V&P Magazine September /October 2022

Vision&PurposeCommunityMagazinewantstotellyou,ourreaders, thankyouforyourcontinuoussupportinhelpingustoexpand.Assuch,weare pleasedtoannouncethatbecauseofyou,wearegrowingwhilecontinuingtobring youqualityreadingatitsbest.We’rereachingNEWheightswiththeenhanced materialsandappearanceoftheVision&PurposeCommunityMagazine’sprinted version.Letusknowhowmuchyouenjoytheimprovedlookandfeel.Youcanemail usatinfo@vandpmediaproductions.comortextto202-904-1000.

“It’sAllInThePaper.KeepingItACutAbove.”

Contributing Writers

September/October 2022 Issue

Marjorie Middleton

Karen McConnell-Jones

Krystal Glenn

Jason Greene

Kyonna F. Brown

Michelle DeMarcia Davis

Antonio “Tony T” Turner

Martina Turner

Seth Washington

Editor-In-Chief

Marjorie Middleton

Deputy Editors

Seth Washington

Karen McConnell-Jones

Director of Graphics & Design

Krystal Glenn

Director of Sales

Karen McConnell-Jones

Photographer

Michael Atcherson

Layout & Design

Michelle DeMarcia Davis

If you are interested in writing for Vision and Purpose Community Magazine, send a writing sample and which column you are interested in to info@vandpmediaproductions.com

The V&P Team is here to be a positive voice for our community through the stories that we share in our magazine. In addition, we provide services for our community to continue to help build our community . . . One Vision and One Purpose at a time.

For service and pricing please contact us at info@vandpmediaproductions.com

Karen McConnell-Jones

Karen Clay

Michael Atcherson

Jason Greene

Kyonna Fields Brown

Marjorie Middleton

Antonio Turner

Martina Turner

Seth Washington

Isaiah Proctor

Zannie McNeil III

Michelle DeMarcia Davis

Inspirational Speaker & Business Development Consultant (Marketing & Branding Specialist)

Website Designer

Photographer Chef & Catering Service

Inspirational Speaker & Social Media Specialist

Writer & Editor Hair Stylist & Hair Care Products

Hair Stylist & Hair Care Products

Vocal Artist & Master of Ceremony

Audio Engineer

IT Specialist

Virtual Assistant/Graphic Design

PRAISE

by Marjorie M. Middleton

In the Oxford Language Dictionary, praise is described as “the expression of approval or admiration of; the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something.” The world that we live in always has praise for things and people that will not last. Money is praised. Power is praised. People who have money and power are praised Beauty is praised. But, all of these will fade

There is only one worthy of all praise. One worthy of eternal praise because he is everlasting. That is Jesus. The things we praise, Jesus supplies. He has provided us with the means to live a beautiful and peaceful life There is enough money for everyone. Power is provided so we can lead our own lives productively, and beauty is the fact that we are created in his image and the land we live on is majestic. We should never forget how blessed we are and give thanks.

Unfortunately, we misuse our provisions. We fail to recognize our surroundings, take for granted our abilities and many forsake praising the one who blessed us. My goal is to praise the Lord daily in everything I do and in every way I endeavor to serve. I believe we should all challenge ourselves in this way.

There are many ways to praise the Lord. We must choose our own ways to honor God’s goodness. Some ideas that come to mind:

-Praise him in the way you serve others. An example of that would be volunteering to read books to children in a shelter

-Volunteer at a food bank

-Praise him by teaching a Sunday School class

-Praise him by starting a community outreach

-Teach a bible study, telling someone else about the goodness of Jesus

-Clean up a park, honoring the beauty he has provided

-Donate to a charitable cause (could even be one you start)

-Cook a meal for an elderly or sick neighbor

-Praise him by loving your neighbor as you love yourself

These are just a few ideas. Every day we have the opportunity to let God know how much we appreciate his gifts and his lovingkindness.

Just as there are many ways to praise the Lord, there are also many places to praise him. Choosing when or where is up to you, but there are so many beautiful choices:

-Church or whatever organized worship center you choose is always available

-Build your own prayer closet at home – always inspiring

-Praise him in your car on the way to work! We should always have his praises on our lips

-Praise him at work, in the grocery store or at the doctor’s office. Tell everybody about the goodness of Jesus

-Lead praise and worship at your church, in your neighborhood or build an Outreach ministry and take that praise on the road

-Journal your praises

-Praise him by appreciating the beauty he’s provided. Go to a beach and enjoy the ocean. Go on a hike and enjoy the earth, the trees, the air. Take a look at the stars at night. We are truly blessed -Sing your praises, just praise him, wherever you are!

Praise allows us to touch God Of course, the blood of Jesus has made the way for our forgiveness from sin; it allows us to have a relationship with God, also. Our constant praise brings peace, love and all of the promises of God. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Ps. 68:19. He hears you.

A historical and present day story:

We all have a choice in how and where we praise, and even in whether or not we decide not to. But, Black people have a rich history of praise and worship. We have been through so much, during slavery times and even presently, but as a people we hold onto hope. We are resilient and must celebrate our power God is hope God is our power

On St. Helena Island in South Carolina, small praise houses were built by plantation owners for segregated worship. Then, slaves used them to serve as community centers, places of worship and historical centers for the plantation economy of the Gullah people during and after slavery. Today the remaining praise houses are historical and the community tries to keep them up. There are three remaining, Mary Jenkins Community Praise House, Coffin Point Praise House and Eddings Point Community Praise House They are made of wood and are 18x20 foot small framed houses. During slavery times up until about 1932 there were 25 throughout the plantations. Stark white, with wooden benches and a stand at the front for preaching, singing and delivering community news. Slave owners demanded that the structures be built small to avoid an uprising of the slaves. The three houses are preserved to this day and in the early and mid 2000’s I had the pleasure of hearing my father, Robert Middleton, deliver a word over that pulpit stand. What a piece of history!

I read an article entitled 7 Reasons to Praise the Lord by Todd Gaddis and I agree with his reasoning. In summary:

-The bible commands it. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Ps. 150:6

-Praise facilitates access to God

-Praise is where God lives. Amen!

-Praise promotes productivity

-Praise chases away despair. Hallelujah!

-Praise is an effective weapon against the enemy.

-God is worthy of it Yes HE is!

Praise takes our minds off of the worries of the world and our own problems. Get lost in praise. It’s a true relief system. Take some time out and praise the Lord!! You will be very glad you did.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Ps 100:4

Be blessed!

Community Hero

Youth Community Hero

By Krystal Glenn

When I think of HEROES my son comes to mind. At the age of 4 he was diagnosed with a benign jaw bone tumor condition that usually happens to adults. He taught me about being a parent and helped me understand God's assignment for me as his mother. We learned together how to overcome the obstacles like surgery, dealing with emotions, communication, responsibility and showing love and gratitude for all our blessings. It gives me great honor to let Elijah know that he is truly a hero in my eyes and to show the world all that he is made of!

Krystal Glenn (KG): What is your name and how old are you? Elijah Starks (ES): My name is Elijah Starks and I am 10 years old.

KG: Give just three words to describe yourself

ES: Artistic, funny and adventurous

KG: What grade are you in and what school do you attend?

ES: I am in 5th grade and I am homeschooled.

KG: What is your favorite subject in school?

ES: My favorite subjects are math and art.

