Huami Magazine Triad January/February 2020 by Terry Watson

Jan./Feb. 2020 Vol. 6 Issue 5

WEDNESDAYS 12PM-BIBLE

WEDNESDAYS

SUNDAY 7:30AM - SUNDAY

SUNDAY 9:30AM - SUNDAY

WEDNESDAYS

Don’t Just Talk About It, Be About It

There Are

No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter From The Editor

A Letter from the Editor

If we never allow ourselves to experience the things that we imagine, we are not really living our lives according to what God purposed us for. To achieve the impossible requires fortitude and determination. You must also be willing to let go of somethings that you previously thought was a part of you. Letting go also means that we are growing in the direction that our destiny is pointed.

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?

A dream is just a dream until action is applied. That is the moment of which a dream grows its wings and takes flight. I might say that I would like to lose 40 pounds of body weight this year, but if I never do anything that relates to getting me to that goal, then all I am doing is talking to myself. To lose 40 pounds of body weight would require for me to change the way I eat, I would have to exercise, and develop an attitude of someone who wants to be 40 pounds lighter. It would require for me to apply action to my goal or dream.

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.

In 2020, I have decided not to make a lot of resolutions. To be honest many of the ones that I set last year, I didn’t reach. Instead, I believe that if I attempt to live a more positive lifestyle, there will be little or no room for negativity. In terms of being positive, the things that seem impossible I am going to approach with a possible mindset. Doors that may look closed, I am going to knock on them anyway with expectation. They have to open.

The most important action that we can make this year requires no action at all. To get to where we are dreaming to go, we must allow God to lead us. Life has proven that the navigational system created by man is full of flaws and will all too often lead us to a dead end. If we just sit still and be patient, and trust God to work for us, every dream that we ever had will become a reality.

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.

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.

All that matters is what God has planned for our lives. If we dream it and give it back to God, we are then living a truly a purposed life.

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

Terry L. Watson

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

Photographers

Layout

Mykel Media Company

Linda Bennett

mykelmedia@yahoo.com (336) 340-7844

Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written

The Cover

Tanika Dean & Co.

Tanika Dean

Richmond (RVA)

Apple For The Day

Marquita Brown

Mothers & Daughters Enterprises

Autumn Prather

This Black Man Can

Brandon Frame

Jonnika Nickolh Collection

Jonnika Wilson

BPolished Beauty Supply

Frankesha Watkins

Jonnika Wilson

Meet the founder of A Few Wood Men. Her watches are both inspiring and appealing.

Stephanie Williams

The legacy of her mother is continued with Thandies Catering of Richmond, Va.

Cutest Baby Photo

She is real beauty.

Introducing the Aubrie Tate.

Sasha A. Ridley Entreprises

Sasha A. Ridley

Wrights Care Services Reketta Wright

Da Reggea Cafe John & Antonate Horn

Best Smile Dental

Dr. Anbec DeShield-Mayes

KinderMission Foundation Betst Rodriguez

Wrights Care Services, LLC

Opens Second Location in Greensboro

204 Muir’s Chapel Rd Ste 305 Greensboro NC 27410 336-542-2884

523 Simpson Street Greensboro NC 27401 335-691-2450

Raketta Wright, Founder

Wrights Care Services, located at 523 Simpson Street in downtown Greensboro, celebrated its ten year anniversary and expansion to a second location with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on December 6, 2019.

Wrights Care Services is a full service, private group counseling practice that offers individual therapy to children, adults, and families. Individuals can also receive psychiatric medication management services led by our board certified psychiatrist and nurse practitioner. The practice is fully staffed with a competent and caring team of medical, clinical, and administrative staff to include psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists, and office support professionals.

Wrights Care Services was established in 2009 by Reketta Wright, a Licensed Professional Counselor, who states, “Our goal is to provide a safe and private atmosphere for emotional healing and transformation to occur. I feel that distress is all around us and having someone to share your most intimate feelings and concerns with face to face is crucial to one’s emotional well being. Our counseling values are driven by our care for people, ethics, and competency. With these core ingredients healing can occur.”

The expansion of Wrights Care Services occurred due to increasing clientele in the area. The practice serves children, adults, and geriatric populations. With the new location, individuals can have access to additional services. Wrights Care Services offers a variety of professional counseling services to include face to face and online, groups, and workshops to individuals and organizations needing support. The practice accepts most commercial insurances including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Medcost, Magellan, United Healthcare, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, and self pay. Office hours are from 8am-5pm with evening and weekend appointments available.

Informatoin Provided By Wrights Care Services

Photo by Still Shots Photography

Stephanie Williams

Eyebrow expert/serial entrepreneur, and founder, Stephanie Williams, created BrowZnAround Eyebrow Studio + Spa to be a different kind of esthetics experience. It was her dream to create the luxury atmosphere of a spa while keeping her services affordable and accessible. BrowZnAround is changing the game for brow sculpting and permanent cosmetics in the Triangle.

With more than 16 years of experience in the industry, Stephanie is a licensed esthetician by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Arts, and is also a Board Certified Esthetician in Bloodborne Pathogens (OSHA) and Micropigmentation. She has trained extensively in advanced permanent makeup techniques with internationally renowned instructor, Terry Lively, at the Esthetics Academy of South Texas, along with having worked in the salon of Hollywood brows guru, Anastasia Soare, founder of the popular makeup brand Anastasia Beverly Hills.

BrowZnAround offers a comprehensive menu of services with care and expertise provided by licensed estheticians with specialized training in shaping beautiful, natural eyebrows. With over 10 years of proven success, BrowZnAround has gained brand recognition among a clientele of diverse women and men who are looking for luxury, affordable beauty services.

With over thirteen years of industry experience, Stephanie has built her reputation as a skilled, detailed professional that exceeds expectations and creates a memorable service experience for her guests. Permanent makeup is a highly specialized practice requiring an astute eye for color, dexterity, and mastery of the art. Stephanie has performed well over 1,000 procedures making her an extremely skilled expert in her craft. Her work has been featured on the television show, My Carolina Today, ABC 11, Sheen Magazine and various publications, and at several events.

Beyond the studio, Stephanie is frequently involved in community organizations that nurture the creativity of other young professionals, along with organizations that support causes that are near and dear to her such as breast cancer awareness, alopecia, and epilepsy. Epilepsy is especially close to her heart as her oldest son lives with epilepsy. Stephanie is also the founder of her own non-profit organization, BrowZn Around 4 A Cure. This organization sponsors a yearly Pink Ribbon Fundraiser to raise funds to support a local organization that fights breast cancer and raises awareness.

