Huami Magazine for St. Louis May/June 2021 by Terry Watson

www.mykelmedia.com www.thisiswhoiam.libsyn.com

Awards, Accolades, and Alignment

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

A Letter From The Editor

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

A Letter from the Editor

Sometimes I reflect on where I have come from in life. With each reflection, the feelings are always different from one another, and it makes good sense for them to be. There are peaks and valleys; good moments during the valleys, and even bad ones when I thought things should have been great. I guess you can describe it as a roller coaster ride that never ends.

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?

I am the second youngest child in a family of six, with two additional big sisters. With this arrangement, the number of stories to share is plentiful. Even more, the steps that I’ve taken have painted their own picture, validating my individuality and uniqueness, and eventually revealing what I am purposed for. There is a saying “what you don’t know, can’t hurt you”. For me, learning what God has destined for my life and not responding according to His desire is sort of an opposite parallel to that adage, meaning once I learned who I was supposed to be, every act of disobedience that followed has been painful.

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.

Terry L. Watson

I have taken part in a lot of things in life. I have been acknowledged for some, and for some, I have not, and in my dusty collection, one might find a few plaques, trophies, certificates, and awards. Though I haven’t received many accolades, yet I know they’re coming. I confess that I once believed they would, I am now at a place where those items just don’t do it for me. I realized such symbols of merit have only provided short moments of enthusiasm, and any mental record of them is fleeting. If I have no memory, then it’s like it never happened.

David Hendricks III

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.

But when I slowed down and allowed my life to get into alignment with what God has purposed for me, everything that I gave value to before, I used as a foundation to stand on to obtain that which will never lose its value; and that is God’s favor. I realized that when God blesses me, the sensations are unending, and the benefits will open doors I can have open on my own. When I walk with God, and that means allowing God to lead me, every desire, want, and need appears to just fall in place.

I have learned that awards and accolades are good but being in alignment with God has way more value. What God gives us will last, a whole lot longer than anything the world gives us. He promises not to keep any good thing from us, and all we have to do is trust in Him. For me, being loved by God is the purest form of an award and accolade, and one the world will never be able to duplicate or measure up to.

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

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

Howard Gaither Photography Tamara Smith Terry L Watson

mykelmedia@yahoo.com (336) 340-7844

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

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Patience Always Wins

Monica Hawthorne

MA, LPC, Certified Doula

Root To Crown Counseling

By Terry L. Watson

The decision to seek counseling is a unique journey for everyone, and taking the first step is the biggest step of all. Aminah R. Williams of St. Louis, MO has launched a practice that is designed to help people deal with life’s everyday issues. She is the owner of Root To Crown Counseling.

Aminah is a graduate of Lindenwood University. There she received her formal education and eventually was licensed as a professional counselor by the state of Missouri. Root To Crown Counseling and Wellness began in 2019. Aminah shares, “I love helping people as well as building relationships. I am passionate about serving my community, advocacy work, trauma, and birth justice work, and enjoy spending time listening to music, baking & gardening. My happy place is with my family and spending quality time with them is important to me,” she shares. “As a licensed therapist, my goal in practice is to validate my client’s experiences while providing tools to root through life’s uncertainties with power and positivity. At any moment, trials or triumphs can happen. I believe they are meant to teach us and allow us to strengthen our unique selves. You must affirm yourself, love yourself, and permit yourself to heal. You are your best teacher, and I am just here to guide you along this journey to a more rooted you.”

Photos by Aminah Williams

Some of the services offered and addressed by Aminah are Depression and Mood Disorders, Anger Management, Couples, Trauma Survivors. Anxiety, Grief, Women’s Issues, Parenting Support, Racial Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Life Coaching, LGBTQI, Perinatal Mood Disorders, Relationship Issues, Stress, and Life Transitions.

One tool in Aminah’s arsenal is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. With this, she addresses relationships between thoughts, feelings, and actions that may cause distress in someone’s life. Individuals will become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking and respond to challenging situations more effectively. Thoughts affect how you feel and how you behave. Forms of Cognitive Behavior Therapy are used to treat many facets of Trauma.

Another tool she utilizes is Solution Focused Therapy. This tool focuses on finding solutions and understanding the presenting problem. Aminah will help her clients by using motivational interviewing, which is designed to help her clients learn to recognize their strengths and skills through the therapy process.

Aminah says she doesn’t want anyone that requires her services to discourage by the cost for them. She says, “A typical counseling session from a Licensed Professional Counselor ranges from $65$150, depending on the area and type of therapy. I provide a sliding scale, to help make things easier for those with the inability to afford the session. It is my goal to make counseling accessible and affordable for everyone and I often work out mutual agreements with all of my clients to make sure everyone can receive the help they need.”

To learn more about the services offered by Root To Crown Counseling & Wellness, or to schedule a session with Aminah, please contact her directly or visit her website.

Dr.ErikaHendrix

Exclusive Specs for Men and Women

By Ayana Bryant

Lady E Specs is the newest signature brand of eyewear to emerge out of Greensboro, NC. Dr. Erika Hendrix, a Greensboro native and minister, developed this eyewear line to provide her community with colorful and daring frames to fit any occasion.

