Trustworthy Magazine Vol 4

Trustworthy Magazine

We talk Boss Moves with Audrey Bellis

Solo Travel & Budget Secrets

Ciera Payton "Everyday is a new day and I'm just enjoying how this journey is unfolding"

May 2019

Trustworthymagazine.com

Trustworthy Magazine

Our Goal is to inspire & to be inspired. We know that everyone has a story; we want to know yours

Founder & Editor Amina Touray

Trustworthymagazine.com For comments, submissions & inquiries please contact; info@trustworthymagazine.com

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On the cover: Ciera Payton Photographer: Amina Touray Stylist: Janel Styles Makeup artist: Niehla O Page desigen: Moses Dalton Dress: @Grace_and_Frida Provided by @Pr_solo Earrings: @Eyeofiris Provided b y @Maisonpriveepr_la & @Maisonpriveepr_alexandra

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Contents

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Taylor Mosby

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SUMMER BREEZE

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CAREER EXPERT

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CHEF’s Spotlight

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Ciera payton

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Oasis Camel Dairy

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Solo Budget Travel

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Audrey Bellis

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“Coming into my eight year in California I have learned to value time”

Letter From The Editor As a photographer I get to witness and be a part of a lot of special occasions and highlights in people’s lives. I’m often invited to document stories from people that are coming from different walks of life. When I look through my photos, I’m often reminded of time and the various phases and traditions that exist among us. Coming into my eight year in California I have learned to value time, which helps me appreciate the little things such as; moments of silence alone or with a loved one, observing people while drinking chai tea at a coffee shop, and just the excitement I feel when I see a big fluffy dog walking my direction or across the street.

In this issue I converse with actress Ciera Payton, who also speaks about the things she is grateful for, as well as the ebb and flow in the industry. I also look back at my visit to Ramona, California where I got to experience Oasis Camel Dairy, which was truly fascinating. If you enjoy traveling as much as I do, you will love the tips that world solo traveler Krystal Willis shares on budgeting and finding great deals!

Amina Touray Social media: @Trustworthymagazine

Photo:Kaique

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Taylor Mosby

Photography by Amina Touray @aminatphoto Styling by Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Makeup by Niehla O @niehlaomua 8

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From the ‘Sooner State’ to Hollywood – A Star In The Making Written by Mia N. Lloyd.

While your average sixteen year old across America is most likely spending their afternoon enjoying (or completely bored) in an American or British literature class, today Taylor Mosby is not in class. Unlike your average sixteen year old, Taylor has been rehearsing lines…For an audition at three o’clock…In Hollywood!

Growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, it was a field trip while in the third grade to see, The Nut Cracker, where Taylor quickly realized what she wanted to become: an actress! “I auditioned for everything!” Taylor said excitedly. “I even auditioned

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for Annie,” she says. Having noticed how passionate Taylor was for the arts and how much she stood out, her parents allowed her to join a theater company at the age of seven, where Taylor performed in community theater. By the time she was 10 years old, she had over a dozen plays and musicals under her belt. After being in several music and acting showcases throughout the United States, it was then that her family decided to relocate to Los Angeles to allow Taylor to continue to pursue her dream of acting. “Everyone thinks

their kid is magical,” Taylor laughs. And that is when the magic began for Taylor.

By the time she was fourteen, Taylor had booked various commercials which included her first national commercial for AT&T. When asked how it felt to be on set for the first time, Taylor says, “It felt like the scene in the Wizard of Oz when they found out who OZ was. It is surreal because it was my first time on set, yet it felt like I had come home - as if I had always been there! It’s hard to explain. But I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life!” Taylor quips. That unexplainable feeling continued for Taylor as she won several roles on television shows. “My mom’s friend had a friend that was a talent manager and she wanted to help me.” And help her she did! One was a guest spot on the long running, ABC hit show, Grey’s Anatomy. “I played a young Dr. Miranda Bailey. It was a lot of fun!” Taylor has also had recurring roles in Twisted on ABC Family, Criminal Minds (CBS) About a Boy on NBC, Life in Pieces on CBS and The Middle on ABC. “I remember my one line on The Middle,” she says, “It was, ‘Did we vote for him?’ That was my claim to fame.”

Currently Taylor plays “Amira” the young, outspoken daughter of Shay (Tiffany Haddish) and Tray (Tracy Morgan) on the hit TBS hit show, The Last OG. Talking about the show, you can hear Taylor smiling as she speaks, “My dad grew up Trustworthy Magazine

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Dress: @Ottdubai Provided by @maisonpriveepr_la & @maisonpriveepr_alexandra

watching Tracy Morgan, so it is really cool. I love working everyone. It is like we are one big family!” The Last OG returns for its second season on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

Although her acting career is going extremely well, even at a young age, Taylor understands the ups and downs of the entertainment industry; and when your mother is a doctor and your father has a career in real estate, college is definitely a “roundtable” discussion in the Mosby household. “I want to go to Howard and Harvard” Taylor says.

“I 10

Denim vest: @charlesandron Shorts: @Ottdubai Provided by @maisonpriveepr_la & @maisonpriveepr_alexandra

want to pursue the other side of the industry and study entertainment law. So I can help others in the industry with their contracts.” While some younger actors may give up on school because they think they are going to be famous, and “don’t worry about school” as Taylor says, “being in school and filming takes a lot of self discipline and integrity. I want to make sure my grades are good. You can’t just walk into Howard with a 1.0 GPA.” Being in show business has also given Taylor the desire to work behind the scenes.

“I love learning new things,

new experiences! I enjoy sitting with the camera crew and learning what they do. It is very interesting to me.”

Someone that Taylor admires is singer and actress Vanessa Williams. “She does everything – off screen and on screen and is always learning!” Taylor says. Always wanting to enter into the amazing world of film, Taylor landed her first role in “Breakthrough” - which will be released on April 17, 2019 by 20th Century Fox. The movie stars Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace. “It was so much fun!” Taylor says, “I am so excited! We filmed

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“I enjoy sitting with the camera crew and learning what they do”

“If you can impact one person’s life, then I have done what I came to do” Vol 4

Dress: @thecandiz Shoes: @Jflondon_walkofffame Provided by: @pr_solo Trustworthy Magazine

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“being in school and filming takes a lot of self discipline and integrity” in Canada for 3 months! It is a true story about a boy who drowned and came back to life.

I play his close friend, ‘Shayla.’ It has such a great cast!” Another highlight for Taylor was having the opportunity to work with best-selling author and Hollywood producer, Devon Franklin – producer of Breakthrough. Taylor sings the song featured in the upcoming trailer.

“Devon Franklin is funny. He has a light in the room, even when he doesn’t want to be, he glows.”

