My Expectations and The Truth
A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
I would have to say that I grew up poor by worldly standards. I never felt like it because my mother constantly poured unconditional love into my other siblings and me. Her love wouldn’t allow me to focus on what I didn’t have or anything I could be missing. However, as life happened, I realized that when compared to others, my experiences were more complex. Even still, I had the opportunity to overcome them.
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?
One of the most important things I learned from my upbringing is the truth will always override my expectations. The very first car that I owned, I purchased for myself. It wasn’t a new vehicle, but it was mine. It had a few dents, and the tires didn’t match either. The heat or air conditioning didn’t work, and the exhaust pipe would shake like a leaf when I started the car, probably because it was being held in place by the wiring of a clothes hanger. With all of its imperfections, my car was a beauty in my sight, and I was very appreciative to own it.
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.
Though it seemed like I drove that car for all eternity, it only survived one year with me. I didn’t keep gas in the fuel tank, and I never changed the oil either. I drove it fast, and on cold mornings I didn’t allow for it to warm up. Rarely did I bathe it or even provide routine or preventative maintenance, and before I knew it, my first and only method of transportation slowed down and shut off in the middle of the road.
See, I expected my car to run forever, but the truth is I never did anything to ensure that it would. I expected it to go when I needed it to but never considered the impact my thoughtless and erratic treatment would have on it. I expected to ride forever, but the truth is I never invested in my cars’ future.
The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.
I’m saying that we will only get out of life what we put into it. How will we ever expect to know God if we never spend time with Him? My goal in life is to win. For this to happen, I must be willing to do what is necessary to win and align myself with what is true, which is God’s expectations.
Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.
Terry L. Watson
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder
huami.triangle@gmail.com (336)340-7844 Want To Advertise? Send An Email or Call Today Keep Up With
RALEIGH/DURHAM
The Cover
Fruitful and Blessed Ministries
Pastor Henry L. Singletary
They say a smile is worth a thousand words. Learn more about Allure Teeth Whitening. Greensboro, NC
26
morea bout the Community Hero Action Group. Philadelphia, PA
32
Brian K. McNeill
He is known as the Confidence Coach. Learn more about his journey, and what he has to offer. Charlotte, NC
22
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby Railyn Kate
She Got Game League Celia Newman
There’ Magic In Her Pen Monica Montgomery
She Has Purpose
Timika Thompson
Chiquita Jordan
Nicole McGruder She is all about action. Learn
Pastor
Fruitful and Blessed Ministries
By Dr. Marrissa Dick
Photos by Santana B Photography
The church is organized to glorify God by conducting religious services and teaching and training people in the truth of God’s Word, the Bible, calling people to repentance from sin and have faith in Jesus Christ.
A church is more than just a house of worship. Churches also play a central role within the community. They are places where both the young and the old can feel safe while practicing their faith. Running a church is a massive responsibility, but when done well can provide its’ Shepard a deeply rewarding experience of teaching the Gospel and introducing people to Jesus Christ. Starting a new church is a daunting task. Some pastors are self-called, while others have an experience very similar to the conversion of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus.
Meet Pastor Henry L. Singletary, a native of Winston-Salem, NC, and founder of Fruitful and Blessed Ministries, Inc. located in Raleigh and Burlington, NC. According to Pastor Singletary, “I was called by God and began preaching at the age of 16 so it’s not surprising to me that I’m a pastor today. I founded Fruitful and Blessed Ministries in 2018, and I am excited about where our ministry is headed. I am very encouraged by the work our outreach ministries provide to both the Raleigh and Burlington communities. We feed both communities hot meals once a month as well as offer other resources. We recently fed both communities Thanksgiving dinners and prior to that we provided turkeys to families, as well. We fed the community of Raleigh hot meals and gave away boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh loaves of bread, and canned goods. We also distributed toys to children in front of the Before and After Barber Shop on Poole Road in Raleigh and we also did the same for the Burlington community in front of Melvin’s Barber Shop. Fruitful and Blessed Ministries mission is to empower the communities that we serve,” he says.