After surviving three strokes that impaired her ability to wear contacts, Dr. Hendrix grew interest in wearing unique glasses that fit her personality eventually leading to the birth of Lady E Specs.

During her 20’s, Dr. Hendrix enjoyed wearing simple reading glasses but as the years passed her eyes became weaker and she eventually needed prescription glasses. She opted to wear contacts instead, and thoroughly enjoyed wearing them but after suffering a stroke she began to experience chronic dryness in her eyes. This made it impossible for her to continue wearing contacts. However, now it allowed her the opportunity to truly invest in the eyewear that she now wears. She utilized this opportunity to be more expressive in the eyewear that she chose and began purchasing her frames from a local eyewear entrepreneur J. Franklin (IG: @j.franklin_woodyou).

Dr. Hendrix fell in love with his designs, even more she liked that she was able to customize all her glasses. She would have him engrave “Lady E” into every pair of frames that she purchased so that they would be personalized specifically to her. After frequently purchasing frames and becoming more acquainted with J. Franklin and his company, she learned that he also worked as an eyewear manufacturer. One day he suggested that she should start her own eyewear line because of her distinct taste and many connections through her work and ministry.

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Photos by Jarvis Harris Photography

Photos by Still Shots Photography

After taking some time to consider the idea Dr. Hendrix was convinced and decided to move forward with the new opportunity. The name came to her quickly as she remembered that “Lady E” was engraved into each of her frames, so Lady E Specs seemed to be the most fitting. The time to develop the eyewear line took from October 2020 to February 2021 which is when the company initially launched. Due to the pandemic, Dr. Hendrix moved forward with a virtual launch, proving to be a smart decision because of the influx of online shopping taking place during the lockdown. The line launched featuring eight stylish designs in acetate and wooden materials.

Dr. Hendrix’s eyewear features customization for each of the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities as well as a featured “Aggie Blue” frame to celebrate her HBCU alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University located in Greensboro, NC. All but two of Lady E Specs designs are unisex, so there are selections for any and everyone. The average cost for a pair of acetate frames from Lady E Specs will range from $95-$110 and the custom wooden frames begin at $250. Lady E Specs also accepts FSA and HSA flex spending funds from your employer as a form of payment. The next launch is scheduled to debut in June of 2021 and will feature a selection for kids.

Dr. Hendrix is an allaround businesswoman serving her community in the role of executive pastor of her church, Overcoming Deliverance Center, running multiple businesses including a mental health agency, a group home, a juice bar, and Lady E Specs, as well as publishing a book! When asked what inspires her as an entrepreneur, she says that she finds inspiration in the response that she gets from those she has impacted. Effortlessly, she represents the true definition of a humble servant, as she enjoys helping people and seeing them transform into a better version of themselves.

Maintaining a close-knit group of friends is something she values and finds inspiration in. “Coming from a household with being the only girl among all boy siblings, my three best friends who I consider to be my sisters, have impacted my life and career the most. These are friends hold me accountable, encourage me, and guide me. They keep me in check. They tell me things I need to hear like, ‘No Erika I do not think that is a good idea Sis”. They really push me to always continue moving forward,” she shares.

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Photo by Still Shots Photography

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Coming from a household with being the only girl among all boy siblings, my three best friends who I consider to be my sisters, have impacted my life and career the most. These are friends hold me accountable, encourage me, and guide me.

The only thing Dr. Hendrix says that she would change about her eyewear business is wishing that she would have done it sooner! “I’ll be 50 in two years so I can only imagine where it would be if I would’ve done this in my 20’s. But everything is in God’s timing” says Dr. Hendrix.

The sky’s the limit for Lady E Specs. Dr. Hendrix plans to further her brand to new heights and share her vision around the world. Some of her future plans include launching a line dedicated to senior citizens and expanding into jewelry and apparel. She is currently working with local vendors to have Lady E Specs sold wholesale as well as online through her website.

Photo by Still Shots Photography

Community Based Connections

By Ellen Richardson

While some may pursue a career path based on salary or notoriety, there are those who chase their dream based on a desire to help others. Growing up watching his family struggle, after migrating from Haiti to the United States, Mikelange Olbel has made it his life’s mission to help families realize that there is always hope and an opportunity for success.

The current Chief Executive Officer of Community Based Connections, Inc (CBCI) started his life growing up among a family of seven who were living in a van for years following their arrival to Pompano Beach, Florida. Although growing up without a settled home or indoor plumbing, the youngest of five boys found a sense of strength and inspiration as his dream to break the cycle of poverty and crime that plagued his family would begin to take shape.

Staying focused on obtaining a good education the boy who was once labeled an underdog, after failing the first grade, would use this label to push himself to graduate from Pompano Beach High School and even become the first person in his family to graduate from college. After becoming an honor graduate with a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the University of Dubuque, in Dubuque, Iowa in 2008, Olbel would continue to see just how important a good education is to a successful future.

“After watching my parents struggle so much as both immigrants and as those who didn’t have the opportunity to become well educated, I began to realize that it was important for me to learn as much as I could if I was going to take up the mantle of serving those who are underserved or are being oppressed,” said a very heartfelt Olbel.

