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Sept./Oct. 2026 Vol. 3 Issue 4

Porscha Anderson

The Chosen Legacy Project

St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

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Giving God A Return On His Investment There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter From The Editor - Terry L. Watson

In the year 2026, I believe the best thing that I have toldAmyself thusthe farEditor has been to keep it moving. Keep it Letter from moving even while everything around me seems to be at a standstill. Keep it moving regardless of what I didn’t get What if tomorrow arrive? All of your plans, accomplished yesterday.didn’t As the conversations you’vehopes had and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if with God confirmed the assignment beforehand, and His word everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never promises in Jeremiah 29:11 to give you a hope and a future, so, happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy keepday, it moving! and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired

Godtoday? blessesWhat us allwould with you many do?gifts and talents, some more than others. It is my belief that we must use them to glorify Him, and by I’ve doing so,told He that promises blesslike us.I do Even been I oftentoseem toomore, much. how we show up in our communities how we love Honestly, I feel like I am notand doing enough andour I’mneighbors a firm believer in knowing Goduswouldn’t on me should reflect how Godthat loves and howput weanything love God. How I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life that? wouldWe can that we say that we love God but our fruit is far from be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me.that I must be mindful that God is not impressed by the “love” have found that to be very In my opinion, opportunity comes out of our mouths if itboring. isn’t echoed by our actions. is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? God has created everything, and with His children being his If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn most prized creation, I believe that He expects the greatest something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return on His investment from us. I have often asked myself, return acquire life.

what does that look like? Does it mean that I should spend more The timebest reading God’s it mean that I should advice ever word? given toDoes me happened when someone spend more time meditating on His word? Does it mean that told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I should more fasting doors and praying? Mythat answer I havespend pressed my time way through with a key only to eachhope of these questions is “YES”. provided. I have also learned the difference between

what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare when to be confident I am believing God it totodoknowing great things in my life, and Iand when to be quiet, because don’t want to unintentionally do anything to prevent Him someone may get confused from moving on my behalf. That means that I mustitbe with being intentional aboutarrogant. how I love Him in

return. Even more, I am so grateful Make you tomorrow for God calling me, and it is truly an happen today, but most honorimportantly to be used make by Him. it count. Life is but a whisper and

Every ofput myourselves life and for weday must in athe rest ofposition my life,to I am committed hear what it is to proving God right. He did His big telling us. thing when He chose me, as He has done with all of His children.

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

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November/December 2014

Terry L Watson

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www.huamimagazine.com Dr. MarrissaEditor DickIn Chief Writer Terry L. Watson Writer Terry L. Watson Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Monica Montgomery Writer Writers

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HUAMI MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the Mykel Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher prior to doing so. Mykel Media doesn’t accept responsibility for statements made by individuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning this publication may be submitted to the editor by E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2014 All Rights Reserved

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SEPT./OCT. 2026

ST. LOUIS

CONTENTS

Family. Faith. Community

Kimberly B. Lee

On The Cover The Chosen Legacy Project

Porscha Anderson

St. Louis, MO Measles Advisory

St. Louis Department of Health

Gia & Kendric Crawford 14 SOAR To The Top

Serving Families with Love

Dana K. White

The Staton Wood Company

Ronnie & Damaris

His journey has brought from around the world. Learn more about The Concord Fellowship Dr. Darius Don Butler Huntsville, AL

24 St. Louis, MO UNITE TECH Conference & Expo

Black Tech Midwest

She is Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby. Introducing one beautiful baby. Her name is Siya Stevens

36 5

W hat’s H appening I n O ur C ommunity

City of St. Louis Department of Health Issues Measles Advisory Information obtained from Press Release The City of St. Louis Department of Health encourages residents to monitor their health after a possible measles exposure. An individual present at the following locations tested positive for measles on Saturday, Sept. 19; however, they were contagious but likely asymptomatic as early as Sept. 12. Sept. 12 - 3:30-7:50 p.m. The Cat’s Meow Sept. 12 - 6-11:30 p.m. Busch Stadium, seated in or near Section 141 - Sept. 12 - 9:30 p.m.- 2 a.m. Paddy O’s Because measles is highly contagious, the Department of Health urges anyone who may have been exposed–especially those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or a parent of a child too young to be vaccinated–to contact their health care provider or the Department of Health immediately. “If you were present at any of these locations during the exposure window, please monitor your health closely for the next 21 days,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Health. “If you do begin experiencing any of the listed symptoms, we strongly recommend self-isolating immediately and contacting your care provider for the next steps. It is very important that you do not report directly to a medical facility without informing them first.” Anyone present during the exposure window has a chance of developing measles if they are not fully vaccinated. The Department of Health has been working closely with the affected venues and the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to notify anyone present during the established exposure window. Since symptoms develop 7-14 days after exposure, we expect anyone who contracted measles to begin experiencing illness within the next few days. We strongly recommend that anyone who experiences a high fever, cough or runny nose, red, watery eyes or a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body immediately isolate and contact their care provider. Please note that a rash may not develop for several days after exposure, so do not wait for one to appear if you are experiencing any of the other listed symptoms. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death. Measles is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person

breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area, which accounts for the inflated exposure window. The main concern at this time is for people who are not already protected against measles. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides strong protection against measles, especially after two doses. Measles can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Children too young to be vaccinated are more likely to have severe complications if they get infected with the measles virus. Health care providers can find recommendations for infection control and diagnostic testing in the health alert issued on Sept. 4 [content.govdelivery.com]. Providers should report any suspected cases to their local health department immediately, preferably while the patient is still with the provider. More information can be found on the Department of Health website. For more information, please contact the City of St. Louis Department of Health at 314-612-5100 or health@stlouismo.gov. h

W hat’s H appening I n O ur C ommunity

Black Tech Midwest presents UNITE TECH Conference & Expo 2026 Information obtained from Online Event Posting Where the Midwest Connects the Movement. UNITE TECH Conference and Expo is more than a conference. It is a technology ecosystem where professionals, career changers, students, entrepreneurs, founders, employers, educators, companies, creators and community organizations come together to learn, connect, build and create opportunity. Whether you already work in technology, are trying to enter the field, are building a business, looking for talent, exploring AI, developing a startup or simply want to see where technology is going next, there is a place for you at UNITE TECH. DAY ONE — WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14: Career, Workforce, Skills & Partnership Day. Day One is focused on preparation, access and opportunity. The lower level of The Post Building will host the FREE Career & Partnership Fair, giving attendees direct access to employers, recruiters, workforce organizations, training providers, certification programs, community organizations and companies looking to hire and build partnerships. The Hiring & Partnership Fair is free and open to paid registered attendees 8:00am-4:30pm. Upstairs, the paid U.N.I.T.E. TECH Conference will feature classes, workshops, fireside chats, panels and main-stage programming focused on careers, technology, workforce development, AI, business growth and the future of work. Day One is where opportunity meets preparation.