Taylor Mosby is a young woman with an extremely bright future not only in Hollywood, but in life!

Having been inspired by others, she wants to be an inspiration to young girls throughout the world. “If I can inspire other little girls to try to and make a difference…If you can impact one person’s life, then I have done what I came to do, which is create a place for kids - open doors for them.” If there is one thing that Taylor wants us to know about her is that she is, “not sitting down.

“I have a plan. Acting is what I was born to do so look out for me!” Taylor Christian Mosby – We see you…Baby girl, The WORLD sees you!

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Summer breeze

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Photography by Amina Touray, @Aminatphoto Makeup by Irma Vasquez, @Makeupbyirmav Model Sidney Nicole Rogers, @Sidneynicolerogers

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Career & Resume Expert

Nura Awda

Photography by Amina Touray Makeup by Irma Vasquez

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Nura Awda’s passion and commitment to excellence, as well as her indefatigable efforts to improve the lives of others and add value to her community, can be seen in her time as a Master Level Career Coach, and subsequently as founder, CEO and owner of Responsive Resumes. Nura’s innovative approach to resume writing have helped her clients land prestigious positions with industry giants like SpaceX, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Nura has managed her business, developed cutting edge teams, and helped her clients achieve success with a finesse and tenacity that is reflected in the trust of her customers and the growth of her company.

An entrepreneur for the last seven years, Nura transitioned from Master Level Career Coach to founding Responsive Resumes after receiving an overwhelming amount of resume requests.

Never one to let an opportunity go to waste, Nura seized the moment and pivoted to fulfill the demand. Raised in Sweden by a family of academics, Nura’s drive and talent for business drove her out of the risk-averse atmosphere of Sweden to make her home in the United States.

She looks forward to continue establishing a high standard of business practices and strategic vision, and to have a positive and lasting influence on the community around her.

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Describe what you do: I started as a Master Level Career Coach and got an overwhelming amount of resume requests from clients and referrals. Since my results were solid and consistent I decided to direct my focus on resume writing and perfect my skills to add even more value to clients! Been doing it fulltime for the past years and get to help so many people to get interviews and real results!

You moved to LA from a small town in Sweden. Were you ever scared coming to such big city by yourself ?

And tell us about the transition into an LA-lifestyle was like?

At first, I wasn’t scared; I was eager. I grew up in a small town and often felt like a big fish in a small pond—always wanting more, always looking for new opportunities.

Honestly, I thought I would thrive when I moved to LA. I thought it would be easy. You can imagine what that reality check was like. After three weeks in Los Angeles, I realized that I wasn’t a big fish in a small pond anymore: I was a little baby fish in an ocean filled with sharks! Los Angeles is a city like no other. It pushes you to extremes, forcing you to grow and adapt, or fail. After struggling for a while, I felt like I had a choice to make.

I could make excuses and go home to the safety net of Sweden, or I could adapt my mindset and do my best.

That you can’t accomplish great things all by yourself!

Build a team! I used to believe that I didn’t need any help, that I can overcome all the obstacles by myself. That is, until I found myself working until 4 AM in the morning every day! Eventually, my mentor Tony Robbins told me that I needed to make the shift from being an operator to a business owner. If you work IN the business, you're an employee for your own business, but if you work ON the business, you are a business owner and can spend most of your time solving bigger problems. I love that distinction.

“I wasn’t allowed to do anything work-related.

That was the best decision of my life”

What mistake has taught you the most ?

I used to work every day!

Yes, every single day! With limited sleep and almost no time for myself. I thought that it was only logical that the more I worked, the better results I would get. About a year ago, a friend convinced me to take just one day off.

I wasn’t allowed to do anything work-related. That was the best decision of my life after my day off I came back to work bursting with energy and fresh ideas. I learned that sometimes all I need is some distance, and the perspective that comes with it.

Today I take two days off and feel more creative than ever.

I'm very big on mornings; how I spend my first hours.

How do you start yours?

My rule of thumb is, I never What do you know now, that look at my phone first thing you wish you would have in the morning. If I do, I know known earlier in your career I'm going to dive straight into ? my work. My workday starts

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at 9, so I wake up at 8, shower, get dressed, style my hair, pick matching earrings and put on my favorite perfume - all this even if I'm not interacting with any human being that day. It's important for me to be dressed for work, it makes me give my all. Then I eat breakfast (a broccoli omelet with avocado) and drink some hot Irish tea while watching my favorite Youtube channel, Coffee Chess.

After breakfast I go straight to work, ready to crush it!

In what way do you stand out in your branch?

Quality! Did you know that the overwhelming majority of businesses in my field fail within 6 months? The reason we have consistent quality results is because we always innovate and deliver what the clients really need. We anticipate trends and make sure we're always incorporating new techniques, ideas, and strategies. We're always moving forward, its a must!

What does success mean to you ?

For me, success is spending your energy on the things that you love. I know that I am doing this when time flies past and I find myself wishing there was more of it! I can't tell you how many times I sit down at 9 AM, and the next time I look at my watch it's already 4 PM! There is no better feeling than being immersed in what you do to the point of forgetting the time!

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Chef Spotlight Beatrice Copeland

Written by Mia N. Lloyd.

The alluring smell of fresh seasonings coming from the kitchen fills the air. It was the “Trinity.” No, not the belief that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one, as some believe – but the trio of pungent onions, crisp bell peppers and crunchy celery, that woke up the Copeland household on this quiet Saturday morning.

With her culinary prowess, Chef Beatrice, was in her element passionately doing what she does best: creating an amazing meal.

And what was on the menu this morning for her family? A simple, yet delicious breakfast of salmon cakes, creamy grits, fluffy cheesy eggs and mouth watering homemade biscuits – oh and freshly squeezed orange juice.

affectionately called, always wanted but never really saw happening. The Norfolk, Virginia native said, she worked in fast food as a teenager and, “while most kids didn’t like it, I did. It made me want to do more in a kitchen because I liked the kitchen setting.” But it was her desire and love for the elderly that led her in a completely different direction. A loving and compassionate person, Chef Bea said that after high school she “became a home health nurse, because being around the elderly was something that I enjoyed.

You learned so much from them.” One of the requirements for being a home health nurse was making sure her patients ate correctly. Having patients with health conditions ranging diabetes, high blood presThe dream of becoming a sure and just those issues chef was one that Chef Bethat came with age, Chef atrice or “Chef Bea” as she is Bea decided to go back into 22

the food industry to help them – her true passion.

