, sponsors, donors, social media support, and others. Should anyone have an interest in any either of these areas, she encourages them to contact her and learn more on how to be a part. please follow us on Instagram or Facebook @Scars Uncovered, email us at info@scarsuncovered.org, or contact us at 615-933-9083. We would love to chat and/or love to see you following our good works.
Javan Posey
Cutting At The Next Level
By Terry L. Watson
Photos by Bernard Smith
Javan Posey is a native of Greenville, S.C. He is also a registered and professional barber who takes pride in the God given gift of grooming others. He has even establishied his own brand, The Groomers Touch. Now in his tenth year as the lead barber of The Official Next Level Barbershop in Mauldin, S.C., Javan has set his sights on accomplishing greatness.
“I consider myself to be a professional groomer who has made a career as a barber. Some would only see me as a barber, but I look at it as more than that. It’s not about the haircut or styles of hair. It’s all about building self-esteem and earning the trust of people to keep them looking good. That’s why I’m in this profession,” he says. “I would describe myself as a beard specialist who is able to construct a nice outline and detail to one of the most important part of ones appearance...the beard.”
As a barber, Javan takes into account the value that comes with being an architect of the beard and work to provide the best services to each client. “I feel that it is important to provide hair care tips to the customer to assist with crafting a beard masterpiece. I enhance the structure and outline of the beard to give the customer a distinct look. Additionally, I provide cleansing services for the beard that will help the customer maintain growth and shape,” he says.
Now, as a veteran barber, Javan has established other services including haircut enhancements and hot lather shaves. The Groomer’s Touch offers a haircut experience without any worries, lots of relaxation, therapy, and prayer.
To separate himself from others in his profession, Javan focuses on being able to provide the best possible grooming experience to his clients. This includes a signature Haircut Enhancements service that involves hair coloring to increase the value of the haircut, shape-up, or shaping. The purpose of this service is to present a more upscale look for the customer. He also offers Hot Lather Shaves, a rare commodity in the barbering game. “When customers request this service, they are seeking a cleaner look with their shaving experience. It comes with steaming towels, a fresh razor, and the application of a post-shave soother. It is a stateof-the-art experience that guarantees a confident look,” Javan says. While most services offered by Javan typically can be executed under one hour, he generally asks his clients to relax and enjoy their experience.
Moving forward Javan says his number one focus moving forward is to work on developing and expanding his brand, The Groomer’s Touch. “My aim is for the customer to receive a sophisticated haircut with a luxurious experience from a top-notch barber. This includes adding more styles and techniques to offer my clients a greater grooming experience. The ultimate goal is to provide compassion and courage to my clients so that they feel comfortable with illuminating their appearance,” he says.
The Groomers Touch brand is truly a work in progress, but Javan shares that he is confident that it will have a positive influence on each client that he is able to service. To learn more about The Groomers Touch, please contact Javan Posey.
1 of 1’s by Jolie
By Terry L. Watson
Angelique Walker of Memphis, TN is a strong, God fearing, fearless, hard working woman. She is also a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and loves designing clothes, and making her own lane and rules.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin she migrated to Memphis in hopes of making her impression in both business and personally. Business wise, she has made her mark as the owner of 1 of 1 by Jolie, and fashion boutique that specializes in creating quality and luxury denim pieces for the everyday woman. “I cater to women who are petite and curvy. I provide a service that every women can love,” she says.
There is no coincidence how Angelique’s career started. While she was working in the ladies shoe department for Dillards in 2013. “There was a huge event that was taking place in Memphis at the time. I seen a lot of women purchasing the same pieces, from dresses to shoes. I wanted to go to the event as well but I wanted to wear something no one else had,” she shares. She’d always been obsessed with Beyoncé, and was fond of a red Robert Cavalli dress the star wore to the 2009 MTV VMA awards. She decided to make that same dress but in white, with custom shoes to match. The day after Angelique shares who people began messaging her on Facebook, asking where how to order the same things. As a result, 1 of 1’s by Jolie was born on July 20, 2013.
In 2020, her husband, officially became her business partner. “He’s everything. He keeps up with all invoices and books. We are a team and I owe everything to him,” she shares. Some of her clients include Cardi B, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Lil’ Mama, Keyshia Kior, Zendaya Justina Skye, Young Dolph, Tae Heckard, and Karen Civil.
For Angelique, her connection to fashion is genuine. “I love that people love what I create. I try my best to stay authentic and make my own fashion trends and I believe the success of my business is directly tied to my creativity. I try to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing and it always works for me. I try my best to create a piece that will get stares all night, and in a good way,” she says.
