Huami Magazine Raleigh/Durham July/August 2018

RALEIGH-DURHAM

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July/August 2018 Volume 2 Issue 6 FREE

Kween Kare

Larysa Jaye

Cosmetics

Farrar Financial Group, Inc. Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018

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Forget What They Said, I Know Better

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

A Letter From The Editor

In family, I share A my Letter from the Editorthe title of “the baby” along with my twin brother. Still, I proudly and boastfully state my position as big brother because after all, I am a few minutes older than he is. if tomorrow didn’t All of your plans, hopesas Even asWhat a young child I was justarrive? as stubborn and unmovable have a street park on.

What if out of I canand bedreams today. wouldn’t One would find it veryto difficult to talk me everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never anything; candy, games, toys, or anything else. happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone trouble of making When it came to competing againstthe others in sports, I couldn’t promises.

What if your last opportunity seemingly expired be talked out of the game. I had to be given a fair chance to What would you do? playtoday? and lose all on my own.

It was also very difficult for anyone to make me feel as if I was anything less than a child of God I’ve been tolddid that I oftenjob seem like I domy toosiblings much. and I because my mama a great of making Honestly, I feel likethe I ambest, not doing enough and I’m a the firmtime believe that we were each day.

Even during believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me and when I wore my brand-new pair of white sneakers to school that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would a neighborhood bully stepped on them, turning the top of them be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I brown. I still walked in confidence because of what I had planted have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity on the inside of me. It didn’t matter what others tried to make is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge me be or act like, I knew better. 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 Those tactics areabout still used today by thoseyour whopride wantand to stop something new myself.

Relinquish in others from livinglife. “out loud” and becoming what they are return acquire purposed for. I was once told that Huami Magazine was nothing more The thanbest a newsletter. knewto better.

I was once denied advice everI given me happened when someone acceptance into an organization because I didn’t fit the mold. told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so Years later, that same organization came calling again and I have pressed my way through doors with a key that onlyinvited me hope to participate much more prestigious level than I initially provided.atI ahave also learned the difference between showed interest in.

I knew I belonged from the very beginning. what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and Even today, doors are sometimes shuttoinbe myquiet, face.because I am still when subjected to rejection those someone may getby it confused who think they are in more control with being arrogant. of my destiny than God is. I know Make you tomorrow better because I’ve been tried and happen today, butamost tested and weathered few storms importantly it count. for myself.

I havemake also learned Life is but a whisper andin the that dream killers arise early we must put ourselves in a if morning with one agenda. But position to hear what it is it I keep God as my source for life, telling us. what they may say, doesn’t matter because I already know better.

Terry L. Watson Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder 4

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www.huamimagazine.com www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Terry L Watson

Publisher Terry L. Watson Allen - Deputy Editor DawnAlana C. Thornton Writer Dr. Marrissa Dick Writer Writers Terry L. Watson Tonya Dixon Writer Terry L. Watson Alana Donald Wilson Allen Tamara Smith Photographer Jeuron Ashleigh Crawley Dove Photographer Toni Shaw Photographer Photographers JerryTodd Barbry

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CONTENTS

JULY/AUGUST 2018

RALEIGH/DURHAM

Kween Kare Cosmetics

Tociana Watley

On The Cover

Farrar Financial Group, Inc. Coretta Farrar

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Things Will Get Better

Maya Bowen

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DunAmis Gospel Awards

Bishop Terry L .Young

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Zaheir Reed

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Also Featured

The Medicine Man of Memphis Wakesha Fogle of Greenville is leading by example.

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MRA1KUTz Tristan Jackson of Greenville, SC is bringing professionalism back.

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Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018

Harmony Organizing Ayanna McMullen wants to help make your life more simpler.

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HuamiMagazine.com

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HuamiMagazine.com

Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018

Farrar Financial Group Inc.

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by Todd Youngblood The old saying ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ is the bane of some people’s existence. Purchasing expensive items that others pay top dollar for seems to validate consumers but is a detriment to their pockets. CEO and Founder of Farrar Financial Group Inc., Coretta Farrar counsels those who make these types of mistakes, helping them get back on the right track.

Unfortunately, she can use her own personal experience as a testimony.

In 2004 Coretta and her husband Clifton II, found themselves drowning in debt after relocating from South Hill, VA to Charlotte. Within a year of relocating, Clifton lost his job with a Fortune 500 company and their finances took a major hit. “Even though we were making good money before his lay-off, we were living paycheck-to-paycheck, buying things we didn’t need and not saving properly,” says Coretta. She admits to being a victim of wanting look good on the outside while struggling on the inside.