After receiving a Food Management certification in 3 months, Chef Bea worked in various restaurants around Hampton Roads, Virginia – including Golden Corral, A.W. Shucks Raw Bar & Grill and Café Stella. An entrepreneur at heart, Chef Bea decided that after spending five years in restaurants – 2 years in seafood, it was time for her to make her mark in the culinary world and become a personal chef; she then married her two passions – the elderly and food, and specialized in healthy meals for the elderly and “Meals by Chef Bea” was born. “I would prepare meals for mainly those coming out of hospitals or those that could not prepare their own food to due to health issues,” she said, “as well as those who were busy with their careers and just did not want to cook.

They would hire me to make meals for them. I love it!”

Known for her pasta dishes and pulled pork, catering became something that Chef Bea often found herself requested to do. “My team and I started getting request to cater different events such as formal events, women’s organizations, large parties – you name it!” While that at times could become overwhelming and

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Chef Bea often thought about quitting, she said, “I was always thinking about food. It was truly fun and rewarding for me. The more my team and I were asked to cater events, I realized I could never give up being a chef. It is really what I am most passionate about.”

A savory chef, something that Chef Bea always wanted to try was baking. She took on the task of baking in 2018 and everyone fell in love with her, “sweet potato cheesecake loaf.” She recalls how after baking her first batch, “I bit into it and it was so good that my first reaction was, ‘oh my loaf!’

That response caused Chef Bea to created, “Oh My Loaf, LLC.” Baking over 400 muffins a month, her menu includes Lemon Poppy Seed, Strawberry Crunch Cream Cheese, and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, just to name a few. There are even vegan desserts because “Vegans need sweets too,” she laughs. In June 2019, Chef Bea will open an “Oh My Loaf Bakery” in Norfolk, Virginia.

A busy mother of three and a chef with a bustling business, Chef Bea does it all.

Her desire is to have a full café one day and just feed everyone! “I want people to know that I am truly passionate about what I do and that food is my passion.

When people eat my food and then they are happy, it makes me happy!”

Check out one of Chef Bea’s favorite dishes to prepare: Delicious Salmon Cakes Serving:4 Ingredients: 15 oz canned salmon (remove large bones) 2 eggs 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 1 small red bell pepper (finely diced) 1 small green bell pepper (finely diced) 1 small onion (finely diced) 2 tablespoons miracle whip 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika Pepper to taste Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions: 1. Place the Salmon into a mixing bowl, remove large bones & flake with a fork 2. Mix in the remaining ingredients except parsley.

3. Use the 1/2 measuring cup to measure the mixture, then form into patties using your hands.

4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. (Use enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet).

5. Cook patties for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Garnish with fresh parsley

Note: IF BAKING: -Just drizzle some olive oil evenly onto a large, non-stick pan. Arrange the salmon cakes on the pan and gently brush the tops with olive oil.

-Bake at 425° for 15min, flip and bake an additional Tip: Pairs perfect with sautéed asparagus and whole grain brown rice. Then drizzle with honey mustard dressing.

And it is good to “Bea” happy!

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Dress: @Ottdubai Provided by @maisonpriveepr_la & @maisonpriveepr_alexandra

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A Madea Family Funeral Actress

Ciera Payton

When actress Ciera Payton enters a room, it immediately lights up through her charismatic presence. This year has a lot in store for her, so we decided to catch up and speak with the rising Hollywood star about her role in Tyler Perry’s new movie “A Madea Family Funeral”, challenges and gratefulness.

- I'm in A “Madea Family Funeral” and I play the older sister Sylvia who is Madea’s niece. A lot of stuff happens in the movie, such as family secrets and then the drama comes out. I am the voice of reason, I am the person that keeps everybody together and tries to keep the family aligned and everybody in order. While we’re planning this funeral and I’m getting ready for it, I’m just there to offer support for my mother.

But “A Madea Family Funeral” was not the first time that the actress got to be on set with Mr Perry. Years earlier she was an extra in “Madea Goes To Jail”. To reunite with Mr Perry on set, this time with

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a lead role, was an amazing experience for Ciera.

- It was really really cool!

When you’re an extra on something you don’t really get to spend a lot of time or even interact with the director at all. So my time on set when I did “Madea Goes To Jail” as an extra was just very limited and I was in a scene with Viola Davis, so that was my experience with meeting her and working with her for that brief time. So to come back again ten years later, shooting “A Madea Family Funeral” and being a lead cast member was just one of those moments that was so surreal. I just felt like - wow this is amazing! And it was so funny because I went up to him after we finished filming and I was like - “Do you remember me, I did “Madea Goes To Jail?” And he did! He remembered me! And the way that came about, it was actually a meeting that had been set up for me to go out and meet Tyler Perry and his former producer at the time.

So when I had arrived there I had a brief general meeting with them. This was set up through Dr Maya Angelou, who I was really close to at the time. So I went and I Trustworthy Magazine

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met him, and literally it was so brief and as the meeting ended they asked me if I wanted to be in “Madea Goes To Jail” as an extra role and I was like - “yeah, sure.” That’s how that came about, asking him if he remembered me years later and he was like “oh my gosh, yes I totally remember you!”. It was really cool to have that moment!

Seeing herself on billboards and having fans tagging and posting themselves next to the “A Made Family Funeral” posters on social media has been a joyful and a moving experience for Ciera.

- Everytime I see it I get teary eyed, even talking about it right now makes me a little emotional because I’ve been in this industry for a while now and not a lot of people know me. I still audition and try to get seen and be considered for different roles.

For me it really is a dream come true to see all the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into that one moment and to be driving down Sunset Blvd or Highland Avenue, to look up and to see my face on a billboard. I have to just stop and say thank you GOD and shed a little tear or two. It’s such an amazing moment and amazing feeling to have. It’s very humbling too because just knowing my journey and all the things that I have experienced leading up to that point. I know that those sacrifices and those hard times were worth it.

Ciera has been in the movie industry for over ten years, and “A Madea Family Funeral” is certainly special to the actress and has made a 28

great impact on her life.

- Working on it, while we were filming it; I knew it was something special. It was just a feeling in the air - wow we are filming Madea’s last movie! I literally took the script and I had all the actors and Mr Perry sign it, I brought it back to Los Angeles, and I framed it because I just knew how special it was. I remember telling myself that if nothing comes out of it, I know that I had an amazing experience just being in the presence of such phenomenal actors and to

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“a lot in this industry and career that I’m in, you got to hide the ugly parts of you” just be in the presence of Tyler Perry. So if anything, the way it has impacted me and my career thus far is just to have that experience under my belt. To be around true, genuine people such as Tyler Perry and all the people that he works with; Mark Swinton, Ozzie & Will Areu, Cassie Davis, etc. They were just grounded people with dignity. It was refreshing to be around that.