Throughout the day, attendees will experience programming around AI, robotics, drones, spatial technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, founders, technology demonstrations, community spotlights and the MVP Pitch Experience. The conference and expo conclude at 5:00 PM. Then, at 7:00 PM, the Black Tech Midwest Sip & Tech begins as the official U.N.I.T.E. TECH Closing Experience. WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Technology professionals, Career changers, Students, Founders, Entrepreneurs, Business owners, Content creators, Engineers, AI professionals, Cybersecurity professionals, Cloud and data professionals, Project managers, Recruiters, Employers, Corporate leaders, Educators, Training providers, Community organizations, Government agencies, Investors, Funders, Service providers, and anyone interested in technology and opportunity. h

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Teaching Through Trauma by Dr. Tamika L. Johnson

DAY TWO — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15: Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Expo Day. Day Two shifts the focus from preparation to what is being built now and what comes next. The UNITE TECH Conference and Expo opens at 8:00 AM and brings together technology companies, startups, founders, community organizations, emerging technology and business resources. One the lower level Be Tech and CyberUp hold the youth division Career Pathway Summit. Over 300 youth will learn, get introduced and be interactive with all the new cool tech products and services.

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St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

Porscha Anderson

The Chosen Legacy Project By Terry L. Watson - Photos Provided by Porscha Anderson St. Louis, Missouri, native and resident Porscha Anderson is the face and founder of The Chosen Legacy, a brand that consists of two connected entities: the Chosen Legacy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and Chosen Legacy Insurance Group, an insurance brokerage firm. The Chosen Legacy Project is the education, outreach, and community activation side of Porscha’s work. Through Legacy Parties, financial empowerment workshops, community events, educational programming, and partnerships with faith-based organizations, businesses, and community organizations, they bring information and resources directly into the spaces where people already live, work, worship, and gather. She says that the goal of the Project is to educate, initiate, and activate. “We help families and small business owners better understand financial protection, wealth building, estate and legacy planning, and the resources available to them. We also help identify gaps and connect people to appropriate professionals and community resources so they can take informed action,” she says. Chosen Legacy Insurance Group is the brokerage firm that Porscha operates from. Through its growing network of licensed agents, it provides insurance and financial solutions, including term life insurance, whole life and final expense coverage, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policies, children’s policies, living benefits, annuities, and health insurance solutions. They also help connect families to estate and legacy planning resources, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary planning, and other preparations that help individuals document their wishes and prepare for the transfer of assets. “We have a strong commitment to serving families, seniors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. We help them think beyond immediate financial needs and begin creating strategies around protection, ownership, wealth building, and legacy,” Porscha shares. Together, Porscha states the two entities create an ecosystem. The Chosen Legacy Project provides education, creates access, activates resources, and strengthens communities. Chosen Legacy Insurance Group provides the licensed insurance and financial solutions that allow individuals and families to put protection strategies into action. “Through this combined approach and our relationships with organizations such as LegalShield, ACN, faith-based institutions, and other community resource partners, we have helped connect more than 500 families in the past year with education, services, support, and resources. Ultimately, our mission is to help people understand what they are building, what they need to protect, what may be missing from their plan, and what they are intentionally preparing to pass forward. We want to give families the education, access, resources, and solutions to build it, protect it, and pass it forward.” She is also a committed lifelong learner, with an educational journey that includes traditional education, professional certifications, and ongoing study in business, leadership, personal development, coaching, NLP, mindset, spirituality, financial services, and human behavior. “For the past 22 years, my career has allowed me to serve at the intersection of entrepreneurship, business development, nonprofit leadership, economic and community development, consulting, coaching, financial services, and public speaking,” she says. She’s had opportunities to lead organizations, manage multimillion-dollar initiatives, secure millions in resources for community development, support entrepreneurs and families, facilitate entrepreneurship programs, speak internationally, and become a three-time author. Though her titles have changed, the assignment has remained remarkably consistent. Build. Build people. Build businesses. Build organizations. Build communities. Build opportunities. And now, build legacies.

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While she wears many hats- entrepreneur, strategist, speaker, author, coach, financial professional - Porscha is a woman deeply rooted in family, faith, community, and legacy. She is a mother to an adult son and a proud grandmother of four. “When my first grandson was born eight years ago, it was a defining moment for me. I remember looking at him and thinking, “Oh my gosh, this is what I am building this for.” I was looking at my legacy in the flesh. Suddenly, my work wasn’t only about what I could accomplish in my lifetime. I began thinking differently about what I was creating, teaching, protecting, and positioning for the generations coming behind me,” she says. Today, that understanding is even more personal for Porscha as she shares a multigenerational home with four living generations of her family. “Legacy isn’t simply something I talk about. It is something I experience every day.”

I believe we are all chosen to do something. We each have gifts, purpose, and an assignment connected to our lives. I also believe someone in a family often becomes the catalyst for change.”