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton

by Katrina Wize Artrophogy

Tanika Dean is as humble as they come and her ultimate goal is to help others as often as she can. She is a visionary who understands the everyday struggles of juggling multiple responsibilities. For years she has managed to operate two child care facilities, serve as co-auxiliary instructor of Golden Delight for NC A&T marching band, serve her local community in various ways, mentor emerging entrepreneurs, and pose a role model for young girls learning dance through her performing arts studio, Twirling Divas.

Twirling Divas allows its students to take a variety of movement classes, including tumbling, liturgical dance, hip hop, flag/ ribbon/baton twirling and a host of other skills and activities for one price. Over the years, her dance company has accumulated an enormous number of items left over from the countless shows she has produced since her studio doors opened almost a decade ago. Soon, they’ll be utilized in wonderful ways.

Dean has lived a life of giving; finding it more rewarding to give than to receive. She has worked to help many individuals overcome struggles in a quest to reach their full potential. She believes that meeting a need is more than just giving or doing; it’s about serving others with compassion, dignity, and doing so with reasonable rates so that the majority can participate. These principles are the basis for which each organization Dean owns operates. Affordable, high quality services with compassion at every level. This year, Trendy Dancewear, a new business venture of Dean’s will carry out her business philosophy.

“I make a lot of the students’ costumes and I purchase extra material, extra shoes, tights, leotards, and everything they need. So, I have a whole stockroom full of items,” Dean explains. In years past, she would either donate the items to another studio or sell them at an extremely low price so that parents weren’t forced to spend so much out of pocket.

With the abundance of items and her innovative mind, it makes perfect sense to put them all to good use. Beginning in January, Dean will open the doors to her motion-wear boutique, Trendy Dancewear, serving those who participate in dance, cheer, and gymnastics and would like to purchase costumes at a lower cost. She will also offer studios the opportunity to order brand new costumes, leotards, tights, dance shoes, and hair accessories at wholesale, with little mark-up, a much different practice than many other retail stores. Sometimes the cost of these items alone have left students unable to participate. Dean doesn’t want that to be the issues for any students in the performing arts.

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Photos

In the past, Dean has assisted parents when they want to trade costumes with each other since they tend to get minimal use out of them. Now, Trendy Dancewear will host an official ‘Swap Meet’ where parents can trade items of different sizes and styles for what they currently need.

“It’s about giving back and helping the community,” says Dean. “My goal isn’t to make a huge profit off of this. And what money I do make will be invested right back into the students,” she says.

As a parent, herself, she knows how important it is to find quality and affordable goods and services. Her daughter, a third-year college student majoring in history and political science and minoring in leadership, grew up in the dance studio, and her son, who started at the Educational Playtime Too Inc. as in infant, is so familiar with it that he can operate it just about as smoothly as his mother can. Don’t be surprised if you find him taking orders when the store opens or sorting merchandise when it’s delivered.

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Trendy Dancewear will also offer onsite custom printing and design and custom embroidery services. Because Dean is such an advocate of entrepreneurship and a mentor to so many, this is another path she’s helping pave for a business owner to offer their clients a service that can be difficult to find. These two services will not only be offered to her customers but will be available to anyone who needs it. YOUnique Designs and Deans Custom Apparel will be available within Trendy Dancewear also.

To prepare for her grand opening, Dean and her team have been feverishly reconstructing the workroom and designing the boutique from floor to ceiling. She has proudly obtained all necessary licensing and is putting the finishing touches on her website and social media site for online ordering.

Her parents have volunteered to run the store during its Saturday-only hours. When asked about her passion for helping others find their happy, the former dancer doesn’t hesitate in explaining who her main influences were.

“As a kid, there was a man who resided on the eastside of Greensboro named Mr. Bright. He ran a program called AYD where he offered dance, step team, baton twirling, dirt bike racing, and all types of things. It kept the kids together and out of trouble. And then my passion for children, I learned over the years, came from my great-grandmother who had an in-home daycare on Benbow Road. She used to keep the children of professors who worked at A&T.” So, Dean has impressively filled the shoes of those who unknowingly mentored her through the years and continues to blaze a trail that others can follow.

The pages would be endless if this story mentioned all that Tanika Dean does for her friends, family, and even strangers who are referred to her. From the weddings to the baby showers that she lends her time, resources, and talent to, God notices. And when you’re blessed by the most high, you take pride in quietly blessing others.

Dr. Anbec

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton

At some point, most children are posed with the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And most children change their minds weekly, sometimes daily. Dr. Anbec DeShield-Mayes knew she wanted to be in the healthcare field, but she wasn’t sure which specialty she wanted to pursue.

She loves children, so during college at UNC-Chapel Hill, she heavily leaned towards pediatrics, until she was introduced to dentistry through an allied health field course. That same year she shadowed an Oral Surgeon faculty member and when she returned to Greensboro, she also shadowed another dentist who specializes in pediatric dentistry. To her surprise, she loved it!

“It melded healthcare with working with children and also art, which is another love of mine. I got everything all in one,” says Dr. DeShield-Mayes.

In 2005 she graduated from Chapel Hill with degrees in Chemistry and African Studies. In the fall of that same year, she began dental school at Chapel Hill and graduated from the school of dentistry in 2009 with a doctorate of dental surgery. Upon graduation from dental school, she worked under a mentor in Greensboro with plans to take over the practice after his retirement. She also commuted to a second practice on the weekends in Southern Pines and Troy, NC. As her one year anniversary neared at the Greensboro practice, the owner decided he wasn’t ready to retire. That meant the new dentist had some decisions to make.

She thought long and hard about her next move and believed that Southern Pines was where she needed to be. In 2010, she bought a house and relocated. FirstHealth Dental Care Centers, a non-profit practice that provides dental care to underserved children, was her home for the next seven years. “I planned to live there for awhile and even obtained my master’s degree in public administration from UNC-Pembroke, in hopes of one day helping with management of the program, but then plans changed,” she explained.

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“I planned to live there for awhile and even obtained my master’s degree in public administration from UNC-Pembroke, in hopes of one day helping with management of the program, but then plans changed.”

Photos by Still Shots Photography

Dr. DeShield-Mayes couldn’t abandon her desire to be an entrepreneur. She wanted her own practice. But she didn’t want to just serve children, she wanted to treat the entire family. “I remember in dental school I provided an older patient with dentures. On the day of his post-op visit he dressed up, got his hair cut. He even shaved his beard because he wanted people to see his teeth.” At that moment, she knew this is why this profession chose her. She remembers it as one of her best days.