As this born to be servant continued to take up his cross and follow along the path that he was given as a young child, it would eventually lead him to pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Public Administration and Psychology from Iowa State University. After receiving this prestigious degree in 2010, Olbel would once again find himself between a rock and a hard place.

“After graduation I was too scared to go back home because my father had a philosophy that once a man leaves his home, he needed to earn his own way,” said Olbel. “Although it was difficult to once again find myself living in my car, taking showers at my local gym and even brushing my teeth on the job this challenge gave me the resiliency to do whatever it took to do what God had asked me to do.”

Photos by Community Based Connections

The fortitude of this born leader would eventually lead him towards a career in youth development. During his time vehemently serving as a youth worker and mentor, Olbel would begin to explore the wide world of entrepreneurship. This would eventually help the impassioned social worker to found Team Saving Our Youth Incorporated (Team SOY), a nonprofit organization aimed at early childhood education and eradicating juvenile delinquency in South Florida, in 2012.

While running this organization, Olbel also became the Director of Programs at another non-profit called Community Based Connections, Inc. Founded by fraternity brother Brian Johnson, this human service organization focuses on helping children in and around southeastern Florida become socially and academically successful despite the many challenges that they face.

Before long, this classmate and Olbel would decide to merge their similar nonprofits to assure continued growth and assistance for youth in need in their local community.

“After Brian and I realized that both of our organizations were founded around the same ideals of empowering our local youth to become successful regardless of the many negative influences around them, we decided to combine our efforts to grow one organization into the success that it is today.”

Following this merger over 10 years ago, the two passionate servants of the Lord have developed a strong history of implementing and evaluating programs and services that stimulate positive youth development from the cradle to college, provide family strengthening and support services to enhance youth development and provide community programs that are “making connections that improve the odds of youth success”.

“Some of these programs include free parenting skills courses for families of youth who are at-risk of abuse/neglect and/or juvenile delinquency, our Safety Management Action Response Team (S.M.A.R.T. Team) that provides intensive services to at-risk families, STEM enrichment, character development, our Learning Together program that provides students experiencing risk of academic under-performance with character development, extra-curricular activities and other support services that target satisfactory classroom performance, improved school conduct, and exposure to enrichment activities, and so many more” explained Olbel.

Thanks to programs like these, this large agency with a grassroots touch has yielded results like 97 percent of families seeing improved family functioning, no abuse findings in 100 percent of participating families post program completion, 98 percent of youth at risk for juvenile delinquency remaining crime free while participating in Community Based Connection programs, as well as six months following program completion 100 percent of participating students have showed improvement in school behavioral evaluations or maintained zero external suspensions.

“We have also helped families during the trying times of the last year or so. Along with partnering with local food banks to provide food and give away gas cards to families in need, we also raised over $120,000 to provide support such as paying rent, providing materials for home school education, tutoring and so much more,” said Olbel.

Thanks to these efforts, CBCI was recently awarded the 211 Youth Collective Impact Award, which is like the Oscars of non-profits in South Florida. Olbel was also nominated as one of Legacy South Florida Magazine’s Top Most Influential and Powerful Individuals in South Florida.

Following all this success, what is next for CBCI and its fearless leader? Along with the continuous growth of this organization, which includes a new mental health and substance abuse department, Olbel and those who serve Community Based Connections, Inc. would also like to see programs like this expand into other communities.

“There will always be families and children who need our help, especially in the black and brown community,” stated the hopeful visionary. “As a result, it is my goal to advance the mission and vision of this agency in order to propel us to the next level and help others throughout our community and those surrounding.”

In order to assure to the future growth and success of this life-altering organization philanthropic supporters and donors are critical. To find out more about Community Based Connections, Inc. or to support its mission visit their website today.

“I didn’t feel any resentment towards my father and decided that instead of focusing on the past I was going to keep moving forward with our relationship.”

By Dorjae McClammey

He wants everyone to have an ear for this. Hello Black Man.

Jamey Jenkins, husband, father, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Mississippi, he grew up in the small town of Hazelhurst. As a student at Hazlehurst High School, he was involved with the debate team, basketball team, and eventually graduated at the top of his class with honors in 1997. Next, he enrolled at the well-known HBCU, Alcorn State University, majoring in Political Science Pre-Law. He was also inducted into the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. After graduating in 2002, Jamey received a job at the automotive giant Nissan North America and much like everything else in his life, was able to work himself to the top. Starting as a Technician, he then moved up to Lead Tech, then to Supervisor, and currently serves as Lead Manager.

Photos by Jamey Jenkins

Growing up, Jamey had a real simple life. He was raised by a hard-working single mother, and shares he didn’t ask for much, but his mother always made him feel like he had the world. He met his father while he was in high school, and the connection they made he shares, was so amazing it was like they never missed a beat. “If someone were to tell you that we didn’t grow up together, you wouldn’t believe it,” he says. “I didn’t feel any resentment towards my father and decided that instead of focusing on the past I was going to keep moving forward with our relationship.”