“I was carrying a Louis Vuitton purse but didn’t have the money that it cost to put inside the bag,” Coretta confesses.

So many of us feel that it’s important for others to ‘see’ what we have instead of having it. We feel validated, somehow, when others think we are wealthy.

Before they completely hit rock bottom, the Farrar’s thought they should enlist the help of a professional credit repair specialist. They shopped around to find the right person, but were quoted fees of $1,000 and above. Instead of spending even more money they didn’t have, Coretta researched the topic and made up her mind that she would do it herself.

“I became obsessed with it, but I realized it’s very, very difficult to do. You have to face the mistakes you’ve made.

You start asking yourself ‘how did I let this happen and why did I spend so much money.’ I had to really look at myself.”

She also revealed that their marriage was tested. “You want someone to blame and there were times we didn’t like each other. Instread, it actually brought us closer.” The couple decided that the setback wasn’t going to tear them apart.

Continued on the next page

“So many of us feel that it’s important for others to ‘see’ what we have instead of having it. We feel validated, somehow, when others think we are wealthy.”

Coretta Farrar

Continued from page 7 They were in it to win it and they did just that.

Family members started to notice that Coretta and her husband changed their lifestyle and could afford things again, and eventually asked her to help them with their credit woes.

Then they referred their friends. “When we thought no one was paying attention, they really were,” says Coretta. It ultimately took her over two years to climb out of the hole they’d dug for themselves. She read plenty of books, attended seminars, and just used common sense to gain the knowledge and confidence she needed to achieve the victory.

Pictured aboie are the staff members of Farrar Finacial Group, Inc. From left to right: Clifton and Coretta, Kimberly Webb, Shedina Lakeman, and Corey Moye

For years, as a part-time venture, Coretta and Clifton helped people better understand the importance of paying bills on time, how to avoid living paycheck-to-paycheck, and how to save more and spend less. One day, Coretta, who was also a director at a large company needed some help of her own medical help. In 2013, she had an episode and was told it was an anxiety attack from the stress of her full-time job, along with running a business, raising children, and just everyday burdens. “Clifton told me to just quit and pursue the business. It was something I loved to do, I was good at it, and it was much less stressful than what I was doing.”

Her doting husband helped secure a location, signed a lease, and paid the rent for the entire six months. He already knew what his wife was capable of because their garage was full of files from the clients they serviced.

Whatever it would take to see Coretta healthy, happy, and thriving, Clifton was willing to do.

Now the couple has three locations – Charlotte, Raleigh, and a virtual office in Rock Hill that they’re planning to transition into a true physical location this year. They also plan to open a location in their home state of Virginia. But they don’t just repair credit at these offices, they dig deep to find the root of the problem and start there.

“Many of our clients don’t have money problems, they have priority problems. And we teach them that money is a tool,” Clifton adds. Others are in financial ruin after a medical crisis, the death of a loved one, or some other unfortunate catastrophe, through no fault of their own. Yet, they can find their way back as well. “We can’t counsel the person that accumulated debt because they were fighting cancer, the same way we do someone who just doesn’t like to pay their bills,” says Coretta. After they’ve trudged through the murky waters of debt, they drive home the idea of building generational wealth so their families will thrive later and avoid the mistakes they’ve made.

It’s important for the couple to leave a legacy for their two children, Iyanna, 17, and Clifton III, 11. Iyanna already has her hand in the business by helping them market and advertise on social media and has hopes of attending an HBCU after high school.

When asked what it takes to own a business, Clifton perks up and advises, “Chase the passion and not the money.

Money will come and go. If you’re not looking to help and serve, it will be difficult to succeed.” Coretta chimes in, “Keep your overhead low and have a mentor who has the wisdom and knowledge on the importance of taking risks.

Find someone who can motivate you to achieve your goals. You need someone who believes in your crazy dreams.

And most of all, have a relationship with God.” h

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Farrar Finicial Group, Inc. Farrar Credit Services 4801 E Independence Blvd - STE 616 Charlotte NC 28212 704-537-6500

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By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by J Humble Photography ccording to Tociana ‘Kween Love’ Watley, every woman should be treated like royalty. She has a special affinity for her African American sisters who tend to carry the world on their shoulders. We assume roles as activists, caretakers, confidantes, counselors, and teachers, just to name a few. With all the colorful crowns we adorn, who wouldn’t want to be pampered from time to time? Kween Kare Cosmetics was created on a whim, but has turned into so much more.

