On April 14th, 2022, Lady Vwb Nature was a special guest on Southern Soul Livestream. Calvin Baldwin (host) was very inspired to learn about Vanessa and Varina’s journey to talk about their business and entrepreneurship as new business owners, the lessons learned in small business, and teaching her daughter Vatina ownership at the age of 14 to be transparent, patient and continued education in holistic healing remedies and nutrition.
Vanessa has completed workshops, business coaching, marketing classes, and holistic nutrition certification, and her daughter is right by her side, taking notes. Varina is now 15 years old. We are excited about her future endeavors and what’s to come. Lady Vwb Nature has received certification from US Black Chambers. We work three local pop-up shops a Month throughout Ohio.
Advice to other business owners and Entrepreneurs Be patient. You can’t please everyone, but know there is someone out there who needs your services! Keep an open mind each day will be different. Hard work never goes unnoticed! Take up workshops and business coaching it will better help you gain capital or your business. Our customers deserve the best! Check out our brand profile and get to know our natural skincare brand.
A Letter from the Editor
What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?
Modern technology, such as the internet and smart devices, has changed the way consumers shop for everyday necessities. Everything from groceries to televisions, tires, medications, and patio furniture can be purchased directly from a smartphone or computer. Foot traffic in stores has been greatly reduced, and the Covid 19 pandemic may have played a big role in that also. Anyhow, many retailers have adjusted how they make their products accessible in order for them to survive.
I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.
As a child, I remember the huge department store catalogs that would come in the mail every year, usually around the Christmas holiday season. I would look at them and prepare my list of items that I wanted before submitting it to my mama. Sometimes I got most of what I wanted, but not always. Still, looking through the catalog and believing that I would get them was very exciting for me. Unfortunately, the catalogs are long gone now and have been replaced by digital ones. Awwwe, technology.
I compare those childhood catalog surfing moments to some experiences I have as an adult. I have often tried to plan out my life by creating a wish list for various stages without the assistance of a department store catalog. I have made plans for various things and experiences and made plans on how to acquire and accomplish them. Those plans were submitted to God, and I’m always amazed at what I receive from God in response.
The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.
See, I have learned that even though I make plans, God has the final say. What I think is good for me, God knows what is truly best for me. Even in my lowest moments, God has already prepared a path to higher ground for me. And even when I choose to follow my own way, He redirects.
I strive to live a better life, a life that is connected to God through obedience and grasping a better understanding of what He desires for me. I admit that I don’t have all the answers, and sometimes I make mistakes. It’s good to know that even when I get off track in life, God’s love never changes. We
Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder
Terry L. Watson
Her goal is to help and impact up and coming entreprenuers. Learn more about her journey. Memphis, TN
He is on a mission to educate the youth about the importance of financial literacy. Huntsville, AL
She has turned a loss into a phenomenal gain. Learn more about Aloha Glamour and her journey.
Gulfport, MS
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby Marrel Gravely Foushee
It’s All About You, God Semaje Collier
Tourmaline Home Health Care
Angela Williams
Where The Heart is Jerome Henry
Alexis Williams
Delvin Sullivan
Shmeka Gibson
By Terry L. Watson
Her name is Chelsea Whittington, and her motto is “Who You Whitt?” Chelsea has called Gary, IN, home for her entire life. She is the youngest of four children and describes herself as a late bloomer. Her father was an entrepreneur, and it was fate that she would follow in his footsteps also.
Chelsea was formally educated at Gary Westside High School and graduated as the Salutatorian. Next, she attended Howard University, an HBCU, and later received her degree in Broadcast Journalism. She received a second degree in Organizational Communication from Purdue University. Chelsea has established herself in a career in Public Relations. However, she admits this field wasn’t part of her initial plan. “I actually thought I would be a Broadcast Journalist. That was my first degree, and I wanted to be like Oprah Winfrey, but a couple of things happened that changed my mind,” she says.
Her career in Public Relations and Communications spans more than 25 years. She has worked for the Peace Corps Recruiting Office in Arlington, VA, the Office of Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), JWA Boys and Girls Club, Lake Area United Way, the Gary Community School Corporation, and Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony and Jet Magazines. In 2009, Chelsea joined the executive team at U.S. Cellular Corporation as Communications Manager. There, she managed 4 of the company’s public relations firms while promoting the brand of the nation’s sixthlargest wireless phone company.
Photos Provided by Cheslea Whittington
Chelsea has also served in the administration of Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, the City of Gary’s first female mayor and the State of Indiana’s only female African-American mayor. As Director of Communications, she oversaw media relations, crisis communications, special events, branding, and marketing for her hometown of Gary.