KG: Who is your role model and why?

ES: My mom. She is an artist and it makes me want to do art too

KG: What do you like about being a youth?

ES: I like to be a kid because you get to go places and discover things.

KG: What is the hard part about being a youth?

ES: The hardest part about being a kid is that someday you will grow up and won't be a kid any more

KG: What are your special talents/gifts?

ES: My special talent is making stuff and doing art. I paint, use markers, crayons and stuff.

KG: What community services do you do?

ES: I have helped clean up my neighborhoods.

KG: What does community mean to you?

ES: Community means to help. It means I want to help people

KG: What do you love about your family?

ES: I love that they love me every day and help me.

KG: What is your favorite family time?

ES: Watching movies. We do a family movie night with snacks.

KG: What do you want to be when you grow up?

ES: I want to be an artist when I grow up so people can see my art in a museum.

KG: What else would you like to say?

ES: I would like to say, I love everything!

Community Hero

Youth Community Hero

By: Vision & Purpose Community Magazine

V&P Community Magazine (VPCM): What is your name and how old are you?

Amerys Seegars (AS): My name is Amerys Seegars and I’m 12 years old.

VPCM: Give just three words to describe yourself

AS: The three words I would use to describe myself are funny, caring, and kind.

VPCM: What grade are you in and what school do you attend?

AS: I’m in the 7th grade and I’m currently homeschooled, so I can focus on my passion for performing arts and theater.

VPCM: What is your favorite subject in school?

AS: My favorite subjects are Music and English.

VPCM: Who is your role model and why?

AS: My role model is Ariana Grande because she’s creative, talented and fights for what she believes in.

VPCM: What do you like about being a youth?

AS: I enjoy having opportunities to meet new people and try new things. When you’re a teen, you’re always learning and discovering something new.

VPCM: What is the hard part about being a youth?

AS: One of the toughest parts is being told what to do. It’s hard not always getting to do what you want That’s why you have to learn to express your feelings in a way that adults around you will listen and understand.

VPCM: What are your special talents/gifts?

AS: Some of my talents are singing and cooking. I sing in the alumni rock jazz band and really got interested in cooking and baking during the pandemic

VPCM: What community services do you do?

S: Before the pandemic, I was much more active with in person community vice Every year, my parents and I would get our neighbors together to do mething kind for the community during the holiday season. We visited the local terans home. We sang songs and gave the residents hand-crafted holiday gift skets that we all made. The veterans really appreciate having visitors and really ved it when we brought them Coca Colas, which they weren’t usually allowed to ve

nce the pandemic occurred, we learned that many people were unable to work, so od banks were running out of food My family and I worked with local farmers ho had too many crops to sell since a lot of restaurants had closed. We collected oney from our neighbors and were able to raise enough money to buy 20 boxes of sh produce to donate to the local food bank for people who are struggling with od insecurity.

One passion of mine is to come up with solutions to help the homeless. Now that we're getting past the pandemic and things are getting better, I’m looking forward to doing more in my community

VPCM: What does community mean to you?

AS: Community to me means people who you can count on.

VPCM: What do you love about your family?

AS: One thing I love about my family is that we get together to have parties and have family reunions.

VPCM: What is your favorite family time?

AS: My favorite family time is going on vacation with my family or celebrating holidays

VPCM: What do you want to be when you grow up?

AS: When I grow up, I want to be a singer and an actor.

VPCM: What else would you like to say?

AS: In 2021, I was nominated to participate in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, which I attended this summer! Participants are nominated based on character and leadership abilities. At that conference, we were challenged to identify problems that our world is facing and come up with a plan to address these issues. This was a really fun opportunity to meet other teens who want to see change in this world and think about ways we can do it together

Business & Entrepreneurship When Business Becomes Personable

By Karen McConnell-Jones

It is true that when most of us start our own business, we are coming from a place of purpose, being passionate, seeing the need for a particular service and/or the need to serve When business is being approached from a more personal point of view, you allow your business to be more inviting, more endearing, and taking care of others first

Statistics show that when a business is operating from a personable point of view, the business tends to have a better success rate. The business tends to build greater long-term clients and business relationships. Statistics also show that your target audience gets the best of your customer service and can relate to your business purpose even more. When you are personable it does tend to make you more relatable

Meet husband and wife team Marc Curry and Angela Gore Curry, both are experts in the fitness and mental mindset of yoga Yoga is one of many common ground spaces that permits the loving couple to work together They both have been practicing yoga for many years before launching their yoga business, Arise Educational Services, LLC began in June of 2020

Marc is an attorney and has been practicing law for nearly 30 years. He primarily practices litigation, working in a diverse range of practice areas, ranging from security clearance eligibility, to police misconduct, personal injury, and municipal services law.

Angela is an elementary school teacher and yoga instructor who specializes in working with at-risk youth. She entered this field because she passionately believes that education levels the playing field for everyone, and with a level playing field, all can succeed regardless of socio-economic background. “In starting Arise Educational Services, my line of work did not change. Rather it evolved. I have the same zeal for teaching that I did when I first began 25 years ago. As my career developed, I noticed how much a child’s academic accomplishments were dependent upon their physical and emotional well-being.

At or about this time, I had coincidentally begun practicing yoga. I was pleasantly surprised that not only was it helping me stay in shape; it was improving my emotional wellbeing. I then concluded that if it was this helpful to me, that yoga and its principals might help my students and I must add, there are many wonderful elementary school teachers, yoga instructors, and mindfulness instructors. However, there are not many Elementary school teachers who are qualified yoga or mindfulness instructors, and there are not many yoga or mindfulness instructors who are qualified to teach children. Because I am qualified in all of these fields, I recognized an opportunity, and decided to start a business that combines both teaching, yoga, and mindfulness.”

Marc chimed in by sharing that he has always been physically active, enjoying weightlifting, jogging, cycling, and hiking. However, in the late 2000s, he developed a heart problem. Initially, it could be controlled with medication. Nevertheless, it continued to worsen, prompting Marc to have two corrective surgeries. After the second surgery, his doctor suggested that he begin practicing yoga. “While recuperating, I read up on yoga and its practice in relation to my heart problem, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was ample literature about the correlation of yoga practice and an improvement in the heart function for people who suffered from my malady. I then began practicing yoga and noticed immediate improvement. Now, yoga is a part of my daily routine. It is my way of living a healthier life and having a positive mindset which I enjoy working with my wife and having yoga to be our business platform ”

They both were in agreement that yoga tones the body, improves flexibility, and helps with balance Depending on the type of yoga flow that you can practice, it can build strength, increase stamina, and help with weight loss. The mindfulness aspect of yoga helps manage stress, improve mood, and improve focus Of particular importance to children, it helps boost self-esteem, regulate behavior, and helps them empathize with others. Much of stress involves worrying about the negative future impact of today’s problems Yoga and its corresponding mindfulness component trains us to focus on the present and not be preoccupied with the future. Absent of anxiety, we can confront our problems in a more rational, grounded manner.