Tociana has always thought of herself as a hustler. In addition to the countless unpaid roles she’s had, she was also a babysitter, a special needs teacher, a nanny, and a Uber/Lyft driver. She even attended nail school at one point. For some time, she flourished in her individual jobs, but an unfortunate incident while driving Lyft caused her to question working for others and her sense of freedom. “This older man white assaulted me so I pepper-sprayed him and I ended up getting a charge instead,” she remembers. Because she had recently joined a nanny service with many potential clients, the unresolved charge resulted in her losing the clients and forced her to reevaluate her career path.

Continued on the next page

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Detox Body Soak & Body Butter

While in between jobs, she had extra time on her hands and decided to research ingredients in the bath and body products she used daily.

She discovered that many of them are unhealthy, so she sprang into action. “I started making my own toothpaste, and my boyfriend and I started using it,” says Tociana. She noticed her teeth were gradually becoming whiter, even though she already considered them to be a healthy shade of white. She also noticed that they weren’t as gritty and grimy after eating. They stayed clean throughout the day. Forging ahead, Tociana researched how to make her own face mask and was again pleased with the result. In conversation, she mentioned her new endeavor to close friends and family members and they inquired about purchasing her products.

The 23-year-old expressed to her boyfriend, Markise White that she wanted to consider starting a business. He simply said, “Go for it!”

Tociana could not have been more excited. With an investment from him, she quickly took to Fiverr to create her first logo, started building a website, and browsed sites for packaging. In January 2017, “Kween Kare Cosmetics, LLC” was born. The logo includes a crown atop the ‘K’ in Kween because Tociana wants her customers to think of themselves with high distinction. She makes a point to practice self-love and encourages her customers to do the same. “I refer to most people as queens and kings because that’s what we are. And that’s the way they should think of themselves,” says the young entrepreneur. She has adopted the name ‘Kween Love’ to promote the feeling within herself and to lift others with the same ideals.

Brown Sugar Scrub

During the creative process, Tociana still juggled babysitting jobs around the clock and eventually landed a job at a call center that seemed too good to be true. It paid well, but to her, it felt like a prison environment after some time, with no windows, scheduled eating times, and security equal to ‘Fort Knox’. That job didn’t last long, and leaving would allow her more time to cultivate her growing passion. When she was ready for her line to expand, Tociana tapped her Chemical Engineer mom to assist in selecting the best organic ingredients to use. And because she’s a graduate of Meredith College, she is privy to certain published research that helps with the process To date her bestsellers are the toothpaste and the body butters, though her line includes mouthwash, lip balm, and hair and face masks. Her first event was in Burlington and was a complete success, selling out of most products. “There were people arguing over the toothpaste because I didn’t bring enough. I was able to take their names and ship it to them later,” she laughs.

Toothpaste & Mouth Wash

Tociana’s current adventure is far from her original goal of owning a practice dedicated to children with autism with her younger sister.

She attended Meredith College and graduated in 2016 with a degree in psychology. In the fall, she will attend North Carolina Central University in Durham to work towards obtaining her MSW (Masters of Social Work) while her sister attends Columbia University in New York City, aiming for the same degree.

It’s evident that this young businesswoman has a promising future.

She’s faced a few hurdles but that doesn’t stop her from stretching her legs to jump over them. She encourages anyone with an idea to move on it. “Don’t short yourself. Shoot for the stars,” she advises. With the support of God, her village of family and friends, including her king, Kween Love is spreading healthy products to as many people as she can and she won’t stop until everyone feels like royalty. h

Body Butter & Lip Balm

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(919) 576-0304 kweenkare@gmail.com www.kweenkarecosmetics.com @kweenkarecosmetics

@kweenkarecos

Ayanna McMullen

Harmony Organizing Richmond, Virginia

www.harmonyorg.com bad habits, to toxic friends. This self-discovery process is key to creating the lives they want and living up to their full potential.”

Ayanna usually works with career minded women who wear many hats, though she does have fantastic male clients. To be successful, she seeks anyone who is primed for change, or has a real, definite, and acute desire to change their cluttered lifestyle. Ayanna shares, “my clients who are primed for change have decided to take action due to personal circumstances or when everything in your life explodes and you don’t know where to pick up the pieces. I call these experiences a ‘Life Supernova’. I assist individuals who experience life transitions or unexpected events such as marriage, embarking upon a new career, starting a business or having to take care of a loved one who is sick.”