On her birthday three years ago, Chelsea launched her business, C Whitt PR. With her company, Chelsea says she is a brand builder. In her capacity, she assists clients with making their brand visible and heard. She develops public relations and social media strategies for clients and presents workshops and training on social media and public speaking. This may involve hands-on, personalized training for TV, radio, print media interviews, and speaking engagements.
Chelsea shares that what she loves most about what she does is that no two days are the same. “Today, I was at a meeting at iHeart in Chicago, and tomorrow I will be in Gary teaching kids at the YMCA how to get on a computer,” she says. “It’s about being creative, and I don’t have any boundaries. I don’t have a clock to punch, and I love that,” she says.
Chelsea shares that her late mother has made the most significant impact on her life. “I was 29 years old when my mom passed. I had so much I needed to get from her, but I promised myself that I would make her proud. When I got the job at Ebony, I thought about her because she loved Ebony and Jet magazines. Every step I took in my career, I would benchmark it against my mama’s thoughts and how it would make her proud,” she says. She also credits her husband for being her biggest cheerleader and encouraging her to step out on faith and start her own company.
When asked if she would change anything about her journey, Chelsea says she would have become an entrepreneur sooner. “Now that I know what I know, I would have done this long ago. We are in the shadow of Chicago, and many of the businesses located in Gart need marketing services, and my company provides these,” she says.
Moving forward, Chelsea shares she would love to retire and settle into a life of teaching, lecturing, and traveling. “Even though I love what I do, I don’t want to do it forever. I would like to travel the world with my husband and see what else life has to offer,” she says. In the meantime, her focus is on building up others and creating spaces for them to thrive in her field.
To learn more about Chelsea Whittington, please visit her website.
Nobody But You, God SEMAJE
By Dorjea’ McClammey
Semaje
Now, reader, you will want to remember this name, Semaje. The 29-year-old breakout singer hails from Detroit, Michigan. As the middle child of three, Semaje’s parents made sure he and his brothers Demarcyon and Noah never missed a day of church. He has carried those values throughout his life, and the only time he did not make it to church was when the Covid 19 pandemic hit.
Semaje Collier describes his style as contemporary, pop, urban and funky. “I am bringing a new urban inspirational sound to the music industry,” he says.
Growing up in the church helped Semaje develop his talent. First, he started in the church choir and then sang with the praise team. On his own time, he would spend hours listening to and studying the sounds of J.Moss, James Moore, Mary Mary, Usher, Karen Clark, Daryl Coley and Michael Jackson being two of my biggest influences.
Daryl Coley’s vocal abilities inspired Semaje, and it’s quite noticeable their voices sound similar.
“I was amazed by Coley’s riffs and runs and the amount of conviction and presence he gave when he sang,” he shares. As for Michael Jackson, he was amazed by his ability to take risks and start trends. He shares, “Michael was confident in what he did and kept doing it regardless of what others thought about him. I am moved by Michael’s unadulterated ability to captivate audiences. I am inspired by Michael Jackson vocal ability, his distinctive tone, one of a kind vibrato. The way he layered and stacked his background vocals on his records is completely insane. I see so much of myself in Michael.”
His journey as a musician has been nothing short of a blessing. He tried out for the gospel singing contest “Sunday Best,” and although he made it to the judging round, he did not make it all the way. “I got a little discouraged and asked God what He was trying to tell me? I realized it was not in God’s plans for me, but I didn’t allow that experience to discourage me. I kept singing, ministering, and putting out music covers,” he says.
Photos Provided by
Things began to change for the better for Semaje. One day, he was blessed with the opportunity to work with Fred Jerkins, who has also worked with Dark Child to produce hits for artists Destiny’s Child, Beyonce, Brandy, and more. Fred featured Semaje as the lead vocalist on his song “Reason of Praise” which, of course, landed at the number four position on the Billboard charts. Semaje described the moment as surreal. “Seeing all the different plaques on the wall for songs such as Lose My Breath, Deja VU, the Boy Is Mine, and Michael Jackson’s Rock My World; I couldn’t believe that I was in the studio working with the same legendary producer that worked with Beyonce and Micheal Jackson and Now I am working with him, this is a dream! I grew up saying I wanted to work with the Dark Child squad,” Semaje shares with excitement.