The remembrance of this feeling caused the Greensboro natives wheels to start turning. She was ready to put her plans in motion and open her own practice. She understood it would be difficult, considering she was working full time at FirstHealth, but was determined to accomplish this goal.

On a drive home to Greensboro one weekend, DeShield-Mayes happened to pass by a new-construction building. Her first thought was, ‘This is a perfect location for a dental practice.’ She mentioned her idea to a classmate and the classmate referred her to a consultant who could assist her with the project. As the months passed, DeShieldMayes decreased her workload in Southern Pines and increased them in Greensboro. In September, 2015, she opened Best Smile Dental with office hours only on Friday and Saturday. For the next year, she gradually added days to the schedule until the practice was open five days a week. Even when she was faced with a health crisis in 2016, her colleagues rallied around and worked in her practice while she recovered.

“This is how God works. I had classmates that helped me and worked in my place. Dr. Scott Vines, who has a practice in Reidsville, would come on his days off and work. They all filled in for me so my practice didn’t have to close,” DeShield-Mayes explains. Opening her practice and keeping it afloat was a mountain she learned to climb. After all, there are no other dentists in her family to ask for advice. She is a first generation American and the first entrepreneur.

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Pictured with Dr. Anbec DeShield-Mayes is her husband, Kendrick.

The dedicated dentist was born and raised in NC, but her roots run deep in Liberia, West Africa, as both parents were forced to flee the country after the 1980 coup. Her father was a former professor at N.C. A&T before his passing in 1997 and her mother is a retired elementary school teacher. Both clearly valued education and passed that ideal on to their daughter. Prior to earning her master’s degree, she visited Liberia on a missions trip in 2010, with a group that taught medical assisting students how to extract simple teeth. On the cusp of the Ebola outbreak of 2014, she returned with her mother and distributed personal hygiene products to patients in the local hospitals.

“In the countries I’ve visited, people have walked miles and miles to receive the services that we offer. It’s not just the cosmetics of it, but your teeth can tell you a lot about your overall health. “Educating people makes you feel like you are actually being of service to them, long after they leave your office.”

Now DeShield-Mayes, the newly elected NC Dental Society 3rd District President, is a newlywed that is still growing her business with the support and creativity of her husband, Kendrick Mayes, who acts as her Marketing and Community Engagement Director. Her unwavering staff also help make long days in the office more bearable.

In January, Dr. DeShield-Mayes will embark on a new venture by offering her patients FirstFit, a technique that provides veneers and bridges in half the time. In March she will participate in a free dental clinic, in conjunction with NC Dental Society Foundation MOM (Missions of Mercy) organization, at High Point First Baptist Church, for adults in need of cleanings, extractions, fillings, and other procedures. Visit https://www.ncdental.org/for-the-public/ ncdsf-mom for more information.

Serving her community is what Dr. Anbec DeShield-Mayes does best. She regularly volunteers her time, resources, and expertise so that others can live a healthier, more purposeful life. And she takes pride knowing that she has made a difference, no matter the size.

Marquita Brown Apple For The Day

By Terry L. Watson

Marquita Brown is a native of Petersburg, VA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies and is also a Licensed Practical Nurse. She is also an entrepreneur, mentor, philanthropist and community advocate who believes in social justice.

She also believes in equality in healthcare and educating African Americans about their health and informing them about the importance of making healthy decisions. “It has always been embedded in my DNA to empower those whose voices are not heard. The voice that is least heard are black and brown people. I hope to change this phenomenon,” she says.

Marquita is also the owner of Apple for The Day, a health education and health consultation business. It is focused on the health of all but mostly concentrated on African American health. The point of receiving these services is to make sure people have a basic knowledge on their condition.

The name came about from the phrase “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. Marquita shares that she wanted to give knowledge on health and instead of having someone retrieve an apple a day, she wanted to give them an apple for the day. “When it is time to go to a healthcare provider, people can hold an informed conversation with their caregiver. Hopefully, people will think more critically about their health and their care and collaborate with their healthcare provider and receive better results because of it,” she says.

She shares that God gave her this vision. “Unbeknownst to myself, I began my business as a child. I started out wanting to be a physician. I worked diligently from that time to attain this goal. As a teenager I began as a hospital volunteer formerly known as a Candy Striper.

From there, I began volunteering at my pediatrician’s office and could see how the front office worked and the doctor allowed me to come in the room with him while he examined patients from time to time. In high school I was a part of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). I also took my first Black History course there. After graduating high school, I majored in Biology and concentrated in Pre-Medicine and was offered the chance to intern in a private practice. That experience changed my life,” she says.

Photos by Marquita Brown

She would become even more eager and interested in helping others. “There were so many African American patients who had surgery because the doctor said they needed it but did not understand why the procedure was necessary. I knew this because of their facial expressions. I started going into the room after the doctor finished speaking and asked if the patient understood what was being said. The patient replied ‘yes’ repeatedly but when I asked them to explain it to me, they could not. After seeing this for about the third time, my view on healthcare changed drastically” she says.

Soon she would obtain an Associates in Science and went on to another tract, nursing. Simultaneously, she had switched her major to African American Studies, minored in psychology, and concentrated in African American Health. Marquita says she knew African Americans were being neglected in the healthcare system and did not know why. She also knew African Americans did not trust the healthcare system.

During her last semester in college, she volunteered for a public health organization and participated in an internship educating African Americans in the community about their health. Once she graduated, she was able to work for that public health organization and realized this is what she wanted to do with her life.

The grant had ended in that position and she was no longer in that line of work. “I had to work in clinics/doctors’ offices where people were treated like numbers instead of people. Yet, again, I noticed where African Americans were not receiving the proper education they needed and deserved,” she says. She tried looking for positions in the non-profit sector and they were not available. So, in January of 2019, she stepped out on faith and created Apple for the Day.

Marquita has a genuine love for the African American community. She is aware of the need to bring about a change to a group of people without a voice. “I will be fully satisfied with my business once African Americans are on par and/or surpass the majority in this country in all areas of health,” she says. “As a society it would be substantial if we could remove social constructs such as racism, discrimination, low paying jobs, jobs without health benefits, lack of transportation, and food deserts. These social barriers affect health on levels that most people are not even aware of.”