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By Terry L. Watson Photos by Petite Shards Productions yanna McMullen of Richmond, Virginia is an eclectic systems thinker who empowers people to navigate the clutter of life. By doing so she enables them to see the big picture and break it down into manageable parts so they can live their best lives.

Ayanna is an educator, songstress, long distance runner and salsaholic who loves silver bangles and exploring different cultures and ideas. Ayanna is a Professional Organizer and holds a B.A. in Political Science and a M.P.A in Public Administration. All of these attributes are utilized in the very unique business that she manages, Harmony Organizing.

Harmony Organizing is a consulting company that declutters and organizes the spaces in which people live, work, and play. “Most people think of space as tangible but there are also intangible spaces such as our minds and spirits.

Harmony works with people on these levels as well. How we think determines what items and people we surround ourselves with and vice versa. The things and items we keep close to us affect our minds. It’s a holistic approach; we address the entire person,” Ayanna states. “I think that’s what makes us unique in the field of professional organizing; addressing the person as a multidimensional being, which we all are. Harmony Organizing balances the dimensions of your life.”

As a pre-teen and teenager, Ayanna shares that her mother would move her from room to room. She shared a room with her two sisters and brother.

She was also the one who would often organize family trips and serve as the “ambassador” for herself and siblings to their parents. “Ayanna you go ask momma and daddy if we can” was a directive often given to her she states.

That was also her prepping ground for what would eventually become Harmony Organizing.

Organizing things was always something that came naturally to Ayanna.

It wasn’t until 2011, when she really began to understand the depth of how valuable it is to be organized and in balance. From then on, Harmony became her passion.

“We are such better humans when we are organized and in balance,” Ayanna says. “I view order as a systemic movement or flow that is not stagnant but creative and liberating. Order should naturally adjust to your lifestyle to enhance how you move, work, and play. My clients’ lives are enhanced during the decluttering process. They’re able to take inventory of their lives and make concrete decisions on the things they do and do not want, from piles of stuff, to

Ayanna offers her services to individuals, groups, students, non-profits and for profits in various categories. These include Physical Spaces such as bedrooms, offices, garages and more. In regards to Mental Spacess Ayanna offers goal setting, vision creation, idea generation, and task lists. There is also a focus on scheduling and time for planners, calendars, schedules, communication boards, productivity apps and more. Finally, there are products geared around Cloud Space for things such as intangible files and information on computers, phones, and cloud storage. Additional services offered are geared to help clients organize their ‘Out of The Box Projects’ such as workflow management systems, human resources systems, group coordination and training, employee handbooks and more.

There are a few organizational tips that Ayanna offers to those seeking to make their lives clutter free. First, Know Who You Are. If you don’t know, find out. A simple strategy is to write down what you like and what you don’t like.

You’ll begin to see how your beliefs and values align to these. Does something need to change? Knowing yourself is also extremely important when working in cluttered environments with various personalities. Secondly, Know Your Big Why. Why do you want to become a professional organizer and why are you passionate about this work? This is the fuel that will keep you going when things are easy and when they are rough. Your Big Why is essential to creating your vision for your business.

The next thing you should do is Find a Mentor. Whether it’s for business development or someone who can show you the ropes of organizing. No need to reinvent the wheel if someone else can show you how. Just add your special touch to it. Next, don’t forget to Create a System. Systems leverage your time, resources, and energy. Build Your Team. A team also helps you leverage your time, resources, and energy. More importantly, a team is great to bounce ideas off of. Knowing that there are people who have your back and can fill in the gaps is invaluable. Finally, Create White Space.

Entrepreneurs, or up and coming entrepreneurs wear many hats. There is always something to do. Build time into your daily schedule to breathe, let your hair down, and just have fun. You’ll be refreshed and more creative when it’s time to work.

Moving forward, Ayanna plans to continue to build her team and expand her services. This fall she will host her 4th “How To Be #GoalGetter” workshop.

It will be a goal setting, pre-game for the 2019 year. This platform and other services will be expanded to an online version and plans are also in the works to officially launch the “Pay It Forward” campaign to assist those who are in financially distressed situations and experiencing life supernovas. These will be gifted, organizing sessions intended to bring harmony into their lives.