“Our ministry is different from other ministries because we’re not just concerned about taking tithes and offerings; instead, we’re about empowering the communities where we reside...... So, tithing is important because operating a church is just like running a business because there are expenses associated with keeping the doors open, but that’s not our primary reason for existing. We exist because we are in the business of winning souls for the Lord, not how much money we take in weekly.“
Pastor Singletary shares his excitement about opening a second church in Burlington, NC within the coming weeks. “I live in Burlington, so providing support to my community is vitally important to me.” Beginning the first Sunday in January 2022 their Burlington service will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and the Raleigh service will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1,:30 p.m. “There are so many souls to win for the Body of Christ, but I believe we must foster trust and provide what the communities need so they know who to seek for support. I mean that’s what the church was originally designed to do, and that is to fill people with the Word of God with spiritual food and provide the natural nourishment for the body.”
It is well known that North Carolina is the “Bible Belt”. So what differentiates Fruitful and Blessed Ministries, inc. from all the other churches within the state?
Rev. Singletary shares, “Our ministry is different from other ministries because we’re not just concerned about taking tithes and offerings; instead, we’re about empowering the communities where we reside. Yes, the Word of God tells us in Malachi 3:10 ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ So, tithing is important because operating a church is just like running a business because there are expenses associated with keeping the doors open, but that’s not our primary reason for existing. We exist because we are in the business of winning souls for the Lord, not how much money we take in weekly. I am not saying that money isn’t important because it is. We need to keep the lights on, but I am saying that tithing comes in many ways. The financial piece is just not our primary concern. Our focus is using those tithes to literally feed and uplift the people within our communities,” he says.
Rev. Singletary remains committed to building people up, regardless of their circumstance. “I am a firm believer in teaching people how to fish so they can be fed for a lifetime. What sets us apart from other ministries is that during our Facebook Live Wednesday night Bible Study sessions, we offer wealth building sessions where we talk about the seven components of credit and teach people how to clean up their credit. You know the Word of God tells us in Hosea 4:6 that, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge’ so during our sessions, we also discuss our first-time home buyer program. A lot of people want to purchase a home, but they don’t have the down payment or closing cost or even know how to go about that whole
process. Well, Fruitful and Blessed Ministries not only teaches you how to do that, but we also help people gather the necessary funds to purchase a home. We also teach people about the benefits of acquiring stocks and bonds, mutual funds, and life insurance. I don’t want our church members or people in our communities to perish because of lack of knowledge or finances, especially within our African American and Latino communities that have been so greatly affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Unfortunately, it’s people in our communities that are perishing the most. It’s unfortunate because death is untimely, and often these families do not have life insurance to bury their loved ones. We teach people how to prepare for such life situations, and we also teach them how to be good stewards over the financial blessings that God has provided. For you to be a good steward, some people must be taught that process. We teach people the concept of making a financial budget and sticking to it,” he says.
One example of thier teaching is a concept called, Put Yourself on A Budget. If you earn $100,000 dollars, they teach others how to live well off $50,000 so you can save $25,000 annually, and then invest the other $25,000. “You see the Lord is our Shepard and we shall not want for food, clothing, or shelter. The word of God cannot and will not lie because if you seek ye first the kingdom of God then all things will be added unto you. I am a believer of that because if God be for you, then who can really be against you?”
Fruitful and Blessed Ministries has teamed up with an evangelist that assists with housing, too. They are also working on receiving grants to construct a large facility to house people that are in transition. In thier new facility, people will learn a skillset where they can be independent and have a different mentality about life in general, so they can reach their own individual goals and aspirations. “It’s not where you’ve come from or even about what you did in your past. Fruitful and Bless Ministries is concerned about helping you reach your full potential. We have a wealth of information for our communities because one of our missions is to enhance the lives of the people we serve, and I believe we are doing just that,” says Rev. Singletary.