Growing into manhood Jamey acquired a family of his own. He was married and got divorced, producing a son in his union. His son came to live with him for a while, and he figured out quickly that their communication style was quite different. “I wanted to find the best way to adapt to him and his needs instead of my son trying to adapt to me as the parent,” he says. Jenkins used this knowledge to create a list of things he wanted his son to know about him, which involved creating questions for them to ask each other. While writing down things he wanted his son to know about him, Jamey realized that he didn’t know a lot about his dad. He knew the basic things but not who he was as a person. So, as he continued to write down all these questions and something came to his mind. “I realized that if I put all these questions together in journal form, then I would have an almost perfect autobiography,” he says. Starting with 250 questions he thought if the question did not make you pause, it wouldn’t be added to the journal. So that removed all of the basic questions and narrowed it down to 52 questions, equaling one question a week for an entire year. All the questions were thought-provoking and intriguing, focusing on finances, future endeavors, and love. The kind of questions and answers that don’t come up in everyday conversations. He knew he was onto something and In November 2019, the Hello Black Man Journal was created.

He didn’t stop there, as he has created a series of interactive journals that are designed to help members of the African American community dig deep within and learn things about themselves that they would have never thought of. The Hello Black Man Journal has been well designed and is easily comprehensible. One side allows space for a quote and/or question, and the other side has a space for the reader to journal and reflect.

Jamey didn’t stop with Hello Black Man. He has created a journal for just about everyone. After Hello Black Man, he wrote Hello Black Woman, which is inspired by his daughter, wife, and mother. There is also Hello Black Child. With this addition, Jamey wanted to open up the mind of the young person and jumpstart their communication abilities and provide a safe and trusting place to get everything in their mind out and show someone what they are going through. With Hello Black Teenager Jamey, wanted something that can help teens and adults connect better. “I feel as though teenagers today have it way harder than I did. With social media being a big factor in a teenager’s life I wanted a place for young adults to get their emotions and thoughts out somewhere other than online,” he says.

There is also Hello Black Couple which is meant for two people to write and connect. Jamey has had couples who’ve been married 40 plus years tell him that they didn’t know half of the things about their partner they thought they did. This journal strives to reopen deep communication between new and current partners. Hello Black First Responder is for the people who are so unique and mentally trained and are sadly constantly fighting between career and community. A space for those people, paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement who see a lot, finally have a place to release what they’ve been holding in.

Then there’s the Journey Journal. Jamey wanted to create an avenue for everyone in the world to be able to start their transition to be more open and connected with themselves. Finally, there is the Hello Black Entrepreneur. As someone who has multiple businesses, he is no stranger to the hustle. “In our community, we grind, we are hustlers and hard workers. Yet I feel as though the community does not do a great job at writing the details down of what we are doing and so this journal is for those who need an outline for when they need to go back for a reference, or when they start a new business, they know how they did it the first time and will be able to do it again with less hassle. I’ve had more phone calls about that journal in the last three months than Hello Black Man in the last year.”

Jamey has what others may call an “unreal” motivator, which is time. Time pushes him to be more connected with his business, family, and surroundings. It pushes him to have a business that will be impactful forever. He wants his products to be so impactful, that in the next 100 to 200 years, someone will be able to pick them up and still be inspired. He wants to use his journals to make history in the black community also. “If my grandson’s, grandson’s grandson needs help or motivation, he can see what I wrote, and hopefully it will drive him to a better place,” he says.

“If my grandson’s, grandson’s grandson needs help or motivation, he can see what I wrote, and hopefully it will drive him to a better place,”

Even though he’s not huge on accolades, Jamey feels most accomplished when he sees his work in action. He says a client’s appreciation, feedback, and recognition is all the reward he needs. Most of all, being able to find a way to connect with his kids better is his biggest accomplishment.

Moving forward, Jamey currently has two more journals in the work, Hello Black Student and Hello Black Educator. He feels like this group of people doesn’t get the respect nor pay they deserve. “Because they give to the youth in the community, I want to give them an avenue to talk about their careers, express their emotions, and be able to unwind. My goal is to put my journals into millions of hands who need a safe space to unwind,” he says.

The Covid 19 pandemic has put a hold on The Hello Black Man Conference, though Jamey and his team have been working hard to bring it back for the Spring of 2022. That will also be the celebration of their third-year mark.

Jamey is a down-to-earth kind of guy. His favorite dish to prepare is frozen pizza. His top three movies are Heat with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Tombstone, and Shawshank Redemption. He is also a world-renowned spade player, “spadesologist” and has received the City-Wide Spades trophy in Mississippi.

To learn more about Jamey Jenkins and Hello Black Man, please visit his website.

Hall

Gorgeous Nail Couture

By Terry L. Watson

There’s an adage that you can tell a lot about a person, from just by looking at their hands. For Elijasha Hall, she puts a twist on this saying and writes her story on fingernails.

The 24-year-old female entrepreneur was born in Brooklyn, NY but raised in Pineville, SC. Today, she is a wife and mother, and making her name in the nail industry by way of her newly opened salon, Gorgeous Nail Couture based in Forestville, MD.

