N.A.I. MAGAZINE JULY - SEPTEMBER
2021
MISCH A S M I T H COSMOS COSMETICS AND CURIOS Pgs. 18-21
AYAN A B U R C H POLISHED EDITING Pgs. 13-15
TINA W O L R I D G E FITNESS FITGIRL Pgs. 23-26
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Two Years of Success and Counting
Thank you for your support! N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 3
Declarations of Faith According to Psalm 91 Greetings! We are still in the midst of a pandemic. How are you holding up? I know for some it has been a challenge having to stay at home and even having to wear masks and gloves when having to go out. How we go through tough times is based on our perspective. With that being said, let me give you the perspective that although things are not the way we would want them to be at the moment, we are still around to experience the moment. Let's stay encouraged and connected as we go through these turbulent times. PSALM 91: I DECLARE I will dwell in the shelter of the Most High God. I DECLARE I will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I DECLARE that God is my Refuge and my Fortress. I DECLARE that you are my God (Hallelujah) in whom I trust and with great confidence and whom I will rely. I DECLARE that God will rescue me from every trap and protect me from every disease. I DECLARE I am covered and protected by His outstretched arms. I DECLARE that God's faithful promises are my armor and my protection. I DECLARE I will not be afraid of the terrors of the night nor of the arrows that fly in the day. I DECLARE I will not dread any disease that stalks in the darkness nor any disaster that strikes at midday. I DECLARE that because God is my Refuge and the Almighty the God of my home no evil can befall me and no plague can come near my dwelling. I DECLARE that God has ordered His angels to guard, defend and protect me and my house. I DECLARE that God's armies of Heaven will keep me from falling. I will walk unharmed and kick anything that's evil from my path. I DECLARE that because of God's love for me, I'll call on Him. He'll set me above all my troubles. He will deliver me from all my fears and He will honor me with His presence and power. I DECLARE He will reward me with long life and He will show me His Salvation. **The above declarations are an excerpt of the message, 'Confessions and Bringing Order to Your Life', from Dr. Creflo Dollar, Jr., Founder and Senior Pastor of World Changers Church International (WCCI) in College Park, Georgia** N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 4
Keep Our Workplace Safe! Practice good hygiene Stop hand shakes and use non-contact greeting methods Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand washing reminders Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and desks regularly Avoid touching your face and cover your coughs and sneezes Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
Stay home if... You are feeling sick You have a sick family member at home
Limit meetings and nonessential travels Use video conferencing instead of face-to-face meetings When video calls are not possible, hold your meetings in well-ventilated rooms and spaces Suspend all non-essential travels and trips
Take care of your emotional and mental well-being Outbreaks are a stressful and anxious time for everyone. We're here to support you! Reach out to hr@reallygreatsite.com anytime.
SOURCE: CDC.GOV
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THE REAL SUPER HEROES
TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS & OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 6
FOUNDER & PUBLISHER, EDITOR, CREATIVE OFFICER Danielle N. Pope
About N.A.I. Magazine Greetings Readers!! Welcome to New & Inspiring (N.A.I.) Magazine. N.A.I. was created to introduce newcomers to the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area and to their new neighbors and new community. Please allow N.A.I. to be one of your 'go-to' resources as you navigate your new surroundings. Relax, put your feet up, have your favorite food and beverage and enjoy as you peruse this issue of N.A.I. Magazine.
Contributing Writers: Ayana Burch Polished Editing, LLC
Mischa Smith Cosmos Cosmetics and Curios Tina Wolridge Fitness Fitgirl, LLC N.A.I. (New & Inspiring) Magazine is published four times per year. Reproduction, whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed by writers for articles published by N.A.I. are not necessarily those of the magazine publisher. For information in advertising in N.A.I., please click here to access the N.A.I. Magazine Media Guide.
STAY CONNECTED https://www.facebook.com/naimagazine/ https://twitter.com/n_inspiring E-mail: naimagazine19@gmail.com N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 7
july - september 2021
N.A.I. Magazine
TABLE OF
TALK OF TOWN
Young & Relentless
Community News
Ask The Expert
Page 12
Ayana Burch
Mischa Smith
Polished Editing, LLC
Cosmos Cosmetics and Curios
Pages 13-15
Page 18-21
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july - september 2021
N.A.I. Magazine
CONTENTS
TrailBlazer Tina Wolridge Fitness Fitgirl, LLC
July: National Family Reunion Month
Advertise in N.A.I.