Operating a church takes organization and, of course, wisdom. It suffices to say that Rev. Singletary is not only spiritually qualified to lead a church, but he is also credentialed from the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. While there he excelled in football and baseball, respectively. As a senior, Rev. Singletary used his minor in business to establish Facilities Maintenance Corporation, a successful janitorial business, which he still owns and operates today. After graduation he entered the United States Marine Corps and served honorably for four years. Currently, he is completing the master’s degree in Theology and Divinity from Liberty University. Rev. Singletary recognizes that having degrees does not solidify the man or woman of God. Still, he does acknowledge that his education has provided much needed guidance that he could take from the classroom and build successful organizations.
Though having educational degrees does not make the man or woman, especially when God has called you, he understands the concept of applying knowledge to experiential learning. Rev. Singletary has an ear for the voice of God. Not only did he heed his calling at an early age, but he also heeded God’s voice when it came time for him to write his novels and poetry.
“They are a church where you can come and receive the help you need. If you need housing, then they’re going to help you get housing. If you need assistance with your utilities, clothing, or food, then they are here to help you with all of that too. They fill in the gaps and that’s just something that a lot of ministries don’t do.”
“I’ve written and published four books, Jesus Ways, Jesus Ways Volume II, Black Woman Black Woman, and Being A Black Man in This Life Sho Ain’t Easy. I’m currently working on my fifth book, Removing The Stumbling Blocks From My Pathway. All of these books speak to what’s happening in the lives of people today. They talk about deliverance, love, forgiveness, and grace and mercy. Black women are the most mistreated and disrespected women in the world. Black men often find it difficult to find a job. As a Black man I know what it’s like to look in the mirror after disappointment wanting to cry; instead, you tell yourself I’m a Black man, and I’m going to have to take this disappointment and this frustration to the grave with me until the day I die. But I want the Black man to know one thing and that its’ okay to cry. You need to remember that God is looking down and He see’s every injustice from up on high, so dust yourself off and give life one more good try.”
Rev. Singeltary saus his ministry is such a blessing to so many people. Introducing Jesus Christ to those people who don’t know Him is something their outreach ministry does effectively. He knows their ministry is an asset to the community. They are a church where you can come and receive the help you need. If you need housing, then they’re going to help you get housing. If you need assistance with your utilities, clothing, or food, then they are here to help you with all of that too. They fill in the gaps and that’s just something that a lot of ministries don’t do. He is am a firm believer that if the churches would concentrate on really helping people, then we could eradicate homelessness and hunger. He says God told us that the second greatest commandment is to love they neighbor as we love ourselves so we must be our own brother’s and sister’s keeper. Fruitful and Blessed Ministries, Inc. is here to serve the people and help them become all that they want to become.
Rev. Singletary realizes that salvation is the key to solving every problem in the world. He understands that when a man or woman accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, their lives will change for the better. If you are looking for a new church home or need spiritual counseling and natural resources, then contact Fruitful and Blessed Ministries, Inc. It can be the resource that saves both your spiritual and natural lives.
For additional information, you can listen to their radio broadcast on 92.1 FM or attend their physical locations.
h
Fruitful and Blessed Ministries 2235 Garner Road Raleigh, NC 27610
806 Warwick Court Burlington, NC 27215
(919) 633-9667
She Got Game League
By Terry L. Watson
One thing is for sure, Celia Newman has a special love for serving and helping others. She also has got game.
The Dyersburg, TN native has faced a few challenges in her life such as abuse and depression, though, with resilience, she has prevailed to be a woman who many depend on.
Currently, Celia heads the She Got Game League, an organization dedicated to empowering women in the world of sports. Their focus is to expose and encourage female basketball players, school-age to college and provide personal and career development tools to excel at the next level. “Our mission is to create a support system and platform to give them the tools necessary to be the best they can be in life,” Celia says.