She is also inspired by her parents. “My mother had no idea how much she was feeding my quest for knowledge. She groomed me for the healthcare field as a child. My father was a businessman. I watched him run a business and he gave me vision of not only being an African American businessman in the early 90s, but also a successful businessman. He also helped me while I was brainstorming for Apple for the Day. He was confident in my ability,” she shares.

Marquita is also on a mission to eradicate racism from the healthcare practice. “Without racism, health disparities would not exist. African Americans receive the least amount of healthcare and tend to only go to the hospital or doctor when it effects their work. By that time, it may already be too late. Even if African Americans do not wait until the last minute to receive care, the best care is not always given while being seen in a medical office or hospital; regardless of income or education status,” she says.

To learn more about what Marquita Brown and Apple for The Day is doing, please visit their website or contact her directly.

Frankesha Watkins

By Terry L. Watson

by Frankesha Watkins

Frankesha Watkins of Dallas, TX is a woman of God. She is also a go-getter and life learner who has chosen a career as an entrepreneur. In so many words, she describes herself as a black woman who is trying to serve in an industry that is not dominated by African Americans, the haircare industry.

Frankesha is also a corporate professional with a background in human resources. After taking a leap of faith, she decided to open her very own business. BPolished Beauty Supply Store is in the heart of Arlington, TX. “Our mission is to provide an array of hair care and beauty items, expertise in healthy hair care, and professionalism to each and every customer ensuring a pleasurable, and paramount beauty experience,” she says.

This wasn’t Frankesha’s first attempt at entrepreneurship. The name of her first company Polished Careers helped people with resumes, job offers and salary negotiations. That same approach was carried over to BPolished Beauty Supply. “People come to the beauty supply store to be polished. Whatever the occasion, interview, date, or whatever the case,” she says. “I apply the same level of attention to them as I did with Polished Careers.”

BPolished opened its doors to the Dallas/Fort Worth community on January 17, 2019. offers a variety of beauty care products. “We pride ourselves in carrying a lot of niche and black owned haircare brands. We also have Crotched Hair, Braids, Wigs, Bundles. We carry a lot of the items that most beauty supply stores have, and many items they may not have,” she shares.

It makes a lot of sense for Frankesha to own a beauty supply store. “I always had a love of hair care, specifically black hair care, and even had an idea to open a beauty supply store but never pursued it. I actually thought that I would have my own brand of hair care products. I started researching and participated in a few seminars before opening my store,” she says.

What makes BPolished standout amongst their competitors is their commitment to addressing their client’s needs. “We are very big on providing good customer service and providing solutions to our customers. If a customer has an issue with dry hair, we are going to help you with that. If a customer has an issue with growth, we will offer advice and recommend products that will address that,” she says.

Some of the challenges that Frankesha faces are the fact there are not many Black owned beauty supply stores. Another one is pricing. Because she doesn’t typically purchase her products in bulk, that usually impacts our prices. A lot of their clients are usually searching for a specific brand, and BPolished works hard to have them available.

She inspired by being a black owned beauty supply store. Many of her clients often share how they are encouraged by seeing an African American owned beauty supply store. She is inspired by those who continue to support her business. “My family and friends, other businesses, and even some individuals have helped me along my journey. I couldn’t have made it here without their support,” she says.

Frankesha says her journey has been good. “Everything has happened the way it was supposed to. We are steadily growing and adding inventory. We are trying to be the one stop shop for beauty supplies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I encourage others who may be on a similar journey to not give up. You have to continue to make the plan and work the plan until you reach your end goal,” she says.

Photos

Brandon M. Frame #theblackmancan

By Crystal Kelly

Morehouse College graduate, Brandon M. Frame, is a man that is motivated by M.K. Asante’s quote, “Once you make an observation you have an obligation.”

While attending Morehouse College Frame observed that there was a need for mentorship for young boys of color attending middle school. He created a youth males mentorship group called Voice. He led this group and fostered the educational growth of young boys of color while attending college. This group met once a week and focused on fostering and building positive self-identity of young men boys of color.

When asked why he chose Morehouse, he simply replied, “I wanted to attend a college that is designed to created Black male leaders.”

Almost as if written destiny, Brandon’s life has always been on a path to be a leader and trailblazer for boys and men of color. Born and raised in Hartford, CT and the eldest to his five siblings you might say that Brandon has a natural tendency to care and look out for others. After graduating Morehouse College, he began teaching and coaching at a private school in MA. There he became a mentor to his students. Frame realized that he had an impact on the younger generation and became a male figure that young men looked up to.

Growing up most of his life without his father, he had to learn certain things about becoming a man on his own. One thing he learned was how common it is for other young men of color to be without their fathers. Brandon wanted to create a place for young men of color to express themselves and be able to see positive images of other males of color.

Often the media will paint only one kind of image for men of color and more times than not, that image has a negative tone to it. In 2010, Brandon created a blog called #theblackmancan to congratulate, educate, and inspire young boys and men of color. The blog set up a platform for boys and men of color to express themselves and share positive life stories. Using social media as a place for these young boys and men of color to have a voice and show the world positive images, this blog experienced tremendous growth over the next few years. He also used Instagram to post positive pictures of Black men getting married, smiling, playing with their children, and more.

In 2013 Brandon decided to take this movement to the next level and wrote a guided journal entitled, Define Yourself: Redefine the World. The journal was used as a tool in his educational institute. He combined personal stories of the stories on the blog, positive images shown online via social media platforms of men of color, and education to continue to spread the message that #theblackmancan.

Since its inception, Brandon began to be recognized and awarded for his movement. Some of the notable awards include, Boston Globe magazine cover, Jet magazine’s Men of Honor, BET Honors: Next in Class Awards, and the MLK award from Morehouse College. Throughout the decade he launched his own YouTube tv series “Building Minds Forever”

which lasted for two years and hosted over 150 guests. He created 1000 T.I.E.S (Transforming Identities 2 Empower Society), the Blackmancan Institute which is now called ‘Building a Better Brother’ Summit. Over 7,000 young men have attended since its inception in 2013 and is headed to the Bahamas in 2020 for its first international summit.

He is the Creative Visionary for several innovative events and platforms which include, #FallingBlackinLove Power Couple Brunch, #BlackManWinningWednesdays featuring young boys of color recognizing successful men of color, and #BlackMenMondays. These hashtag shows can be found on YouTube. In 2019, He co-authored his first children’s book entitled, My First Tie. This young man has a God given path to lead and pave the way for other boys and men of color to succeed and be seen as the kings they are made to be.