Pages 23-26
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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
DC ALLIANCE, EMPOWERING HOMICIDE SURVIVORS, INC.
CREATING THE LIBRARY OF PEACE
PASTOR PATRICIA SAUNDERS, CEO/PRESIDENT
VICTIMS ADVOCATE FOR MS. CHARLENE ELLIS
The DC Alliance, Empowering Homicide Survivors, Inc. (DCAEHS), was incorporated October 2009 and is acting as a clearing house for supportive services. We have assembled a team of trained professionals to assist victims, co-victims and families of domestic violence and homicides, when it occurs in the Washington, DC Metropolitan areas. We implemented a Domestic Violence Chat & Chew, for men and women that are in need of healing. They are Survivors of domestic violence and have a desire to give back to the community. DC ALLIANCE, EMPOWERING HOMICIDE SURVIVORS, INC. P.O. BOX 8753 HYATTSVILLE, MD 20787 (301) 445-7277_MD (240) 899-4669_DC
DONATE N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 11
TALK OF TOWN
SEPT. 2021
AUG. 2021
JULY 2021
COMMUNITY NEWS
July 15, 2021
July 24, 2021
DMV Writer's Room
Poet Life Fest - Covenant House
Washington, DC 20036 CLICK HERE for more information.
Washington, D.C. 20020 CLICK HERE for more information.
August 9-15, 2021
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
August 28, 2021-October 24, 2021
Maryland Renaissance Festival
CLICK HERE for more information.
Annapolis, MD 21401 CLICK HERE for more information.
September 1-5, 2021
Sept. 24, 2021 - Oct. 3, 2021
DC Jazz Festival
State Fair of Virginia
DC Jazz Fest~The Wharf-Sept. 4-5 CLICK HERE for more information.
Doswell, Virginia 23047 CLICK HERE for more information.
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ASK THE EXPERT AYANA BURCH Master of Words Editor. Writer. Scholar.
Polished Editing
"...trust is an ingredient to a good business relationship and partnership."
N.A.I. Magazine recently had the opportunity to speak with Polished Editing’s CEO and Founder Ayana Burch about her entrepreneurship journey. She launched her company a year ago, during the COVID-19 Pandemic and had some great insights to share and inspire other entrepreneurs. N.A.I.: Tell me about Polished Editing. AB: Polished Editing began as an editing company. But it is quickly evolving into a communications consultant company. I told friends and family members N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 13
that I enjoyed editing, so they asked me to edit their written content. Then, I was asked to create bios, write speeches, audit websites, and even build a website – which I didn’t know I could do – and it turned into so much more than an editing company. N.A.I.: What was your key driving force to becoming an entrepreneur? AB: I always knew I wanted to have my own company, but my desire was really to help others communicate better. I started Polished Editing because so many friends and family members asked me to edit their content. I love what I do, and I believe God told me to start a business doing exactly what I love. I relish helping people improve their messages. I recall my mother and I reading books together and correcting the grammar just so we could make it through the books. I enjoy taking content that may be a bit confusing and making it come to life through recommendations, rewrites, questions and discussions. I also appreciate helping people obtain new business or engage with a particular audience. N.A.I.: What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them? AB: One of my biggest failures was working with clients whose values didn’t necessarily align with mine. As the saying goes, “All money isn’t good money.” I’ve learned to say "No" to content that I don’t want to review and to clients who I don’t want to work with. N.A.I.: Describe yourself in three words and explain how these words have been instrumental in the success of your business. AB: Transparent: To be an editor, I must be transparent, honest and direct. The client is trusting me to provide my feedback to make the content better. The readability of the content depends on me. Trusting: I have always been a very trusting person. I trust God to help me make good decisions. I make my expectations clear and ask them to do the same. I think trust is an ingredient to a good business relationship and partnership. I have repeat clients because I’ve earned their trust, and I believe I have theirs as well. N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 14
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Accountable: Having mentors is so important in life and in business! I have people who help keep me accountable in my business, and I discuss my goals and challenges with them so they can advise me. I hope to do the same for someone else one day soon. N.A.I.: If you were to write an autobiography, what would you name it and why? AB: My autobiography would be entitled Honest Thoughts. I pride myself on being transparent, but I am working daily to become more honest with myself. If I’m going to write a book about my life, I’m going to be truthful, as I am striving to be every day personally, in my relationships and with God. Biography Ayana Burch began her career as a communications specialist for a Tysons, Virginia hotel. Once she obtained her Masters degree, she worked as an employee engagement communications specialist for a defense contractor, where she created engaging communications materials for more than 170,000 employees. Ayana holds