After that experience, things kept rolling for Semaje. One day during the pandemic, the accomplished gospel artist, Deitrick Haddon called and told him to get on the social media platform Clubhouse, and play some of his covers. He played his cover of “All I Do” by Stevie Wonder, and everyone went crazy. Semaje says in no time, his inbox became full of messages from producers and artists wanting to work with him. Soon he was speaking with Tyscot Records, known for their artists such as PJ Morton, John P. Kee, and Anthony Brown. After talking for about two to three months, they offered him a partnership deal. They worked together to put out his cover to Bill Withers Lovely Day, which debuted at the number nine position on the Billboard Charts. He has continued to work with Tyscot Records alongside Anesha Birchett, who has experience with artists Beyonce, Justin Bieber, H.E.R., Mary Mary and more, but now she’s stepping into a new role as Executive Producer of his upcoming debut album. “My sound, my creativity, vocal ability and interpretation of music has changed
“I desire to share with the world that no matter what the circumstances are, nobody is exempt from living a good life. We all have gotten it wrong but we serve a God who can make us right.”
since working with the gamechanger Anesha, I can’t imagine doing this without her,” says Semaje. Semaje has finally found his distinctive lane and sound with iconic producer Shajuan Andrews from Brooklyn, New York. “He’s the fresh new sound that was missing in music, he’ll be listed as one of the greatest of all times,” says Semaje. The three of them are working together to produce Semaje’s debut album, including his latest single, You written by Jamel Smith which debuted April 22nd and landed in Top 20 Billboard Charts..
Semaje loves being able to change the world through his music. “I desire to tell people that no matter what they have done in life, no matter how many mistakes they have made, we serve a God who makes us right,” he says. “Nobody is exempt from living a good life through God.”
Now we know about his musical inspirations, but Semaje says his family is his biggest inspiration. “My father, mother and big brother demarcyon and grandmothers have played a huge part in making me the person I am today, mainly by setting such highexamples to live up to,” he says. Semaje is currently attending Oakland University in Rochester Hills, earning his bachelor’s degree in human resources in public relations. He has recently welcomed his nephew, Denver James, into the world. “ The greatest thing that’s happen in 2022 is my nephew, says Semaje”
You can expect a lot from Semaje in the near future. This will include albums, tours, and radio appearances. He is also working on receiving more endorsements, including being featured in commercials, “I want to bring more faith to television and tell the world about Jesus,” he says.
His advice to others who may have a passion or a dream such as his is clear and concise. “Never adjust your life to what makes sense to another individual as long as you continue to follow the voice of God. Doing that way, you can’t go wrong.”
To learn more about Semaje, check out his Instagram @isemaje and on Facebook and Twitter at Semaje Collier. You can also find his music on all platforms.
By Dr. Marrissa Dick
Regardless of where you live, most people know of someone receiving or has received in-home health care for various reasons. These reasons can fluctuate from adult children needing someone to help them care for an aging parent or grandparent who requires assistance with bathing, dressing, or preparing meals for their loved one. In truth, most caregivers are providing these services out of love and family obligation. Another reason some caregivers choose to provide in-home health care themselves is they are unable to afford a quality facility that could provide their loved one with a clean, reputable, and safe environment. Anyone who finds themselves in this position is painfully aware that they are a novice when it comes to checking vital signs, administering medications, and cleaning surgical wounds; nonetheless, they “figure it out” by seeking guidance from someone they know who found themselves in the same position.
So, what exactly is home care? I’m glad you asked. A professional caregiver provides home care in the individual’s private home instead of going to a rehabilitation facility or nursing home. In general, people hesitate to have strangers enter their home, let alone someone coming in to take care of their loved one. The caregiver is already feeling anxious about providing this type of care; they have feelings of guilt because doing so is affecting their personal lives, and now they must consider opening their home to a stranger. These thoughts impact the caregiver emotionally, mentally, and physically. The community should know that there is an organization ready, willing, and, most importantly, licensed to relieve them of these stressors in the name of Tourmaline Home Health Care, Inc. (THHC). At THHC, Inc., you can be sure that you are receiving qualified, trusted, compassionate, and nurturing professionals who can enter your home to provide non-clinical and medical care for your loved one.
Meet the owners and operators of THHC, Inc. Chantel Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, and Jeanea Williams, Chief Operating Officer. This sister team has brought trusted and compassionate licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, and qualified, skilled professionals to the Greensboro community. Chantell shares, “We started Tumaline Home Health Care because we recognized a need for quality in-home health care. I work in this field, and I know that there is a need for compassionate sitters, nurses, and certified nursing assistants who can come into the home and provide individualized daily living assistance. One of the services we provide at Tumaline is tailored in-home health care. I work in the hospitals, and I know we try our best to provide individualized care to every patient, but it’s difficult when you’re assigned 30 to 40 patients. However, relationships can be established and even flourish when you have an in-home health care provider such as Tumaline to meet your loved one’s needs. When patients leave the hospital that’s when the real healing begins because most people are more comfortable in their own home. You know most people don’t rest well while they’re in the hospital because they are constantly awakened, so meds can be administered, vital signs need to be taken, and lab work must be done. Tumaline Home Health Care can provide those same clinical type services on a more intimate and individualized way so the patient can receive the mental and physical rest they need once they are released to go home.” Chantel has a point when she stated, “…most people don’t rest well while they’re in the hospital”. Now how many of us have made that same statement?