Ceia launched SGG in January 2019 after noticing a lack of competitive organized women’s league in Memphis. “I wanted to give female basketball players the opportunity to not only play competitively but also provide them with a platform to gain exposure, play overseas, and acquire professional contracts. We started with six teams, and have since expanded in three years to a total of ten teams in other areas, including Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN, Huntsville, AL, and Houston, TX,” she says.
“I wanted to give female basketball players the opportunity to not only play competitively but also provide them with a platform to gain exposure, play overseas, and acquire professional contracts.”
Photos Provided by Celia Newman
Celia has a strong background in athletics. She was a high school standout with the 2005 State Runner-Up, Dyersburg Lady Trojans, and a former college student-athlete at Bethel University. Additionally, Celia has over ten years of experience working with athletes, both academically and athletically, in her role as an Athletic Trainer. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a Master’s Degree in Sports and Wellness Leadership from Austin Peay State University. She worked at the University of Memphis for two years as a Student Athlete Development Mentor for at-risk student athletes, and founded the Elite Level Prep in April 2015. She also co-founded the UpNext Sports Consulting Firm with her business partner Christian Ross-Francis in May 2020. In her career, Celia has mentored and assisted over 100 athletes.
Celia is very passionate about helping athletes succeed, not just in athletics, but more importantly life. She fuels her passion by serving others, specifically within her community. She is an active member of the Big Brother Big Sister organization and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. “I love seeing women play the game they love and have fun doing it. I get to give back to my community by helping others become the best version of themselves. The women athletes in the SGG league inspire me with their stories of triumph. That alone motivates me to continue to give them the platform and environment to compete at a high level,” she shares.
She credits former WNBA Champion and Memphis Hall of Famer Ashley Shields with believing in the vision of SGG. “ I was struggling to get people to sign up in the beginning, and she spread the word and ignited the fire of what SGG has become. I am also grateful for the great sponsors that believed in me when SGG was small. These include Grind City Kicks, For The Kingdom Memphis, Building Blocks Mentoring Program, and The Awkward Agency. Their continued support has helped SGG become the hottest semi-pro women’s league in the MidSouth and beyond.
Celia has plans to expand the SGG league but admits she can’t do it alone. She is currently in the process of building her staff and acquiring more interns. Moving forward, she plans to reach more professional athletes and entrepreneurs with her partnership with UpNext Sports Consulting and continue to be a voice for women’s sports.
To learn more about the She Got Game League, please visit their website.
h
The Faces Behind a Purpose for You
By Ellen Richardson
Domestic violence has been an ongoing problem in states throughout the United States for many years, including Virginia. In fact, the Virginia Department of Health has reported that over one-third of homicides occurring in the state in the last few years are related to domestic violence. While many of these victims become just another faceless statistic, some are doing their part to help bring a face to the warriors who refuse to give up and give in. One such hero is Timika Cousins-Thompson, the founder of The Faces Behind A Purpose For You. A woman who overcame years of abuse is now turning this negative experience into a positive one by providing support and encouragement to others who have or are trying to escape domestic violence.
“Although I was a victim of domestic violence, I started this organization after losing a family member to this form of abuse,” said Timika. “This loss opened my eyes to what I was going through, and while that was hard enough, it also brought about something positive – it pushed me towards my purpose.”
The purpose she speaks of involves giving birth to an advocacy organization that gives individuals who have experienced domestic violence. It also provides individuals with an opportunity to learn from their circumstances and understand they can continue to progress in positive ways and settings, despite past experiences.
Focusing on the motto “it is not about us, it is about the lives that we can save” Timika offers life skills, individual development, enrichment activities, family support strategies, and activism to improve family relations and safe environments.
Photos Provided by Timika Cousins Thompson
“While I also had to overcome an emotionally abusive relationship, including the loss of one of my closest relatives to domestic violence, I make it a point to help others overcome. I strive to help others understand they are worth more and don’t have to endure emotional, verbal and/or physical abuse,” said Timika.