more than 10 years of hands-on communications experience, which included executive coaching, strategic communications planning, event planning, editing, website designing and auditing, presentation skills, employee engagement and more. She also holds a bachelors degree in Interpersonal and Organization Communications as well as a masters degree in Strategic Communications, both from George Mason University During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Ayana began a communications consulting company called Polished Editing, which provides communications and editing consulting services to individuals, commercial, not for profit and government organizations. She also partners with a variety of businesses to produce price packaging, business capture materials, biographies, capability statements, website audits, etc. Ayana enjoys engaging with projects and diving headfirst into the research, investigation, and production of storytelling. Ayana has worked with companies such as The C.A.S.E. Engineering Group, Premier Productions, Jackson Publishing, and others. WEBSITE: HOME | POLISHED EDITING LLC SOCIAL MEDIA (IG): @POLISHEDEDITING EMAIL: AYANA@POLISHEDEDITING.ORG
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Photo by Anthony Garand on Unsplash
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g n u o Y & ss e l t n e l e R Exclusive Interview with Kidpreneur MISCHA SMITH
COSMOS COSMETICS AND CURIOS
Mischa Smith is the 12-year-old owner of Cosmos Cosmetics and Curios, which she launched in 2019. How Did The Idea For Your Business Come About? When I was younger, I wanted to own a business and as I grew older, I realized that I wanted my childhood goal to be my reality. I chose the name Cosmos Cosmetics and Curios, because as a little person, I was fascinated with make-up. I really liked it because it looked so pretty on a face; it reminded me of all the beautiful colors that could be seen in the galaxy, so, Cosmos Cosmetics and Curios was born! My products are great for others, like me, with allergies. Because not all beauty products are natural or safe for people to use on their skin. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to wear make-up, as a kid (for play) and as a teen or adult (for the cuteness effect). I remember not being able to wear face paint or play in make-up as a little person because of my allergies to many of the ingredients. It made me incredibly sad to be the only one at a birthday party without the pretty face paint. That is why I am constantly developing and selling my own all-natural products. The instructions for use are included on every package.
"I wanted my childhood goal to be my reality."
How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful? So far, I have been able to market my business through family members with social media and vendor events. For me, these are two successful tactics of marketing, because once I sell to one person then they share about my N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 19
business to their friends, and I get more customers. It is a nice process called ‘word of mouth’. I will soon have social media platforms and a website from which I will market and sell my products.
What do you enjoy most about what you do? What I love most when it comes to my business is product testing. It is one of the most fun parts of prepping my products.
Who has been your greatest inspiration? Honestly, I am really inspired by Orpah Winfrey, she was the one that really did it. She came up from the bottom to the top and did not sugar coat the mistreatment she went through. She is black, bold, and brave; Ms. Winfrey does not seem to back down from anything. She faces adversity head on and always has. Even when people told her to stop trying so hard for success, she did not quit, she just moved slowly and kept going. I know I am not the first person to be a ‘kidpreneur’ but I hope that the knowledge of those who came before me will only catapult me further towards my goal. In turn, I will share what I have learned and accomplished to catapult others further than me.
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What advice would you like to give young entrepreneurs like yourself? I would tell them to keep working towards their dreams and always aim for the highest mark. I would also say, “you’re going to fail, but that’s okay because you can get back up and continue towards the path of success. Just don’t beat yourself up about it and ALWAYS GET BACK UP and CONTINUE ON!”
"If you feel great then I’ve done awesome!"
Biography Mischa creates and sells beauty products such as lip care kits, candles, body scrubs and bath salts. Her products are all natural which means she only uses natural ingredients, such as essential oils, shea butter and natural wax. She does not create anything that she would not use on her own sensitive skin. Mischa’s products are not made in a factory and cross-contamination is taken very seriously. Her products are great for others, like herself, who have allergies. In her spare time, Mischa enjoys singing, dancing, acting, and drawing. She is a member of 4-H, Girl Scouts, and Envision, Lead, Grow (an entrepreneurial program for young girls like herself). Mischa sings in her church youth choir, consistently volunteers within her community, and is incredibly supportive of her older brother’s entrepreneurial ventures as well. Mischa’s motto is, “If you feel great then I’ve done awesome!”