Contact Ayanna and Harmony Organizing today and allow them to help make your life simpler. h

MASTER BARBER

TRISTANJACKSON Born 2 Style Barbershop and Hair Salon Greenville, SC

By Junious Smith III - Photos by Apollo Wonex

MRA1KUTz MRA1KUTz

Tristan Jackson may not have gone the conventional route, but it suits him just fine. Jackson has been a Master Barber at Born 2 Style Barbershop and Hair Salon in Greenville, S.C. for the past eight years.

For Jackson, this was the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfill a dream he had ever since he was a child. “I got intrigued watching barbers cutting hair when I was younger,” Jackson said. “Most people around my age were more into video games, but I was mesmerized by the movement of the clippers and the smell of talcum powder. Both sparked my interest in becoming a barber.”

They have also transformed Jackson into one of the premier and highly sought-after barbers in the Upstate region.

A native of Greenville, Jackson graduated from Woodmont High School in 2006 and later transitioned to Benedict College in Columbia, about 90 minutes away from his hometown. After one year at Benedict, Jackson knew there was another calling upon his life. “I began to focus my heart towards doing something else,” he says. “It really started with watching my mother work two and three jobs. I saw her hustle and that made me want to hustle just as hard as she did. Even more, this was pretty much my only option.

I was in a situation where I couldn’t get a nine to five. I worked a job at a manufacturing plant for a little while, but I really wanted to make things shake for myself. I have always had an entrepreneurial mentality and never grasped the idea of working for someone other than myself,” he says. As life would happen, so would things for Jackson as well.

Though he had been cutting hair for quite a while, he would be certified as a professional barber in 2010, starting at Born 2 Style shortly after. “I had cut hair some in high school and college,” Jackson said. “When I first began, I had a small, yet devoted client list who followed and supported me. During football and basketball season, there were a lot of players who hit me up. I received a lot of positive feedback from those services and it encouraged me to push myself even more.”

“Being an entrepreneur is more so an investment in yourself,” Jackson said. “You get out of it, what you put into it, so if you’re really interested in entrepreneurship, you have to be wholeheartedly committed. It’s getting up knowing what you must do to put things together, but you also have more freedom. From a financial standpoint it can be difficult, but you make your own schedule and can take a vacation whenever you like. Ultimately, you’re working for yourself and that is always a blessing.”

Throughout the Greenville and Spartanburg area, Jackson is known as “MRA1KUTZ”. This title itself represents who he is as a barber, and what Jackson strives to be in his chosen profession. “I try to bring a level of professionalism to my craft. It’s like going to the doctor’s office — you can’t just go in there, you must set an appointment. I believe most barbers should do the same thing. The reason why I charge extra for early and late sessions is because you’re not only paying for the services, you are also paying for my time as well,” he says.

Some of the services offered by Jackson include those for adults and kids such as design haircuts, shape ups, and more. He also offers VIP services and on-location services which include “house calls” and hotels. His advances services, which are geared towards those who seek a more detailed and personal experience, include Thermal Scrub Therapy Treatments, Scalp Exfoliation, Neck and Chin, Alaskan Mask Facials, Beard Luster Wash, and Hydrotherapy Bald Treatments.

Jackson plans to increase his line of available services while continuing to make the MRA1KUTZ brand a household name. He is aware of the constant change in the barbering landscape, still he believes that by being a trailblazer and staying in tune with the needs of his clients, he will also be successful.

Though barbering has become a popular and crowded profession, Jackson has distanced himself by utilizing the one skill his chosen trade needs more than anything. Professionalism. h

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Dr. John E. Bell

The Medicine Man of Memphis

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By Dr. Marrissa Dick Photos by Clearwater Photography

ho do you get when you combine a Surgical Podiatrist, a 1991 United States Navy Gulf War Veteran, a Soulful R&B Recording Artist, a Director and Producer of Award Winning Independent Films, an author, and someone who mirrors the motto of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity?” Exactly, you get Dr. John E. Bell, CEO of Excelsior Podiatry Clinic LLC in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Bell specializes in limb salvage and the prevention of amputation for those who suffer from lower limb complications due to diabetes and other foot and ankle ailments. According to Dr. Bell, “Basically what I do is prevent limb loss. When patients have poor circulation, diabetics in particular, they can develop ulcerations and experience all kinds of issues associated with lack of healthy blood flow to their limbs. As a boardcertified podiatrist I specialize in diabetic limb ailments, provide foot and ankle pain relief associated with joint pain from various forms of arthritis, and I also treat your more common foot ailments from ingrown nails to contracted digits to ulcers, and bunions.”