It is essential to follow and cultivate your passion, especially if you want that passion to develop into a thriving business. Chantel is operating in her passion and her calling.
Photos by Still Shots Photography
“I started Tumaline Home Health Care, Inc. in 2020, but I’ve been working in the health care industry since 2014. Over the years, I have gained a lot of experience in different areas of the medical profession, but it was working with the in-home health care piece that fueled me. I have been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), dating back to when I was in high school. I later enrolled at Guilford Technical Community College and obtained my certification in phlebotomy, took my state boards, and became licensed in that area, too. I attend UNCG and Guilford College for Biology and Psychology pre-med and Currently, I am on the fast-track at East Coast Polytechnic Institute, (ECPI), to complete my Licensed Practical Nursing, (LPN)degree. When I finish this, my next steps are to receive my registered nursing degree, and then eventually, I would like to earn the Ph.D. in holistic and integrative Family medicine. Providing care for others has never felt like work for me. I have gained a wealth of experience and realized my niche by working with my mom, Angela Williams, owner and CFO. I enjoy engaging more with person-centered in-home health care, and that is what inspired me to start my own business. I’m blessed to have both my mother and my sister to help me with the administrative and compliance pieces of the business so I can concentrate on my passion,” Chantel says.
Alice Walker wrote, “Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister.” That is the sentiment shared by Jeanea Williams, who gives all credence to her little sister. She shares, “I have bail bondswoman and supervising agent for 15 years-> managing Free U Bail Bonds NC, and Guilford County Court liaison for the Triad Bail Agents Association. I am a mother of a beautiful 13-year-old daughter that I’m so proud of. Like my sister, I gained experience in the home health care industry because I work parttime at Focus Point Mental Health with my mom. I decided to branch out really to help my sister because she’s so driven to make a difference in this field. I’m ten years older than Chantel, so I feel more like she’s my baby than my little sister. I’m happy to see her so enthusiastic and passionate about her future. Honestly, I would have to say that I have listened to her talk about wanting to have her own business for the past five or six years. Chantel has emersed herself in this field, and she knows how it works, so as her sister, I want to do all I can to help make her dreams come true.” One may ask how a bail bondswoman can help in the medical industry.
Read on as Jeanae provides the answer. “I do all the paperwork and handle the payroll too, so it was an easy transition. I mean, paperwork is paperwork. I apply the same administrative skills and principles that I use in my own business and apply them in my sister’s business. Like Chantel I have always loved helping people. Most people don’t realize that being a bail bondswoman is much more than getting people out of jail. Whether they are being bailed out of jail or getting out of prison, I’m there to assist them with finding employment, and I encourage them to stay on the right path so they aren’t on that constant cycle of recidivism. You know mental health is real and working alongside my mom allowed me to receive certification in anxiety and depression counseling and auditing. I use those certifications in my business and my sister’s business. The expertise I provide for Tumaline Home Health Care is making sure her employees are on the up and up and have passed the criminal background checks. These things are important because her clients trust that she knows who is entering their homes. I make sure all I’s are dotted and all T’s are crossed when it comes to hiring personnel, writing and signing legal contracts. I make certain that she remains compliant with all policies, procedures, and regulations required by the State of North Carolina. THHC, Inc. was licensed by the State of NC on December 17, 2021, so that was exciting to know that
we are all on the same page. I want Chantel to focus her attention on school and earn all the required credentials she needs to expand her knowledge base in the in-home health care industry. I don’t want her worrying about anything else except concentrating her energy on the medical side while I handle the administrative piece for her. I’m still working in my field of expertise; I’m using my knowledge and skills to help my sister attain her goals in life.” According to Toni Morrison, “A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves —a special kind of double.” Who in the world wouldn’t want a sister like that?
Tumaline Home Health Care, Inc. provides quality and reliable in-home health care needs. Their licensed and professional services include daily living assistance, caring for surgical wounds, meal preparations, and companion sitting. They also provide full and partial support for the person who is leaving the hospital and still needs professional medical care. THHC has licensed medical professionals available to provide those services for individuals who need more geriatric care. Support is also provided for the caregiver, who must work daily. These caregivers can find comfort in knowing that Tumaline Home Health Care has responsible, trusted, and compassionate companion sitters available to keep their loved one’s safe and engaged throughout the day.
