CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
THE
spot mag
Sept./October 2019 M I N D FUL N E S S :
MI N D F UL L AS SH* T
BACK T O S C H O O L MO TI VATI ON
N ATI ONA L N E W S O N T H E M OV E W I TH AL O NI
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 19
IN THIS
Issue E M OT ION AL F ORE C AS T
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C RYS TAL ’S RE AL E S TAT E T IPS
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C RYS TAL ’S C HAM PION S
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M IN DF U L N E S S
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FAS HION
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T R AV E L
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N AT ION AL W OM E N
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F E AT U RE
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Feature: Aloni Ford See the article on page 18 Cover photo by Nikki Nauman Photography. HAIR BY Brenna Bell
Contributors C O-FOUN DE R & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR:
CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN
CREATIVE DIRECTORS: CRYSTAL & ADRIANNA SWEARINGEN
W RITERS: BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN
ANTHONY GONZALEZ ANIK A JACKSON CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN AL AYSSA RISING ANGIE WILLIAMS AMANDA GREGORY
P H OTOG R A P H Y:
NIKKI NAUMAN
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Crystal’s Ball Now that the kids are back in school, how are you planning on finishing 2019? For me, September/October is when I start prepping my business plan and working on my must-completes before I start the next year. Just like summer seemed to fly by - the rest of 2019 will be over in a blink. This is a great time to re-energize and finish the year off like the AMAZING, CONFIDENT QUEEN YOU ARE! I hope you DARE to be GREAT and always find a way to LIVE YOUR PASSION!
Crystal Crystal Swearingen, Co-Founder | Editorial Director
The Spot Mag
@the.spot.mag
women@thespotmag.com
EMOTIONAL FORECAST
“
Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” George Eliot
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eptember has arrived and so has the desire to grab a front row seat to what life is revealing to you this month. We’ve struggled some the past few months with the what, why and where, that now we’d like to sit back and watch what’s next. It’s challenging to be patient but the more patient you are the quicker you’ll see what’s in store for you. Relationships will feel a sense of calm this month as well. With the fun and carefree feeling of the summer coming to a close, we’ve now gotten the opportunity to sit in the moment and feel the love that you’re closest people bring to your life. Continue to express your trueness and what it is you want from your relationships, partnerships and friendships. It’s easier to keep quiet sometimes and we feel we’ve got everything under control on our own and I’m sure we could, but how wonderful is it knowing you’ve got someone to share your strengths and your struggles? Take some time to involve your loved ones in your life so the world doesn’t feel so vast. October is a month full of possibilities and comfort. The smells,
the colors and the extremely busy social calendar are in our very near future. You’ll feel urgency in getting details ready for the holidays and that’s just because this season is all about togetherness. Past years may have brought anxiety and the need to be alone but this year is completely opposite. Family and togetherness is what’s swirling around us this fall which feels amazing and magical. Our want and need for affection are also coming on strong so decide to let loose and break down a few of those wall. Our souls are made from love and require acknowledgement. If you’ve been feeling less than loved be sure to notice how loving your own daily actions have possibly contributed . Love is always rewarded with love in some way, shape or form, even if it’s from an unexpected place. Take time to send your love outward to others but always remember to give yourselves the same treatment. You deserve all the goodness this life has to offer. Have a happy fall y’all! Have a blessed summer! Love, The Southern Psychic
THE SOUTHERN PSYCHIC OFFIERS TAROT CARD READINGS EVERY THURSDAY AT CRYSTAL’S SPOT 4:30-7:30PM
CRYSTAL’S REAL ESTATE TIPS
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CRYSTAL’S CHAMPIONS
L AW R E N C E L A D Y B O S S KRISTIE BOWEN Empowered women often have the gift of empowering and inspiring their peers. They go out of their way to be the “yes”, the “you can do it,” and the listening ear when advice is needed. These women build our community up while knowing their own self-worth. Our community becomes great due to these types of women.
Meet the owner of KB & Co, Kristie Bowen.
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A collective boutique located at 825 Massachusetts St. in beautiful Downtown Lawrence for the last three years, Kristie’s boutique has been a staple for clothing, gifts, home décor, and more. Fifteen trendy boutiques call KB & Co their home, providing local and small boutique owners the opportunity to have a brick and mortar store without having to commit to a huge space or their own store responsibilities.