Invasion of The Baby Daddy

Do I Fit The Color of The Rainbow

Parents and teachers often ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Often times children have an answer ready. Most shout a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher or maybe even an athlete. If someone had asked Dr. Bell that question he may not have had any of those aspirations because his most immediate thoughts centered around living in abject poverty with his single mother and siblings.

He shares, “My father died when I was really young leaving my mother a single parent. She worked very hard to raise us as best she could but those living conditions were not thriving. We knew poverty and the projects, and we didn’t have most things. I knew early on what it was like to be an African American male living in an urban and decaying city, so my focus wasn’t necessarily on what I wanted to be when I grew up. In truth, I really struggled in school. My thoughts were mostly on wondering if I was going to make it out of my circumstance. Realistically, I only had two options.

I either was going to make it out of that environment or I wasn’t. There was no grey area or middle ground for me. What I did know was that I didn’t want to fail, and I carry that same thought process with me today. I still don’t want to fail. I do everything to the best of my ability so I’m accountable to myself, not to anyone else.

I’m my own critic when it comes to achieving personal goals because I hold myself to a higher standard that I’ve set for my personal life. Maybe it’s because of my primary years, but I just believe that there’s always room for improvement in everything I do. I’m antiignorant and I’m also anti-cultural genocide of urban communities.” The late and great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once declared, “Whatever your life’s work is do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” I’m sure Dr. Bell’s patients would agree that he is indeed holding true to this civil rights leader’s mantra.

What was it that could have caused a young man to finally decide that he wanted to become a surgical podiatrist? According to Dr. Bell, “As soon as I graduated from high school in 1989 I enlisted in the United States Navy, so I could serve my country and tour the world. Then two years later it wasn’t just drills anymore. My ship was the first to be employed in the Gulf War because we were on the coast of Kuwait.

I’ll never forget it for as long as I live. My captain said, “This is not a drill all hands, man your battle stations! This is not a drill!” And before I knew it everything that I had been trained to do automatically kicked in - - I had been trained for war but I never really thought I’d actually be in one. It became more and more real for me every time a tomahawk left the ship. I’ll never ever forget the sound or the feel of it because every time a tomahawk was fired the entire ship would rock. Can you imagine being 19 years old in the midst of a war? I knew if I could survive where I grew up and this war then I knew in my heart there had to be a special calling on my life. I promised myself that if I lived through this moment I was going to make

“I knew early on what it was like to be an African American male living in an urban and decaying city, so my focus wasn’t necessarily on what I wanted to be when I grew up. My thoughts were mostly on wondering if I was going to make it out of my circumstance.”

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something of myself. I mean death was knocking at my door; it was coming for me, but I had no intentions of answering it. I made up my mind that night that I was going to survive. I can’t explain to you how it feels when you can hear your own heart beating in your ears because of fear. I lived through all of that so I’m no longer afraid of death. Thank God the war was over, and I lived through it. After that I decided to enroll in an online sociology course and I earned an A which really motivated me because I struggled academically in high school.

After that school became the springboard for my life.”

I Think I Can Be A Doctor

The Internal Mist of Love

Dr. Bell’s initial experience with death is part of the reason he desires to help others live a purposeful and healthy life. “I became a doctor because I like to help people heal. I hate seeing someone in pain. I love the physical interaction of health care and I also love the fact that a patient can come into my practice with a wound or a lesion and leave out feeling better than when they came in.”

His four clinics offer the state of the art ultrasound technology for diagnosing joint inflammation, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis along with other problems.

His practices also house a Nerve Conduction Study Unit for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy due to Diabetic Neuropathy and trauma and nerve loss.

His clinics also offer the Arterial Doppler Machine which measures the Ankle Brachial Index and tests for peripheral vascular disease of the lower limb. Dr. Bell also performs Electrocorporal heel shock therapy (ESWT) which is a noninvasive therapeutic procedure to help with heel pain. Most of these procedures can be performed in his office or can be done on an outpatient basis which is more conducive for his patients.

Notwithstanding, Dr. Bell also offers front line educational prevention to his patients. He shares, “I really enjoy my job because I’m protecting my community by helping to lower the percentage rate of amputations and limb loss. You know I believe if you don’t love humanity and you don’t love everyone that God created then you’re just not going to do very well. So, I pray daily for my passion to increase for the compassion of others. I am passionate about helping everyone because medicine is not just a Black issue, it’s not a White issue, it’s not a Latin or even an Asian issue. I’m a firm believer in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth,” so I aspire to do the best I can on a daily basis to help others.