Porscha has worked in the financial services industry since 2016. Because the brand’s vision has been a constant, ongoing process, the name Chosen Legacy has a more defining and personal meaning for her. She adds, “I believe we are all chosen to do something. We each have gifts, purpose, and an assignment connected to our lives. I also believe someone in a family often becomes the catalyst for change. That is the person who decides, “It changes with me.” Wealth builders, business owners, property owners - those who make decisions that change the entire future for generations to come. Today, one of the most meaningful parts of the vision is building Chosen Legacy alongside Porscha’s son, Jamon. “We’re not simply talking about generational legacy. We’re creating it together,” she says. Porscha says what she loves most about her calling is watching transformation happen in real time. “There is something incredibly fulfilling about meeting a person, family, entrepreneur, or organization at one point in their journey and watching what happens when they gain the right information, strategy, resources, support, and belief in what is possible. I love the moment when someone realizes, “I can do something about this.” That’s where information becomes empowerment.” Porscha shares that her faith in God has guided and grounded her throughout her life. Over time, she has gained a clearer perspective on how God has been present in her journey, recognizing Him through opportunities that came her way, doors that closed for her protection, and people who entered her life at meaningful moments. This also includes seasons whose purpose only became clear in hindsight. She also says she is deeply impacted by her ancestors. “These are people whose blood runs through me who sacrificed, prayed, survived, and persevered so generations after them could experience opportunities they may never have had themselves. I am the answered prayer of people I may never meet, the beneficiary of sacrifices I may never fully know, the student of people who have loved people who have challenged me and me, and the steward of gifts that were never intended to stop with me. I didn’t get here by myself, and whatever I build while I’m here isn’t supposed to end with me either. ,” she says. “I am living inside prayers they prayed and reaping from seeds I did not plant. Her community and her 22-year career, Porscha says, have also shaped me. Some experiences gave her credentials. Others gave her wisdom.

St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

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Porscha believes the ability to awaken possibility in others is a spiritual gift she possesses. “We talk a lot in business about strategy, education, systems, experience, data, and credentials. Those things matter, but I also believe God gives us gifts you can’t teach in a classroom. One of my greatest gifts is my ability to see beyond the veil, to look beyond what is immediately visible and recognize potential, patterns, possibilities, and sometimes problems before they fully reveal themselves.” Entrepreneurship has been one of Porscha’s greatest teachers and one of the greatest tests of her faith, confidence, resilience, and identity. She shares seasons of tremendous success and seasons when she had to completely reinvent herself. She faced financial challenges, leadership challenges, and disappointments. Some of her greatest challenges, however, weren’t external. There have been seasons where she questioned herself. She admits that she has learned that starting over doesn’t mean starting from zero. You start again with experience, relationships, wisdom, lessons, and a stronger understanding of who you are,” she says. With each challenge, Porscha says she has overcome them with a combination of faith, resilience, personal development, and an unwavering willingness to keep evolving. When asked if she could change anything about her journey, Porscha says she would have trusted herself sooner and understood earlier that not everyone can go with her. “I have made sacrifices of my time, energy, and opportunities, and sometimes carried responsibilities that were never really mine because I genuinely wanted the people around me to win. Some people are assigned to a chapter, not the entire journey. Some relationships teach you. Some partnerships stretch you. Some people may benefit from what you carry but not have the capacity, commitment, or vision to go where you’re going next.” She also says she’s learned you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup. “There is a difference between serving and sacrificing yourself. There is a difference between helping someone build and carrying what they should build for themselves. There is also a difference between loyalty and remaining somewhere after your assignment has ended. If I

www.chosenlegacyproject.com could go back, I would have embraced systems sooner. I would have delegated sooner, been more selective about partnerships, protected my time differently, and given myself permission to walk away sooner rather than believing everything could be fixed if I worked harder. Yet, I wouldn’t erase any of it. The mistakes, pivots, disappointments, closed doors, and rebuilding seasons gave me something I needed.” What’s next for Porscha? She has set her sights on expansion, empowerment, and impact. “The vision is to expand the Chosen Legacy brand across the United States. The Chosen Legacy Project will grow its nonprofit education, outreach, community partnerships, and resource activation efforts. At the same time, Chosen Legacy Insurance Group will expand our network of licensed agents and brokerage services into communities throughout the country,” she says. Through Chosen Legacy Insurance Group, she plans to develop agents and agency leaders who understand that this work goes beyond selling financial products. “I want our agents to see themselves as educators, trusted resources, and advocates for financial empowerment within the communities they serve,” she says. Through the Chosen Legacy Project, Porscha plans to build strong partnerships with faith and spiritual based organizations, small businesses, community organizations, and other institutions that already have relationships with the families she wants to reach. “Our goal is to equip these organizations with education, tools, resources, programs, and strategies they can use to strengthen the financial futures of their communities. We want to move people from financial literacy to financial empowerment. Personally, I don’t want to simply teach generational wealth. I want my family to experience what it looks like to build something generational together. I want my son, my grandchildren, and eventually generations I may never meet to inherit more than money. I want them to inherit knowledge, systems, relationships, ownership, opportunities, and a foundation they can continue building upon.” She also plans to expand her work as an international speaker, author, strategist, and thought leader. “If we do this right, our success won’t simply be measured by how large the Chosen Legacy becomes. It will be measured by how many families, businesses, communities, and generations are financially stronger because we were there.” h

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St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