Elijasha shares she’s been doing nails since 2010. “It all started when my cousins always used to ask me to paint their nails. It was from that moment I knew I wanted to be a nail technician,” she says. “Growing up, my aunt and uncle, who also raised me, was adamant that I attended college. Yet, I knew college wasn’t the route I wanted to take, but for the sake of keeping them happy, I did it. I went to college for two years before I decided to quit in 2016 and pursue my nail career more seriously.”

Photos by Elijasha Hall

Elijasha Hall

Gorgeous Nail Couture

7812 Parston Drive Forestville, MD 20747 Book

With her purpose confirmed, she set her sights on opening a nail salon. She started her first business in 2017 and received her nail license in 2018, and in 2020, she fulfilled her dream by opening her very first nail salon, Gorgeous Nail Couture.

Elijasha specializes in natural nail care, acrylic, and pedicures. She says she loves to educate her clients about their natural nails and ways to keep them strong and healthy. Those instructions are typically offered during service appointments, however, Elijasha offers information and assistance to her clients whenever it’s needed.

For something that she has enjoyed doing since she was a young girl, it only makes sense that Elijasha genuinely loves her craft and the benefits it provides. “Deciding to live for me was the best decision I could’ve made,” she says. “I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face when I’ve completed the service. Sometimes clients think their nails look hideous and that there is no way to fix them. If they don’t feel good about their nails, they may not feel good about themselves, but I’m able to fix that,” she says.

Elijasha says that with being a black nail technician in an industry that’s primarily dominated by Vietnamese, she believes many people are being misguided with the wrong information. “I don’t see my clients as someone who is only paying me for a service, I see them as people. Clients don’t understand the time and the quality that they are getting by coming to my business, mainly because they’re not accustomed to the type of services I provide. My services are only offered by appointment, and though my prices may be higher than other places, it doesn’t become the focal point for my clients because I take the time to ensure my clients get a complete service,” she says.

Elijasha offers some advice to others who may follow in her footsteps. “Never give up! You won’t master the craft the first day, in a week, or even in a month. You have to promise yourself that you’ll keep practicing your craft,” she says.

She hopes to eventually own a nail supply store and open a nail school. That’s clearly in her future.

To learn more about Elijasha and Gorgeous Nail Couture, please visit her website.

By Terry L. Watson

Most people don’t have the courage or strength to walk by faith and leave the security of a good-paying job to follow their dreams. Crystal Eatman isn’t one of those people, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and an all-around #GirlBoss she is solidifying her path to success.

After working in Corporate America for the last 16 years and serving in multiple roles around the healthcare industry including Assistant Director of a pediatric clinic as well as running the ER (Emergency Room) for one of Chicago’s top hospitals, Eatman decided to step away and retire. At the start of the pandemic like many others, Eatman contracted COVID-19. She suffered for a while going in and out of the hospital trying to regain her health. During this terrifying time while battling a deadly virus Eatman says that she realized something.

“When I became extremely sick, never once did anyone from my job ever call to check on me or my children, not so much as a get well soon card. I realized that I was just a number to that company. If I would have lost my life to COVID, my position would have been posted to the bulletin to be filled the next day,” says Eatman. She knew that if anything were to happen to her that her children would have been the ones to suffer most, receiving only a cap of the pension that she had been paying for years. That experience was an awakening for her and helped her to realize that she wanted to be in control of how much money she made and handle her business on her own.

Eatman is a self-made businesswoman owning not one but two businesses in the Chicago area. She holds a general contracting license and has since started her own construction company CCE Enterprises LLC. Majestic Transportation Corporation, her second business, is a non-emergency fleet of vehicles that transports patients to and from their doctors and dialysis appointments. The construction company specializes in painting and installing drywall for commercial properties and is a signatory to the union. The transportation company initially started with only one vehicle and in a year her fleet has grown to 15 vehicles and an ambulance.

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“When I became extremely sick, never once did anyone from my job ever call to check on me or my children, not so much as a get well soon card. I realized that I was just a number to that company.”

Photos by Crystal Eatman

The construction company was initially started to employ Eatman’s oldest son who had been previously incarcerated. As a mother, it was difficult for her to allow her son to have doors closed in his face for the rest of his life due to one mistake. She made it her mission to create a table of her own for her family so that they would never be denied opportunities to provide for themselves. “That was really big for me, like I said I am a mother of four boys. So, this was something I knew I had to do to make a way and to create a legacy for them,” she says.

Something that she values and stresses to people is the importance and significance of pursuing trades. As we know college isn’t for everyone and Eatman believes that schools should encourage more students to pursue the trade industry. There are other lucrative ways for individuals to support themselves rather than working for fast food chains and miscellaneous jobs. “You can climb the ladder at Mcdonald’s but how much does a manager make annually? Working in these trades and being a signatory to the union, you’re making $46 an hour with benefits and that’s something that I’ve always had my eye on,” says Eatman.

Pouring into others is where Eatman finds inspiration to continue moving forward. She enjoys helping others create opportunities for themselves as she has done for herself. She describes herself as being a people pusher, “I’ve helped so many of my friends start businesses. No one can tell me what they can’t do because I’m going to find a way to make it happen by any means necessary,” she shares. Understanding that she has the potential to do those things and seeing the impacts of helping others is where she finds her motivation.