After traveling the world and America what made him settle on Tennessee? “After I did my surgical training I received a letter from Tennessee stating that they were looking for a surgical podiatrist for this area. All four of my practices are centered in the tri-state area between Memphis, Mississippi, and Arkansas. I feel good in knowing that over the past 15 years I’ve made an impact in reducing the number of health-related amputations plaguing these rural communities.”

Dr. John E. Bell D.P.M

Excelsior Multispcialty Clinic MHSA Podiatry Surgery and Diabetic Foot Care 305 Lake Road Somerville, TN 38068

(866) 476-7944 www.excelsiorpodiatryclinic.com www.drjohnebellbooksandmusic.com Serving The Following Comunities Memphis, Somerville, Bolivar Selmer, Brownsville, Whiteville Bartlett, and Cordova 18

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With so many patients and practices it seems almost impossible that he would have time to pursue any personal endeavors but that thought would be a mistake. Dr. Bell finds time to thoroughly enjoy all facets of his life from being a R&B recording artist to directing and producing award winning independent films. He shares, “I work hard as a physician but that’s not all that I am. I’m also a father and an uncle and I love my family dearly. I’ve actually been able to travel internationally on music tours and I’ve had a lot of fun doing that. I fully believe in fulfilling your dreams. I’m always the doctor though because where ever I am I always promote health because that’s vitally important.”

Dr. Bell is a 2003 graduate of Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine in Independence, Ohio., and a Member of the Bluff City Medical Society in Memphis, TN. His hospital affiliations are with Saint Francis-Bartlett Hospital, Methodist South Fayette Hospital, Bolivar General Hospital, the Med Regional Hospital in Memphis, TN and also the McNairy Regional hospital in Selmer, TN. Dr. Bell is Board Certified by the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery and is a Member of American Podiatric Medical Association and the Tennessee Podiatric Medical Associations, respectively. He has one daughter and resides in the Greater Metro area of West Tennessee. h

Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018

Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018

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Bishop Terry L. Young, Founder It is my esteemed pleasure to welcome you to the 2018 DunAmis Gospel Awards. We are delighted that you have the opportunity to share your time and gifts with us as we congratulate, celebrate, and recognize new and established artist during this event. It is my aspiration, as well as my staff to elevate DunAmis Gospel Awards to higher heights, and to allow God to enlarge our territory.

DunAmis is the Greek word that means “Power”.

It is a power source that reproduces itself without reduction in intensity- “Power in Action” The DunAmis Gospel Awards honors outstanding Independent Gospel Artist, Pastors, First Ladies, Churches, and others for their contributions in their churches and communities. As one of the fastest growing awards show in the Southeast, we are focused on building a network of Independent Artist, Pastors, and Churches to come together and encourage each other for their contributions towards Kingdom Building.

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Pictured with Bishop Young is his wife Geneva HuamiMagazine.com

DunAmis Gospel Awards Show is an annual event filled with a variety of innovative and exciting showcases, choirs, and achievement awards. The vision of the DunAmis Gospel Awards is to honor and recognize and encourage local talent.

DunAmis Gospel Awards will spotlight more than 22 categories and three special tributes through various churches religious groups and independent gospel music artist, giving them the opportunity to network and display their ministry gifts.

I am delighted to congratulate all the nominees and honorees for a job well done. As for all the supporters I deeply thank you for your time to participate in this occasion. I would like to give a special thanks to my awesome staff for your dedication and hard work.

Lastly, I thank you for all of your prayers and support.

Thank you for all you do for DunAmis Gospel Awards.

The best is yet to come! h

Greensboro Manager, Santos Aghamkar, was invited to attend DunAmis Gospel Awards. His enthusiasm for the Vision of DunAmis Gospel Awards to give independent Gospel Artists and ministry gifts a platform led him to interview Bishop Terry L. Young.

Mr. Santos wanted to highlight some of the DunAmis performers. Total Christian Television, TCT corporate headquarters agreed to air the DunAmis Gospel Awards nationally, three times and free of charge.