Who or what inspires you? “My mom inspires me, as she’s a dreamer and a doer. My aunt Cindy is the exact same way. I’m lucky to have women in my life that taught me to take chances! In addition, the customers at KB inspire me. Everyday someone makes my heart explode in some way that makes me want to keep doing what I do!”
How do you see yourself making our community better?
“I feel so grateful to be a part of my own college town and an amazing Downtown. We support many local organizations and events by donating merchandise and/ or gift cards. We love helping our local organizations grow and prosper. At KB & Co, we also pride ourselves on positivity, respectable representation, and amazing customer care, which I feel is often lacking in today’s world.”
It’s a win for everyone from the boutique owner to the customers to Kristie herself, who’s truly following her dream. Kristie’s heart is felt by many in the community, Where do you see your business 5 but probably nobody feels it more than her two sons years from now? and husband, a KU football coach. To sit and chat with Kristie remains a pleasure, both personally and in a “Time goes fast enough. Our business changes daily business sense, and the following conversation revealed and I try my hardest to live in the moment! So, who nuggets about both: knows what’s in store for KB & Co. The thing I know for sure is I’m loving the journey!”
What is your favorite thing about being a lady boss in 2019?
“As a boy mom, I love to show my sons that I can be a Boss Lady and a ‘Boss Mom.’ I also love to be an ‘example’ to anyone wondering if it can be done, showing that strength and confidence in today’s world is doable!”
What piece of advice would you encourage others with? “Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s hard. But, YOU can be fearless and YOU can be strong! Be that person who takes the opportunity and whole-heartedly gives it everything you’ve got! Be anything you want while being YOU, which means being authentic and amazing, all the while having so much fun your cheeks hurt!”
Guest Submission by Lawrence Lady Boss Project Founder: Amanda Gregor y
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MINDFULNESS
MINDFUL AS SH*T BY ANTHONY GONZALEZ, LCSW
Just breathe. Gently in, gently out. Notice
the natural pace of the body rising and falling. Feels good, doesn’t it? Good. Must mean we’ve been mindful. And yet, you might be critiquing whether you did it right or long enough. Or maybe you’re still worried about whether you looked or sounded silly. 8
Well, that turned unmindful really quick. Or did it? I’m grateful that our society and culture is embracing mindfulness, as well as talking about it and incorporating it more into our shared conversations. And, like most things new, they can be easily misunderstood or corrupted without deeper reflection and understanding. Mindfulness is not simply sitting and breathing, yet it is that, too. Mindfulness can be just about anything, and almost nothing, because it is less an act and more a state of being. Mindfulness is, at its roots, focus with intention. Mindfulness is purposeful attention to your presence in a moment. It is far more a state of awareness than an action. To be “mindful” simply implores us to attend to the thoughts, feelings, sensations, and interactions in any given experience. It is dialectically effortless and intricate, both innate and needing to be cultivated through practice. Working to develop a consistent practice of mindfulness does not require you to create a space with incense and candles burning or finding the best-guided meditations. Yet again, it can be that, too. There are wonderful and effective apps and YouTube channels that are incredible guides for meditative practice. Still, I feel that is only one narrow lane of the bounty of mindful living. There’s a great deal of science and research
that supports the benefits of both mindfulness and meditation, and more needs to be done. The best outcomes are being seen in the benefits on perceived stress levels and the ability to regulate emotion, as well as the increase in the strength of the pre-fontal cortex (that part of our brain responsible for decision making and impulse control.) Below are some foundational ways that you can work to incorporate mindfulness into every aspect of your life: Mindful living is a practice of non-judgment. Judging others, our experiences, and the self is in essence saying that the moment should be different than what it is. Mindfulness is the acceptance of moments just as they are. We can be our most brutal critics, and the judgments placed on ourselves and others limit our ability to embrace an experience for what it is, rather than what we expect it should be. This can be applied to every aspect of our lives. Judgment limits our ability to fully participate in a situation and often creates emotional distance or internal criticism. Mindfulness helps us observe and describe moments in our lives with a wiser mind, rather than intense emotion or just the sterile facts. Mindful living is a practice of validation. Validation is a mindset of seeking truth, even if it is only a tiny kernel. Fundamentally, there are very few absolute truths. Therefore, the practice of mindfulness encourages the exploration of the genuineness of our own and others’ experiences, thoughts, and emotions. When we seek to understand, it keeps us more connected to the present with acceptance and curiosity, and it distances us from the impulse for judgment or rejection. It can be the nurturing of emotions of all types, not only the comfortable or pleasant ones. We can learn to be mindful of our emotions, sitting with
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“Mindful living is a practice of validation.”