Majestic Transportation Corporation is on its way to becoming the first Black woman-owned ambulance company in the state of Illinois. Eatman is also working to make sure that CCE Enterprises becomes the top contracting business in the state. Her plans for the future also include expanding both businesses beyond the Chicago area and into different regions. She is also currently looking into starting an apprenticeship program to create jobs and opportunities for communities of color within the trade industry. Make no mistake about it, Eatman is a woman full of finesse! Building black-owned businesses to support her family as well as the community she lives in. Crystal Eatman

Patience Always Wins Monica Hawthorne

By Tonya Dixon

At one point, Monica Hawthorne thought things couldn’t be any better in her life. She was happily married. Had a thriving hair salon in Charlotte, North Carolina, and her family were safe and healthy. But in one instant, it all changed. She found herself single, dealing with an undiagnosed illness and a declining business and bank account. Before she knew it, she found herself back in Greensboro, living with her mother and making countless trips to the doctor. But as she looks back on it, it was nothing short of God’s divine hand upon her life. She gained more than she ever had before, physically, spiritually and emotionally. However, it didn’t seem divine at the time.

“God directed me to come back home to Greensboro. I thought I was hearing things because I thought there was no way HFe was telling me to leave. I was doing well in Charlotte. My business was thriving and I was successful,” said . “But I did what I heard God say. I packed up and moved.”

With her life virtually upended and turned inside out, Hawthorne had to do something she had previously never really done. She had to relinquish control to gain restoration. She had to depend on someone else.

Photos by Santana B Photography

“God told me the I didn’t need to be concerned about the opinions or actions of anyone else. He said I was already qualified, verified and approved by Him, so I didn’t need to seek approval or validation from man because He had already given me that.”

“I stayed on my mom’s couch for nearly three years because I had serious health problems and God wouldn’t allow me to do anything else,” she said. “I prayed and had many conversations with Him. I was going through a lot mentally and physically and I was practically broke because I was supporting my daughter in college.”

“I left my source of income in Charlotte. I virtually started over. I had to come back to Greensboro and rebuild my business and myself.

A licensed minister, Hawthorne admits she “ran” from God and her calling for more than 15 years. She had a people problem. “I was concerned about what people would say. What would they think of me?” she said.

But it was in her weakest moment when she heard God as clear as she heard him say move back to Greensboro. She received the instruction and strength she needed to begin her journey of restoration and wholeness for herself and for other women.

“God told me the I didn’t need to be concerned about the opinions or actions of anyone else. He said I was already qualified, verified and approved by Him, so I didn’t need to seek approval or validation from man because He had already given me that,” said Hawthorne.

It was at that moment that she spiritually and physically birthed her ministry, a new business and strength to regain her footing as a hair stylist. But she says founding “GOoD GIRL” (intentionally spelled with mixed case) has been the most profound and rewarding because it impacts everything else in her life.

“I thought I would call it ‘GOod GIRL,’ because it symbolizes being a light, knowing your worth and getting approval only from God,” said Hawthorne. “But then one day God said, ‘you’re a good girl, but I want you to make one of those “Os” very small so that you can see me in it.’ And that’s how it became what it is today.”

After developing a logo, Hawthorne designed a few shirts and the rest is more than just history. It’s a situation she believes only God could have orchestrated and ordained.

“I hadn’t even planned to launch it until May 2020, but COVID hit and everything changed. As soon as they were released, women from all over were buying the shirt,” she said. “So that’s how it started. But there’s more. There’s a community component for all kinds of women. Young, old, every race and every background.”

Ultimately, she says the mission of GOoD GIRL is to teach women that they are enough and only need God’s approval. Plain and simple.

“I want girls and women to know you don’t need that [blue] check on Facebook. You don’t need that [blue] check on Instagram. You are already verified. It’s about women learning who they are in God,” she said.

It’s important to note that Hawthorne continued to suffer from a mysterious illness for many years. She was in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices, without receiving a definitive diagnosis. It took a serious toll on her life, to the point where she couldn’t fulfill the requests of her salon clientele. Yet and still, there was still a blessing amid her illness.

“I had issues for 10 years and didn’t even know what it was until I moved back to Greensboro and I think that was a blessing within itself because God knew and he told me to come home. As soon as I went home, I got extremely sick. I needed to be home because if I had been in Charlotte, I would not have had any one to help me care for myself,” she said. “I needed to be at home with my mom who was helping me. She understood that God brought me back home for a reason even though at the time I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but I was trusting him.”

“It turned out to be my gallbladder, but it was affecting my whole body. It would take me down for 2-4 weeks at a time. Imagine having no income and being so sick you can’t get up. But it’s important to remember, even when things look bad in the natural, there’s always a blessing though God.”

As much as she struggled, she was able to resurrect her salon – Hawthorne Hair Studio. Not only did she rebuild her clientele, she realized it was another part of her ministry. God strategically sent clients that needed spiritual, emotional and mental restoration. She admits, it had nothing to do with her. It was all a GOoD GIRL thing.

“I’m really ready to retire from that,” she jokes. “But God hasn’t released me from it yet. For some reason this salon has been a place for people to get renewed and repaired. People come and they get what they need from God when they are here. If they need it, I pray with and for them. It goes down in here some days, but it’s part of my Ministry. I used to say I have a ministry behind the chair. I asked God to meet people here when I first opened the salon and that’s what he’s been doing.”