Angela goes on to say, “we know our individual strengths and weaknesses, and are open to constructive criticism. Knowing what we individually are good at (and not so good at), without pride blurring the picture helps us delegate tasks, and meet evolving challenges more nimbly and effectively.” Yes, says Marc “I agree As Angela’s business partner, I am her number one cheerleader. In addition to helping with mundane, day-to-day issues related to operating a business, I am a sounding board for program development and planning-related issues. Yet, more importantly, I am her biggest sounding board when she shares a proud moment of this particular day during a summer camp session when the light bulb went on for some of her more oppositional students when they went from openly expressing disdain for yoga, to leading the yoga flows This is a great joy for us, when we can see the children’s transformation right before our eyes.”

The Curry’s have envisioned a society where all students have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams, regardless of economic background, and where all children are taught to respect themselves, one another, their community, and their environment. Their purpose is to continue using the principles of yoga and mindfulness to help achieve this vision.

Final thoughts from the Curry’s, “Our society is plagued by economic inequality and inequality of educational opportunity Communities of color disproportionately suffer from these problems Moreover, these problems manifest themselves in physical problems such as obesity, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Using yoga can help to still the mind, help with teaching, and yoga's physical benefits can help manage chronic health problems. Economic inequality and its negative repercussions are generational, and will not be solved in one generation. Moreover, yoga is not a cure-all for these problems. However, if we can help children classroom by classroom become more focused; if we can help make life just a little bit better for people with chronic illnesses and anxiety, then we will consider our practice a success.”

Health & Wellness

As a chef I have always been extremely intrigued about the make-up and composition of certain meats, fruits and vegetables for how they benefit the human body. The coconut is an amazingly versatile fruit that can be beneficial in an array of ways. Coconut is a high fat fruit that is very nutritious and is considered very valuable with a large range of health benefits. The fruit comes from the coconut tree which is a member of the palm tree family and botanically it is considered a drupe. The coconut is not an actual nut due to its fleshy skin and containing a seed similar to a plum, cherry or olive The raw white, fleshy skin inside of the coconut is called the kernel, which has a very firm texture with a tasty semi-sweet flavor. This kernel being the centerpiece of the fruit is a liquid when the coconut is in its immature stage, but after time it solidifies and becomes fleshy. Once dried this flesh is normally grated and shaved for cooking and baking purposes Coconut oil, which has become very popular in the US, is also extracted from the kernel as well as coconut milk when it’s pressed.

Coconut & Its' Nutritional Value

By Chef Jason R. Greene

The high fiber and antioxidant content of the coconut provides the human body with five main nutrients, which are iron, manganese, magnesium, selenium & phosphorus that all play a vital role in the overall health of a human being. Iron helps our muscles store and use oxygen. Manganese helps the body form connective tissue & bones while phosphorus helps make the protein for the growth and maintenance of cells and tissues. Magnesium helps with the support of nerve function and energy production. Selenium helps lower oxidative stress, reduces inflammation and enhances immunity These five nutrients, though you only get trace amounts depending on the amount of coconut digested, still make a difference.

Other benefits of the coconut are that it can improve heart health, promote weight loss and improve digestion. Historically, coconut has been used as part of traditional medicine and is said to counteract some poisons, protect against disease, ease inflammation and kill bacteria. Coconut oil can be used externally on the skin to give it moisture, and, in a pinch fresh coconut water can even be used as an all-natural IV bag. The water is an intracellular fluid similar to what we have in our bodies due to its overall density, making it a well-suited source of rehydration

Coconut is mostly found in sweet and savory culinary cuisines and dishes Caribbean or Tropical cuisines incorporate coconut in a lot of their recipes In my experience, coconut can be used to sauté vegetables, sweeten rice or corn dishes and even desserts. Using coconut oil to sauté dark green vegetables, such as spinach, Swiss chard or green beans does wonders for the body nutritiously. Baking a rice or corn casserole with coconut milk can bring an amazing flavor to those dishes Shaved coconut can be used as the finishing touch on a delicious coconut cake, as well as a topper for other delicate desserts. Remember that coconut is loaded in calories and saturated fat, so you should eat it in moderation Overall, unsweetened coconut meat makes a great addition to a balanced diet

Beautiful-Gifted-Heavy

By Kyonna F. Brown

pretty, smart, and not fat. Those were the taunting thoughts that played a recurring role in my head. As early as I can remember I’ve always been the fat girl. It was confirmed by another student when I was in the 6th grade He told me that I would be pretty if I wasn’t so fat I believe that’s the exact moment I lost all of the little bit of love I had for myself. The reality was that it wasn’t just in my head. Everyone saw exactly what I saw when I looked in the mirror. A very dark overweight short black girl As if it wasn’t bad enough that I had this image, I also had to wear old lady clothes because in my day there weren’t any cute clothes for chubby little girls.

Being that girl played a huge role in my state of mind. Childhood obesity affects each individual in their own unique way. I had some heavy friends in my youth that believed and behaved as if they were the skinniest girl in the room with a to die for figure I didn’t understand their confidence and furthermore I couldn't understand why I couldn’t have it. I still can’t understand why I got hit with the fat gene and my brother struggles just to gain weight.

While growing up I dealt with the absence of my biological parents My grandparents raised my brother and me. My parents, at that time, were battling with drug addiction which increased the domestic violence that was the starring role in my toddler years.

As a result of witnessing those scenes I became very withdrawn and that was the catalyst that helped my mother realize that we were much safer with my grandparents. Well, that and some other very serious encounters involving our safety. Becoming withdrawn has grown with me and is very much a part of who I am today. I wonder if I had different experiences would I be someone different. I guess we’ll never know. Dealing with childhood obesity I didn’t get to live a normal childhood I always had to go to the doctor. I was constantly sick. I even had to go to what I call fat sessions, weekly, at Children's Hospital. The sessions were based around teaching us how to eat and exercising

Those sessions did no service to me because it didn’t matter if I knew what to eat, I’d eat whatever I wanted to eat according to my emotions. I believe those classes would have been better if we learned how to identify why we are fat, so we could get a handle on our youthful emotions. Today I am a mother and I notice some of my overeating habits in my minor son. I talk with him to see if he understands why he’s eating and show him how to learn to put food in its proper place. Most often adults don’t try to tap into why children do what they do. It’s all about correction. In a math problem in order to get the correct answer, you must solve the equation.

In our lives if we want to get it right we have to work out the problems. Same thing right? I wish I could say that they didn’t send me to see a therapist, but they did. I just told them what they wanted to hear so the sessions would be over and I could go back to the eating. In my teenage years it wasn’t all about the food It also became about drugs. As a person who stayed to herself I now wanted friends and some of those friends did what I thought was cool at that time. Now I’m pacifying my emotions with food and drugs and that was dangerous. By the time I was 16 years old I was 300+ pounds and things went downhill. As a 42 year old woman I’ve only truly loved myself for about 14 years. Today I learned to get to know myself. I now know why I do what I do, and encourage everyone in my life to do the same

The dark, ugly fat black girl became someone who knows she’s beautiful, gifted and no longer heavy due to the mental baggage I carried around from place to place. If I could leave one thing with the little girl who sees herself like I did, it would be to get to know the real you. She’s hiding behind the laughs, the pointing of the fingers, and even the image you see in the mirror. My change happened when I realized who I was and the power I have to make any goal or dream I have come true. Childhood obesity could have held my death ticket, but digesting the real facts of my illness made me well. Well enough to want to live. Live Beautiful, Live Gifted, Live without the Heaviness of false perceptions. You are worth it!