Read on as Jeanae provides the answer. “I do all the paperwork and handle the payroll too, so it was an easy transition. I mean, paperwork is paperwork. I apply the same administrative skills and principles that I use in my own business and apply them in my sister’s business. Like Chantel I have always loved helping people. Most people don’t realize that being a bail bondswoman is much more than getting people out of jail. Whether they are being bailed out of jail or getting out of prison, I’m there to assist them with finding employment, and I encourage them to stay on the right path so they aren’t on that constant cycle of recidivism. You know mental health is real and working alongside my mom allowed me to receive certification in anxiety and depression counseling and auditing. I use those certifications in my business and my sister’s business. The expertise I provide for Tumaline Home Health Care is making sure her employees are on the up and up and have passed the criminal background checks. These things are important because her clients trust that she knows who is entering their homes. I make sure all I’s are dotted and all T’s are crossed when it comes to hiring personnel, writing and signing legal contracts. I make certain that she remains compliant with all policies, procedures, and regulations required by the State of North Carolina. THHC, Inc. was licensed by the State of NC on December 17, 2021, so that was exciting to know that we are all on the same page. I want Chantel to focus her attention on school and earn all the required credentials she needs to expand her knowledge base in the in-home health care industry. I don’t want her worrying about anything else except concentrating her energy on the medical side while I handle the administrative piece for her. I’m still working in my field of expertise; I’m using my knowledge and skills to help my sister attain her goals in life.” According to Toni Morrison, “A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves —a special kind of double.” Who in the world wouldn’t want a sister like that?
Tourmaline Home Health Care, Inc. provides quality and reliable in-home health care needs. Their licensed and professional services include daily living assistance, caring for surgical wounds, meal preparations, and companion sitting. They also provide full and partial support for the person who is leaving the hospital and still needs professional medical care. THHC has licensed medical professionals available to provide those services for individuals who need more geriatric care. Support is also provided for the caregiver, who must work daily. These caregivers can find comfort in knowing that Tumaline Home Health Care has responsible, trusted, and compassionate companion sitters available to keep their loved one’s safe and engaged throughout the day.
Breanna Rosa is Re by Bre. This young and talented professional hairstylist realized her gift almost by happenstance.
As she prefers to be acknowledged, Bre is a native of Pensacola, FL. After receiving her formal education in the Pensacola public school system, she made her way to Tallahassee, FL, and attended Florida A&M University, a Historically Black College and University. Next, Breanna returned to Pensacola, attended Pensacola State University, and obtained her Associate of Arts degree in 2015.
Hard work has always been a part of Bre’s identity. Since the age of 15, she has always worked, often working two jobs simultaneously. Currently, Bre works as a professional loctician and is the owner of Re By Bre.
Some of the services Bre offers at her salon, Locology Loc Studio and Beauty Bar located in Pensacola are Starter Locs, Retwists, Styles, Loc Repair, Loc Extensions, and Wicks. She also has developed a line of natural hair products designed to assist her clients in managing and maintaining their locs. Her husband and business partner is the one who manages the Wicks component of her business. The average cost for Bre’s services is $100.
Re By Bre
Photos Provided by Breanna Rosa
She started her business in 2016, and shares that she could only do retwists and didn’t know how to start locs. She promoted her services on social media, encouraging those who needed to get their locs retwisted to get them done with her. One of her friends coined the term “Re By Bre,” and she stuck with it. “I could never do hair before I started doing locs. It began while I was involved in a bad relationship. The person I was dating was unfaithful, and I didn’t trust him to get his hair styled by someone else, so I taught myself how to do it. It was a tough experience, and it took me a long time to finish the task. So, I reached out to someone locally who was well known in the loc community. Their feedback wasn’t promising, and instead of allowing that to discourage me, I became more determined to master my craft,” she says.
Bre shares that styling locs is an art form. This is one of the things that she loves most about her profession. “I love creating new styles and new looks for my clients. When a person has locs, they can become outgrown over time. I am able to tame and revitalize their locs by retwisting them and creating or recreating a nice, elegant style.
Professionally, Bre says she is inspired by Mani Locs of Atlanta, GA. “I reached out to him and asked him to teach me new styles and different techniques,” she shares. He was open to helping Bre, and she eventually traveled to Atlanta and shadowed him, acquiring valuable information that helped her business grow to new heights.
Bre credits the love and support of her husband, Shawn, for pushing her to be the best version of herself. “When he came into my life, he absorbed many things that were weighing me down. He allowed me to step out of the workforce and put my focus on being a business owner,” she says. She became a full-time entrepreneur in 2019, and within six months, she became an overnight success on social media. After posting her work on Facebook, she went viral on three different occasions, all in one week. That success opened new doors for Bre. She began to receive invitations to participate in events all around the United States and different countries. She then organized a tour schedule and visited areas such as Miami, FL, Birmingham and Montgomery, AL, Atlanta, GA, Colorado, North Carolina, Chicago, Virginia, and Texas. As a result, a new business segment was realized for Bre. She now works as a traveling loctician, and she has clients in Chicago and Atlanta that she services every month.