While Hawthorne is passionate about hair and is known for her precision cuts and styles, she’s looking to expand in a different way – one that she says doesn’t necessarily require her to stand on her feet behind the chair as much. She’s looking into her own hair product line, including everything from washing supplies to equipment.

“I already have my own hair oil, but I’m working on my own hair shampoo and other products and styling tools – blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons,” she said.

Just like GOoD GIRL empowers women, she plans to use her styling expertise to help others as well. “I’ve taught before and I want to continue, but not in a traditional setting with multiple students. I prefer individual classes so that I can give one-on-one attention.”

As Hawthorne expands her product line, she isn’t leaving GOoD GIRL behind. There’s much more to come and there are many more lives to impact. “GOoD GIRL is much more than a t-shirt. It might be how I got my foot in the door with some people, but it’s ministry. It’s more motivational speaking. It’s expanding on the books and series’ I’ve already written.” But most important, Hawthorne says it’s about lifting someone else up along the way.

By David Hendricks

Jerry Barbry

You can safely call Derrick Fullwood the Neighborhood Detailer and Pressure Washer.

The area of Raleigh, N.C. has been blessed with a man who is truly dedicated to his craft. This is a man who will do everything in his power to make sure that your vehicle looks brand new by the time that it leaves his presence. That man is Derrick Fullwood, the owner of Fullwood’s Mobile Detail and Pressure Washing.

While he spends a lot of time washing and detailing cars, Derrick still finds time to talk about many of the things that are important to him, such as his life, family, and serving others.

Derrick, who is also an ordained minister, is from the small town of Bolivia, which is in Brunswick County, N.C., and sits between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, right on the South Carolina border. “I’m a country boy at heart but I have managed to do quite well in a city setting,” he says.

Derrick grew up in a two-parent household. He was the third child out of four. His father has been a pastor since Derrick was four years old. “We would listen to secular music but when Daddy came around, we had to cut it off,” he said. Their household was close-knit and his father kept it all in order.

Derrick obtained his formal education at South Brunswick High School in Boiling Springs Lakes, N.C. Next, he enrolled at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh. His next step was to North Carolina Theological Seminary where he received his associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.

He has come a long way since the days of his childhood. Now, as owner of Fullwood’s Mobile Detail and Pressure Washing, he oversees his own in-house operations. His company offers services such as shampooing, bussing, light restoration, and paint restoration, just to name a few. Fullwood specializes in cleaning cars, trucks, buses, RVs, and more. Their services also include house pressure washing, and industrial size generators, those that are utilized in hospitals, malls, and many commercial facilities.

“I’m a country boy at heart but have managed to do quite well in a city setting.”

Photos by

Fullwood Mobile Detailing

While Derrick was at Saint Augustine’s University, he realized that he needed a job. Soon he began washing cars, something that he was fairly good at, mainly because he frequently washed his dad’s car as a kid. He eventually got a job detailing cars and used that opportunity as a stepping stone to owning his own detailing business.

Nearly fifteen years later, Derrick’s business is still prospering. He shares how he loves being an entrepreneur and the freedom it affords him. “I asked God to help me feed my family and do His work at the same time. I am able to do this with my ministry. Often while my staff and I are working, I will use that as an opportunity to pour into them and share how God has blessed me, and how He wants to bless them as well,” he says.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has affected many small businesses adversely, even causing many of them to shut their doors, Derrick says it made his business flourish even more. “This period has produced more business than ever before. It has been a blessing for me. Google has also been a big help due to all the great reviews I have received. Oftentimes, there is a two-week waiting list to get serviced. I am grateful for that.”

In response to the pandemic, Derrick came up with a brilliant idea to provide his clients with a 100% zero contact service. Customers would leave their keys in the car, and all payment forms are electronic, eliminating any in-person contact. This adjustment helped his business to remain in operation while still meeting the needs of his customers safely.

The future is even brighter for Fullwood’s Mobile Detailing. Derrick hopes to get away from the physical labor himself and start working from the office. He plans on finding workers that share similar characteristics as him. These include being responsible, honest, having integrity, and being a server of people. A bonus would be someone that has Christ in their life.

To learn more about Fullwood’s Mobile Detailing and Pressure Washing, please visit their website.

By Arielle Kilgore

Angela Chambers-Lee, also known as Dree, owns two successful businesses in Greenville and Mauldin, SC. The salon Touched by Dree and TLC and Bellas Academy of Cosmetology have molded talented tonsorial artists and helped others form their path. The school includes classes for becoming a Cosmetologist, Esthetician, and Nail Technician.

As a stylist, Angela specializes in cuts and color. To be enrolled in the program, the student must have a high school diploma, their driver’s license, and another form of identification for the school. Angela’s school allows young girls starting at the age of 16 to apply. Each program consists of its own cost with the Cosmetology school starting at $15,000. Her Nail Technician course starts at $4,000. Lastly, the Esthetician program starts at $5,500. Promotions are in effect from time to time to cater to her students for more affordable options. The tuition for each school covers the books and classes needed, and kits are available at an extra cost.