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anger or sadness and not rejecting an emotion because we label it as “negative.” Mindful relationships develop out of the goal of being fully present and attentive to the interactions we’re having with focus on, interest in, and understanding of their truth, even when we may disagree. Mindful living is a practice of awareness. The most difficult challenges we face in our continued growth are conscious awareness. Sometimes reality feels overwhelming or our worry and fear nudge us to check out and avoid. Our minds can then drift. Reality always seems to shift, as things reveal themselves as impermanent. Mindful awareness can help to gently acknowledge when we wander and become conscious of it, intentionally refocusing on the present. Next time you’re having a conversation, taking a walk, or working on a spreadsheet, practice this type of awareness. It may help you maintain a sense of gratitude for the interactions we have with the world. This practice also helps us become more aware of our emotional experiences. When we connect with this awareness, we can lean toward acceptance and understanding rather than judgment and detachment. My perspective is not full truth, either. And, I hope you can find your own definition of mindful living. Take a walk and feel each time your foot touches the ground. Eat a piece of chocolate so slowly that you notice layers of flavors. Notice a new characteristic about someone you see every day. Smell
the laundry when you’re folding clean clothes. Any situation in life can be a practice in mindfulness. Just allow your mind, your body, and your emotions to come together, and it will feel Mindful As Sh*t!
Anthony is the Clinical Director at The Delray Center in Delray Beach, FL, which is one of the most clinically and medically advanced mental health treatment centers in the United States. Anthony is a proud alumnus of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Anthony has advanced therapeutic training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy.
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Local Spotlight
LAWRENCE LADY BOSS HEATHER WILSON Meet Heather Wilson, the owner of Sign Gypsies. Lawrence’s very own sign greeting business, Heather started her business in 2017 after talking with a friend from back home in Louisiana who is also a Sign Gypsy. Because of Heather’s love for holidays and celebrating, this business was a natural fit. Everyday Heather gets to celebrate all occasions with her customers - Birthdays, Holidays, Anniversaries, and so much more. Heather and her family transplanted to Kansas three years ago when her husband, a golf coach, took a job here at KU. When she’s not with her two kids, she’s an elementary school teacher here in Lawrence. She has taught everything from 1st to 8th grade, in four states over the last seventeen years, and her honesty and directness are refreshingly candid.
How do you see yourself making our community better? “I consider ourselves spreading JOY, one greeting at a time. I truly feel like I’m celebrating birthdays, last days of chemo, events, graduations, births, and more right alongside my customers. I am ALL IN when I place a greeting!” Where do you see your business 5 years from now? “I see my daughter helping me so much more in 5 years. She’s already in charge of the ‘flair’ (stars) in the greetings, and I can only see her taking charge more!”
What is your favorite thing about being a Lady Boss in 2019?
What piece of advice would you encourage others with?
“I love the empowerment that I feel and have knowing that I can show my kids that their mom is business savvy!”
“You know YOUR heart. Tap into that!”
Who or what inspires you? “I am a faithful person, so my inspiration comes from there. As well as knowing how much joy these greetings bring to my customers!”
Are you a Lady Boss located in Lawrence or surrounding areas? Are you always looking for ways to network and grow your community? Are you interested in supporting and spoiling other Lady Bosses? If so, then the Lawrence Lady Boss Project is the networking group for you. Established in February of 2019, the Lawrence Lady Boss Project is a free networking group created to network local entrepreneurs, bloggers, photographers, and so much more. Like us on Facebook to find out more about the Lawrence Lady Boss Project and information on future events, including our quarterly Networking Night Outs.