Kendric & Gia SOAR To The Top

By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Gia Crawford Gia and Kendric L. Crawford of Charlotte, NC, are on a mission to help business owners of all types obtain the funding they need to sustain and grow. They are the owners and founders of SOAR To The Top and Crawford Capital Investments. SOAR is a faith based, business funding and capital strategy company designed to help entrepreneurs understand, prepare for, and access the capital needed to grow. They do much more than simply connect clients to lenders; they help business owners understand where they currently stand financially, help identify the type of funding that makes sense for their goals, strengthen their funding profile, and develop a capital strategy that supports sustainable growth. The services offered by SOAR include business funding consultations, capital-readiness assessments, business credit and funding strategy, lines of credit, term loans, SBA financing, unsecured business and personal funding strategies, real estate investment funding, and specialized capital solutions for established businesses and government contractors. Ultimately, SOAR helps business owners answer three critical questions: How much capital do I need? What type of capital is appropriate? And how do I position myself to actually qualify for it? Gia says, “Our services are designed for entrepreneurs, small-business owners, real estate investors, established companies, and government contractors who need capital to execute their next move. That could mean opening another location, purchasing equipment, hiring employees, covering payroll, acquiring property, completing a renovation, purchasing inventory, mobilizing for a government contract, or simply creating enough working capital to operate from a position of strength instead of constantly reacting to cash-flow pressure. Kendric and I are particularly passionate about helping business owners who have a strong vision but have never been taught how financing actually works.” Echoing what Gia shared, Kendric states that many entrepreneurs know how to provide their service or create their product, but they are unaware of how banks evaluate businesses, how credit affects access to capital, or how to strategically position their company before asking for money. “That is the gap SOAR was created to help close,” he says. A power couple on various levels, Gia and Kendric are a pure example of what love, commitment, and business look like when combined. They met in college at Francis Marion University. Now celebrating 16 years of marriage, they have two sons, Kylar and Karston. Gia is a native of Charleston, SC. She is a Business Consultant and Funding Strategist with a professional background in program analysis and has experience in real estate investing and strategic funding solutions. Gia also specializes in helping entrepreneurs and investors access the capital needed to grow and/or scale their business. Her additional focus involves credit strategy and capital structuring, along with teaching her clients how to leverage funding (Leveraging OPM Other People’s Money) as a tool to preserve liquidity, build sustainable wealth, and accelerate growth. Even more, Gia and Kendric have built a successful real estate portfolio in only three years and have helped fund small businesses with well over half a million dollars in capital and counting.

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Kendric is a native of Marion, SC. “At the center of everything I do is one word: LEGACY. I’m not simply building for today. I’m building what comes next,” he says. “Engineering Better Business is the goal”. In addition to being a father and husband, he is a Business Transformation Architect, technology and capital strategist, serial entrepreneur, and community leader. With more than a decade of experience in federal technology modernization, AI, Agile delivery, business transformation, and capital strategy, Kendric has built a career around identifying what prevents businesses and organizations from moving forward and engineering what they need to move. Through CODES Consulting, he helps organizations improve operations, modernize systems, and strengthen execution. Through SOAR To The Top, he helps entrepreneurs prepare for and access capital for growth.

Our vision is simple: to take money off the table as an obstacle in entrepreneurship and help more people use capital strategically to build something bigger than where they started.”

“Our vision is simple: to take money off the table as an obstacle in entrepreneurship and help more people use capital strategically to build something bigger than where they started.” SOAR was founded in March 2025, but its roots began years earlier through Gia and Kendric’s real estate company, Crawford Capital Investments. “We became real estate investors during COVID, starting with successful fix-and-flips before eventually expanding into mid-term rentals,” they said. “As we grew our real estate portfolio, we discovered something that would ultimately shape the foundation of SOAR: you don’t always need a lot of cash to create opportunities; you need access to the right resources and the ability to leverage what you already have. We learned firsthand how to use credit and OPM to acquire and grow assets, and that experience opened our eyes to the power of strategic access to capital. SOAR was born from that experience and the desire to help others understand and leverage capital as a tool for growth,” they shared. The vision for SOAR came from the Crawfords’ own journey as real estate investors. While successful, they didn’t have large amounts of liquid cash sitting in reserves like many other entrepreneurs. What they did have was good credit, a willingness to learn, and the ability to leverage OPM to create opportunities. That experience showed them that access to capital could be a powerful catalyst for building wealth and creating businesses. “Initially, our goal was to help others use those same strategies to invest in real estate. However, we quickly realized that not everyone wanted to be a real estate investor. Some people wanted to start a business, and others already had a business but were stuck because they lacked the capital, strategy, or resources to move forward. That’s when our vision became much bigger than real estate. We realized SOAR could become a financial resource for entrepreneurs and investors and help them understand their options, become more fundable, access capital, and ultimately turn their ideas and businesses into opportunities for growth,” they said.

St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

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St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

Seeing what happens after their clients receive funding is something that Gia and Kendric share they love. “An approval is exciting, but the real reward is seeing someone open the second location, purchase the property, hire employees, acquire equipment, complete the project, or finally execute something they had been postponing because capital was the missing piece. There is something powerful about watching a business owner move from “I don’t know how I’m going to do this” to “We have the resources. Let’s execute.” That transformation is what we enjoy most. Funding can change the trajectory of a business, but when it’s used strategically, it can also change the trajectory of a family. That is much bigger than a transaction to us.” Kendric shares that their greatest inspiration is family, particularly their two sons, and heritage. “Much of what we’re building today is being built with the understanding that we are responsible for helping prepare the next generation of our family. We want our sons to inherit more than assets. We want them to inherit knowledge, discipline, opportunity, relationships, financial intelligence, and an understanding of ownership.” Kendric says that he also draws inspiration from entrepreneurs who continue to push through the strife of the profession despite uncertainty, inconsistency, and constant change. “Business ownership can be incredibly rewarding, but it requires courage. Entrepreneurs are constantly making decisions without perfect information. This is in addition to solving problems, taking risks, and finding ways to keep moving.” As business owners, Gia and Kendric have faced various challenges, yet they confess they have overcome them by becoming more intentional about the time they invest into their business to ensure success is maintained at a premium. One of their biggest challenges has been learning that being excellent at delivering a service does not automatically mean you have built a scalable business because “Done is Better Than Perfect”. Earlier in entrepreneurship, Gia and Kendric shared that they believed saying yes to more people meant creating more opportunity. They now understand that growth also requires knowing who you can genuinely help, what your expertise is worth, and when to say no. Most importantly, they constantly evaluate what works and what doesn’t. “We don’t become emotionally attached to a process simply because it is how we’ve always done things. If something is preventing the business from scaling, we analyze it, redesign it, and move forward. Every challenge has forced us to improve a system. We have strengthened our client qualification process, our agreements, our pricing structure, our funding-readiness process, and the way we communicate expectations before an engagement begins. We have also learned to protect our time and intellectual property.”