Bre says her mother, Marie and sister, LeShaunte have also impacted her life and career. “They are my biggest supporters. I started both of their locs, and they are actually walking billboards for my work,” she says.
While the ride has been enjoyable for Bre, she shares there is one thing that she wishes had happened differently. “I wish I had a mentor in the beginning. I am self-taught, and everything that I know I learned on my own. If I had known earlier what I learned in 2020, I believe I would have gotten further in my craft,” she says.
Moving forward, Bre says she hopes to relocate to a bigger city, such as Atlanta, and open a salon there. Her advice for those who may follow in her footsteps is to use every brick thrown at you to step on and grow higher. “If you don’t love what you do, find out what you do love,” she says.
To learn more about Re By Bre, please visit her salon or visit them online.
Where The Heart Is Catering & Events
By Terry L.
Veronica and Jerome Henry of Cleveland, OH are genuine representatives of what love, hard work, and dedication look like. Their union of 14 years has produced several successful businesses and many beautiful memories. Still, they admit that none of what they’ve accomplished outweighs their desire to serve others.
Veronica and Jerome are the owners of Where The Heart Is Catering and Events and Where The Heart Is A New You. Their catering business is a full-service offsite catering company that caters to all types of events such as weddings, birthdays, retirement parties, baby showers, school, and corporate events. They offer everything from food to full-blown decorations, including Table Linens, Centerpieces, Wall Monograms, 360 and Selfie Photo Booths. They also have flexible setup options from Full Service, Presentation Setup, and Drop Offs. While Veronica focuses on the food side and decor design side of their business, Jerome works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure every aspect is executed and carried out with perfection and excellence.
Watson - Photos Provided by Veronica Henry
Born and raised in the inner city of Cleveland, particularly in the Collinwood community, Veronica discovered her passion for cooking at a very young age. She recalls working alongside her mother in the kitchen. Her father worked second shift at Ford Motor Company, and Veronica would prepare him food and put it in the oven until he came home. She says, “I remember sleeping light and listening for his key in the lock, and then I would go running to the kitchen to get his food out for him to eat dinner. I would sit there with my hands on my cheek, smiling and waiting for him to eat the meal I had designed for him. My father would eat the whole plate as I sat there and watched him.”
The dish she created for her father consisted of ground beef, elbow pasta, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce. Veronica poured her heart into that meal and said it felt great to cook for her father. However, she would find out years later that her father didn’t like ground beef. It didn’t matter, Veronica said, because “My father was truly a girl’s dad, My hero and food taster.”
Where The Heart Is A New You provides corporate in-service and training for companies and individuals that want to offer their clients a new method of treating and caring for people. They offer lessons on receiving people with warmth and how to maintain a professional presence. Their clients are those who are committed to personal development and self-improvement and who are engaged in the constant pursuit of excellence.
Jerome is also a native of Cleveland. He is an experienced Service Recovery Specialist and has over 25 years of experience. He has always possessed leadership qualities, many of which appear while he conducts business. He is complimented often for his level of professionalism and genuineness. He is known for leaving lasting impressions on his clients and providing valuable tools and information for them to reference in personal and professional arenas. He says, “When a person lives true to who they are, it makes it easier to help and leave lasting impressions. This is the way of light, and we are light. Be the light that you are.”
After graduating from high school, Veronica attended the University of Akron and studied Criminal Justice Technical Education. During this time she had an apartment and would prepare meals for her friends, such as Barbecue Neck Bones, Fried Pork Chops, Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Yams, Greens, Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, and more. “All you had to do was tell me that you were hungry, “ she says. Veronica’s apartment was that apartment where people on campus knew they could always come and get a meal. After graduating from The University of Akron, she landed a job working for Cleveland Municipal School District as a Learning Disability Tutor for 12 years. After leaving there, she worked a few other jobs in the same field but soon decided that she really wanted to do something else more fulfilling. “I knew it was something more profound on the inside, drawing me to cooking and entertaining on a different level,” Veronica says. So, in 2010, she decided to start a catering company. In 2012, she enrolled in Culinary School at Cuyahoga Community College and perfected her craft.
Veronica says when God gave her the vision to start the catering company, she asked Him what she should name the company. “I heard Where The Heart Is. I was told that name would be the umbrella for many companies,” she says. “In 2013 we changed the name from Where The Heart Is Catering to Where The Heart Is Catering & Events.”
Veronica said their company, Where The Heart Is A New You, is birthed out of a desire to help people tap into the true essence of who they are by loving and accepting themselves. Their focus is also on assisting and teaching good customer service skills and using your inner voice to pursue the business you have always wanted.