Her professional journey began in 1991. Since then, Angela has been a licensed cosmetologist for over 30 years. She has also taught other stylists and artists her craft for over 18 years. The gift to style African American women’s hair is a skill everyone needs to possess. Angela wants to train people like her to be the best at doing hair. She shares, “I want to be remembered for helping any and everybody to be a better version of themselves,” she says.

Though well seasoned, Angela began styling hair at the young age of 11. “It was the “Ah-Ha” that inspired me. I was encouraged by the before and after transformations of my clients, and their responses. I truly had the passion as a young girl. I have grown to realize that my passion is also a gift,” she says.

With the onset of Covid 19, Angela had her doubts about opening a new business during this tough time. Although the business was a self-made dream, she had her doubts. One of her students encouraged her to consider the opportunity. “She said, “What’s the thing that’s stopping you right now? I said well it’s a pandemic. So, of course, I’m not thinking

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“I want to be remembered for helping any and everybody to be a better version of themselves.”

Photos by B Smith Photography

about spending money right now,” Angela explained. But eventually, her insight changed and on February 22, 2021, she opened her business and became the first African American female in Greenville, S.C. to have their own cosmetology school.

“We’re making history right now,” she says with enthusiasm. Her business has been blessed in a pandemic, more than she could imagine. The joys of teaching other beauty professionals are endless. Her main motivation and dedication are to her students as they graduate and are guaranteed jobs straight out of her program. The goal for both her salon and cosmetology school is to produce eventual entrepreneurs. I want my students to have the confidence to open their own,” she says.

The school and its owner stand by this statement alone, “Don’t Be Ordinary! Dare To Be Original!” She says, “Nobody can be you better than you. You can only be yourself.”

In November of 2015, Chambers-Lee lost her main supporter -- her mom. Before she passed, she told her daughter that she will never be satisfied till she had something to call her own. “Those words have never rung more true. I turned the key to my own salon and it’s amazing to see things come full circle,” Angela said. The same doors that she, unfortunately, had to close were opened again in 2016. From then on, her salon was named after her mother in remembrance, Annie Bell Graham.

As a history maker and rule-breaker, Angela knows that there is a calling on her life. It is paramount that she shows other people and her daughters and son that you can be successful in whatever you do as long as you put forth the effort and the time. “There are many nights I stayed up, and I didn’t even go to sleep. But that’s how much time I put into building my business,” she says.

Angela is leading by example, and showing her students and colleagues that what God gives you, He expects for you to share with others. “Teaching someone my craft is not enough. My true legacy will be how I helped them to become better than me,” she shares.

Semaje

Love For God, Love For Music

By Dillan Teabout Photos by Semaje

Semaje is a phenomenal gospel singer who was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. It all began with love for him. With the love that he was provided by his family as a young child, he shares that he has always been encouraged to push for his dreams.

Raised in a detached home, Semaje spent Monday through Friday with his mother. He would then go to his father’s house Friday through Sunday. His father kept him in church every Sunday, faithfully. That experience is what shaped his spiritual foundation as Semaje loved the sound of church music and picked it up early and began playing drums and eventually singing.

“I knew that it’s something about the soul and message in the gospel that uplifts people and brings them to a different space,” Semaje said. “That is why I started to love it.”

Semaje was a crafty child and turned every theme song from shows like “The Parkers,” “Martin,” and even “Power Rangers” into a gospel remix. Once he noticed how his peers were constantly entertained by the things he did, Semaje knew he could make this into something extraordinary.

Why did Semaje choose music to follow, it all makes sense to him. “I developed a love of music because it speaks to many different emotions. Music embraces a feeling or takes the feeling out of the listener. I believe gospel music is the best because of the type of power it has over people,” he shares. He compared gospel to people like gas to a car and how gospel pushes him for more in his life.

“Gospel music makes you feel like you can conquer the world. It’s saving music and healing music. No matter how you’re feeling,” Semaje said. “Gospel music can take you out of that mood. It’s the best genre ever because it puts you in a place like no other.”

Semaje, at the age of 18, went to Philadelphia by himself to audition for “Sunday Best” in pursuit of his dream. However, with the opportunity came disappointment.

“I had people very close to me like family. I didn’t feel the support at all, and I felt discouraged,” Semaje said. “However, my grandmother on my mom’s side encouraged me to go after whatever God placed in my heart.”

That reassurance Semaje got from his grandmother helped him conquer the lack of support. He gives her enormous credit for lifting him up. Now, when he looks back, he knows it was a part of God’s plan. Recently, a song with Fred Jerkins and Semaje hit #4 on the Billboard called “Reason to Praise.” Semaje is doing everything possible to leave his mark in the industry. Talking about his Billboard appearance is still crazy to him. He expressed that seeing his name on the charts with artists he listened to as a child is surreal.

Currently, Semaje has his first EP coming out soon and he remains extremely excited to get his work out to the world. He shares his music is for everybody, and it will save, deliver, inspire, and motivate listeners. Semaje’s plans for the future are big. In addition to honing his craft, he is looking to acquire experience in acting, radio, podcast, and even start a clothing line.