Brandon is definitely a man that lives to fulfill his obligation to provide a positive platform for boys and men of color. He is a young Black Man that most certainly can!

Photos by Brandon Frame

Purchase With a Purpose

By Terry L. Watson

The KinderMission Foundation, which is led by Betsy Rodriguez has set its sights on enhancing the quality of lives of others in within its community. Of the various projects, KinderMission Foundation expects its newest addition, PropertyMission, to be in full swing by 2020 and is seeking Participants and Supporters. The motto for the program is “Purchase with a Purpose”. Its goal is to allow each person who is involved to play a role in giving back to KinderMission Foundation.

The mission statement for KinderMission Foundation is to foster a safe and empowering environment for children and their families to excel through quality childcare.

Programs offered by the Foundation are the Bridging the Gap Scholarship, a scholarship program that provides child care scholarships for families that cannot afford the full price of childcare. In order to receive the scholarship, parents agree to go through The MoneyMission Program and learn how to manage finances to eventually outgrow the program.

The MoneyMission Program provides financial literacy classes to families and teachers and the mission is to break the strongholds of poverty and the benefit dependent mentality. The financial literacy classes will equip families and teachers with resources on how to budget, maintain and or repair credit through a credit repair service that is offered, and how to achieve the goal of homeownership, and most importantly how to sustain once they reach their goals and not become dependent on the social services benefit system. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare them for the PropertyMission Program.

The PropertyMission is a program that is will assist families find a property that will provide stability and wealth for the families. It is also a fundraising mechanism because 30% of the commission will be donated to The Bridging the Gap Scholarship Program.

Photos by Still Shots Photography

Betsy says her goal is to bring awareness to the PropertyMission Program. “The program will be the main fundraising component for the KinderMission Foundation. “My goal is to reach out to the Real Estate Community and have agents nationwide partner with me to raise funds by donating 30% of commissions to the KinderMission Foundation. KinderMission Foundation will be working with families and refer them to the agents. The buyers are “Purchasing with a Purpose”, and that is to give back to Early Childhood Education through the KinderMission Foundation,” she shared.

BETSY

Under the KinderMission Foundation, Betsy hopes to provide affordable housing opportunities to others, and also help families build generational wealth. She also hopes to provide them with financial literacy, which will assist them with making better financial decisions. Additionally, she has partnered with Realty One Group Results- Real Estate Firm.

According to Betsy, this is how she envisioned the PropertyMission program to work. Once an applicant is determined, they will be paired with a partnering realtor who will then assist them with selecting and purchasing their property. KinderMission Foundation is seeking realtors to partner with who will be listed as one of their preferred realtors and are open to the idea of providing a 30% commission back to KinderMission Foundation from the sale of the home.

With a soon approaching launch date of January 2020, some work has already began. Betsy has started working with families and assisting them with building their credit so they will qualify for a home loan. She is equipping these same individuals with financial planning skills and teaching them how to sustain their home after purchase.

“To qualify for the Property Mission program it is not income based.” she says. “We are seeking working families who are currently renting and interested in purchasing a home, but need a little help getting there.”

Da Reggae Cafe

By Terry L. Watson

John and Antonate Horn are partners in life, business and more. As they soon will celebrate 13 years of marriage, the couple has also built Da Reggae Cafe into one of the Triad’s best food and dining experiences. They became business partners in 2009, and both bring something different to the table. John is the chef and has his own kind of flavor, while Antonate is firm and sturdy, and helps to ensure that business happens as usual, every day.

Antonate and John met in Jamaica. John shares that when he first laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one for him. Antonate is a natural businesswoman. She has a background in hair styling and cosmetology. Together they share a blended family, all with love as the center.

It was nearly 13 years ago when John Horn decided to share his idea of authentic and delicious Jamaican food with the Triad. In 1996, the Jamaican native was a resident of a small town in Pennsylvania when he came up with the idea, along with a friend, to open a restaurant. It was called “Best of Times”. The town was small and business was pretty slow, and as a result the business didn’t last too long. However, the experience taught the savvy businessman a few lessons; one being having a good location to open a restaurant.

It wasn’t too long after that when John decided to make the trek to North Carolina. He had a family member who had ties to the area and when the opportunity came for him to visit, he did. “I was taken back a little of how friendly the people were here,” John says after his first visit. He came back a second time and the result were the same.

The idea to move from Pennsylvania was weighing on John and he contemplated on moving to several areas, including Texas and Florida. He decided to settle somewhere in the middle and North Carolina was the answer. In 2005, he became a resident of the city of High Point.

Opening and owning a successful restaurant didn’t happen by mistake. John was purposed for this.

John comes from a large family in Portland Jamaica. Raised by a single mother, he has 11 siblings, seven boys and five girls. Most of his siblings are a lot older than John, with him being the second to the youngest. “My mom was a smart woman. She was the farmer, carpenter, and businesswoman. She could do everything. This is how she managed to take care of us,” he says. “She was a Christian woman and was very dedicated to everything she did.” His mother was very instrumental in his life and is the source of where he got many of his disciplines from.

Like many other residents of Portland, John and his family were poor. He shares that he was forced to learn how to fend for himself. “Unemployment was very high. I often asked myself what was I going to do? I am poor,” he says. Inspite of the obstacles he faced, John perserved.

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Photos by JLG Photogaphy

John says that as a child, he was taught various chores such as washing his own clothes, cleaning, and cooking. “There weren’t a lot of restaurants in my city and so if you wanted to eat, you got to cook,” John says. While most other kids would be playing or doing other kid stuff, John and his friends would be cooking. “We would cook by the riverside and in the bushes. We cook our own food that we brought from the market. We set up the stones and would light the wood, and put the pots on, and make our dumplings and rice, and curry chicken. We would race to the water, and take a swim before we ate. It was fun,” he says in his rich and genuine Jamaican accent.

While living in Jamaica, John would attend a resort school, Runaway Bay HEART Academy (Human Employment And Resort Training). There he received his formal culinary training, including everything that has to deal with food and beverages. “We were taught to study the behaviors of tourist who came to Jamaica. I had to be up on the current affairs of any tourist. I realized that when you talk to somebody and you immerse yourself and have knowledge of where they are from, you have a whole different feeling. If I meet someone from China, I go back and research something about China so that I can talk to him,” he says.