Ms Payton has been open about the struggles she’s came across in Hollywood, and even self published a book a few years ago about being unemployed. While it’s hard for people to talk about their struggles openly, Ciera shares the bumps on the road that she’s hit in the past.

-To me it can be a double edged sword sometimes because I am very honest and open. That’s just how I’ve been raised to speak truth and be very truthful. I know a lot in this industry and career that I’m in, you got to hide the ugly parts of you. You should always be on and have a presentation. Some people go as far as making sure they drive the latest car, wearing the latest fashion, stuff like that. I just never wanted to fake like that. Whenever I have it just never serves me.

I like to share as much as I’m comfortable with of course.

Just the reality of the busi-

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ness so people really understand what it is. I think we as a society and the rest of America, they have this one perception of entertainers and you know a lot of times it’s just wrong. So whenever we watch news stories about different artists going through different struggles, we’re all shocked and surprised. But I’m never shocked or surprised about those things. These people are humans and we all experience different things that create the human experience. So I like sharing my journey, not only to present reality but to be a person that can teach and help guide people that want to get into it. I also hope that my story inspires too!

While it can be challenging to have all eyes on her and with people’s different opinions, Ciera is committed to staying true to herself and what she wants.

- That’s something I find very interesting managing right now. People are starting to learn about me and discover who I am, also based upon an idea of who I am. So as an actress going into different roles and auditioning is a fun little challenge. I’m kind of playing it like a game right now and just go in like - okay, I’ll try this role on, but I don’t think it’s right for me, but I’ll try

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“People are starting to learn about me and discover who I am, also based upon an idea of who I am”

Dress: @Ottdubai Earrings: @Eyeofiris Provided by @maisonpriveepr_la & @maisonpriveepr_alexandra

it on and see what happens, and just roll with it because as an actress part of the job requirement is to transform and be flexible. But outside of that, the other challenges that I’ve had is this whole image idea of what I should be wearing, how my face should look. So it’s really cool to work with people that really understand and get me; my style, my taste, my essence.

And it’s been really interesting to run up against people who don’t (laughs). But I’ve been fortunate to work with you for Trustworthy Magazine, I’ve been fortunate to work with a great stylist; Ms Janel, who was so helpful and understanding me and what my taste is. It’s rare to find that out here.

Ciera is a strong believer in the law of attraction. When visiting Ciera in the past, I remember seeing positive and uplifting notes and quotes throughout her home. When asked if the things she’s visualized are finally coming to the surface, Ciera stays humble.

- Yes, I guess it’s all to be determined right? I think more so than anything, not so much what I’m envisioning. A lot of the positive stuff that I keep around me are just daily reminders to continue to

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seek the good in every situation, to continue to expand my perspective in life, especially sometimes with the stress, and there is a lot of stress with all of this that I’m experiencing right now. I still work as a teacher, trying to manage my work schedule, going to auditions, do media, press interviews and balancing it all can present some stress. So I have to keep positive affirmations around me 32

and just symbols to remind me to take a breath and say - you know you’re very fortunate to have all these things going on for you. So just live in a space of gratitude. Every day is a new day and I’m just enjoying how this journey is unfolding. Some of the things I’ve envisioned have come to life. I’ve always wanted to be on billboards, be in big Blockbuster movies and it’s happening. And I have some

other things that I’m calling into existence so now that’s all to be determined and I pray that happens soon.

Another project that she’s passionate about is Michael’s Daughters; a non profit organisation for youth with incarcerated parents.

- The program evolved from my experience of having a one woman show, based on having a father who was incarcerated. So whenever I would tour this play and share my experience I would have just numbers of people coming up to me and explain to me how they had similar experiences. One of my side jobs all throughout my acting career has been teaching. So as I was doing this play and I was meeting people and even young people that have parents that are incarcerated the light bulb just went off and I was like - Okay, if I’m already teaching theater play, maybe I can mold these things together and create a program for youth that have incarcerated parents and teach them how to create their own work or give them the gift of arts education as a coping and healing tool, rather than having them pick up a gun or getting involved in drugs. That’s what I created in 2013 through the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. They have been funding my program ever since. I’ve been working with kids out in Panorama City and the Van Nuys area, and even now I’ve been teaching at different high schools for other organizations. For me, art was such a gift when I was a young person. It was just something that helped me have a voice. So it’s so beau-

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tiful to see young people discover the beauty of creative writing, theater or story telling and having their voice being found and being on stage; having their light shine. It’s just a beautiful thing. I hope and I pray that for that moment in time that I’m with them and working with them, that they take something with them from that experience and give back to this world in a way where we can all be in high vibration and be in good company.

So what’s next for Ciera ?

- I’ll be seen on She’s Gotta Have It Season Two next. It premieres on Netflix on May 24th. Viewers will be in for a treat!

“Every day is a new day and I’m just enjoying how this journey is unfolding” Follow: @CieraPayton

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Oasis Camel Dairy Photography & story by Amina Touray & Moses Dalton

What first thing poniesissothe kids could getthat out comes to mind when of their wheelchairs andyou sit hear Southern California ? in the cart and they could Hollywood Walk of Fame ? drive them -around.

We did a Maybe Venice Beach ?

Well, bunch of things, and one day if you’re tired of the the director said - “Isame think atI’m tractions popping up in your going to get a camel”, and google search ondon’t Things I was like - “ugh get to a do in Southern California, camel...they spit, they smell, then this may beyou something their malicious”, know all for you! the things that people hear There a place in Ramona, about iscamels, how horriCalifornia, between highble they are. But of course way 78 and Julian’s Pie we bought them.

Two weeks Company (a well known later I get out; the camel is pie spot) wheredown, camels kushed - kneeled and are roaming on a massive the kids in wheelchairs are 34 acre land: caressing and Oasis pettingCamel them Dairy - a home to many anand they’re moving around imals such as; sheep, dogs, with their electric wheelturkeys and camels parrots. are the chairs. The happiest, sitting there, looking at everybody. I looked in the camel's eyes and a little 34

The anticipation is -growvoice in my head said If you ing stronger for each mile have camels in your life, your thatwill we’re getting closer to life turn out great. the dairy. My love for camels have existed for Nancy as longare as Today Gil and I can remember.

I encounraising camels among other tered them for the first farm. time animals at their dairy in The Gambia, The couple firstand metthe in secSan ond time on my trip to MoJose, California, while workrocco infair.

2011, during the rainy ing at a season. Although Southern California has a slightly difNancy - We were at the Sanferent landscape than Afrita Clara County Fairgrounds ca, the twenty one camels in San Jose, California.