COSMOS COSMETICS AND CURIOS Lip Care Kit 3-Step Process Scrub - Balm - Gloss
COSMOS COSMETICS AND CURIOS "Celeste" Bath Salt Scrub YOU CAN REACH MISCHA AT: COSMOSCOSMETICSCURIOS@GMAIL.COM N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 21
THE
READING
ROOM
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T W ina olr idg e
R E Z A L B L I A R T
FITNESS FITGIRL, LLC #Movemore
My Story I was 354 pounds and decided to share how and why I needed to lose weight. I knew if people (women) saw what I went through, they could relate and would not be alone. So, I started sharing different outlets of my business and it started to grow. What I enjoy most about my weight loss journey is receiving messages from across the United States on how I have help woman to lose weight, build self-confidence and be inspired to #movemore. I get messages like this quite often; I respond to them all. I hear their struggle and how they have made up their mind to fight the lifetime battle to be healthier. We laugh and cry together as we get their journey started. As I continue to walk this path, my greatest achievement has been learning to love myself. I put others love before me. I neglected myself mentally, spirituality, and physically. N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 24
I was not at the top of my do to list. The bible says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Neighbors – children, spouse, parents, family, and friends To love all equally and correctly – YOU must LOVE yourself. You cannot take care of your neighbor without taking care of self. In fact, you will burn out or self-destruct and will not be there for your neighbor. I have often been asked how do you juggle both family and business life? As a strong Black woman, who has seen her grandmothers run the empire of family – the foundation was set. My family helps with the business. In fact, when I am overwhelmed, my youngest son sees it and jumps right in to help me. My immediate family has roles to play in my business. Without them, it would not exist. They play an important part in my life and give me the inspiration to press forward.
"To love all equally and correctly – YOU must LOVE yourself." My story, my path, my journey has inspired many and in the near future, Fitness Fitgirl will be on the news, motivating women to #movemore and traveling more to encourage self-love and to #movemore. #Movemore motto will be a household name and my Apple Cider Vinegar drinks will be in stores globally. Most importantly, I simply want to see my business still in exitance and creating change in someone’s life.
#Movemore N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 25
Biography Tina is the Fitness Fittgirl who wants you to #movemore. She is a Certified Health and Life coach from the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. Her top priority is to make an impact on womens lives to be healthier. Tina constantly lives by example and knows the struggle of OBESITY. From 354 pounds to 205, she works hard every day because it is a lifetime commitment. The business she built is called Fitness Fitgirl, LLC., and provides the following services: Motivational speaking Keto meal prep Her famous apple cider vinegar (ACV) drink Fitness session (in person or zoom) FitContouring (removing excess fat or butt enhancement) Extreme Lipo Shots Fitness Fitgirls Parties Her non-stop energy is amazing and turning heads. When you see her, she will spark a fire into you to #movemore. Her first meeting with women consists of appreciating self. “The first thing you have to do is ask God to help you to set your goal and reach it. Then you must come to grips with what you see in the mirror. Remember you are created in God’s image. God creates beauty. YOU must LOVE every flaw or imperfection that He has given you. For example, my thighs are fat with dimples all over them, they are not appealing but I love my jiggly thighs so much that I strength and tone as much as I can. You see, I must improve my imperfections because I appreciate my Temple. God wants us to take care of our Temples. I also hold that no one is perfect, but JESUS and I am no way near or like Jesus.”
VIDEO: Fitness Fitgirl #Movemore You can reach out to Fitgirl Tina at https://poplme.co/fitgirltina, where all her social media information is stored. N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 26
AWARENESS
PHOTO BY MICHAŁ PARZUCHOWSKI ON UNSPLASH
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BORBA ON UNSPLASH
PHOTO BY COLIN LLOYD ON UNSPLASH
JULY Juvenile Arthritis (JA) Awareness
AUGUST Children's Eye Health and Safety Awareness
SEPTEMBER Nat'l Childhood Obesity Awareness
7 Things You Need to Know if Your Child Has Been Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis
VIDEO: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Childhood Obesity Is a Major Public Health Problem
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