St. Louis - Sept./Oct. 2026

We want our sons to inherit more than assets. We want them to inherit knowledge, discipline, opportunity, relationships, financial intelligence, and an understanding of ownership,”

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While they have faced a few storms along the way, the power couple admits there isn’t much they would change about how things have happened. “Every experience, including the wins, the setbacks, the unexpected opportunities, and even the lessons we had to learn the hard way, has contributed to who we are and how we serve our clients today. Each chapter has given us a different perspective and has helped shape SOAR into the company it is becoming. We’ve experienced what it means to bootstrap a business. We’ve experienced what it feels like to have access to capital and the opportunities that capital can create. We’ve experienced the highs, the lows, the pivots, and everything in between. That lived experience is one of our greatest advantages. We’ve been on both sides of the funding journey ourselves. We understand the frustration of trying to grow a business without enough resources, the excitement that comes with finally accessing capital, and the responsibility that comes with knowing how to use that capital strategically. We educate, we strategize, and we help our clients understand what they need today while preparing them for what’s next. Most importantly, we’ve learned that funding is not transactional; it’s relational. We don’t want to simply help someone get funded once; we want to become a trusted resource throughout their funding journey and help them build the foundation for long-term growth.” For other aspiring business owners who may follow a path similar to theirs, the Crawford’s offers the following advice: Start before you’re ready. Solve a real problem, and learn as you go. You don’t need to have it all figured out—you just need the courage to begin and the commitment to keep growing. Build relationships, stay rooted in your purpose, and don’t measure success only by what you make, but by who you help and the opportunities you create. Your business can change, but your purpose shouldn’t. Looking ahead, Gia and Kendric are excited about the growth that is taking place with their companies. “We’re building something bigger than funding. We’re launching The SOAR Club, our new Skool community for entrepreneurs who may not be fundable today, but are determined to become fundable tomorrow. We’ve learned that getting funded isn’t the finish line; It’s a strategy. Inside The SOAR Club, we’ll help entrepreneurs build the credit, credibility, knowledge, and financial foundation they need to stop guessing about capital and start positioning themselves for it.” They are also building an ecosystem designed to help entrepreneurs become more fundable, more strategic, and more confident about building wealth. “Our mission has always been simple: Take money off the table as an obstacle to entrepreneurship. The next chapter of SOAR is going to show people exactly what’s possible when you have the right strategy, resources, and community behind you. If you think SOAR is just a funding company… stay tuned. You haven’t seen anything yet. See you at the top!” h

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The Concord Fellowship By Terry L. Watson Photos Provied By Gianna Snell and Concord Media Team

Dr. Don Darius Butler, affectionately known as “Pastor B,” founded and leads The Concord Fellowship in Huntsville, Alabama, an intergenerational church plant rooted in Baptist faith and heritage. The Concord Fellowship serves the Madison County community with a vision of creating community in Christ. Its identity is captured in a simple but intentional declaration: “We’re a different kind of church,” Dr. Butler says. “We envision a family of faith where every generation belongs, no one is a stranger, and our servant-disciples transform our community.” Dr. Butler’s journey into ministry began long before he arrived in Huntsville. A Christian minister for more than 25 years, he was raised in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The Pentecostal tradition shaped his faith, with influences from African Methodism and Anglicanism, and nearly 35 years ago, he professed his faith as a Baptist. Even as a young boy, Dr. Butler wrestled with questions of vocational identity and whether he was called to ministry. At age 16, however, he accepted God’s call. At the time, he had imagined a very different future for himself. “I wanted to be the Prime Minister of The Bahamas by the time I was 40,” he recalls. “However, God upended that plan and called me into the ministry.”

We envision a family of faith where every generation belongs, no one is a stranger, and our servantdisciples transform our community.”

That call would lead him to Nashville, Tennessee, where he enrolled at American Baptist College and earned a degree in biblical and theological studies. He continued his theological education at Vanderbilt University Divinity School as a Kelly Miller Smith Scholar. During his time at Vanderbilt, he also met his future wife and the love of his life, La Keisha Wright Butler, Esq. Together, they love their two children, Dahlia and Don Jr.

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Following Vanderbilt, Dr. Butler completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2009, he received the call to his first pastorate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he served as pastor of Tabernacle Community Baptist Church for 10 years. His ministry in Milwaukee extended beyond the church walls. Dr. Butler led social ministries and worked closely with the Mayor’s Office, the Police Department, and local businesses to address gun violence and other community challenges. His commitment to service also extended globally through missions, including leading teams to Haiti and South Africa. He continued his theological education by earning a Doctor of Ministry degree from Duke University. His doctoral work examined the prophetic social ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a thesis titled A Maladjusted King: Theological Resistance and Nonconformity in an American Prophet.

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In 2019, Dr. Butler arrived in Huntsville and succeeded the legendary Dr. Julius R. Scruggs as pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church. During his tenure, Dr. Butler led the ministry through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding its social media presence to ensure that the Word of God continued to be taught and preached. Dr. Butler’s tenure at First Missionary Baptist Church concluded in 2024. This transition marked the beginning of a new chapter in his pastoral journey, one that would lead to renewed vision, deeper purpose, and a continued commitment to serving God and His people. Pastor B founded The Concord Fellowship, describing the church as “a dream replanted.” The journey began with a prayer gathering of 58 servant disciples who came together seeking God’s direction for a new season of ministry. From that humble beginning, The Concord Fellowship began to take shape as a congregation committed to creating community in Christ and living out its call to serve God and others.