I was on the dairy are enjoying there representing with the my big green land that they are birds and Gil was there repraised on. The has beenI resenting withfarm his camels. around some for close 25 some years needed helptowith and is owned by couple Gil heavy lifting and “the trusty and Nancy welcamel guy”Riegler, came who (laughs). comed Trustworthy MagaOne of my birds in particzine to their farm. ular liked Gil. And it’s funny

is so much monacter, so I’mless like about really ?

So I ey making, it’s about sharing started to find out who this our love living with does aniperson is; of if he’s single, mals.

Because are he have kids. All animals your checkamazing! list (laughs)

The - story themusic love Gil And Ibehind saw her for camelsofbegan when Gil collection CD’s and I went volunteered like - “okay I to cantrain deal therwith apy animals for physicalthat.” That’s how it started. It ly handicapped kids. When was a long term relationship the director of the program for about a year. Nancy was one day mentioned that living in Ramona, so thenheI considered getting camel, moved down here. aEventuGil’s first response to the dially we were able to buy this rector’s idea was not so opranch. timistic.

Oasis Camel Dairy is truly ofGil - I used to work phyfering a unique andwith up close sciayl handicapped kids in experience with camels. You Santajust Cruz. volunteered for don't seeI them, you learn ten years to train the theraabout who they are and how py animals.

We had all kinds because this bird is an ex- they live.

Nancy What we have here tremely good judge of char- of different animals. I trained

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ponies so kids could get out of their wheelchairs and sit in the cart and they could drive them around. We did a bunch of things, and one day the director said - “I think I’m going to get a ca mel”, and I was like - “ugh don’t get a camel...they spit, they smell, their malicious”, you know all the things that people hear about camels, how horrible they are. But of course we bought them.

Two weeks later I get out; the camel is kushed - kneeled down, and the kids in wheelchairs are caressing and petting them and they’re moving around with their electric wheelchairs. The camels are the happiest, sitting there, looking at everybody. I looked in the camel's

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eyes and a little voice in my head said - If you have camels in your life, your life will turn out great.

tremely good judge of character, so I’m like really ? So I started to find out who this person is; if he’s single, does he have kids. All your checkToday Gil and Nancy are list (laughs) raising camels among other animals at their dairy farm. Gil - And I saw her music The couple first met in San collection of CD’s and I went Jose, California, while work- like - okay I can deal with ing at a fair. that. That’s how it started. It was a long term relationship Nancy - We were at the San- for about a year. Nancy was ta Clara County Fairgrounds living in Ramona, so then I in San Jose, California. I was moved down here. Eventuthere representing with my ally we were able to buy this birds and Gil was there rep- ranch. resenting with his camels. I needed some help with some Oasis Camel Dairy is truheavy lifting and “the trusty ly offering a unique and up camel guy” came (laughs). close experience with camOne of my birds in partic- els. You don't just see them, ular liked Gil. And it’s funny you learn about who they because this bird is an ex- are and how they live."

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Photography & story by Amina Touray & Moses Dalton

Nancy - We open one weekend a month from 1-4pm. We start off 1:30pm with an animal show. It really is a marriage of what Gil and I do. It has a couple of the talking parrots that perform in it. It has our dog, and our turkeys.

The dog actually shows his instinctive behavior of helping us move and working together. Then Gil brings out one of the camels and does a nose to tail synopsis of what makes a camel a camel and we let kids come up out of the audience and feed it treat. All the people get to go down to that big open pasture. It’s a beautiful view and the whole family of camels come up and interact with all the families that are here.

tomize a personal experience for themselves, their loved ones or work team.

Nancy - People can go to our website. It’s very convenient for them. Gil worked with an online company to put together an online booking platform that if it doesn’t answer all their questions, we are there to talk to them either over the telephone or via email to make the tour very personal for them, because people come to us with ideas like - “Hey! We want to do a team building event. So we wanna take your tour, but what can we do as a team with the camels?”

The dairy is in fact part of a very small group of people There are also private tours who are bringing camels to for those that want to cus- the U.S. 36

May 2019

Nancy - Around the world they are domestic animals and unfortunately there is a misconception which actually over the past twenty years with our education program, a lot of it has been diminished. So many Americans see them as foreign animals as opposed to just another domestic animal like a cow, goat or sheep, which are all animals that were originally introduced to the United States. There weren’t any cows in North America or any sheep, and there certainly weren’t horses. They all arrived three hundred years before domesticated cam-

els came to the US in the late want to have some way were 1800’s to work with the US people can experience camArmy. el milk. We are actually the first one ever to make camThe dairy also has a cosmet- el milk soap. There are other ic line which is produced at milk soaps out there but we the farm. It originally started are the first ones to develop with Gil’s father who was a a technique to do this. Now chemist. They are the first to it’s in Trader Joe’s, not ours. have made camel milk soap But that’s how it started; the which is extremely moistur- soap and then the lotion. izing for the skin.

They are so moisturizing. The soap is amazing. People use Gil - We don’t sell the milk it on their facial skin. The lofor human consumption. We tion absorbs dry skin, for 24

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hours it keeps it nice and cate with on a different level. moisturizing. The lip balm is For me it is so grounding and rewarding to nurture them. really good as well.

In a way it’s almost like alWhen we ask what living ways having an infant, bewith animals and taking cause even a four-year old care of them does for Gil can pull a chair up to their and Nancy’s souls, and how it helps them mentally and spiritually, they both smile to themselves.

kitchen counter and grab the cold cereal out, and make themselves breakfast. And they can flush the toilet, but an animal - if you don’t feed them, if you don’t pick up after them it’s like an infant for

Gil - I think for me, it makes me feel whole, when we take the time to sit down and relax with them. I would never exchange this for anything else in the world. Just in those moments when you sit with your dogs, or the camel comes up and puts his head on your lap. Moments like that when you are connecting with them is just amazing.

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“Because being close to animals increases compassion” their entire life. Yes they walk around, but they can’t feed themselves and they can’t clean up after themselves.

That’s what you do, and it’s a huge commitment and it’s not for everybody. Some of the animals that we have here have outlived their owner’s interest in doing those things. But for some reason we just have a bigger interest in them (laughs). We enjoy it.

Most of the birds here were owned by people who loved them, but your life changes over forty years and these animals live a long time.

Camels live 35 year and they’re large.

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TM - What I really love about animals is that whenever I’m feeling down, and come across an animal, like a dog for example, since that is more common where I live (laugh). It immediately lifts up my spirit…animals help people become more compassionate, because when you look at an animal and respect its life for what it is, you can’t help but look at people the same way.