Education Is

Key School Is Back In Session Stay F.R.E.E. like the Summer

by Michelle DeMarcia Davis

I hope you enjoyed your summer Now that school is back in session, we are back to our regularly scheduled program. If you are a student, parent/guardian, teacher, etc…and don’t already do your affirmations, “remember your why” and set S.M A.R T goals in your daily routine, they are an awesome addition. These exercises will provide clarity for a positive, purposeful mindset getting you to the school year finish line.

What’s an affirmation?

An affirmation is:

a. The action or process of affirming something or being affirmed.

b Emotional support or encouragement

My favorite affirmations are Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol; against such things there is no law.”

I simply place “I am” in front of each fruit. I am… I am love. I am joy. I am peace. I am patience. I am kindness I am goodness I am faithfulness I am gentleness. I am self-control

I was blessed to speak at a seminar, with the theme “Free ‘22.” I spoke about how I stay positive and it helped me come up with what to write now, “my why”. The answer is, I keep my life as simple as possible! I use all that I’ve gained to L I.V.E. Remember your “why” of why you are going to school to improve your education and grow. It will all be worth it. “Success is when preparation meets opportunity”. You are being prepared for many great purposes.

I love a good acronym; so, I started to think… What does F.R.E.E mean to me?

My definition of F.R.E.E is to FORGIVE; REVIVE; EDIFY; EMPOWER: Forgive: myself and others

Revive: (I originally selected Realistic; because people tend to think positive people are not realistic but went with Revive because it means “restore to life or consciousness. Regain life, consciousness, or strength ” Give new strength or energy to.

Edify: instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually. Empower: give (someone) the authority or power to do something. School is a great place to practice being F.R E.E. If you don’t get it right the first time, be patient with yourself and hopefully you will the next time.

A part of being smart is setting goals and accomplishing them So, I advise everyone to create S.M.A.R.T. Goals for your school year and life.

Let’s break down exactly what a smart goal is:

Specific: State a clear, concrete goal. Example: I want to weigh 145lbs.

Measurable: Establish how you will measure the goal’s progress and completion. Example: I will know that I achieved my goal because the scale will read 145lb when I step on it.

Attainable: Make sure your goal is something you can realistically achieve. Don’t set yourself up for failure Take small steps Example: I will lose 2- lbs per week.

Relevant: Know how your goal fits into the big picture. There’s no point in setting goals that someone else wants for your life. Identify your God-given desires through prayer/meditation and work to get closer to those Example: 14lbs is the proper BMI for my height and health.

Time-bound: Set an end date.

Example: I will accomplish my goal by November 1, 2022. This is great because I will be able to give an update by our November/December release.

Last, but certainly not least, avoid distractions. Keep your eye on the prize and stay focused. It is way easier said than done. Remember a distraction is a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else Once you set your S.M A.R T. goals you can achieve in the short term and long term. All of these are a major part of personal development education that help me remain successful while enjoying my journey I hope sharing them will help you along yours. Transitioning can be a challenge. Each day is a new day to restart and be excited to see your progress. Once you start you are closer to reaching your goal than you were before you started. If you haven’t gotten closer to your goal or reached it; pause, reflect and focus, knowing accomplishing it will make this one of your best years yet!

Fun Monthly Education Facts:

Why is September the start of the academic year?

The academic year begins in September only because of the Education Act of 1880, which decreed that all children aged between five and 10 years old had to attend school. September was chosen because the harvest had been mostly collected by then.

What is National Economic Education Month?

October is officially National Economic Education Month! The observance promotes the importance of teaching economics in our schools.

Celebrating Five Years of Business Bliss

By Karen McConnell-Jones

Starting your own business is a very exciting time in one’s life. The excitement, the joy, the thrill of it all, can give you such a “Business Bliss.” The ability to see your purpose come to fruition, truly highlights a monumental moment in one’s life. It deserves and calls for celebration. Whether it’s the grand opening and all the milestones along the way, we know it is an honor to be able to celebrate all the fulfilled purposes that God has allowed us to achieve.

Vision & Purpose Community Magazine is thrilled to be featuring such an accomplishment as this Angela Lewis, congratulations for five years of business bliss with two of the five years being sustained during the COVID-19 Pandemic which is a blessing within itself and deserves to be recognized.

Mrs Angela Lewis is a woman that is living her best life. She can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, but there is no doubt that God and family are her first priority. Business and community are what drives Angela to use her gifts and skillset to make a difference in people's lives. By providing services and resources to her clients she helps them to achieve expansional branding and sustainable growth, while using a portion of her business proceeds to give back to the community and her non-profit organization.

Angela Lewis was born exactly five days after her mother's birthday and exactly five days before her father's birthday in the fall of 1980 in Wilmington, NC. She currently resides in Prince George's County, Maryland Angela is a wife and homeschool mother of two. She is the Owner/Operator of Savvy Designs, “We Are NOT Just Graphics.” Angela started working almost immediately out of high school in the medical field and eventually worked her way from being a Medical Administrator to a Medical Assistant for six prolific Orthopedic Surgeons. Angela did this until she had to make the hard decision to stay at home. Being independent didn’t allow her to just sit at home even though she had that option Instead, she worked multiple jobs on the weekends and at night. This made her schedule much easier to work with sales, marketing, and promotions for Verizon. She was one of the TOP six sales reps on the East Coast and was vetted after only two years of working with the company. Also, she worked security during the graveyard shift at Mu healthcare services for people of all ages who had aut

When asked, who were your influencers growing up? Angela replied, “God my grandmother who knows everyone an gave me my first jo eight, my mother w determination and d nothing beats a failu me networking and was a vital key to su

It was their tenacity and dedication to the families that conveyed that no matter how life treats you, God has control and one must keep moving forward. My cousin showed me the value of persuasion in every situation, and as an adult my grandfather showed me that you should always be strategic with your resources. Pastor Ron Carpenter, Zig Ziglar, Grant Cardone, Bob Proctor, Brandon and Natalie Dawson, and John C. Maxwell are also influencers to me outside of my family.”

Angela goes on to say “I have been blessed with many gifts and I honor God by operating in all of them as I ensure they remain a part of who I am. I am a born teacher; I love to see the light come on for children and struggling adults who thought they were alone. I use what I learned as a tutor and while being a homeschooling parent every day. Those two opportunities help my clients feel at ease. I am an equipper; meaning I love to arm my clients with confidence and skills that ensure they feel and live in that empowerment. I am a consultant, not a coach (though I am certified). I use my teaching ability, thirst for learning, passion for always wanting to help to provide behavioral analysis for companies ensuring stronger hiring practices, product placement, and retention of employees resulting in the creation of phenomenal work environments. The bulk of my clients are underdogs, not tech savvy, or in their opinion not educated enough because they didn’t finish school or were not good students This kind of mentality is something that I am familiar with as I also experienced it with homeschool students/teachers/school staff, but I ensure they understand I am there to instill in them that they can improve relationships, empower themselves and other students/employees/staff, and remain encouraged while keeping everyone engaged. I make sure they know I am not there to rush them, I am there for them. Some of my clients refer to my primary method as a “Hand Holding Process” and to some degree they are correct because I am determined, dedicated and move with a personable touch in the best interest for my client. I am a Connector/Master Networker, I get energized in rooms that are full of solutions whether it be for myself or my clients. I enjoy using my mental rolodex to advocate and/or connect my clients/potential clients with the best people that will help them solve their problems efficiently and effectively. I am an Artist in my own right and I use my marketing prowess to create marketing and advertising designs which create a megaphone for my clients to reach their target(ed) audience ”

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The Matters of the Heart for Angela

Family, Business, and Community, these are the pillars of Angela’s personal and professional life God first always, family because they are gifts that you don’t have to have, and community as we were sent here to serve and who better to serve than those around us. “How you do anything is how you do everything so if you are not giving 100% to what you are doing (at the time whether personal or professional) you are dropping the ball. So, give whatever you are doing at the time all of your attention as doing anything less is not genuine.”