Timika and her partner, Washington D.C. native play writer, Michelle Lee have continued to follow their God-given purpose to do whatever is necessary to help those who are displaced by domestic violence. “While we don’t yet have a shelter, we offer support services such as court stewardship, legal assistance, life and job training, as well as any other services that are needed outside of housing,” said Timika. “We recently started a mentorship program for teenagers and work with schools to develop a dialogue about unhealthy relationships. Growing from pre-teen to a teen and teen to an adult has its challenges, so we decided to be that haven for them to turn to when they find themselves in an unfamiliar or dangerous situation. Before the pandemic, we were invited into Richmond Public Schools to speak and educate youth on healthy relationships, no matter their gender or sexuality, and we got a great response. Working with our local school systems is something that we want to continue.”
Timika’s organization also raised enough funds to hold a toy and food drive for needy families in the Richmond area during the holiday season. “It is interesting because we were able to share information about what we do and were surprised to have a few women ask for help during this time. I have always enjoyed helping my community and now doing so with a real purpose in mind feels very rewarding,” she says.
Timika says that domestic violence isn’t acceptable for anyone. If you are involved in an unhealthy relationship, please let someone know and speak up. To learn more about The Faces Behind A Purpose For You organization and to find out more information about the upcoming plays written by Michelle Lee about Domestic Violence scheduled for April and May 2022, please visit their website.
The Sales Confidence Coach
By Terry L. Watson
Brian K. McNeill of Charlotte, NC, is Brian K. McNeill is a true champion in the arena of “how to sell”. He has accumulated over 30 years of study and practice of professional selling. By his own count he has read over 700 books on Sales, Sales Management and Self Development. Brian has produced coaching programs, published several Best-Selling Books, and is committed to helping and serving others. The loving, caring husband and father is also a proud veteran of the US Army.
Brian is the founder of The Sales Confidence Academy. In this capacity, he provides training and certification for entrepreneurs. He is the current president of Virtual Team Network, a global online networking organization.
Brian exhibited signs of effectively communicating with almost anyone at an early age. He shares, “I entered the wonderful world of professional selling at the age of 23. That was 31 years ago. I soon came across some books about selling. After reading the first book, my interest grew, and before long, I had read several hundred books about sales. Some of the other topics were about Sales Management and Personal Development. The more I read, the better I became at selling. I eventually became a sales manager and my job. Sales and the knowledge and understanding of sales seemed easy to me, and soon I decided to start my own sales training company. Over the years, thousands of salespeople and entrepreneurs have benefited greatly from my sales training workshops, classes, and platform.”
Today, he is recognized as Brian K. McNeill, the Sales Confidence Coach. In this role, he teaches entrepreneurs and salespeople what to say and do, to ensure they are confident and prosperous in selling themselves and their services. His services include Sales Coaching, Sales Training, Sales Speaking, and Sales Workshops.
Photos Provided by Brian K. McNeill
Some additional products include personalized and on-demand/self-paced sales training programs. He also has the Basic Essential Sales Training (BEST), a recorded seven-session curriculum covering the basic essentials entrepreneurs must know and the seven reasons why a client will say yes to you and your services. After completing the course, the entrepreneurs will have the correct language and confidence to sell their services successfully. There is also Get Profitable/Stay Profitable (GPSP), which includes everything in (BEST) plus a curriculum that teaches the entrepreneurs what to do with their time. Then finally, there is the Sales Confidence Course, the complete and updated course on How to Sell Your Services in today’s marketplace.
One of the books that Brian has published is The Shortcut! - The Fastest route to Selling You and Your Services so that you earn more money than ever before! Another book he has published is Asking for the Money - How anyone can close more Sales, even you! Another publication is a children’s book, Why Rhinos Make Great Sales People - Featuring Mr. Randall the Rhino.
Many of Brian’s typical clients are service-based entrepreneurs, Coaches and Consultants, Insurance and Financial Services Professionals, Attorneys, Accountants, and Bookkeepers.