Nancy - And what you mentioned brings us full circle to why it’s important for our animals to travel. That is because being close to animals increases compassion. So when the people that maybe didn’t even plan on having that animal experience, like “that guy pulling his kids to the county fair, going to the monster trucks”. If you can spark that compassion in that family and in those kids - that’s going to have

a ripple effect that’s going to help animals in your own backyard, across the state, the country, across the world.

It just raises awareness!

“I would never exchange this for anything else in the world.”

Follow: @OasisCamelDairy

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ENJOY

UnPlug 40

May 2019

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Solo travels

Photography & interview by Amina Touray

&

more...

With the whole world in sight, we talk about international solo travels with actress Krystal Willis Trustworthy Magazine: Krystal, you recently came back to LA from Thailand.

That was your latest international trip right ?

Krystal Willis: yes my last trip was in November. I went to Thailand for 15 days with my best friend TM: Did you enjoy it ?

KW: Oh I loved it! It was definitely an experience! I got to see elephants up close, and actually touch them and it was just such amazing experience! Don't ever ride elephants! That’s such horrible touristy thing to do. They treat them horribly when you ride them. So I went to a sanctuary, so we just got to bathe and feed them.

TM: So what made you decide on Thailand ?

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KW: I knew it was affordable.

It's like one of those budget friendly places where you can live luxurious on a budget. We had a really nice hotel, overlooking the ocean for $80 a night.

TM: Wow, that’s amazing! So was it anything like you had expected ?

KW: I kind of expected some things and other things I didn’t. I just I wasn't expecting to be like you know a tourist attraction myself (laughs).

TM: Tell me more about that!

KW: Just being a black person there; people were taking pictures of me, asking to take pictures with me. They were standing several feet away taking pictures of me.

My waitress asked to feel my braids. It was just a whole thing (laughs).

that experience like ?

TM: Tell me about your solo travels, because you’ve been traveling a lot solo right ? And that seems to scare a lot of people. How has your experience been ?

KW: Yeah, they weren’t as warm as the Thai and I think it was Chinese tourists out there. In Poland they were just little more cautious and just a little reserved. They were just staring more, and very differ- KW: My first time traveling ent personalities. It’s crazy to internationally by myself, I come from LA, were there are tons of black people, you see every race here pretty much.

Then you go somewhere else and you’re “a thing”. In Poland I saw one black person the whole time. In Thailand I saw more black people around the jewelry district.

I think they were Africans, who were doing trades and stuff with the Thai people. But pretty much the whole trip there weren’t many just traveling around.

“I’m not going to wait for anybody.

So I’m just going to go and just do it”

TM: So you didn’t see many black people there at all ?

KW: I didn’t, no, there weren’t too many. Definitely a few on vacation, but I feel like the black people that were in bigger groups, they didn’t get approached as much as I did, because I was just with my friend.

TM: Oh I got it, so it was just easier to approach you…

KW: Yes haha...

TM: And talking about being a tourist attraction. You mentioned earlier going to Poland in 2016 and that was also like “a thing”, over there that you are black. What was

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was supposed to go with my friend, but she got pregnant (laughs) so I was like - I'm not going to wait for anybody. So I’m just going to go and just do it. I ended up doing it, and it was just so surreal because I landed in London and I was just walking up to Big Ben, and I was just like - oh my God I'm here!!

TM: When you found out your friend couldn't come with you and you realized you were going to travel by yourself, were you scared or nervous ?

KW: No I was just calm. I felt like I was going to be fine and I was just going to do it!

TM: So where did you go ?

KW: I started in London, I went to Paris. I absolutely love Paris! I went to Amsterdam. I went to a couple of cities in Italy and I went to Poland.

TM: So what’s the biggest difference between traveling solo and traveling with someone ?

KW: I think going solo, you're solely dependent on yourself and your own intuition. I like it because you can just go when you want, you don’t have to wait for anybody else.

If you change your mind, like you know - I don't like this city.

You can just leave, you don't have to consult with anybody else. I like both traveling with someone and by myself.

There’s benefits to both.

TM: How do you budget and plan for your international travels ?

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“I think going solo, you’re solely dependent on yourself and your own intuition” KW: I’m very savvy when it comes to finding deals. When I went to Europe for the first time I paid 500 round trip. I just find little ways of doing things; like instead of buying a round trip ticket, I bought two one-way tickets. It's so much you cheaper to do it that way. That way you can leave out of a different country. It’s easier to go to bigger airports. I flew into London because it was $200 from LA. And of course hostels if I'm by myself. If I’m with somebody I’ll do a hotel.

TM: Anything else you want to add ?

KW: Just get out there and do it. It's not completely inaccessible, it just seems like it. I feel like in other countries they encourage people to vacation, here they don’t. So just do it!

Follow: @Iamkrystalwillis

May 2019

Do It

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Audrey Bellis

Boss Moves

Photography & interview by Amina Touray Makeup by Perla Cabrera Silva 46

May 2019

I’ve always been fascinated by women that knows what they want. Women that are straight forward and determined to make changes in the branches that they find challenging. Businesswoman and entrepreneur Audrey Bellis, also founder of “StartUp DTLA” and “Worthy Women”, knew as a child that she had the ability to be a leader and was never afraid to express it.

Despite hardship and trials throughout her early

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upbringing, her innovative vision for downtown LA and women of color, continued to stay persistent. Bellis is the epitome of a young woman that has paved the way for a new generation of female leaders!

I’d like to go way back to the very beginning. What is your background, where are you from, and how has that shaped you?

I’m a first-generation Latina from North Long Beach but I’ve been downtown for al-

most a decade now. I grew up in an area that was predominantly people of color - black and Mexican, and coming out of the 90s in the gang era. It wasn’t uncommon here that you lost friends to gang violence, criminal activity or they got pregnant as teenager. So for me, to come out of that was critical. I went to Long Beach Poly and I was always in gifted programs, so being smart always helped me. I got full academic scholarship to Cal State Long Beach, with a deTrustworthy Magazine 47

gree in Psychology. I really look back to where I came from, and I’m very lucky because I have friends that didn’t get out and they’re still there. They never left the area, and are doing the same thing with the same people, and that’s fine for them, but I wanted more for myself.

Why do you think you stood out from them?

I always had big dreams for myself and I didn’t need the encouragement to be told that you can do anything, I knew that about myself.

Where do you think that mindset comes from; your mother, father, or maybe someone else that you looked up to ?

My parents are very conservative, you know - “you buy a house, you get married, you have two kids, you get a job, you stay in that job until you retire”, type people.

My grandparents were entrepreneurial, and my parents molded me to be very individual and strong-willed.

I think we are also just born with our personalities. Experience shapes how we respond to circumstances but our internal, gut reactions are inherent. I look at my son and he has personality traits that make me take pause and think - I don’t know where you got that from, but you just have that. I didn’t teach him to have those responses, he just naturally does.