Angela recounts as a child her mother would perfectly freehand cut the alphabet out of those blank books and construction paper and neatly tape them to the wall Her mother would sing, teach, and make a bubble of life where there was no color, race, hate or envy as we are all God's children. This was reinforced during the summers when she stayed with her Great-Grandmother and Grandmother. Angela learned the hustle game from watching and spending a lot of time with the old adults in her family. As stated earlier she got her set of first jobs at eight years old, working with Grandmother (Grams), being on the job at 5am, then there was bible study and choir rehearsal then back again for sunrise services, breakfast prep, wedding receptions, Sunday School, which her Grams taught. Angela helped with prepping the night before and helped prepare the pass out literature for the students. In between these things her grandmother had a side hustle in catering and guess who was her sidekick. Angela learned so much about cleanliness, organization, the importance of being on time, meaning 15-30 minutes early, decorating, the lessons of folding silverware is forever embedded in her brain so is the lesson of hard work, determination, and hustle.

I am an Artist in my own right and I use my marketing prowess to create marketing and advertising designs which create a megaphone for my clients to reach their target(ed) audience.”

- Angela

Angela to believe that she could truly only depend on God and herself. So, if she was to get married, he'd have to be a strong person to accept her need for standing on her own two feet. In Angela's early twenties, she decided that dating was not for her because she is a no shade of gray person. “Either it is or it isn't there, and very few times when it was. I recall getting on my knees and praying for my husband, even down to his eyelashes and boy did God deliver.”

He is definitely the Yin to her Yang and together was the birth of two beautiful children She and her husband were not pleased with the after effects of the school environment, Angela prayed again and asked God for a solution Homeschooling taught her the meaning of patience, kindness, grace and rekindled her thirst for learning.

Angela likes to pray and meditate daily, she does yoga, exercise, seeks guidance weekly from her mentors, accountability partners, and coaches. When Angela has a moment to sit down and relax, she watches shows that provide information to help her family, herself, and/or her clients to grow. Angela’s personal and professional purpose is to help people find clarity so they can give value to others. The vision for her personal and professional life is one in the same as she wants to equip at least one million people with life-changing information which will help them grow personally, professionally and financially. Therefore, ending generational poverty, creating vast opportunities to live an abundant life and ensure we have the foundation, motivation, and knowledge to pay it forward by teaching the community to do the same.

Angela’s final words, “Everything needs rain and sunshine to grow When you fall; fall forward and when you dream; dream bigger. If it is small, it is not God!

The sky is not the limit it’s simply a destination.”

Savvy Designs is a marketing and advertising agency that provides brand support to small business owners and start-ups. We have a fluid office of eclectic creatives that will ensure you thrive in any/all environments. We design and develop the proverbial megaphone that will ensure you reach your target audience. We do this by creating a unique image and signature that is customized to ensure your success in whatever world you can imagine, i.e. commercial advertising design

Community Outreach

September

National Childhood Obesity Month, about 1 in 5 (19%) children in the United States has obesity. Certain groups of children are more affected than others. National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month provides a chance for all of us to learn more about this serious health condition. While there is no simple solution, there are many ways communities can support children with their journey to good health. Yellow is the ribbon color for Childhood Obesity Month.

September: National Recovery Month, Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who have recovered. Turquoise is the ribbon color for Recovery Month.

October

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease There are about 1 38 million new cases and 458,000 deaths from breast cancer each year (IARC Globocan, 2008). Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increase urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles. Pink is the ribbon color for Breast Cancer Month.

October: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Purple is the ribbon color for Domestic Violence Month.

October: World Mental Health Day, is observed on 10th of October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. Green is the ribbon color for Mental Health Day.

September 2022 Days: October 2022 Days:

5th International Day of Charity

5th Labor Day (United States)

8th International Literacy Day

10th World Suicide Prevention Day

13th World Sepsis Day

15th International Day of Democracy

21st International Day of Peace

22nd World Rhino Day

27th World Tourism Day

28th World Rabies Day

29th World Rivers Day

29th World Heart Day

Month Long Awareness:

National Childhood Obesity Month

National Recovery Month

World Alzheimer’s Month

Biodiversity Month

Healthy Aging Month

World Sepsis Month and Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

1st International Day of Older Persons

2nd International Day of Nonviolence

4th World Animal Day

5th World Teachers’ Day

6th World Cerebral Palsy Day

7th World Habitat Day

8th World Sight Day

9th World Post Day

10th World Mental Health Day

10th World Homeless Day

11th International Day of the Girl Child

12th Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day (United States)

12th World Arthritis Day

15th International Day of Rural Women

16th World Food Day

16th Global Cat Day

17th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

18th World Values Day

24th United Nations Day

27th World Day of Audiovisual Heritage

29th World Internet Day

31st World Cities Day

Month Long:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Cyber Security Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month (United States)

Energy Awareness Month (United States)

Hunger Awareness Month (United States)

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month (United States)

LGBT History Month (United States)

National Economic Education Month

SIDS Awareness Month (United States)

The Love of Kai’s House

By Karen McConnell-Jones

How does a non-profit organizations help to play a key role in our community and why are they considered to be an effective way to outreach back into the community? The reason is that most non-profits are establish by people that come from a serving heart They take the love, desire, and the passion that they have to serve people and address the needs of our community They provide services that helps bring solutions and help keep our community moving forward

Rev. Christi Rojas is the Founder of Kai's House, a non-profit organization, created to support black young adults between the ages of 18-23 by teaching them life skills and spiritual laws and principles in an experiential learning environment.

Christi was born and raised in Washington, DC. She has served the community as a Realtor in the DC, MD and VA area for nearly two decades She discovered early in life that her mission on the planet was to build relationships and to serve. In 2018 she continued her spiritual journey and enrolled in a personal development program at Inner Visions Institute of Spiritual Development. It was there that the seed which had been planted for the vision of Kai's House was watered and began to sprout

In 2021 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Metaphysical Science and became an ordained minister. Kai’s House is the vehicle that fulfills her intention to be the change she desires to see in the world Her desire is to reach as many young people as possible, realizing that each light makes the world a brighter place.

Christi knew from a very young age that she loved to serve. Service is not what she does; it’s who she is. So, whether Christi is running the non-profit, wearing her realtor hat, being a mom, sister, or friend, she is always in service When her kids were younger, her house was the house on the block that all their friends came to. Even when Christi shopped for groceries, she shopped with the idea in mind that she was feeding more than just her own children and as time went on and they got older, she realized that the feeding she was doing was deeper than food for their bodies. She was also feeding their souls. “I never imagined, when Kai’s House started that it would grow into a non-profit. It was simply my goal to support a young man in need. We took him into our home with the intention of giving guidance and a chance for him to get on his feet. That was in 2017. In 2018 I began a personal development program where I learned the spiritual laws and principles that I now teach at Kai’s House By 2020, there were two more young men in the house and it was at that time that I realized the need for what I was learning and teaching was much greater than I could serve on my own. May of 2020 is officially when the non-profit was formed.”