Brian has also founded the M.E.N (Male Empowerment Networks of Charlotte). This organization is a Support Discussion group that meets virtually twice a month and has been doing so since August 2013. “We know that men need men, and teenage men need men. So we provide a safe and transparent space for men to talk about anything.,” he says.
Brian says he loves it when people take what he teaches them and earn more money as a result. “It brings me joy. I believe that God has uniquely gifted and qualified me to help people sell themselves and their services. My work is a ministry, and I honor God by helping people sell better,” he says.
Moving forward, Brian shares he will continue to make his workshops available, especially through online courses, so that people can take the training on demand.
To learn more about Brian K. McNeill, please visit his website.
I Love To See You Smile
By Arielle Kilgore
by Katrena Wize Artography
As much as people hate to admit it, the one thing that everyone notices is someone’s smile. It can brighten a stranger’s day or be the key to securing an interview. Our teeth are the first thing we cleanse in the morning, and hopefully, the last thing we do at night. No matter the cause, our mouth’s health should be a top priority. For over 15 years, Chiquita Jordan has made sure that you’re putting your best smile forward.
“I’ve always had a passion for caring and helping others,” she says”
In 2019, Chiquita Jordan decided to open her own business, Allure Teeth Whitening in Greensboro, NC. She offers 30 to 60-minute teeth whitening sessions and also installs tooth gems for clients who want to add a little bling to their smile. As a part of her services, she offers lip fillers, a newer service in her toolbox that is gaining popularity.
Chiquita is a Greensboro native and graduated high school as a single mother. Her personal challenges never stopped her from pursuing her purpose and dreams. After deciding not to finish her nursing pathway at North Carolina A&T State University, Jordan decided to pursue a career in Dentistry. She shares that Dentistry allowed her to do what she loved and still assist those around her. She received her certification as a Dental Assistant from Guilford Technical Community College in 2006. With well over 15 years of experience, her expertise ranges from working in pediatric, dental, and oral surgery.
Photos
Chiquita says her customers are always her top priority. She does acknowledge her soft spot for children and believes it is her responsibility to shape them and prepare them for a healthy smile for their future. “It is important to teach them the importance of good oral health at a young age. If they don’t take care of their baby teeth, they can affect their permanent teeth, something that will last for the rest of their life,” she says.
Starting proper oral care at a young age is not just the right thing to do, but it can also save a life. Chiquita says the health of teeth goes beyond having a pretty smile. It can affect the health of your body as well. She says, “Lowerincome families don’t receive education on how to take care of their teeth. As a result, it creates a lack of importance or the disconnect of teeth to body health. They don’t see the connection to their health, so I strive to inform everyone about proper oral hygiene.”
It is important to Chiquita to provide the clients of Allure Teeth Whitening with the best possible customer service experience. Her dedication is also the connecting tool that helps her clients trust her services. “The first thing you notice about someone is their smile. Someone always wants to make sure that their smile is always beautiful or white,” she explains. “I always wanted to help and care for others. That’s just mainly my passion.”
As a business owner, Chiquita believes that everyone deserves the care and service they desire. She also believes in giving back to her community. That is why she makes her services affordable for almost anyone. “It doesn’t matter what situation that they come from, I am here to serve everyone,” she says. Throughout 2021, she taught children how to take care of their teeth and volunteered in community events to provide dental care. One of these programs was Giving A Kid A Smile Day.
In the future, Chiquita plans to offer teeth whitening classes for those interested in learning more about the process. She also plans to bring her oldest daughter into the family business to keep her family close and provide them generational wealth and job security. When it’s all said and done, Chiquita says she hopes her legacy will be based on serving her community and providing everyone with a healthy smile.
To learn about Allure Teeth Whitening, please visit their website.
h
daughter of Raisha Mercer and Dexter Bozeman
Railyn Kate
Community Hero Action Group
By Arielle Kilgore
Photos Provided By Nicole McGruder
The phrase, “...it takes a village to raise a child,” stands true today in the life of Nicole McGruder. Most people don’t consider the foundation of that village, making sure it is sustainable and healthy for that child to grow. Nicole knew the importance of this and how her organization would be the roots of that village.