He is willful and very determined to do things his way, he doesn’t want you to help him with things. I was that type of kid. I’ve always been very determined. My mom likes to tell the story of when I told my teacher, when she said - “what would you like to be?”, and everybody said, 48

- “I want to be an astronaut, I want to be a veterinarian”, and I said -“I want to be a dictator of my own country”.

She of course told my mom.

But I knew that from an early age. I knew that I like to be in charge, I knew that I had a commanding sense of authority and I knew that I had no problem speaking up.

And that is very essential, especially in the business that you are in, to have that leadership! Could you tell us more about “StartUp DTLA” ?

Yes “StartUp DTLA” was a

project with Mayor Garcetti’s office to help drive tech and creative companies into downtown. I had previously built an eCommerce business that I had sold. I wasn’t necessarily looking to be an entrepreneur, I felt like I was an accidental one. Following that stint, I wanted to learn from somebody who knows what they’re doing, and I couldn’t find anything or I was told I didn’t fit in and that I wasn’t fit. So I said - “well that’s crazy! Here we are in

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“People’s biggest downfall is that they don’t know what they want” downtown, there’s got to be all these companies and all these high-rises, how do you get connected with them ?” Well it turned out a lot of the high-rises were empty. I said - “that’s crazy! We have all the resources for people to want to be here, how can we break that gap ?” And I made a connection within the mayor’s office, and said - “I think I can help you do that.” And I asked. People always say - “well how do you get connected with the mayor’s office, you must have networked your way in.” No! You just pick up the phone!

I connected with one of his deputy mayors, introduced myself, explained my vision and said - “so what can we do to move this forward ?”

And that was it!

How did you prepare for that call with the mayor’s office, were you nervous ?

I was very confident in my vision! I had a belief that downtown LA was the next big economic hub. I felt that we had all of the resources for that, we had the space, we had talent, we had the resources from a fiber connection standpoint. We have the Fashion District, we have everything that comes in and

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off the port of LA, through the Alameda corridor, into downtown, all the import and export. We literally have everything here downtown, yet everyone’s going to Santa Monica where it’s highly saturated, ridiculous real estate, hard to get good internet. The cost to do business is significantly higher. I said “it doesn’t make sense!” This is just bad marketing. People need to know what’s here, and we need to get people connected to each other so it feels like a community. So I really wasn’t that nervous to be honest. I was so confident in my vision that I was going to tell anybody and everybody who would listen to it to see if they also wanted to participate and I think they felt that passion and they also felt - “okay you’re right, we also want to do something. What is it that you need from us to help do that ?” And

I was very clear about what I wanted. People’s biggest downfall is that they don’t know what they want. I can’t tell you how many meetings I’ve sat in with somebody, and they say - “hey Audrey I want to collaborate” and I say - “that’s nice, what would you like to collaborate on ?” - “I don’t know I just want to throw around ideas.

See what we can do together”. Don’t pitch me like that!

Come to me very clear with - “Audrey I know you do this. I would like to do XYZ with you and this is what I believe the benefit is for you and for me and here’s how I see us moving forward.” Let me decide yes or no, but don’t come to me with ambiguity because then it tells me that you don’t know what you want, so why should I invest my time and resources to support a mission that you aren’t even clear on?

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Do you feel like there’s anything that you did in the early stages of your career that...I don’t like to say failed with, but something that you had to learn the hard way ?

I don’t have any regrets! I think everything done in the course of my career, no matter what the mistakes were, I had to do every one of those things and it had to happen in exactly that way to lead me down the path of the next thing to get me to where I am today. Because like my kid; I have to fall on my face.

That’s how I learned. You can tell me until you are blue in your face, it doesn’t mean I’m going to listen because I get so stuck on - I want to do it this way. Looking back now, one thing I wish I would have had was a bigger team of advisors. I didn’t have a lot of advisors, and the ones that I did were white, old and male.

I had very few women, even less women of color, and I would have liked to see older versions of women like me.

Now that you have a 1-year old, how has that changed you as an entrepreneur ?

I believe that the only thing that can prepare you for motherhood is being an entrepreneur. It’s the thing you sacrifice everything for; your health, your sleep, your well being. You put yourself at risk constantly for the baby (or the business) as a mom.

You’re resilient because all you do is get knocked down over and over and over again.

And you’re just desperate for that “yes”, and you keep going till you get just a slight glimmer of it. Being a mom is the same thing you sacrifice everything constantly for 50

your child to provide, to be there, and to protect.

What boundaries have you put up now that you have a baby ?

Everything revolves around my son’s schedule. He goes to sleep at 5pm. Sometimes I’ll do a little admin work after hours, but I don’t typically work after he goes to sleep. I need to go to sleep! You try and get as much sleep as you can because he might get up in the middle of the night and you need to be prepared. The night is unpredictable. He might be sleeping through the night for 12 hours consistently for 5-6 days and all of a sudden you haven’t slept more than 90 minutes for 3 days in a row.

We just had that happened when I fainted Sunday because I had such little sleep in the last week. I was like a walking zombie; delirious, exhausted, working, sick and it gets the better of you. This week we’ve had phenomenal sleep. So the boundary I put up is that I won’t work past a certain time. I don’t care what it is come hell or high water, nothing is that important that it can’t wait till the morning! I also have invested in creating a support system for myself and my parents don’t live close by. They’re here in Southern California, but they recently moved not that close to us, so I don’t have that kind of help. I know that I cannot do good work while also parenting at the same time. I need to be able to have some undivided attention, privacy for client calls. So we invest in childcare help and I don’t feel guilty about that. I

have friends that have kids and they have shamed me for having a nanny. People say - “oh do you feel guilty ?” You know...I went to work two days after the baby was born, from the hospital bed.

I was recovering in the hospital (8 day post surgical recovery). I almost died in labor and delivery! And you know what I did ? Two days later I returned my work calls and I didn’t tell anybody that I had the baby because they would tell me not to work, because I still had to provide.

You don’t get that break, you don’t get maternity leave when you’re self-employed.

No one is doing it for you and you don’t get disability, you can but it’s very little money, and that was not what my son needed. When I went back to work one month later, people said it’s too soon, - “you didn’t take maternity leave”. My response was - “it doesn’t matter, it makes me happy to feel like myself.” I remember the first day that I left him with his nanny; I got dressed and went into the office. I cried out of joy because I felt like a human again! I used to be at 6 to 10 events a week, in addition to my work.

I can’t do that now because if I’m not getting paid for it, who’s watching the baby ?