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Sunday Gatherings at The Concord fellowship reflect the spirit of Acts 14, emphasizing the power of a community that gathers around one another with grace, encouragement, and healing — strengthening people to rise again and continue the work God has called them to do. “Our desire is to make room for others, so no one has to fight to belong, and no one has to force themselves to ‘fit in,’” Dr. Butler says. “They belong simply because they are a child of God. They are loved because God loves them.” Since its founding, The Concord Fellowship has worshiped at the Low-Profile Car Club and the Baptist Campus Ministries building before establishing Columbia High School Auditorium as its Sunday gathering place in March 2026. In August 2026, The Concord Fellowship began its HOME generosity campaign – a discipleship journey centered on opening hearts, embracing the mission, and making room for others. In only 17 months, the ministry was able to purchase 17 acres on Alabama Highway 53, laying the foundation for future campus development and expanded ministry in the Harvest community and the northwest corridor of Madison County. Through this journey, and with their new home in mind, the congregation is focusing on creating a community-facing campus where people can encounter God, belong, grow, and serve. The vision Dr. Butler carries for The Concord Fellowship has been shaped not only by his experiences in ministry, but also by the people who have invested in his life along the way. He credits several individuals with having a significant impact on his life, ministry, and pastoral identity. Among them is Dr. Forrest E. Harris, President Emeritus of American Baptist College. Dr Butler deeply admires Dr. Harris’ passion for the prophetic Christian tradition, embodied mystic spirituality, integrity in leadership, and ability to interpret the world with meaning and profound significance through the lens of the God-human relationship. He also acknowledges Dr. Reuben E. Cooper Jr., with whom he made his profession of faith and under whose leadership he was first installed as a minister. Additionally, Dr. Butler credits William Buchanan, his college and seminary pastor in Nashville, with helping him embrace his pastoral identity. These relationships, along with the experiences Dr. Butler has encountered throughout his journey, continue to shape his understanding of ministry and leadership. Reflecting on both the good and difficult seasons of his life, he says, “I was once told that God doesn’t waste any of our experiences. It doesn’t mean that God causes them; it means that not even the worst things that happen to us go without the scrutiny of God and His ability to work in and through them.” Those lessons continue to inform Dr. Butler’s vision for the future. Looking ahead, he is excited about developing The Concord Fellowship’s future campus, with plans that include an intergenerational care center designed to serve children and older adults. Dr. Butler also remains committed to community engagement and service, including his work with the Children’s Defense Fund as Chairman of the Board of Directors. As The Concord Fellowship continues to grow, he looks toward the future with faith, vision, and a deep commitment to creating community in Christ. h

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Smith, Bizzell & Warner Funeral Home

“The Funeral Guys” We are working with families during one of the worst moments in their lives, and if I can do anything to make their experience easier, then I feel like I am doing what I have been called to do.”

By Terry L. Watson - Photos Provided by Paul Kizer For 105 years, Smith, Bizzell & Warner Funeral Service has served families in Gary, IN, and its surrounding communities. Founded by J. D. Smith, the firm opened its doors at 2295 Washington Street in 1921, beginning with only one full-time employee. Benjamin Bizzell soon partnered with Smith and became the firm’s manager when Smith passed away in 1943. In 1959, Bizzell purchased the business from Smith’s wife and added his name to the marquee, and the Smith, Bizzell Funeral Home era began. In 1972, Ede Warner purchased the business and added his name, and Smith, Bizzell & Warner Funeral Home was born. In 1990, Warner purchased the Sportsman’s Club at 4209 Grant Street (4209 Richard Gordon Hatcher Blvd.) and Smith, Bizzell & Warner Funeral Home changed locations and continues to operate there today. In 1996, Ede Warner decided to sell the funeral home to Concord Family Services, Inc., a funeral service management company serving primarily ethnic and culturally diverse communities. With its current ownership, they continue to provide impeccable and personalized funeral service to the Gary and Northwestern Indiana communities. They also have an additional location in Tampa, FL.

In addition to being a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, Dana K. White serves as the General Manager of Smith, Bizzell & Warner. She came on board in 2006 as an intern. In 2012, she left to work at another funeral home, staying there for twelve years. In 2021, she returned to Smith, Bizzell & Warner, a move she says is the best one she has made in her career. Dana is a native of Gary, IN, and attended the Gary Public School system and later graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, IN. She later attended and graduated from Purdue University in Lafayette, IN, in 1997. After graduating from there, Dana returned home to build her life. She found employment at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital as an Adolescent Psych Therapist. She also worked with the Neqa Center and provided behavioral therapy to teenagers. She remained in those capacities before attending mortuary school. “Ivy Tech in East Chicago, IN, was offering a program. In 2004, I was able to get into the program, and I did very well. I graduated in 2006 and was able to get an internship opportunity with Smith, Bizzell & Warner, and things took off from there,” she says. In her role, Dana is faced with many responsibilities, yet she manages them all gracef ully. “All of the situations come to me,” she says. As General Manager, Dana is also responsible for ensuring every member of their team carries out the funeral home’s mission, which is to meet the needs of the families they serve with compassion, love, and sincerity. Dana says, “More than anything, I love serving my families. I try to see my position from the perspective of the families we serve. How would I want someone to serve my family if we were in the same situation? We are working with families during one of the worst moments in their lives, and if I can do anything to make their experience easier, then I feel like I am doing what I have been called to do.” Dana shares that she understands that everyone is not built for her chosen career. She also states that while dealing with families during their moments of grief, she has to remain empathetic and express sympathy. “I can’t be numb. If I do, then I know that it’s time for me to leave. For some reason, God has blessed me enough to love exactly what I do, and be able to understand our families, regardless of what the situation may be. Even more, we often encounter families that are dealing with a full gamut of emotions: anger, confusion, grief, frustration. Regardless of what it is, my job is to navigate them through the grieving process and help them to hopefully move on to their new normal, which will involve living without their loved one,” she says. Dana’s career, which has lasted for nearly 20 years, has come with some highs and lows. She has pushed through it all, with determination and the support of family, friends, and colleagues. One person she credits with contributing to her success is Sherman G. Banks III. “Everything that I learned came by way of Sherman G. Banks III. He has been in our industry for over 40 years. He was my mentor here, and he is the reason I am able to do what I do. He demanded excellence from me as a student, and I have carried it on throughout my career,” Dana says. Another person she acknowledges as having a profound impact on her career is her childhood friend, who died tragically in a car accident when she was nine years old. “I lost my best friend when we were only nine years old. I remember her