FASHION
Back to School BY BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN
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sthe fa ll semester approaches at a steadfast past, I have noticed my ambitions about my wardrobe seem to plummet. As a full-time student, there is hardly time to accessorize in the mornings, let a lone craf t a cohesive seasona l aesthetic that ref lects not only externa l trends and themes, but my interna l feeling and state of expression. This summer has been nothing but femme frill in white and off-white dresses. But for fa ll, much like the bourgeoisie of late 1800’s, the white must be put away for the season (except in contrasting pieces, natura lly.) In summer, surrounded by my like-va lued friends and coworkers, I am respected and admired for a solid “ look.” However, on a state campus where ever y man, woman, and other wise wears sweatpants, athletic shorts, and hoodies daily, the culture is not receptive to new and inventive silhouettes. This is not to lay claim that there is bully ing of the st ylish - solely that my more daring ideas and concept pieces are harder to commit to when I k now the drastic stand-out factor exceeds my usua l dosage. I a lso would like to ack nowledge that there are others like me on campus with the same st ylistic va lues - and I do appreciate them - but the population is sparse. Not only is my time and energ y elsewhere during the academic months, but my desire is a lso extremely depleted. The shadow y memories of hours spent in the dimly lit classrooms
of KU’s own Wescoe building loom in my mind ’s eye while tr y ing to create my next season’s staples. It’s not the classes that I mind, or even the poor ventilation, but the woes of winter itself. Seasona l depression affects many people, including me. One of the worst side effects and effectua l causes of this month ’s long plague is my lack of creative motivation. Because my full-time student status is in full gear, this leaves litt le energ y lef t for passions and hobbies. For me, that means I repeat the same four outf its week af ter week until I am on the verge of insanit y. I f ind immense joy in accessorizing and building an ensemble from scratch, and during the bust ling and glooming months, this joy has seemingly vacated my life. Until now. So how can I keep up with my most exciting passion and push past the ‘giving a damn’ of it a ll? As of now, my closest solution is to siphonthe conf idence and energ y I have now and store it for moments of deprivation. In a practica l sense, I’m smuggling content to my future self. I have ta ken photos that inspire me, written to remind me, and I have made friends that encourage me. I imagine myself in the past, when I was si x or seven, bur ying cheap cr ysta ls in my grandma’s backyard only for me to discover, preser ving the game I created for another year by keeping it out of the world.
“So how can I keep up with my most exciting passion and push past the ‘giving a damn’ of it all?”
Photo cred: Halle Swearingen
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Thanks to the smart phone on my person at a ll times, capturing moments, thoughts, and feelings remains much easier than digging a hole. The only matter that requires thought is the storage. I have folders a ll across my life, physica l and digita l, set up for my future discover y. Like f inding a dollar in your jeans you forgot was there - a gif t from past me to future me - except now I’m planting the dollar. The extensive mind space I have afforded myself in these summer months will end when my priorities shif t gears, but the gains don’t have to. I can ta ke a ll of the artistic creations from the here into the future months, when my physica l, menta l, and emotiona l resources may be depleted. And though I don’t intend to be a menta l hea lth specia list - or even present this as a revolutionar y idea - if the aforementioned aforementioned thoughts supply the nudge of motivation and creativit y to do this for yourself, then a ll the better!