And then I have to come out of pocket for childcare, so it better be worth my time. I’ll tell you what was difficult: People stop inviting you! It’s very isolating. People stop inviting you because they assume you’re not going to go or they think you’re going to show up with your kid. I can’t tell you how many times people have said - “Hey Au-

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drey I was at this event and I was expecting to see you, oh my gosh where were you ?”. I wasn’t invited. You don’t realize what shitty friend you are to people with kids until you have kids. I have friends who went to my baby shower and I’ve never heard from or seen since. Didn’t come and see us when the baby was born, asking - “how are you ?”, or “I’m thinking of you”.

They are happy to watch you on Instagram but God forbid they pick up the phone and say - “I’m thinking of you”.

Because they don’t want to be burdened with it, it’s not their lives, they feel like they don’t relate and that is heartbreaking but at the same time, despite how isolating so many of these things are, it teaches you even more resilience and it shows you that you don’t need to waste your time. You fall into a fallacies, even bad relationships whether personal or romantic. It forces you to examine where have you fallen into the perception and the fantasy of what you thought it was when it’s not really that.

So at some point you just say - “I wish you the best but no thanks.” But you know what does emerge ? Other moms, friends that were pregnant around the same time as me, or women I knew that became friends because we were going through the same thing. And even better, other moms and mom entrepreneurs that reached out, that I didn’t even know. I have moms that would find things on my registry and send them to us, and send us the most thoughtful gifts, and words of wisdom/advice

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to say - “you’ve got this!”

Yes sometimes you receive the most from the people that you least expect it from.

I want to talk a little about “Worthy Women”. Tell us about it?

So “Worthy Women” actually got started as a “StartUpDTLA” event. I was tired of going to women’s events that were all white women. LA is heavily Latino, right?! Where are the other entrepreneurs that look like me? I didn’t come from privilege, I mean I did. Everybody has their own miscellaneous privileges, but I didn’t come from a family where trust funds were set up for me. I was a scholarship kid. I wasn’t out there raising money from my parents friends. I went to public school, and ones with metal detectors because you could get shot by your peers. I wanted to go to events and relate to other women that were like me, that were building something from the ground up, with a little money and they had to be resourceful with the few resources that they had, and whose family didn’t understand them. My parents will tell you - “we came to this country for you to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer.

You’re none of those things.

You aren’t married, you don’t have kids by 30, you’re over 30”, and now I’ve had a child out of wedlock. Yay! So “Worthy Women” started as an event and it went viral. One event led to another, that led to another. They just got bigger and bigger.

So you basically saw a problem that you solved...

Selfishly “Worthy Women” is

me trying to solve my own problems and I didn’t realize that other people had the same ones, so I took the thing that isolated me and it turns out I wasn’t alone on an island. And then we have “Brown Girls Rising”, which is our podcast to feature women of color doing incredible things in the community. We have one season, we’re starting to record a season two.

I took a year off while I was pregnant and also to change scenario. One of the things I didn’t enjoy from season one, was how politically driven the conversations were.

I think that those things are really important, but “Brown Girls Rising”, hence “rising”, is a platform meant to elevate positive stories and so much of the political commentary felt so negative. I already see that everywhere. I don’t want to hear more of it. I live it every single day! But I want to hear the stories of people doing incredible things in the workplace, in their community, who are leveling up in their career, who are incredible entrepreneurs and who are financially succeeding.

That is critical to me! Like “How have you built success and options for yourself?”

Like building strong foundations and creating wealth so that you have influence to create change? That’s what season two is about. We will be featuring women of color in the workplace, in corporations, self-employed entrepreneurs, and women with their side hustles.

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“ I wasn’t finding opportunities for myself, so I created it” Where do you come across the women that you feature ?

By referrals, somebody says “oh you gotta meet this person”, Instagram stalking, you know one profile leads to another profile, next thing you know you’re on somebody’s page a 100 photos deep, double tapping everything. I just want to know you! It just comes together organically. And selfishly from people that I have fangirled over for a long time that I just want to be in the room with them.

I want to know if they’re really as incredible as I’ve always imagined them to be. I can guarantee you almost all of them are.

What piece of advice for any young woman would you want to give, who is about to enter an entrepreneurial journey ?

The stuff that makes you, is stronger than the stuff that breaks you. I don’t care what it is; entrepreneurship, relationships, motherhood, everything in life. At some point it’ll break you. And it will break you many times over, but it’s about picking yourself up and learning from it and doing different. The stuff that makes you and gets you to the next level is stronger than what broke you. It is always going to be stronger even though you think it’s not. The other piece is that everything beautiful and worthwhile 52

having in my life came from the depths of despair. I started “StartUp DTLA” because I felt alone, I can create community and I felt like I wasn’t finding opportunities for myself, so I created it. “Worthy Women” - I couldn’t see women like me. The other part of “Worthy Women” that I don’t often talk about is that I came out of a long-term relationship that ended with me doubting myself in every way, shape and form. I had to go find myself because I realized I was not showing up for me and I needed to. And how I was also not showing up for myself in my business.

In my community, in my other relationships, friendly, family. “Worthy Women” was about me finding myself. All those things! Motherhood! - I went through incredible difficulties during my pregnancy, I developed a heart condition. I was on bedrest. I had to cancel events. It was very traumatic for my business.

My partner went through a very public divorce that had a major impact on my business. Yet, look at where I am now; working a fraction of the time that I used to and making more than double the money. Everything! EVERYTHING, that you think is breaking you is opening your eyes to say it’s not working anymore you need to find a new way.

Is there anything else you want to share ?

I always tell people you can’t raise your net worth until you raise your self worth. And it’s something I remind myself of every day. Every time I doubt myself, every time I think I can’t do that, I look and I say - the relationship that I have with money, the relationship

that I have with where I’m at in my business, is a direct reflection of the relationship that I have with myself, and what is that relationship ?

Even the one that I have with my son. What is the relationship I have with myself ?

Because you cannot import your scars and your wounds on somebody else. You got to do your own work, otherwise you are spreading hurt. You can do anything, and if you can’t, the only thing holding you back is you! People say it’s resources, or it’s “this”.

It doesn’t matter. I can tell you I started my first company with less than $100 in the bank. There were some months that couldn’t even afford my hosting, I was scared my website would be pulled down and you know what, I always did it. You always find a way, you learn to be resourceful with the resources that you have.

The money you can find, the people you can find. You just have to have a willingness to not give up right!

And Audrey has definitely proven that if there is a will there ‘s a way!

Follow: @Audreybellis

May 2019

Photo:Sunyu Kim

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We talk Boss Moves with Audrey Bellis

Solo Travel & Budget Secrets

Ciera Payton

"Everyday is a new day and I'm just enjoying how this journey is unfolding"

May 2019

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