Like most other businesses, Angelique has faced her share of challenges as well. One is learning to say no and being organized. “I had to learn that the hard way. I gain local attention fast and global attention so after mainly due to social media. My inability to say no during the moments when I couldn’t keep up with demand caused my customer service to plummet. I always tell people I never got the chance to learn how to operate my business as a business. I just knew how to make clothes and that was it. I did everything by myself, from making clothes, shipping, to answering emails. I failed miserably. It took me almost seven years to realize I was in my own way. I finally have help and a team of people who are eager and willing to help me grow,” she says.
One might ask what motivates this ambitious and outgoing woman. “My children are my drive. I have a three year old son and a one year old daughter. I want to give my business to them when they are of age. They created this competitiveness
inside me to never give up and keep going regardless of the challenges that come. My children keep me humble. They keep me human,” Angelique shares.
Moving forward, there are plans to have a boutique on wheels in 2021. The demographics change so much in Memphis and having a mobile store will create a change of scenery and a different way of shopping for Angelique. “We are now looking into manufacturing jeans in an effort to eliminate all pre orders,” she says.
Photos by Angelique Walker h
Helena’s Collection
By Terry L. Watson
Photos by April Roache
Originally from St. Louis, MO, April Roache now resides in Dallas, TX. She is a product of a single parent home and lived in foster care until the eighth grade and until her big sister obtained guardianship over her.
As an adult, She decided to enter the medical field, and now serves as a CNA and Medical assistant. Her career has lasted for 12 years. “I love helping people. After a while I needed a mental break from the sadness because I see so much death. The emotional part of the job itself makes you feel like that,” she says. Eventually, April did just that; she took a break from the medical field. “I pursued other opportunities that allowed me to use many other skills. I moved to Dallas three and half years ago for a fresh start,” she says.
Today, April is the owner of Helena’s Collection, a handmade accessories company that specializes in custom jewelry, handbags, refurbished furniture and more. “I like to make unique, one of a kind pieces that you will have a hard time finding elsewhere. My slogan is ‘let me customize you’. I live up to that,” April shares.
She is also well known for her customized bracelets, “Arm Candy” for ladies, “Man Beads” for men, and “Star Charms” for children. She has the latest fashion trends and describes her collection as a one stop shop. She will also deliver locally up to 15 miles with in the vicinity of Dallas. Anything over 15 miles require a $10 delivery fee (prices vary depending on distance.
The story began in 2014 for April and Helena’s Collection. She started off making blinged out ID badge reels. “I would go get rhinestones and decorate ID badges. Everyone would say how cute they were and ask where did I get that. I told them I made them and they would ask for me to make them one. That’s how it all started, from some ID badge reels,” she shares. In the beginning her prices were modest, just $7.00 and $8.00. She didn’t know any better. “Once I seen I was making a little extra money, I thought that
I could get used to this. I always wanted something with mom’s name attached to it. Her middle name is Helena. That’s how Helena’s Collection was born. I started making earrings, tote bags, bracelets, etc. It went from there. My creativity, my determination, my passion, and the fact that I actually took the time to hand make these items with love is what makes my business is what it is.”
Love is what makes it all worth it for April. “I enjoy being creative and being able to give my customers their very own, unique custom pieces while bringing their vision to life. Seeing my customers smiling and happy is always the goal. I’ve also made a few celebrities bracelets. That’s something that makes me happy as well,” she says.
As a small business owner, April has weathered a few storms to stay afloat. Some of them are having the right amount of finances to maintain inventory. “Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and trying to make sure just regular bills are paid and still have money to invest back into your business is hard. Especially when it’s just you. I’d rather work my but off before I have to pay someone back, and that is why I don’t want an investor. One thing for sure is that I will not quit,” she says.
April is inspired by her desire to have financial freedom and being able to offer her mother and sister a stress free life. “I want to be the one to break that generational curse and create generational wealth. I feel like my family has suffered enough trauma in
our lifetime and deserves to have a win. My family and I have never had the chance to travel either, so that’s something I want us to experience as well. My sister helped to raise me and she is also someone that look up to. She’s been through her own trauma and she’s still standing,” she says.
April also addresses the challenges she faces personally. “Counseling has taught me how to be more aware of the root of my issues. I have learned to accept the fact that some things may never change. For this, I make better decisions. I have learned to not to envy other business owners or Instagram influencers because behind closed doors some of their lives might be in shambles. Everyone is battling their own demons daily, and we just don’t know it. I’ve learned to be mindful of what I see, hear, and say on social media and in real life. I block all negativity out and I protect my peace at all cost,” she shared.
When she looks back, April shares there isn’t much she would have changed about her journey other than she would have taken advantage of the opportunity to educate herself on the financial aspect of being an entrepreneur. Moving forward, she hopes to learn more on how to market her business effectively. She also hopes to continue to grow her business, especially in the clientele department. h
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