TRAVEL
The World as My Classroom Alaysia Rising
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Going to college, you just don’t know what you’re going to get. One of the biggest questions asked is, “Will I be able to keep up with an extensive workload while balancing a social life as well?” This question was significant, especially for me, moving away from what I know and the people I love the most. I thought it would be challenging. Being thrown into a culture that was much different from your own, where there may be language barriers or foods that you have never eaten, you could either sink or swim. I chose to swim. While on St. Croix, I met some very wonderful people from all over the Caribbean Sea. I was able to make lasting memories that will never be forgotten. Prior to my exchange in the US Virgin Islands, I was a person who kind of feared change, but I knew how to adapt if I needed to. For two years of my college career, I received emails from the national student exchange program encouraging me to give an exchange a try. I just ignored them. It was not until I became unsatisfied with my home college - friendships were ingenuine, and my schedule started to feel like a continuous cycle that consisted of waking up, attending two classes a day, going to work, and returning home to res t- that I decided it was time
to finally sign-up. I chose my top five exchange colleges, paid the application fee, and started to fill a void in my life. It was now time to break the exciting news to my family. All of them were completely shocked, because they knew I was not the adventurous type. Still, I ensured them that I was ready to experience something different. I was prepared for my exchange. All of my items were packed, I had faith that I would be fine being away from home, and I was still excited. Then I hit brick wall. A month before leaving, I no longer wanted to do the very thing that it took courage to do. I became scared. I told my parents that I did not want to go away on exchange because of my fears. I feared not being accepted and being home sick, and I even began to think that the worst possible things could happen to me. In short, I was too deep into my own head. It took a few deep conversations with my mom for me to realize that I was strong enough to do this. It took a lot of battling within myself, but i regained confidence and jump-started my plans to go away on exchange once more. I left Los Angeles, CA, on January 7th, 2019, and after traveling for 19 hours, I had finally arrived at the University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix. My stomach was filled with millions of fluttering butterflies. While I did not know what to expect, I was completely blown away upon arrival. The scenery was remarkable, the sky was like an artist had painted it, and the flowers were so colorful. It
“I would advise anyone that is ‘on the fence’ about studying abroad to just do it!” was beyond anything I’d ever seen. When I arrived at the campus, I was greeted by many unknown faces smiling back at me, as if they’d known me for years. Everyone was so nice and wholesome they made me feel at home. The culture was completely different from the fast city life that I was used to. Everyone moved at their own pace, and time was only a concept. I had to get used to a few cultural aspects, like everyone driving on the opposite side of the street and so many speaking to anyone that passed. Since I come from a place where everyone stays to themselves and people rarely speak, it was eye-opening to see how polite everyone was. The greetings were even different. I was expected to say, “Good Morning,” “Good Afternoon,” and “Goodnight,” instead of “hello” or the blank stares that I was accustomed to. I loved the culture and island life so much that, after only one month on exchange, I considered transferring. Since it was a tight-knit community, I knew almost every student. The professors made it apparent that they cared about everyone’s future and made sure to always assist with any work given. Classes were not
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over-crowed, so I was able to connect with my professors and peers on a deeper level than ever before. I could say that this exchange filled a void in my life, to say the least. I would advise anyone that is ‘on the fence’ about studying abroad to just do it! Commit, leave your safe space, and experience life, because studying abroad can literally alter your perception of the world. I gained an understanding of many different Caribbean cultures. For example, while the media often likes to mesh the cultures together as one, there are significant differences. You are bound to meet brilliant individuals that you would not have met if you did not go on exchange and gain a greater love for yourself. Seeing how everyone expressed their ‘Blackness,’ no matter the shape, shade, or hair texture, allowed me to appreciate so much more about myself, too - from no longer wanting to mask my curls to feeling even more confident in the color of my skin. It’s an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. And, after returning home, I now know that I can handle even the slightest change, because the fear I formerly felt only attempted to hold me back from experiencing greatness.
NATIONAL NEWS
Aloni on the Move CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN
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It’s truly my honor to introduce you to Aloni Ford. Ms. Ford reached out to The Spot Mag from Los Angeles a month or so ago, after a friend had shared a copy of the issue with her. When preparing for my phone call with Ms. Ford, I was incredibly impressed to learn about her myriad of accomplishments, and I knew this dynamic woman MUST be our next feature! What a pleasure to talk to this lady who has had success in Real Estate, Fund Raising, Sports Management, and TV Production, and is now the founder of an amazingly inspiring book club called “Yacht Girl Book Club.” I hope you enjoy her story, as it was so exciting to have the opportunity to learn about this LA woman that’s truly ON THE MOVE!!
How did you get started as a Sports Manager and Producer? Ten years ago I left my corporate Real Estate job to follow my passion as a filmmaker. I called it “filming on faith” and spent the Summer of 2009 creating shows by myself. Ironically, I met Nick Young over the NBA Lockout, and he was so kind to allow me to film his life in the off-season. While filming him, I met his teammate/bestfriend JaVale McGee and got to film both of them training. I quickly turned that into the “Nick and JaVale Show” on YouTube which instantly went viral, and I developed a name for myself. A few months later, I filmed JaVale signing his big contract with the Denver Nuggets along with his family. I then created the show “Mom’s Got
Game” which soon after sold to OWN and was distributed by my partner Sony. After the show went off air, I began managing JaVale and ten years and two championships later I’m still here in Sports Management and producing shows.