While the official starting date for Where The Heart Is A New You is October of 2021, Jerome says the company services came to him in 2006. “My wife and I wanted to have a community and peoplefocused aspect to our catering and event décor. We wanted to emphasize customer service and people treatment,” he says.
Since its inception, Where The Heart Is A New You has been able to keep the product highly potent and consistent and keep the subject of people treatment interesting. “Maintaining the integrity of our product has meant making hard decisions on what business to pass on and structuring the work so that it produces the same high-quality outcomes,” Jerome says.
Veronica says she is inspired by Jerome’s encouragement and support. “He’s my biggest supporter and loudest cheerleader. It’s nice to have a Booster Club in the audience when you’re moving off pure vision and determination,” she says. She is also inspired by her brother William, who she says reminds her “Presentation Is Everything”, a motto she has spoken since the beginning of her business journey. She also shares that running a business can have its challenges and says her biggest challenge is to remember the answer is inside of her, and she must be willing to go inside.
These are some of the
Their advice to up-and-coming Chefs, Caterers, or Event Designers is to know your worth and never devalue what you do and offer. “Know the signs when it’s time to walk away from the deal. Most importantly, know that it’s ok to walk away from the deal,” she says.
In the future, Veronica and Jerome plan for Where The Heart Is Catering & Events to offer a one-stop shop, state of the art event venue that can accommodate four events of 250 people at the same time. “We are writing our vision and making it plain,” they shared. To learn more about Veronica and Jerome, and Where The Heart Is Catering & Events, and Where The Heart Is A New You, please visit their website.
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Pictured with Veronica & Jerome (left to right) are Tiera Patillar, Aisha Tate and Sharrell Pointer
faces behind the excellence of Where The Heart Is Catering & Events
Aloha Glamour
Information Provided By Lexi Williams and Terry
L. Watson
Photos Provided by Aloha
Glamour
Credible influencers remind the world of its limitless possibilities when charisma is met with expert potential, tenacity, and sincere cause. Existing as a living attestation of that theory; is the effervescent professional, Lexi Williams.
Lexi Williams of Gulfport, MS, is an author, advocate, creative mogul, CEO, and Founder of Aloha Glamour, a multi-faceted heritage-enthused brand house that provides both trend-savvy apparel and inspiration to a diverse clientele. Slogan-ed as the Afro-Waiin Boutique, Lexi provides consumers with the opportunity to enjoy a unique blend of African and Hawaiian inspired fashions, alongside an unyielding positivity and an energetic online community.
Born after the tragic loss of Lexi’s daughter (Lauren Taylor), Aloha Glamour has remained a community of women, empowering others to find and use their voices, turning their tragedies into triumphs and their mess into a message.
Lexi’s mantra is simple. “I believe that women should live boldly and love themselves wholeheartedly while using their voice and fashion to promote living their life in color.”
Lexi couples an impressive career in fashion. This is paired with a buoyant reputation of innovative leadership, trailblazing success, and community achievement. She has also created, chaired, and hosted the first-ever, Black-owned business Awards on The Mississippi Gulf Coast, highlighting more than 250 black-owned businesses. The sold-out event helped to solidify her reputation.
She is no stranger to the limelight. She has been featured four times in Gulf Coast Women Magazine and has had two sensational write-ups on Aloha Glamour. She styled Tamika from the hit Bravo TV show, Southern Charm and was interviewed herself, by Ms. Jamiee on the MS. Congeniality Show. She was also featured twice at the Inaugural Black Business Awards and has experienced more television coverage for her contributions at Aloha Glamour.
Lexi’s propensity for success is imminent, and she displays proficient know-how in the world of sales, earning as much as $33,000 in under five days.
When Lexi is not out changing the world for the better, she is an asset to her communal body and a loving member of her family and friendship circles. She is a medically retired veteran, having served more than 17 years in the US Air Force. She is also a mother to aspiring model Laila Williams (16) and Marine Kaileb Williams (18).
Aloha Glamour offers Afrowiian Clothing and Accessories for the bold individual who believes in living life in color and out loud. Lexi shares, “I started the business in January 2017. I was coping with the loss of my daughter while also serving in the military. I needed to do something for my mental health, and I remembered how I felt when I first tried on a Pu’a Skirt. The drive behind establishing Aloha Glamour was curated from the sense of “ka wiwo ole” (the Hawaiian word for confidence) that I received the first time I put on the skirt.. The floral design and the way it held my figure provided a certain feeling of individuality and boldness. I wanted to share that sensation with other women as well.”
Aloha Glamour affords all full-figured a seat at the fashion table by adding a “Pop of Pretty” to their wardrobe. Each skirt is one size fits all and exclusive in design. Lexi says she hopes that with each purchase, her clients will feel the same confidence and unique styling experience as she did, over and over again.