“Again, I must state, one of the major objectives of Kai’s House is to teach the spiritual laws and principles that will support them in becoming not only independent, but to experience abundance in all aspects of their lives. The spiritual laws and principles, once applied in their lives, support them in holding themselves accountable and taking 100% responsibility for their lives. I connect with them through these teachings and also by sharing my own experiences with them.”

For Christi, this is the primary and most notable way she can give back to her community. As mentioned, her life, is a life of service. She’s always wants to be in a space of giving and contributing, to enhance the growth of a person. In ministerial school they had a saying “we don’t fit ministry into our life We fit our life into ministry It’s not what I do. It’s who I am ” Christi shared how she is inspired by Iyanla Vanzant. It is at her institute, Inner Visions Institute of Spiritual Development, where Christi really began to unfold. She really got a chance to know herself, in her true being and to develop a more intimate relationship with God. What was taught there, she found it in bits and pieces from various places, but in that space it all came together. The Personal Development program was truly the inspiration for Kai’s House Realizing, if she had known at eighteen what she was learning in her fifties, the trajectory of her life would have been totally different.

Christi explained, “vision is a picture/plan in my mind of a goal I’m committed to accomplishing It is the result of creativity and imagination and is typically spurred by a need to solve a problem or enhance a current condition. Purpose is the reason I am here. It the reason I do what I do. It is the thing that drives me to get up and make the moves I make.”

Christi continues to share that one of her proudest moments at Kai’s House was when she hears the young people coaching each other and when she sees them exposing their friends and family to what they’ve learned in the program This is way in the future she would like to create a Kai’s House campus. This would consist of land that includes housing for the residents. It would also include land for a garden where they could experience growing their own food A campus will allow for more young people to be in the same space. Living together while they learn is what makes the program work. They get to learn the laws and principles in a space where others are learning the same thing at the same time and can hold each other accountable.

Generation Z, is the generation served by Kai’s House They are in a position to make real change in the world today.

Christi believes that Kai’s House and organizations like it, can provide the tools and skillset that is needed to support Generation Z, as they become our next leaders and serving hearts of our community.

Authors Speak The Book of Finance

By Karen McConnell-Jones

The road to becoming an author. What does this really look like? We know that this can look different for each of us. No two persons will travel the same road of being an aspiring author to an accomplished, and now a published author.

Nevertheless, what has been shared over the time are some basic steps that one must travel to get to the finish line And as we continue to dive in, with technology, we will always find new ways to help us get to completion

Aspiring Author Michael E. Barnes, Sr. shares his story with V&P about his journey and process of becoming a published author The steps and road he must continue to travel to get to completion by this fall. “The process is real yet faith without works is dead! I am a believer of faith, of work, and most importantly of what God will have me to do ”

Michael believes that all people should have their own work ethic and do right by the people they serve professionally; all while maintaining themselves with goals or aspirations for their personal, spiritual, professional, and financial life He understands that a man or woman who lacks ambition will surely be perilous in their lives. He understands that an individual that takes no risk in life will reduce their chances of a suitable reward. In 1 Corinthians 3:14 “If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.” and James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? Can that faith save him?” Michael believes that the work you complete in this life should have a physical and spiritual reward attached to your actions His mission is to help others create the goals and systems to be successful.

Michael is interested in stopping Financial illiteracy in all communities and believes he can stop the Financial Curse that plagues many minorities families. He envisions a world that allows the underdog the opportunity to get ahead financially The 13th Power is designed to educate and help Middle Income Americans recover from financial loss and financial depression. The 13th Power booklet will launch no later than October 13, 2022

With finance being in Michael’s background and life lesson learned from his grandfather, proven to serve very beneficial in his life. “Watching my grandfather who had a six-grade education; conduct business in a small town in North Carolina. He was a dedicated Pastor and Building Contractor. I would see his work ethic on Sunday morning in church, building God’s people spiritually and then during the week, I would visit him building churches, apartments, homes, and other construction projects from scratch He taught me that no one could limit your mind and desire if you only had a plan. Watching a man with very little education but a desire to win for his family helped me believe that anything was possible. I watched him own apartments, a small garden, a family house and help some many other people in the process He taught me some valuable lessons about life as a child.

James 2:26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.” In short, so many people want the promise land, but they don’t want the struggle that comes from a proper work ethic He taught me that you must have a solid foundation financially. My grandfather made the lesson simple and used common sense. When building a house, you don’t start with the roof, walls, doors, or windows

It’s your foundation which comes first, and it will amaze you with all the people who will forgo a good foundation to make a quick buck ”

During this process Michael recalls those long late nights of researching and gathering data, he thought of all the people that he admires to inspire him to make it through his crutch times. He reflected on stories of inspiration from Earl Graves, Robert Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Roy Donahue Peebles, Madam C J. Walker, Magic Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Hart, and Grant Cardone. “All these people have success stories in their own right, that helped me make it through and thanking my grandfather for being the first to give me the foundation to build from ”

Michael also shares his tips and steps he took to make it through the process. He believed in putting his thoughts down on paper or on other multimedia sources and get it out there in the universe By sharing it with others it holds you accountable to keep writing. He set timelines, use the no later than strategy, committee to a routine, have an accountability partner or coach, and rewarding himself for hitting the goals.

After Michael’s launch in Oct, next he sees a sequel to this book and other books to follow. “Yes, I will start with a booklet, e-Books or Books, and a workbook planner, because whatever gets measured gets done. Also, I must give a portion of my proceeds to my alma maters North Carolina Central University for scholarships and local Domestic Violence initiatives within the DMV. As a military man who is serving his country, I must always do my part on giving back to my community as well. Lastly, I must thank my beautiful/loving wife and my children for keeping me grounded. A faithful and loving family is everything, it makes for living a purposeful life.”

An Original Poem by Michael E. Barnes, Sr. MBA

Opportunities

I plea bargained with life for an opportunity and Life would ask me to pay or give more, however, I begged all night and day; When I counted my options, I wanted more.

For Life is an equitable employer, He or She gives you what you are willing to work for; but once you have set your plans in place; tackled all your obstacles, then discovered…

A Why, you must carry out the assignment. I worked for a humdrum promise, Only to learn, and a bit dismayed, That any opportunities I had asked of Life, He or She would have cheerfully paid me more; only if I had a purpose and desire for more opportunities for success.

Success is only given to the man or woman who asks for it, and then goes and gets his or her opportunities!

Nothing is given, just earned!

Community News Flash

Olivia Newton-John

By Marjorie M. Middleton

“You’re the one that I want, ooh, ooh, ooh…” A simple song tag line, from a simple musical movie that packed a lifetime punch. Forty years later, Americans are still “hopelessly devoted” to Grease, John Travolta and the recently deceased Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John took her last breath on August 8, 2022. She was 73.