services like it was yesterday. I remember the pink casket, the pink dress, and I remember the flowers. I believe my interest as a funeral director peaked then without me even knowing it,” she says. When asked if there is anything she would change about the course of her career, Dana says she wished she would have begun her journey as a funeral director immediately after graduating high school. The advice she offers to others who may follow a path similar to hers is clear. “I would tell others that being a funeral director is not an easy job. I often work 24 hours per day, and seven days per week. This is not a job; being a funeral director is a passion, and it is something that you must feel in your soul. If you don’t have it in your soul, you won’t be able to connect with the families that you serve. I believe that this is what the Lord has put me on the earth for: to help and serve families. I would tell others that you must know your reason before starting in this industry. If you don’t love people and do not have a passion for serving, then this industry is not for you.” Looking ahead, Dana says she is looking forward to eventually retiring. She also says that she is looking forward to traveling with her husband and spending more time with her parents, and the loves of her life, her four children. “Sometimes I think about going back to school and learning something new, but I don’t think that I could love anything more than I do now,” she says. h

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Family. Banking. Community By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Kimberly M. Lee Kimberly M. Lee of Little Rock, AR, describes herself as a woman of faith who has weathered the storms of life and made waves of her own along the way. She is a wife, mother, and seasoned professional who has devoted many years of her life to serving others. Kimberly grew up in Southwest Little Rock and graduated from McClellan High School. She later attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology with an emphasis in Law Enforcement. She would later get her masters degree from the University of Phoenix in Business Administration and Public Administration. “I wanted to be an attorney; however, I had my children at a young age, and once I got to college, my vision went in a different direction. I started working at a bank while in college, Superior Federal Bank. I always tell people that banking chose me. I left banking for a while to work in positions related to my undergraduate degree. I worked at the Pulaski County Circuit Court in domestic relations, then later with youth at a juvenile treatment center as a Case Manager. Although both positions were rewarding, I decided to return to banking, and have been here for over 20 years now,” she says. Kimberly’s banking career began at Superior Federal Bank, which would later merge with Arvest Bank. Her next opportunity in banking was at Centennial Bank. From there, she worked at Bank of Little Rock, where she worked for six years and reached the rank of Branch Manager. Kimberly worked as a Small Business Loan Officer at Hope Credit Union for the last two of her seven years before landing her current role as a Business Development Officer at Southern Bancorp Community Partners, soon to be Uplift Capital Partners. Kimberly shares that her journey in the banking industry began at the very bottom. She adds, “When I started in banking, I was an operations clerk. I would arrive at work later than my colleagues, and I would leave later than them, because I was responsible for doing the encoding for the checks. Next, I worked as a teller for Arvest Bank and soon returned to work in operations there. Next, I went to Centennial Bank and worked as a teller before being promoted to work in operations there. I later followed a co-worker to Bank of Little Rock and worked in the operations department. I had a brief departure from Bank of Little Rock, but eventually returned and worked as a teller. I soon moved up to Assistant Branch Manager, and was later promoted to Branch Manager. I stayed in that position until leaving to work at Hope Credit Union, and later Southern Bancorp Community Partners, ” she says. Kimberly shares that her journey in banking has come with a bit of challenges. She recalls watching other people come into and advance in the financial industry with less experience than her. She remained patient and professional, trusting that the process would work in her favor. “I had always worked in different sectors: retail, operations, and management, but I never wanted to do lending. When HOPE eliminated my role, that pushed me to do something different. That is when the door for lending opened. In the beginning, it was a test, but I persevered. I learned that the test I endured was necessary, as it prepared me for the capacity I work in now,” she says.

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When asked what she loves most about what she does, Kimberly says it is the opportunity to see others win, especially those of the minority communities. “Small business owners are the heart of the community. I’ve been around entrepreneurs, family, friends, and my husband, and I have witnessed firsthand the challenges they face. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the lives of many small business owners changed. Just being on the phone and hearing these business owners cry, and not knowing how they would be able to pay their employees or cover the costs of running their businesses, affected me. I was able to share in their moments of gratitude when they were approved for PPP loans, and those moments are what I love about my job. When I can help business owners be successful while they continue to support their families and thrive in their community, that really makes me happy,” Kimberly says.

When I can help business owners be successful while they continue to support their families and thrive in their community, that really makes me happy.”

While Kimberly has enjoyed various phases of success in her banking career, it hasn’t come without some challenges and adversity. She states that historically, banking has been a male-dominated industry, specifically in leadership roles. When she landed her current role at Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Kimberly came under the leadership of Kenya Gordon, a Black woman who serves as President of Community Development Financial Institution. “To see Black women grow in the banking industry has been a challenge in itself. I have also faced challenges presented by women who look like me who didn’t want me to succeed,” she says. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t come without sound support and consistency from others. Kimberly attributes some of her success to LaTina Roberson whom she says set a great example of what being, “a different banker” looked like in the industry. “She inspired me by how she led, and how she served others in the community as a banker. Before there were outreach roles, women worked as tellers, managers, or customer service reps. When I got my role at HOPE, I called her and thanked her for how she motivated me,” Kimberly says. Over the years of being in this industry, you connect with other bankers that look like you, and you want to build stronger relationships. Kimberly saw the need for support for black bankers, women and men, and with others, they created Black Bankers of Central Arkansas. The group was formed to support, collaborate, and network with professionals in the same industry. Kimberly leans on the support of four specific members, Cassandra Kidd, Andrea Lewis, Shamim Okolloh, and LaTasha Randall, all of whom are well developed in their roles at the financial institutions that employ them. While her career has come with challenges, Kimberly shares there isn’t much she would change about the way things have happened. She adds, “I truly believe the opportunity I have at Southern Bancorp Community Partners is where I am supposed to be. Every relationship that I have built, every role I have filled, they all have led me to where I am now. It feels like home, and I believe this is where I can truly be impactful,” she says. What is next for Kimberly? She shares that she is excited about her new role with Southern Bancorp Community Partners. She is also looking to grow further in her career, which will allow her to be more impactful and of service to others. h

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Siya Stevens

The daughter of Sydney Hildreth & David Stevens

The daughter of Sydney Hildreth and David Stevens

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The Staton Wood Company By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Still Shots Photography