“We would cook by the riverside and in the bushes. We cook our own food that we brought from the market. We set up the stones and would light the wood, and put the pots on, and make our dumplings and rice, and curry chicken. We would race to the water, and take a swim before we ate. It was fun!”

The young John Horn was often recognized for being articulate. His first passion was to be a lawyer, mainly due to the encouragement of his friends. While in school he would defend some of his friends and argue on their behalf with the principal. “I would often get them off,” he says. He would even develop an interest in the Jamaican judicial system.

“Every Wednesday, you know where you could find me, on the courthouse window listening to all the cases. The courthouse has long windows and I would stand there and listen,” he says. He would eventually get involved in politics. At the age of 17 he was nominated to serve the Assistant Secretary for his small community political affiliation.

Continued on page 34

John’s move to North Carolina would change his life in a lot of ways. When he arrived in the Tarheel state, opening a restaurant was not in John’s immediate plans. He initially attempted to land a job through a staffing agency, but it didn’t go so well. “They assumed that because I was Jamaican I was not a United States citizen. However I was a citizen. This ordeal made me so mad that I decided to open my own restaurant, and Da Reggae Cafe was born,” he says.

Initially the plan was to open an upscale restaurant, however due to the previous location, he was unable to and decided to sell street food. As a result of the success of their business, in 2018 John and Antonate were able to purchase a building, which now houses their new location on West Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro. Da Reggae Cafe currently employees ten full-time employees.

All the recipes of Da Reggae Cafe have been created by John. He says the most popular dishes are Jerk Chicken and Ox Tails, however the entire menu is quite tasty and delicious. On any given day the restaurant is patronized by customers, both new and existing ones.

John shares that his mother taught him that one important characteristic is gratitude. He also shares that he is very happy with how his life has played out. “God has given me everything that I have asked for and dreamed of. Every prayer that I ask for, God gives it to me. I wouldn’t change anything about my life because my life has been good to me,” he says.

Today, John says that getting older is something that he thinks more about. With aging, he is also planning for his future and the future of Da Reggae Cafe. He hopes to bring in live bands to play. He believes this will help to make the customers experience more of what Jamaica is like. “My plan is to take Da Reggae Cafe brand to other areas, including Charlotte and more.”

In the future, John hopes to live his life in such a way that it makes a make a difference in the lives of other men. “I believe we really need strong and focused men in today’s society. If I can help encourage men to do the things that God has asked them to do, I will. With all of the things that God has blessed me and my family with, I want to do my part and share the same love with others” he says.

Da Reggae Cafe

The Black Business Connector

By Terry L. Watson

Jervertus Burnett wanted to bring the summit back and make it better than ever.

Burnett is the founder of The Black Wealth Summit, which will take place in two locations this year. Last year, more than 150 people came to the inaugural event, held in Spartansburg, S.C. In 2020, there will be two summits, the first from March 13-15 at Greenforest Baptist Church in Atlanta and the second at Spartansburg Community College April 3-4.

Burnett, who graduated from Savannah State, works as a financial advisor by day, but also helps others at night which birthed the concept of the Black Wealth Summit.

“During the day, I make sure I’m equipping clients with methods to move wealth efficiently and maintaining the integrity of their brand, elevating their profiles in the greater South Carolina committee,” Burnett said. “Off the clock, I want to make sure that people in the African-American and undeserved communities have some of those some resources.”

Burnett was raised in Norwood, G.A. and credited his upbringing for implementing his work ethic. “I was raised by a single mom with four kids and she only brought home about $600 a month,” Burnett said. “I was heavily acquainted with the word ‘no,’ so at a young age my brother and I started working — raking leaves, cutting grass, doing anything we can to help around the house.

“Every decision my older siblings did had my mom in mind. My brother had a basketball scholarship at Georgia Southern, but he left school and went to the military to send money home. My sister had a full scholarship to Clark Atlanta, but she worked full-time as well.” Growing up, Burnett said he wanted to get into the financial field. “I knew that money didn’t grow on trees, so I was inquisitive about it and wanted to learn everything I could,” Burnett said. “In the 10th grade, I was absolutely sure that was the field I wanted to go into — I didn’t know the different types of jobs, but I knew I wanted to be a part of one.”

Although Burnett learned plenty of lessons about money as a child and wanted to become a financial advisor, he didn’t set the best example starting out at Savannah State. “I messed up a lot of money,” Burnett said. “I was on a scholarship, but lost it due to horrible decisions. I bought a house and lost it, ran up credit cards, was homeless for a couple of weeks and my credit was messed up. It got to a point where my sister said ‘I’m concerned about you, but if you truly want my help you need to do something different.’ My Christmas gift from her my junior year of college was the ‘Crown Financial Ministries’ series and she told me I had to make better decisions with money if she was going to continue sending it to help me out.

“It was a combination of hitting rock bottom and having someone who cared about me get in my grill and tell me to do better. This is why I tell people they don’t have to be ashamed about where they are, but they have to be disciplined to get out of the situation.”

As Burnett cleaned up his act, he also shared information at his school.

“My sister and her husband used to teach financial literacy and I started sharing information to my peers,” Burnett said. “My roommates were the first ones who sat down and went through everything with me. During my senior year, I spent my Christmas holiday and Spring Break helping her — she was a consumer credit counselor with United Way — I was later certified as a financial literacy coach, and I focused on the opportunities she gave me.

“After I graduated, I did more self-studies and I took a job at a school here at South Carolina, initially to coach basketball. Still, I was so passionate about business and the school didn’t have a program, so I wrote one out. The first year I taught health to the kids at the school, then the second year it was financial literacy. I thought that I would coach basketball in high school, then work to the college and NBA ranks before teaching finances, but God had a different plan for me to start so soon. I’ve been satisfied with everything that’s happened so far.”

Burnett said The Black Wealth Summit will have plenty to offer. “On Friday night, we’ll haven the networking event, highlighted by vendors and sponsors, which will also give people the opportunity to learn about black businesses in the areas,” Burnett said. “On Saturday, it will be full of workshops and seminars with sessions such as how to create a family bank, tax codes, real estate investing and branding sessions. Eugene Mitchell will be the keynote speaker at both events—he’s the author of ‘Closing the Racial Wealth Gap: Seven Untold Rules for Black Prosperity and Legacy’ and has helped lead a charge inside the black community.

“This summit is here to inspire entrepreneurs and team them up with people who have been there. If you have a vision and want it to come to life, it helps to have great examples to provide insight in an environment with an abundance of knowledge. We don’t want to be hoarders of that — instead, we want to be the epitome of lifting each other up as we strive for great achievements.”