Released in 1978, the musical which started with less than rave reviews, worked its way into our hearts and lives. Olivia Newton-John, as Sandy, was fun, magical and she could sing! Grease is the second most successful musical, next to Beauty & the Beasts’ recent live reboot. Australian activist, singer and sometime actress, she made waves with her performance in Grease, endearing herself to fans and her co-star, John Travolta, who played her love interest, Danny. Travolta and Newton –John remained very close friends since the musical. They had a chemistry that was very readable and at times raised questions about their relationship But, they remained platonic friends and were both committed to their true friendship. Newton- John, who died after her third battle with breast cancer, was supported by her friend til the end. The two would text constantly, have dinner periodically and loved one another’s perspective families

Many fans believe their love was unrequited. But, a choice of friendship is healthier and, many times than not, lasts longer. A decision was made by the pair that the legacy of Sandy and Danny was worth the sacrifice If they’d been together and broke up, the Grease pair would be forever tarnished. Loving, respecting, valuing…a most beautiful thing. Platonic love lasts more than a lifetime.

In 2019, they took to the stage as Danny and Sandy for the first time in over 40 years They were celebrating the multi-decades success of Grease What a legacy Tribute paid, Olivia NewtonJohn.

Childhood Obesity

By Marjorie M. Middleton

September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. It is a growing issue in our country and as children experience stress and pressure obesity is experienced more by our youth. This is one reason, of many, why children can experience obesity. Another cause can be poor nutrition. Another is heredity. In this article we will explore the reasons and causes and some of the solutions that we at V&P hope are helpful We are always here to provide our community with up to date and insightful information. In September, information is dedicated to Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in order to create conversation, solutions and prevention. Focus is placed on physical and mental health and good nutrition These go hand in hand Some ways to create change:

regular physical and mental activity reduce the risk of depression; exercise and reading a book or engaging in games are some suggestions pay attention to and meet mental health needs. A stable environment can sometimes be the solution along with proper counseling learn about and implement good nutritional habits for children and the whole family will benefit develop good sleep habits. Children, and adults, burn more calories and are happier living active lives that require adequate rest time create family meeting times in order to have adequate time to discuss reasons why overeating may occur, any health issues that may be creating obesity or any other issues that may arise or exist. Be proactive

Watch less t.v., eat more fruits and veggies.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, “Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems and type two diabetes They also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.” This month affords us the opportunity to bring attention to a battle that is fought daily. Children are the future, so the present is the best time to overcome by learning ways to combat obesity by promoting mental and physical wellness in our children. The diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI (body mass index). It’s a serious public health concern. And, unfortunately, children who are obese often are bullied by their peers. Some are discriminated against by those same peers, teachers and others with authority and even their own family members. Stereotypes also abound around obese children.

As a community we must stand up for our children in every way. Schools should take the responsibility seriously when teaching about food and exercise. Families should, too. Education and action are the main keys to eradication.

I John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

All Things Fashion

Warrior Queen I

History has long forgotten the Great Warrior Queens of the past. Or more like erased the legacy of our Great Warrior Queens Scientists have discovered the oldest homosapien skeleton was that of an African Woman. The mother of civilization begins with our women, skilled at raising a family and educating her children and her man In a world dominated by Anglo Saxons, her history has been hidden. And for good reason. If the world only knew her strength, power, and intellect. Kingdoms have been built on her wisdom. Biblically, many of the Great Heroines of the Jewish people have been extracted from the King James version of the bible. But if you study the Apocrypha you would learn of amazing women of courage and beauty who saved the Jewish people from utter destruction.

Women like Judith and Esther paid the cost to be the boss. They used all of their God given talents to save their people and bring terrible calamity on their enemies. Judith was meant to be seduced by the Assyrian Army Commander who had the Israelites enslaved and in fear for their lives. He lured her into his tent in order to date rape her. Instead, he ended up drinking too much. He passed out and she took his sword and with two swings chopped his head off and escaped out of his camp and strategically led the Israelite army to an astonishing victory over the Assyrians. A story you wouldn't have learned if you didn't do your research. Would you even know she was a woman of color? That would probably be disputed as well.

50 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine

Then there is Queen Esther. Young and beautiful she was chosen to be the wife of the reigning Babylonian King For a whole year she was groomed to be everything the king could desire. When her people were about to be victims of a genocidal plot, she prayed and fasted thatThe Most High would tell her what to do. She risked her life to summon the King and exposed the King's right hand man's plot to destroy her people and herself as well. Unknowingly, he set himself up and his family and supporters to be hung by the same gallows he had prepared for the Israelites. Thousands of his supporters were killed on site by order of the King. There is a Jewish holiday that commemorates this act of selflessness. History hidden. Who were these women from Africa? These women had quite a few things in common. One of those things was that they both were beautiful, they were both desirable to men of power They used that beauty to maneuver them into strategic positions to destroy their people's enemies. But the greatest of these similarities is their ability to pray and then act in order to get the victory over their oppressors.

Today's Warrior Queens are in motion Black women are statistically the most educated people on the planet. Your Beauty is sought after by all kinds of people. The melanin in your skin can scientifically change the atmosphere. My Question to you my Warrior Queens: what are you praying for in order to save your people? Your Beauty has already captivated the world's attention. What is your strategy to gain victory over our enemies? Today's fashion tip is WIN!

Peace, Tony T

All Things Fashion

Warrior Queen II

It's time to take care of our crowns, Warrior Queens. Life can sometimes keep us so busy with our day-to-day routines. We tend to neglect our own natural crowns. Let's start a hair journal today! Write down a hair routine/regimen and stay consistent for one year and watch how your hair will grow and become healthier. Healthy hair growth begins with some TLC (Tender Love & Care) and consistency Just like any goal you set, make your hair a priority.

It's convenient to wear a wig, braids or a weave but these hairstyles require proper hair maintenance to help keep your natural hair healthy. They can be fun, stylish, add hair length, color, help save time and no worries against humidity, frizz or moisture. But if you are not taking care of your hair under that wig, between weave installs or keeping those braids in too long your natural hair will become more vulnerable to hair damage, thinning, shedding to hair loss. Sometimes the hair cannot recover from constant wear and tear on the hair follicles. It's time to nurture and save our crown from Alopecia

You should start your hair journal by writing down which day you will shampoo and condition your hair. Shampooing your hair helps cleanse the hair and scalp. Massaging the scalp is relaxing and helps to stimulate the blood circulation which helps promote hair growth. Deep conditioning once or twice a month is very beneficial. It helps hydrate and soften hair, prevent hair damage and improve hair elasticity. Your hair trims should be done between weave installs and braid services. Keeping up with your trims every 8 to 12 weeks helps to avoid haircuts. Do not leave braids or a weave in over 6 to 8 weeks or your hair can begin to matte up and weigh down the hairline edges which will thin or cause hair loss. Also remove braids if it is braided too tight If you are wearing a weave or a wig, keep your hair braided or a protective cap under your wig to protect your natural hair. If you notice your hair is starting to thin or shed more than normal you should give your hair a break. Major hair loss can be prevented. Allow your hair to rest between installs Braiding too often can cause Traction Alopecia, which is due to repeated trauma to the hair follicles or pulling your hair into tight ponytails. It's time to get back to healthy hair.

Queens, start your hair journal and regimen today. Call your favorite hairstylist who focuses on healthy hair care and treat yourself. If you're on a budget, take time for yourself and make your shampoo day into a spa day We as women have to make it a conscious decision to take care of our body and guard our mindset. A healthy diet influences the general health of hair and how we deal with stress. Our overall health begins from within. It's time to clean up and take back our crowns!