Whether they’re creating a custom product or facilitating an experience, the goal of The Staton Wood Company is to always make each experience personal and meaningful. Ronnie and Damaris Staton are both North Carolina natives. As husband and wife, their love is shared with their three daughters. In many ways, the story of The Staton Wood Company is also the story of the Staton family. Together, Ronnie and Damaris have built their marriage, raised their daughters, continued their education, grown professionally, and built a business. “As we’ve grown and changed, The Staton Wood Company has grown and changed right along with us,” they share. In 2006, Damaris attended North Carolina Central University and studied Public Administration. Before completing her degree, she decided to enter the workforce and begin building her professional experience. In 2013, Damaris and Ronnie were married and began building their lives together. In 2016, Ronnie graduated from Alamance Community College. It was in that same year they ventured into the world of entrepreneurship with Just Ribbon and Wood. This was the actual beginning of The Staton Wood Company, the name that was adopted some years later. Ronnie would continue his education at North Carolina A&T State University, earning a degree in Graphic Communication Systems in 2018. The Staton Wood Company, also known as Staton Wood Co., or SWC, specializes in creating custom and personalized pieces for individuals, families, businesses, organizations, schools, teams, and special events. Their work ranges from jewelry, keychains, ornaments, signs, plaques, awards, home décor, business products, educational items, donor walls, party props, and many other custom creations. “Customization has always been at the heart of what we do because it gives us the opportunity to take someone else’s idea and help bring it to life,” Damaris says. Damaris shares that Staton Wood Company began with a little nostalgia, a piece of wood, and an idea. “Ronnie has always loved the leather African necklaces with red, black, and green colors that were popular in the 1990s. We wondered what it would look like to recreate something with the same cultural meaning and feeling, but in our own way using wood. That idea became our very first product. We continued that feat by creating more Afrocentric products. Soon, customers began coming to us with their own ideas, asking, “Can you make this?” Those requests changed the direction of our business, and we discovered that we really enjoyed listening to someone’s idea. We also enjoyed watching their reaction when that idea became something tangible.” Interesting to know, there is a second component of The Staton Wood Company: the SWC Experiences. With this, Damaris and Ronnie take the creativity and hands-on skills they’ve developed and turn them into opportunities for people to learn, create, and connect. These experiences include customized STEAM programming, their Build-A-Business youth entrepreneurship and enrichment program, DIY experiences, and customized hands-on programming for schools. They also offer services to childcare centers, camps, afterschool programs, senior living, businesses, organizations, and community groups. “What makes SWC Experiences special to us is that we can tailor an experience to the people in the room. Children may be exploring STEAM concepts through building, young entrepreneurs may be learning how to take an idea from concept to marketplace, or a group may simply be creating together and connecting in a different way,” they said.

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The Staton Wood Company is a family affair. With their three daughters being a huge part of their “why”, Ronnie says that being parents influences the way they think about entrepreneurship, education, opportunity, and the legacy they want to create. “We want our daughters to see firsthand that there isn’t just one path to success and that creativity, education, hard work, and a willingness to try something new can open doors you may not have originally imagined.” In addition to being a family affair, Ronnie and Damaris love the opportunities their company provides. “We love seeing how something we create can impact a person. Sometimes that impact is as simple as seeing a customer’s reaction when an idea they’ve had in their head is finally in front of them. Other times, it’s watching a child proudly hold up something they built themselves, seeing someone discover a creative ability they didn’t know they had, or watching a group connect and enjoy each other in a way they normally wouldn’t.” Ronnie and Damaris share that the people they’ve met along the way have had the greatest impact on both their lives and the direction of The Staton Wood Company. They also credit their community for playing an important role in helping them see how their business could make an impact beyond the products we create. “One of the most meaningful examples has been our partnership with BCDI. What began as an opportunity to provide a handson experience for children grew into something much bigger. Together, we were able to combine our real world experience as makers and entrepreneurs with STEAM education, which ultimately led to the creation of our Build A Business STEAM enrichment program. That partnership helped us see our own business differently. We realized that the lessons we’ve learned from building The Staton Wood Company, including the successes, challenges, problem-solving, creativity, and even the mistakes, could become valuable learning experiences for someone else,” they said.

We haven’t figured everything out, but we’ve learned that managing the challenges of entrepreneurship isn’t always about doing more.

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For a long time, Damaris says the success of their company was very product-focused, and that posed a challenge for them. “This included recognizing when the business needed to evolve. We thought about what we could make, what we could sell, and how many orders we could complete. As we grew, we started realizing that some of the most meaningful moments in our business weren’t necessarily tied to the sale of a product. They were tied to the people, relationships, and experiences surrounding it.” She adds that they have been more flexible and not afraid to change. They have also been challenged by balancing all of the roles that come with owning a family business. “There have been seasons when we’ve had to decide what deserves our time and what success should actually look like for our family. Balancing business and family has required us to redefine success at different stages of our lives. We haven’t figured everything out, but we’ve learned that managing the challenges of entrepreneurship isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about changing direction, setting boundaries, saying no, and making room for the opportunities that truly align with who we are and what we’re trying to build.”

What’s next for Ronnie and Damaris and The Staton Wood Company? The clear answer is expansion. “We are seeking ways to expand the way we use creativity to bring people together. We want to continue growing SWC Experiences and creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn, connect, and create. For young people, we’re excited about expanding our STEAM enrichment and entrepreneurship programming and developing more partnerships. Partnerships will also be an important part of our growth,” they shared. Ronnie states they do not want to lose the custom work and creativity that built The Staton Wood Company. He says they started as makers, and they’ll always be makers, and they’re excited about what the future holds. “Today, building might involve helping a child discover that they have an entrepreneurial mindset. It might also mean giving coworkers an opportunity to connect outside of their normal environment, or giving someone the confidence to say, “I made that.” That’s the future we see for The Staton Wood Company. We want to keep creating great products, but we also want to build confidence, connections, skills, partnerships, opportunities, and memories.” h

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