As a woman in what I perceive as a male dominated industry, what are some challenges you have experienced? It’s funny, as much as we’ve grown as a culture, I still occasionally experience males having a hard time accepting that I’m their equal. I’ve experienced a male asking me for my client’s agent info. after doing ALL of the work on a deal, or asking ‘Who’s his manager?’ or even referring to me as the ‘assistant.’ Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being an assistant, but demoting someone’s title because of their gender is unnecessary and unacceptable.
As a story teller, can you share one or multiple incidents that you felt really propelled you to where you are currently in your career? For example, did you make connections in college that allowed you to begin on this journey and develop relationships that have fostered your growth? And, what do you turn to for motivation (internal or external) when starting new projects” In my early twenties, I worked for Joyce Rey, one
“It always seems IMPOSSIBLE until it’s done!” of the biggest Realtors in the world. For five years, I worked alongside extremely high net worth individuals, and the experience was incredible. Our clients were some of your favorite celebrities. We had a house on the market for $125 million in 2008 and broke many sales records. Being around the atmosphere of ‘go-getters’ and working for a true entrepreneurial female powerhouse completely changed my outlook on life. I learned things in business that would never be taught in school. So, the work ethic I gained was to never take “no” for an answer and that anything is possible. From helping raise funds for President Obama at the beginning of his campaign and hosting parties in clients’ backyards to him becoming the first-time, two-term, African American President, I’m a believer that you can truly have anything you want in life if you just go after it and put in the work.
As a former fundraiser for President Obama’s campaign, how do you feel politics, sports, and entertainment intersect? And, are you able to use the same tools in what are sometimes perceived as very different arenas? I helped raise funds for President Obama’s campaign by hosting events and spreading his message and beliefs across the world. These same principles apply in life. In sports, you learn to play by the rules and that through dedication, honesty, and hard work you can reach your goals. Entertainers, Athletes, and Politicians all have the power to influence the world through their message and to lead by example. The rules in Life are all the same: Do the work and stay true to the journey!
With your Yacht Girls Book Club, what is the Vision behind this new adventure?
My mission is to bring women together over intellectual conversations in fun adventurous settings. I want to remind everyday, working-class women to take a break and enjoy ‘girlfriend time’ again. I started with 6 girls in attendance, and now I’ve grown to over a couple hundred women in just a few months, and the women love the events! The women have used my events to organically network and thoroughly enjoy being around like-minded, book lovers. I hope to continue to inspire women and bring us together.
You’ve experienced massive growth in the Yacht Girls Book Club, growing from 6 members to 1000+ in one year. What do you think propelled this growth? I believe when you are truly walking in your purpose and doing God’s work that great people will follow you naturally. The word got out very fast about my book club and women from all walks of life around the world began messaging me for new book list suggestions. But, the catch is that I didn’t advertise. I have a small team my amazing Assistant, Mickey, who wears 20 hats, and a few of the original members in the book club who told their friends, and their friends told more friends and we grew rapidly. I believe this is a sisterhood community that women have been yearning for and need. Finally, I feel it’s an exciting event where intellectuals can have pure fun. So, the growth came from truly giving people what they need.
I love the idea of women gathering for intellectual conversation. What books are on the horizon to read, and how do you make the interaction flow with so many unique members? Some of our upcoming books include Becoming Mi-
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chelle Obama, More Than Enough, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Queen of Hearts. I am so grateful for all of the members in the book club. I make an effort to get to know all of the women, answer their calls, help whenever I can, and invite them to free monthly gatherings. I host Movie Premieres, Dinners, Workouts, etc. I try to make this more than just a book club. And, through the continuous outings, the women have really gotten to know each other, which makes my events flow smoothly. They look forward to coming together like a reunion and creating more lasting memories.
What are some general things you would like to share with our audience? This can be the area where you share your message and just convey anything that inspires you in your various projects or upcoming events?