Nicole is the founder of The Community Hero Action Group. This non-profit organization educates the Black community about voting, health, and civic issues through community events such as online forums and town hall meetings. The organization also supplies resources and services to those in need.
Nicole says Community Hero is passionate about breaking the cycle of stagnancy in the African American community. The group is composed of well-trained and passionate individuals who work in underrepresented communities, especially the Black community, to close the void of progression where the community’s needs exist. “Our mission is to decrease the wealth and health disparities in the Black community utilizing education and strategic collaborations,to ensure we have a financially stronger and healthier Black community,” she says.
Nicole grew up in Philadelphia, PA but spent most of her childhood in California. Nonetheless, her adolescent years foreshadowed the various issues and topics she would be standing for. After high school, she lived in Ohio, attended Cleveland State University, and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s in English. Next, she received her Masters for Urban Planning Design and Development and relocated to Southern California. She then got engaged and moved back to Philadelphia to join her husband. This is where she says the real work would begin.
“My passion is health. If we are not healthy, really nothing else matters.”
Nicole has always desired to serve and help anyone she could. She shares her life of service began in the emergency room on the night shift at University Hospitals. When she moved to California, she was a department administrator at Kaiser, and facility administrator for Davita Kidney Care. When she moved back and got married she also worked for Davita and became caretaker for my mother-in-law. Her volunteer work has also involved her being a girl scout leader and serving on the board for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. Even as her life was being shaped, she knew there was still more to do.
She has served as the political action chair for the NAACP state conference of the 2020 election cycle, working on projects like voter registration, awareness campaigns, and advocating for civil unrest in communities. “It was the Golden Window. The first that ever happened in history that you could actually get your ballot, register to vote, and cast your ballot all in the same day if you wanted to,” she says. These opportunities and experiences led to the development of the Community Hero Action Group, a non-proft 510c3 focusing on community engagement and Community Hero Impact Alliance, a non-profit 501c4 which focuses on good government and advocacy.
“I didn’t realize how much I love community engagement until I started with all the work that I was doing in 2020.”
The Community Hero Action group always brought light into Nicole’s eyes. She recalls the energy that was present even in the early development stages. “From the special voting events that were held with the sounds of Public Enemy playing, to the voting rallies held for black communities. While traveling to polling stations to influence underrepresented communities to take action, to the educational forums conducted on health and living disparities of African Americans; There was always positive energy present. Even still, Nicole always thought, what more could she do to help advance her people.
Nicole has committed to not just talk about the improvement of her community. She is actively seeking and building tomorrow’s leaders. “It all starts with health. We die at a higher rate than our counterparts from diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. That’s not because our bodies are faulty. It is because of systemic inequities,” Nicole explains. She is seeking answers and resolutions for those directly affected by these ailments. This has included collaborating with the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania to provide a scholarship fund for Black students that will assist them with taking and preparing medical exams and more.
For Nicole, she believes her work is never done. From seeing African Americans displaced on the streets living in tents, to helping young girls believe they can pursue a career as a judge, she knows that her work is more important than ever.
The PA Engage Day event held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Nicole says, gave the youth in her community a natural look into their futures. There was a youth mock court held with the Honorable Judge Nichols as a special guest. In the end, a student’s life was changed as she saw that she could be a judge as well.
In the future, Nicole would like to increase her organization’s presence and create attainable housing for poor African American communities. She also hopes to continue serving anyone who needs her help.
For more information about the Community Hero Action Group, please visit their website.
h
Monica Montgomery
The Happy Pen Creative Writing Services
By Terry L. Watson
For Monica Montgomery, her life has happened by way of the right opportunities.
Writing is something that Monica realized a love for early in life. The East Saint Louis, MO native was raised by a single mother and is the youngest in the family of four. She grew up and still resides in East St. Louis and shares she was blessed to be exposed to the greatness that East St. Louis is known for.