Santos Aghamkar, TCT

2018 Dunamis Gospel Awards Power In Action October 27, 2018 Cornerstone Conference IPHC Greensboro, NC www.dunamisgospelawards.org

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Things Will Get Better

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton Photos by JLG Photography Trouble doesn’t last always, and Maya Bowen is a true testament to that. On July 7, Maya will finally see the fruits of her labor when her long-awaited, Marks of Beauty Hair Studio has its grand opening. She’s ready to show the world that just because she was down for a moment, does not mean she’s out forever.

As a preteen, Maya’s brother would consistently beg her to braid his hair and that of his friends. She didn’t enjoy it, but she would do it. One evening, she had planned to attend her 8th grade prom, but she had no idea what to do with her hair. She figured out a style within minutes and was pleased with the outcome, considering it only took her a few minutes, it was free, and she created it herself.

Even then, being a hairstylist was the furthest thing from her mind.

Getting along with her mother and her abusive step-father was more important and nothing seemed to be working.

At the young age of 15, Maya became pregnant with her first child. By 18, she had welcomed a second. She was young, single, and struggling. Luckily, around the same time, her mother ended the relationship with her stepfather and things began to turn around. A once troubled existence with her mother, changed for the better and she finally had the mother-daughter bond that she’d always prayed for.

Raising two young children and creating a better life for them was Maya’s first priority. At one point, she attended nursing school with plans to become a nurse. When that interest faded, she enrolled in an information systems course and even landed a job as a technician at a popular company in the area. “After I started working, I realized that women don’t always want to listen to other women, and men don’t want to listen to women in the tech field.

They would get a man to say the exact same thing I just said, and it became really frustrating,” explained Maya. Discouraged, she asked to change her role, but stayed with the company.

In 2014, Maya decided to explore cosmetology, the one thing she had been steering clear of for years. She visited Empire Beauty School, enjoyed the instructor, and decided that day that she wanted to be a hairstylist. Her mother and children all encouraged her, picking up the slack while she worked during the day and attended class at night. To make extra money as well as perfect her techniques, she would take on clients on the weekend at her home. It took several months of around-the-clock running for the busy mother of two to feel the effects. Her health was already questionable because of an artery disease she had, and her body just couldn’t keep up. “I kept telling everyone that I was tired, but no one really listened,” she sighed.

Maya’s voice gets more intense as she explains how she’d resolved that she was ready to ‘take herself out’. She dropped her children off at church with her mother but didn’t come inside like she normally does. As she was driving, she sent her mother a text that she had planned to be her last. “I can’t do it anymore. I’m sorry. Please take care of my kids,” the text read. Her mother started calling her cell phone relentlessly but couldn’t get an answer. One of the children tracked her by using her computer tablet that was connected to her cell phone. By the time her family located her, she had ingested several pills and was immediately transported to the hospital. By the grace of God, she lived. Whether she wanted to still be on this earth or not, she was.

By now, her brother was in the military and doing well for himself, so he offered his sister and her children the opportunity to come and live with him while she attempted to get back on her feet. “After I moved with my brother in 2015, I met one of his friends who seemed to be so perfect for me. He was very calming and said all the right things,” Maya reflects. After a few weeks of meeting this gentleman, they fell in love, decided to get married and make a life together. It didn’t take long for her new husband to change and transform into a person she never thought he would be. He was jealous, abusive, and manipulative, to say the least. He tried everything in his power to break her spirit, and for a while he succeeded. Maya remembers the two years she was his wife as the worst time in her life. However, God gave her a precious daughter to show her that beauty and love always prevails.

Now with three children and her supportive mother and children by her side, Maya is ready to embark on her new adventure as a business owner. She’s ready to show others how to claim their beauty and regain their confidence, just as she had to do less than a year ago. She has battled many health issues, including a fibromyalgia diagnosis, knee problems, and mental illness but now knows how to manage them all with God and a stable home life. She lost a few friends during this rollercoaster but cherishes all the relationships that have carried her along the way and is grateful for those that didn’t give up on her. She can’t wait to show them the results of their unconditional support. h

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Cutest Baby

Zaheir Kaiden Reed The son of Creg Anthony Reed and Briana Eller Photo provided by JLG Photography

RALEIGH/DURHAM

MEMPHIS

CHARLOTTE

To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com

GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG

NASHVILLE

TRIAD

RICHMOND (RVA)

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MS. GROOM ROOM HAIR SALON

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717 E. Martin Street - Suite 135 Raleigh, NC 27610 HuamiMagazine.com

Now Seeking Professional Barbers & Stylist

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Raleigh/Durham - July/August 2018