The cost for The Black Wealth Summit is $49.95. For additional information, go to The Black Wealth Summit on Facebook.

Photos by Sasha Ridley

Jonnika Nickohl Collection

By Junious Smith

by Apollo Wonex

A leap of faith, flair for style and a desire to advocate the diversity of women in the workforce, propelled Jonnika Wilson into entrepreneurship.

On November 11, 2019, Wilson launched The Jonnika Nickohl Collection, a hair accessory line she created as a way of expression for the everyday women to look and feel their best. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native who currently resides in Duncan, S.C. says the initial reviews have been positive.

Wilson has showcased plenty of innovation over the years, having graduated from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, S.C where she studied dance. With over 20 years of dance training, Wilson continues to pursue her passion by teaching in local dance studios and creating choreography in the upstate. Wilson extended her education and now holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of South Carolina Upstate and a Masters degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Strayer University. “My desire for the arts and business has molded me into the professional woman I am today. I believe that your passion comes from your heart which is not enforced but embraced,” she says.

While having a hand in numerous avenues, a decision to go natural in 2009 planted the first seeds of Wilson’s desire toward her collection.

“From college to the start of my professional career, I always thought straight hair was considered the only way to look professional, move up in your career and fit in,” she says. With the desire to try something new with her strands, Wilson went for a drastic change. “I wanted to go natural, which at the time was not the trend as you see today. So, I did the bigchop and embraced my new identity and journey.”

A missed job opportunity a few years later emboldened Wilson into wanting to put something together.

“I applied for a business developer position, which included four interviews. The final interview was between myself and an external associate. The director over the area said, “we want you to work in this position - we know you’re a great employee and well qualified – and we’re pretty much set on offering you the position, but I do have one question: what are you going to do with your hair?”

“My hair is naturally curly, defined, and as most would say good hair – I didn’t see anything wrong with it.” Continued on the next page

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Another female associate included in the interview quickly objected saying that she did not see a problem with her hairstyle or texture and proceeded to imply and that the most important factor was that she is most qualified for the position, but the director refused to budge saying it was not his thing. “He felt the look wasn’t as approachable for others. Ultimately, I didn’t get the position - someone was hired externally - and that planted a seed for me,” she says.

In 2016, Wilson started working on what would become her initial staple.

“At that time, I only had one design in mind,” Wilson said. “I had an old headband - I took the stitching out, extended it, and placed it on my head which pulled up my curls creating a pin-up style. People started asking me where I got it saying it looked professional and was something they would wear to work. With such positive feedback, I started thinking of expanding this design to a collection of hair pieces for women to wear in any occasion.”

A trip to New York a year later helped Wilson put the plan into place.

“I took a lot of creative and business advice from a close friend who is a fashion designer - business owner and we started thinking of ideas and the best concept for my hair pieces,” Wilson said. “What makes my collection so unique is that each design is named after a family member or close friend. I love my family and friends, and this is the best way to hold them all close to me on this journey.”

Although she was very confident about her designs and concept, she struggled with a fear of rejection from previous experiences. She was able to overcome her doubts due to a strong support system. “I am blessed to have good people around me especially my mother who has prayed and supported me during this process. I design headbands, headwraps and turbans for the everyday woman. I want women to exude confidence and style in any scene whether it’s in the office, at an event or in the gym. The pieces are made from a slinky fabric which gives a sheen sophisticated look while providing the best comfort and flexibility for all-day wear,” she shared.

Wilson has some plans in the future. She would like to expand her collection by creating more pieces each season and build her audience from online sales to storefront and in major department stores. She would also like to use her professional career in Human Resources along with the Jonnika Nickohl Collection to counsel others. “Through my personal experience of rejection and seclusion as a professional, I want to close the gap and bring to light the importance and positive impact of diversity in the workplace, education and personal lifestyle,” she says.

“I am excited about this business, the brand and my future. All I have to do now is place my feet in the right direction and trust God in the process.”

Photo by Natosha Priest

M.A.D.E.

By Terry L. Watson

by Autumn Prather

Autumn Page Prather understands that motherhood is the hardest job on the planet, yet is the most rewarding. Moreover, this mother knows that leaving a legacy to her children is the single most important thing she can do to ensure that her pedigree continues to thrive and survive.

She is the co-founder and CEO of (M.A.D.E.) The Mother & Daughter Experience , a 501 (c) 3 organization that promotes the sacred bonds between mothers and daughters, so that relationships are enhanced now and for generations to come. M.A.D.E sponsors, hosts and/or participates in events and activities that help foster the sacred bond between mothers and daughters.

The program offers tailored workshops, seminars, summits and retreats on a variety of themes including but not limited to self-worth, leadership and team-building skills. M.A.D.E is available to professional keynote speakers for formal and informal events centered around women and girl’s empowerment. M.A.D.E hosts an annual Mother/Daughter Breakfast to celebrate mothers, grandmothers, god-mothers, step-mothers and the village who all play important roles in the rearing of our daughters.

The Mother & Daughter Experience was founded in response to a 10 year journey of wanting to do something to honor Autumn’s late mother, Mrs. Linda Marie Everett who passed away April 24, 2009. “In January 2019, as I was lying in bed recovering from a difficult surgery, and I had an epiphany. I wanted an opportunity to share how my daughter and I created a unique bond through love, wisdom, and understanding. I wanted a chance to showcase that kind of bond with her because my mother and I shared that uniqueness as well. I declared that generational curses and dysfunction would stop with us and we would encourage others to look for their unique bond and create their own mantra for a better future. I called my daughter, who was 19 years old at that time, and told her about my idea and titled her the Executive Director,” she says.

A passionate leader with over 24 years of professional experience in the financial and insurance sectors, Autumn is a 1997 Cum Laude graduate of Tennessee State University and brandishes a degree in Business Administration. She was initiated into the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, in 1995 and is a 1998 charter member of Upsilon Psi Omega Chapter. She has been employed at UBS Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years and is currently a Senior Business Analyst in the Investment Bank division.

Autumn’s daughter, Sydnei Page Everett is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Mother & Daughter Experience. She is currently enrolled at Tennessee State University an is majoring in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in the Honors College, a member of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success and apart of the Student Government Association, Student Union Board of Governors. Sydnei is the former President of the Top Teens of America, Nashville chapter. She is also involved with The Positivity Board and Undergraduate Students National Dental Association (USNDA).