Martina C Turner

Arts and Media

Before I Let Go: Departing Contributor Shares Lessons

Seth E. Washington

The realms of art and media have inspired and fascinated me since childhood. Early on, those voices, those people inside of the radio saying eloquent things and singing emotive songs captivated my imagination and fostered an ongoing connection with broadcasting.

During those same years, I was introduced to live performance, with thanks to my Mother, through piano lessons and her signing us up for the church youth choir. I now appreciate the strong aesthetic foundation that I received from these endeavors Piano teachers emphasized the highly effective structure of European classical music. While church hymns revealed the evocative strength of well crafted melodies aligned with empowering words.

Around the house, the sound of Dad's whistling got me hooked on the beauty of melody from a variety of music genres In Ms Lane's art class during Junior High School, my classmate Karen made music with her drawings and paintings. Her works were visual ballads and love songs. As best as possible, I studied her creations.

It's amazing how a picture can inspire a song or poetic words, while a deftly written verse can birth an epic, high definition scene within one's mind accompanied by an arousing soundtrack heard through the inner ear

The television program, Inside the NFL, put it all together in a grand operatic montage showcasing highlights of professional football games Edited with excellence, the vignettes featured poetic words voiced by the great John Facenda, a triumphant orchestral soundtrack juxtaposed with motion picture images of large athletic men draped head to toe in modern armour performing a kind of choreographed carnage The intense action was shown both at normal speed and sometimes in dramatic slow motion as it unfolded upon the grassy plane outlined in white chalk, with a brown leather ball as the object of unflinching intrigue for the players, the fans, as well as, the networks who were broadcasting the game It was an impressive convergence of media and arts, storytelling the splendor of modern sports.

Sunday mornings, before the games were played, church service was center stage with great songs sung in full voice by the choir, followed by an impassioned sermon delivered from the pastor with prayers and other elements situated throughout. Among things of value for me, church service was a magnificent and soulful live performance with a beginning, middle and end, along with timely interludes that accentuated the spirit of worship. The entire two hour production was a weekly tutorial on how to execute from start to finish and what 'well done' looks like

These are some of the aesthetic nuances, present in my early life experiences, that have evolved in me an appreciation, effective perceptions, respect for and abilities within the space of mass media and contemporary arts. They remain aspects of my tool set that I've utilized and have thankfully sharpened while writing for V&P Community magazine

Many thanks to Founder and Publisher Karen McConnell-Jones for providing me with the opportunity to write for the Performing Arts department which has since become the Arts and Media department She is one-hundred percent a role model of what having a vision and a purpose truly means. Again, Thank You Karen.

Thanks also to all of my colleagues at the magazine and the studio. It has been a blessing and an honor to create content with you Truly, teamwork makes this dream work. Continued success to you

To our cherished readers, abundant thanks and gratitude to you for your keen eyes, kind spirit and for taking the time to enjoy our words, images and graphics. You make the journey meaningful. Once more, Thank You

My closing words include three lessons learned during my life time from a few treasured moments in arts and media.

Lesson from Luther Vandross: Know what it is that you do best and then do what it is that you do best

Luther Vandross, to me, is the greatest singer ever. I was fortunate to see him perform on two separate occasions in the early 1990s, at the former Cap Center arena in Landover, Maryland. Everything about his performance was grand on the level of old school excellence. The band, the background singers, the songs and their arrangements, the circular rotating stage, Luther's majestic tuxedo, everything was. Then he held the microphone and began to sing, no dance moves or choreography. For an hour and a half Luther Vandross held center stage and our rapt attention doing what he did the absolute best, singing.

Lesson from Dad: Art offers wisdom, receive it.

Like it was yesterday, Dad was driving my sisters and I home from the movie he had just taken us to see Released in 1975, Aaron Loves Angela, is a Blaxploitation, romance, coming of age film starring, then, young actors Kevin Hooks and Irene Cara. In that moment we reminisced about what had just been witnessed on screen, enthusiastically recounting memorable scenes. Suddenly, my father's voice cut through the chatter with a simple question, "What did you learn?" He then began to share with us about the meaning of the things that we saw in the film. As a result of his question and insights, art continues to be for me a treasure trove of enlightenment, as well as, entertainment.

Lesson from the Lense: The gift indeed makes way, as stated in Proverbs 18:16, and this includes the greatness within

For approximately ten years, I was an active photographer Utilizing the 35mm still film format, I photographed weddings, births, corporate portraits, family reunions, college homecomings, homegoings, with on stage, as well as, backstage access and was hired by organizations and individuals to create images on their behalf The camera was a passport, affording me entrance into rooms, places and spaces that were other wise off limits. These were rooms where famous people had gathered and spaces where certain wisdom flourished. Then the camera further ushered me into creative places within myself as the images I had captured began to inspire words needing to be written. As such, I write.

Continued success to the readers, the content creators, the leadership of V&P Community magazine and, as mentioned, Thank You. 56 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine

Martina Turner 9/1

Happy Birthday !!!

Love Always, Your V&P Family

September BHappyirthday Shout Outs

Belinda Stevenson 9/5

Happy Birthday World Traveler! I hope you are somewhere traveling.

Love Karen!

Shani 9/6

Happy Birthday bestie, beautiful soul sister!

Love Always, Chelle D!

Elijah 9/2

Happy 11th birthday

Elijah, my creative, smart, and kind son!

Love Mommy

Dr. James Dula 9/8

Happy Birthday Godfather of Prince George's County. LOL!

Got you and love you very much!

Denairo 9/10

Happy Birthday creative, collective mind with a beautiful soul!

Love Always, Your Family!

Deanna 9/21

Feliz cumpleaños, mejor amiga, hermosa hermana del alma!

Ama siempre Roxy & Chelle D!

Lisa Middleton 9/14

Happy 93rd Birthday, Mommy!

Love, Marjie

Carson Joyful-Noise 9/22

Happy Doggy Birthday! You are truly mommy JoyfulNoise. I love you!

Evelyn McConnell 9/30

To My Darling Angel Happy Heavenly Birthday! I miss you very much! from your BIG baby Karen. Love you, my Angel!

Asia 9/17

Happy Birthday beautiful, respectful, responsible, trustworthy smart cousin!

Love Always, Your Family

Ms. Rita Henry 9/24

Happy 80th Birthday Ms. Rita!

Enjoy your special day and I will see you on the dance floor!

Love Karen!

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Rosalind 10/03

Happy birthday beautiful soul sister!

Love Always, Michelle

October BHappyirthday Shout Outs

Shanda 10/04

Happy Birthday beautiful, respectful, responsible, trustworthy smart cousin!

Love Always, Your Family

Kelvin Barnette 10/19

Happy Birthday Kelvin! From your lil sis Karen. Love you!

Michelle Higgs 10/07

Happy Birthday

Michelle and congratulations on your new home! Love Karen

Shanda & Tamia 10/4

William Steen 10/19

Happy Heavenly Birthday

Uncle Bill! I hope you are taking care of mommy.

Love Karen!

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Happy Birthday awesome birthday twins!

Tamia 10/04

Happy birthday beautiful soul sister!

Love Always, Michelle

Nicole 10/16

Happy birthday beautiful soul sister!

Love Always, Michelle

Tasha 10/29

Happy birthday beautiful soul sister!

Love Always, Michelle