The book club idea started with a text invite to a couple girlfriends and now has grown to be a socialite. Yacht Girls Book Club will continue to grow and soon expand to different cities, so stay tuned for everything that’s coming next! I’m thankful for all of the women, men, and authors who have supported me on this journey. I’m a true extrovert and a people-person, with a love for all humans. I hope to bring people together from all parts of the world and make a difference in this lifetime. And, one of my favorite thoughts to live by is this: “It always seems impossible until it’s done!” You can follow Ms. Ford on IG @ aloni_ford and @ yachtgirlsbookclub.
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FEATURE
I Can See Klearly Now: Kristen Fenrick Launches Jewelry Line, Creates Economic Empowerment in the United States and in South America There are two types of people in the world - those who face adversity and perish in the sight of it, and those who turn their adversity into a mission-driven purpose. Entrepreneur Kristen Fenrick is the epitome of the latter. Klearly Kristen was started in 2014 as a way to help promote women in business. As a sales professional and female entrepreneur, Fenrick has successfully (and not always easily) navigated the world of business. She simply wanted to find a way to help others achieve their dreams. Kristen was adopted as a young child into a family with three biological children and one additional adopted child. Her adoptive family also took in foster children, which created an unsafe environment for Kristen and her siblings. The environment of abject abuse encouraged an atmosphere that caused Kristen to first run away and enter the foster care system herself at age 13. Ms. Fenrick explains, “I entered at 13 and went in and out until I was 17 years old. I didn’t want to go back home, but I was in limbo. I was a ward of the state, but had parents, so I was sent to various group homes until I just walked out and left one day.” Kristen continues, “At 17, I found out I was pregnant. Without having any support from my son’s father, I moved into a friend’s house, where her mother took care of me until I was ready to have my son. Right before I gave birth, my adoptive mother found me and asked me to come back into her home. I agreed to move back for the birth. During this time, I turned 18 and thus aged out of the system. After giving birth, I stayed for three weeks. I then moved out of their house, and I’ve been on my own ever since.”
Ms. Fenrick feels that no woman should ever feel the hopelessness that comes from loss of financial means and dependency on an abuser. Too often, nationally and globally, women end up in compromising situations to put food on their tables and care for their children and families. Newly launched Klearly Kristen, Inc., is a thrilling new concept in which women can sign up to help work events and earn money to pay for the odd bill, or to become their own representative for the company. A cornerstone of Klearly Kristen is not only utilizing the 25 jewelry skills of budding entrepreneurs in countries such as Colombia, but helping women in the United States establish financial independence, as well. “Access to education and financial independence go hand-in-hand. If we can all do our part to teach individuals transferrable skills like customer service and sales, this can be taken with them throughout life wherever they may go. Then, we all succeed,” exclaims Kristen.
My message is to never, ever give up. Right when you’re ready to hang up the towel, ask yourself, ‘Have I really unlocked every door available to me?” Fenrick finishes, “
Have I tapped into every connection possible? Have I truly extended all of my resources or is there something else I can try to do to get to the next level.’ So many people give in because it’s hard or their bank account says one thing and their heart feels another. Go with your heart, and the money will come. Let your love and passion for what you do guide your steps. My desire to help other women achieve their goals gives me the motivation and energy to keep pushing forward. I heard a long time ago that money is a result of helping others solve problems. That’s what I want to do - to be a solution to help others meet their needs.”
For more information, follow @klearlykristen on social media, or contact info@ klearlykristen.com with your name and contact information, and one of their staff members will get in touch with you.
Anika Jackson is VP of Marketing of Evvemi and Founder of Social Graces Social Club. As such, she is a highly connected & visionary leader who builds local & global buzz through connecting, collaborating and creating meaningful relationships between businesses and communities. An engaging, intelligent, and profoundly relevant event producer, speaker, community leader and consultant, Anika possesses an innate sense of purpose and a pragmatic approach to empowering people and distilling creative (and seemingly disconnected) human business ideas into elegantly synergistic concepts and helping brands apply those concepts to the best steps to meet their goals. A woman gifted with the ability to draw excitement to an event, brand or concept. Anika is passionate about strategic partnerships, brand collaborations, and launch marketing strategy. Anika has gained a reputation for her philanthropic work in the community in both Houston and Los Angeles, as a founder of multiple charities as well as chairman and thought leader for organizations including Junior League, Learn Grow Lead, and Planned Parenthood. In addition, Anika serves as a founding family and advisory council member for Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy.
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