In her spare time, she enjoys being a middle school cheer coach, motivational speaking, traveling, service to the community and mentoring young girls.

The recipients of the services that (M.A.D.E.) offers are women and girls of all ages, races and ethnicity. “If you are a woman who is a mother-figure to a young girl and/or you had a hand in helping to raise her, our services are for you. If you are a teacher, coach, sponsor or administrator who wants to improve mother and daughter relationships, so that the quality of life for girls in your care is enhanced, our services are for you. If you are an organization that wants to partner together to bring awareness to the community for greater impact, our services are for you,” says Autumn.

Autumn shares she absolutely loves tapping into an area that a lot of people tend to shy away from. The mother/daughter relationship is extremely complex and it’s not easy to navigate. “Our relationship is not perfect at all. But, we are intentional about making sure that love is in action, that wisdom is heard and respected and that understanding is felt. I love that we are impacting generations of women and girls, mothers and future mothers and are encouraging mothers to be the role model for their daughters. Healthy relationships are so very important and we believe that the mother/daughter bond sets the stage for every subsequent relationship in a girl’s life - whether romantic or platonic. My mother and her grandmother is the catalyst behind our non-profit and I love that most of all,” she says.

As with any nonprofit organization, they rely heavily on donations from the general public. Along with their services, they have also established The Mrs. Linda M. Everett Arts Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund awards monies to those who desire to obtain a degree in the Fine Arts, as Autumn’s mother was an avid proponent for the arts as a dance instructor and sound engineer. They also look to help with any arts related activities for children. Having their 501(c)(3) designation is certainly a plus, however funding has been a big challenge.

Autumn shares her mother has definitely impacted her life the most. “She instilled an impeccable work ethic in me, to be graceful and authentic at all times and to simply live life on my own terms,” she says.

Moving forward, their plan is to continue to get the word out about The Mother & Daughter Experience, its mission and purpose. “We hope to seek out opportunities to share space with other mother and daughter duos to ignite those sacred bonds. We also plan to promote our 2nd Annual Mother/ Daughter Breakfast Affair coming up in June 2020. It will be titled ‘Generational Gemstones’. We are actively seeking sponsorship at this time. Additionally, we endeavor to endow the memorial scholarship so that we can begin awarding funds to deserving students,” she says.

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Sasha

A. Ridley Heart To Heart Consulting

Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises

By Terry L. Watson

Sasha A. Ridley of Chesapeake, VA is a devoted mother, multifaceted business woman, purpose pusher, and creative thinker. She is also extremely empathetic.

By the sounds of it, Sasha lives a pretty simple life. She loves meeting and connecting with new people from all backgrounds and vantage points. Even more, she believes the best way to view life is from the perspective of another person.

Life hasn’t always been easy for Sasha but she has proven and battle tested. She has faced being homeless three times within the last four years, all while battling depression and anxiety. “I felt as if I didn’t belong. I have adjusted by learning how to shift my focus and to slow myself down and reconnect with my faith. Searching for the lesson in the situations rather than focus more on trying to move on to the next survival shift was the game changer which helped me to become the change agent in my own life,” she shares. “Realizing and owning the role I played in each and every situation allowed me to be able to connect and be of value to others”.

Within her circle of friends and family, Sasha is the one everyone seeks for questions and advice. Even though she may be the youngest in most cases, she is still the go to and describes herself as the “baby in charge”.

Currently she operates as a certified Relationship Life Coach with Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises and Heart To Heart Consulting. Coach Sasha works with those who are looking to overcome debilitating fears in regards to vulnerability, communication and adversities that may limit one’s ability to establish personal and professional relationships. She is also a transformation speaker and author, and has published her first book, The Relational Mindset How to Heal and Build Healthy Relationships, which is a take action memoir.

“Writing my memoir offered me freedom and healing. The book has also helped others take a closer look at their life and the toxic things they are allowing or have allowed in past relationships. Furthermore, being able to speak on these topics and my mirror confidence method allows me to take my one on one coaching model into a group atmosphere,” she shares.

Sasha has over eight years of management, customer relations, coaching, marketing, and development experience; skills that she utilizes to assist her with Heart to Heart Consulting. “I am committed to serving those individuals who are ready to put forth action to uncover their who, why, and how and shift their mindset of lack and self-sabotage in order to start their business,” she says. “It is my ultimate desire to equip today’s business owners with the tools and strategies to realize their financial worth, and help them with building an unmatched brand and to dominate their market. I want to help others find their purpose as a person outside of their brand.”

Sasha began working as an Executive Assistant with a non profit organization. After two years there, she went on to work as an Telecommunications Officer with the area police department, a move that spanned four years. Due to a family illness, she terminated her employment with the police department and jumped into full-time entrepreneurship so that she would have more flexibility. Both opportunities played a role in helping her to launch Heart to Heart Consulting, and helped her with establishing client relationships. “Working with many different companies over the years I began to see things that challenged my morals. I knew I had to fully invest in Heart to Heart and give the people something different. I also realized that starting a business was a big investment and required a lot of trust. Clients chose me because they trust that I will offer them solutions, and that is what Heart to Heart Consulting is all about. From my heart to yours,” Sasha explains.

Her desire to be a life coach had been a long time passion. She studied psychology at Virginia Union University and was always deeply intrigued by the cognitive development and thought process of a person and how it impacts behavior.

When the opportunity came to implement life coaching into her business, Sasha knew she had to be strategic and intentional about it. “It was important that I mastered the areas in which I was trying to advise someone else on. Vulnerability and being able to communicate with yourself is vital. You can’t expect to have an honest and authentic exchange with anyone if you are hiding from your own face in the mirror,” she says.

She finds the most joy as a Life Coach when her clients experience “the light bulb moment”. “A client called me once and was so excited about being able to use a method I used and taught them. When my clients are able to stand in their boldness and implement the practical tools and strategies they have learned in sessions with me, makes it all worth it,” she says.

Ironically, Sasha finds inspiration through many of the adversities she has faced. She is also inspired by her daughter. “When I was at some of the lowest and scariest moments of my life she was my beacon of light. We all want to leave a legacy behind as parents and our greatest legacy will be our children. My drive is to create a life that she wont have to recover from. As a single mom it is important to me that she knows that no matter who or what may come that I will always be in her corner,” she says.

She is also deeply inspired by watching others succeed despite the obstacles that are thrown at them. “Life can sometimes be tricky but mastering the odds is the ultimate magic trick,” she says.

Photos by Sasha Ridley