She says what she loves most about her business is when others contact her or stop her in the store and say things such as “Because of you, I got through.”
“Sometimes our stories are the keys to unlock someone else’s prison, and I am honored when I’m told I was the key for them,” she says.
What inspires her the most are the families that are directly affected by her business. “Their hustle is unmatched. When I visited Ghana in June 2021, I had the opportunity to meet Artisans that make Aloha Glamour go around. Knowing that I directly affect their kids’ education and their quality of life inspires me to do what I do,” she says. On the other hand, she says her own children have impacted her life and career the most. She says it’s the resilience and grace shown and given unto her while she was turning her pain into her passion that got her through. “I could never repay them for what they’ve done for me,” Lexi said.
Moving forward, she has plans to open Aloha Glamour Flag Ship stores in outlet malls around the country. She also plans to offer cultural travel trips to Ghana and Hawaii bi-annually so that others can experience the cultures, the people, and the food that she loves so much.
Her advice to others who may follow a path similar to hers is to do it scared. “There will never be a perfect time to launch or start that business. Someone is waiting on what you have to offer to make it through their trying time. So pray to God and do it.”
To learn more about Lexi and Aloha Glamour, please visit their website or contact her directly. h www.alohaglamour.shop
Dr. Shmeka Gibson Innate Success Corp
www.innatesuccess.com
Photos Provided By Jamaal E. Photogrphy and Carolyn Castillo
Dr. Shmeka Gibson is an author, international speaker, business owner, and college professor. Shmeka is the founder and CEO of Innate Success Corp. Innate Success Corp. provides various business options, tools, and resources needed to develop business owners, organize business practices, enhance individual leader traits, and promote potential business leaders.
Innate Success Core, which is one of our fivesubsidiary businesses, provides contract services to organizations in need of organizational infrastructure development and program management, research, and application to funding opportunities and data analytics. Another popular business under the Innate Success model is I.S. Cares which houses the Mentorship Program.
This program is offered to start-up, grassroots, and small business owners with an operating budget of less than $250,000 annually. Presently, this program has helped over 46 African American business leaders and raised over $75,000 in grant funding to support the work. The goal is to help these businesses create an organizational infrastructure and enhance stability to upscale the economy and communities.
The Wealthy Child
“I am a Change Agent on the path to create a culture of wealth for the next generation”
By Terry L. Watson
Photos Provided by Ronald Pollard
Delvin Sullivan is a Dave Ramsey-certified Financial Coach who believes that “The earlier money can make sense to a child, the better chance they have at being financially responsible adults.”
A native of Huntsville, AL, Delvin is the author of The Wealthy Child, a book designed to teach youth about money and the world’s economic process. As someone who grew up in public housing, Delvin’s passion always led him to mentoring youth and posing as a positive role model for kids, particularly young men.
Using the basic principles of wealth, he published his book to level the playing field and offer all children the opportunity to become wealthy through knowledge. Some of the topics discussed in the Wealthy Child production are budgeting, banking, investing, credit, income, and assets. “I am introducing children to the basics of financial literacy in a fun and engaging way and teaching kids about the importance of earning, saving, and spending responsibly. My goal is to ensure they understand the importance of earning, saving, and spending responsibly,” Delvin says.
In addition to being an author, personal finance coach, and entrepreneur, Delvin is also a US Army veteran and recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. He holds degrees from Alabama A&M University and Murray State University. He is married to Felichia, and they have two children, Tierra and Jordan, along with three grandchildren.
Delvin shares, “I began teaching at the Sparkman Homes Boys and Girls Club in 2017, and decided to develop a book and workbook that would give the students something they could take home with them.”
The vision for The Wealthy Child is connected to Delvins awareness of the many challenges that youth face, especially within his community. “Studies show 80% of crimes that send people to prison have something to do with money. I want to change that narrative by teaching children how to earn, save, grow, and respect the dollar at an early age,” he says.
He shares that he loves being able to change the course of a child’s life by ensuring he or she is financially literate. He is also inspired by youth development and making a difference in his community.
Growing up in similar situations that many of the young individuals he’s helping are, Delving feels that he has a sincere responsibility to create realistic opportunities for them. “I made it to where I am because of the men placed in my life at the Boys and Girls Club. It was Ugene
Phillips, Cedric Wherry, and Tyrone Langford. They would preach, “if you want to be an eagle, don’t hang around turkey’s”. That kept me from becoming a product of my environment,” Delvin says.
Delvin’s future goal is to continue to change the lives of millions of children by introducing them to the world’s economic process. To learn more about The Wealthy Child, please visit their website.