“I come from a creative family, so writing was a natural path for me. I love reading stories about mysterious people and magical places. However, it wasn’t until I wrote my first short story for the Young Author’s contest in the 5th grade that I believed I could create those people and places. The entire class was asked to write a story for the contest. I complained to my sister that I didn’t know what to write about. Annoyed, she said the most random thing she could think of. “Write about The Backwards City of Page.” She rattled it off as if it was a real place, and I should have known where and what it was. Then she said, “It’s where everything is backward!” With her help, I wrote my first piece of fiction. I was hooked from that day on,” Monica says.
Monica is the owner of The Happy Pen Creative Writing Services. Her company offers writing seminars, coaching sessions, and commercial writing for websites and personal projects.
Monica received a scholarship to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She completed her Bachelor’s of Arts, English Literature, and music minor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and received her MFA, Fiction Writing from Lindenwood University, St. Charles. In 2020 she was selected to participate in the East St. Louis Urban Education Teaching Residency Program. The program was an intense ten-month accelerated Master’s degree program and helped Monica earn a Master’s in Elementary Education from National Louis University.
Today, Monica works as a first-grade teacher at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis. Professionally, she has written, directed, and produced several Christian plays and skits for her church’s youth group and spent the last fifteen years volunteering and mentoring youth in dramatic arts.
Photos Provided by Monica Montgomery
Her first short story was published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, “Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul,” in 2006. She has written her first novel series, “An Everlasting Love”. The first two books, An Everlasting Love: Concrete Soul and The Summer of Carlos, are available for purchase on Amazon. com, and the third book of the series will be released in June 2022. Additionally, she writes for I Am East St. Louis the Magazine and serves as V.P. at Top Dog Studios, a St. Louis-based independent film group.
Monica says what she enjoys most about writing is the ability to create a place of learning and escape simultaneously. “I love reading because I get to travel to far-off places and meet people from every walk of life and beyond. When I write, I don’t just want to tell a story; I want to create a space where the author, reader, and character meet in a harmonious ebb and flow. A place where one doesn’t exist without the other. The highest praise is when the reader or audience refers to a character as independent, free-thinking. I’ve had people walk up to me and say they have a love-hate relationship with one of my characters. The word that stuck out to me was relationship. As an educator, I love when a student gets it. Whether it be a first-grader learning to count by ten or someone taking up the challenge of writing, the light in their eyes is the same. It’s like a door they weren’t aware of opens, and they are breathing for the first time. It’s amazing to watch,” she says.
Like anyone else, Monica says she could spend hours talking about her wounds, woes, and regrets, but it wouldn’t change anything. Ultimately, it has been her trust in God that has carried her throughout her life. She shares, “In my late twenties, I was diagnosed with cancer. I have been in remission for fourteen years now, but it was a wake-up call. I could no longer wait for the life I wanted. I had to go out and get it. I never imagined myself as an author and a teacher. When I entered the Young Author’s contest in 5th grade, my teacher said she believed she had heard the story before and accused me of cheating. I knew I hadn’t, but it didn’t matter. I won second place in the district. The first prize went to a 6th grader. My teacher never apologized. and the damage was done. I have no children of my own, but I realized that my words and what I create with them are just as important to me as a child would be. Being honest meant exposing my “baby” to the world and subjecting it to public scrutiny and rejection. Any parent can tell you that hearing that your child isn’t good enough is painful, to say the least. To my surprise and excitement, readers are my writings, and I continue to trust God.”
Monica says the one thing she would have changed about her journey in life would be publishing an essay back in high school. “I believe it would have gotten me into professional writing much sooner. Then again, would I have gained the experience that I think contributed to the person I am today? Destinations are great, but life is in the journey,” she says.
h
“I love reading because I get to travel to far-off places and meet people from every walk of life and beyond. When I write, I don’t just want to tell a story; I want to create a space where the author, reader, and character meet in a harmonious ebb and flow.”
www.mykelmedia.com
