WOMAN WWOMAN Wphenomenal
Beletu (Belé) Wondwossen
Founder / Publisher
Shelley M. Shockley
Managing Editor
Writers
Shelley M. Shockley
Marsha Walker Eastwood
Brittany Garrett
Nirvana St. Cyr
Creative Belé Wondwossen
Jason Garrett
Cover
Story: Shelley M. Shockley
Photo: Jason Garrett
Contributing Writers
Rhonda Crowder
Michelle Phillips Fay
Marianna Marron
Letitia Nall
Stephanie Phelps
Kimberly Smith-Woodford
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Shelley M. Shockley From the Editor: FROM ONE PANDEMIC TO ANOTHER - RACE RELATIONS
In March, we discussed the impact of the coronavirus and COVID-19 on the world, since that time, the United States finds itself dealing with a century-old pandemic - race relations. A problem that has been simmering in this country my entire life and reaching a boiling point with the election of the forty-fourth President of the United States Barack Obama.
The world saw the election of President Obama as a turning point in race relations. Many felt things were improving, and all would be right with the world if a black man could be President of a country steeped in racial injustice and slavery. How wrong we were. The "post-racial" US was a myth held by a country lulled to sleep bya few African-Americans'small gains.
Throughout his presidency, the blatant disrespect shown to him as the President and the office of President was too numerous to count. As he prepared to leave the White House in 2017, President Obama said of the "post-racial" belief, "Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society."
The full impact of his words were felt on Memorial Day when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin caused the death of George Floyd. Residents of that city and many others took to the streets in protest. The protests turned to riots complete with looting and the torching of police stations and stores around the country
As I write this column, we are witnessing protests in all fifty states, with countries around the world joining the movement. The unrest indicates a long way to go before there is real change. And the real change begins with each of us.
This publication is an example of an attempt to bridge the gaps. Our mission is to highlight women of all races. We want to offer examples of women who navigate this world and maintain families, side hustles, and community work. We are the oftenoverlooked jugglers of the world.
The question left is, "What can I do to bring about change?" The first step is to take some time to evaluate your relationships, how you interact with those that look different because we all have our own hidden biases. Do you have any friends from another ethnic background? Is segregation or integration intentional or happenstance? If you don't have any, maybe it's time to broaden your circle. Venture into other areas, attend events with a diverse guest list, and sit with a group of people you don't know You may find that you have more in common than differences.
If we all become more introspective and incorporate some changes, we may indeed become an integrated society.
In the meantime, it's time for some personal care and what better way to spend time with yourself than by reading the latest edition of Phenomenal Woman. In this edition, we introduce you to Dr Wendy Batch-Wilson, the newly appointed Dean of Nursing for Cuyahoga CommunityCollege.
A native Clevelander, Dr. Batch-Wilson, is a hard-working visionary. The Cleveland State University alumnae had a direct path from the classroom to the hospital. Yet, the directness of
the route didn't make the journey any more comfortable. She admits a career in nursing was harder than she anticipated, but helping others is priceless.
When interviewing professionals, a key question we pose is, how are you able to balance your career and your home? BatchWilson demonstrates the challenges with balancing the two but also illustrates how to realign your vision and soar Maintaining a connection to her first career, she has reinvented her career path. Currently, she sits at the top of the ladder. Her story is one of perseverance, planning, and faith in yourself. I encourage you to read her story, and I'm sure you'll be inspired.
Inclusion is one of the hot button buzz words in the news. Still, Dr Heather Burton has spent her career fighting for diversity in science and engineering. Our feature focuses on Dr. Burton's reliance on her firm belief that "in all things God has a plan," something she learned as a child from her mom. She also relies on her experience as one of a few African-American students in the North Olmsted school system, and later at The Ohio State University. Her path is one of adapting to change and understanding where your passion lies. Be sure to read all about her journey
With the cancellation of large events due to COVID-19, plans are starting for fall and winter parties. If you're looking to make a unique statement with your decorations, well, we have the answer - Flower Walls. Denisha Anderson is the entrepreneur behind Cleveland Flower Walls, a business she started after recognizing a void in the local market. In 2018, as she planned her wedding, the only thing she desired was a custom flower wall and someone to design and install it, yet she couldn't find it locally With the knowledge of a need and recently unemployed, Anderson launched her business. The business is a labor of love fraught with challenges, but she perseveres. Check out our feature, demonstrating how she overcomes these challenges.
Challenges abound for many during these uncertain times with unprecedented unemployment numbers and the threat of a second wave of the coronavirus. Many are struggling to make ends meet. Our resident financial adviser Marsha Eastwood has provided ideas on how you can survive this pandemic and more with a Side Hustle. These are entrepreneurial ventures you can start with things you find around your home or invest less than $50 in start-up materials to utilize your talents. You may not think that you're creative. With a little glue and imagination, Eastwood shows you ways to develop a sustainable income stream. If you are like I once was and crafting is not your forte, but you bake a great pie or cake, stop adding to your waistline and turn that skill into dollars flowing into your bank account.
We are all gifted with something that we do well or better than others, so take some time to think about your gifts and then spread that love with the world.
As always, I pray that you will find something useful within the pages of Phenomenal Woman Magazine. Something that will aid you in becoming the best you the world has seen. I encourage you to make a difference in the life of at least one person weekly. This gesture will show others that in the end, love conquers hate and, we can coexist in life.
Until we meet on these pages again, be blessed, and then be a blessing to someone else.
WOMAN WWOMAN Wphenomenal
M A G A Z I N E
Dr. WENDY BATCH-WILSON
Last October, Dr Wendy BatchWilson was named the Dean of Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), a position that would give her an opportunity to help develop the next generation of nurses in Northeast Ohio Dr BatchWilson's appointment allowed her to put into practice the knowledge she had gained over the last 20 plus years and the ability to play a role in diversifying the nursing pool through recruitment and retention of students of color..
DENISHA ANDERSON
A proud Clevelander has taken the design and arrangement of flowers to another level. Her company, Cleveland Flower Walls has been the preferred go-to-place for decorating events, weddings, and other social occasions. Following her graduation from Whitney M. Young, a gifted and talented leadership academy, Anderson enrolled in Cleveland State University (CSU) where she graduated with a B.S in Marketing.
HEATHER E. BURTON, Ph.D. DELICIOUS RECIPES
Serves as Director of NSF ADVANCE IDEAL-N and Partner Institutions Faculty and Student Development at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU ) In this capacity, she encourages and ensures the recruitment and advancement of underrepresented students and women faculty specifically in science and engineering.
By: Marsha Walker Eastwood, B.S.Ed, MSHSV PWM Contributing Writer
Surviving The PandemicLearning The Art of The Hustle
I learned the art of the hustle at the age of 9. I never received an allowance so I knew if I wanted to get the things I really wanted or just have some change in my pocket, I would have to find a hustle. My first hustle involved a Christmas gift of a GiveA-Show Projector. It was a plastic projector that came with a few pull-thru slide cards. It was all the rage at the time, but I found a way to make it generate money
The basement of our house was the typical dustbin with flaking whitewash on the walls and awfully bad lighting which worked perfectly for my project. There were also several fairly longboards and a few cinder blocks. I “borrowed” a white sheet and nailed it to the wall, made benches from the wood and blocks, and every Saturday morning I would charge kids fifty cents to watch the show. I usually netted about five dollars, which back then was a lot of money for a kid. As business got better, I added half a hot dog for ten cents. This enterprise all came to a crashing halt when my mother got up early one Saturday and made everyone leave. Thankfully, she did not know about the money thing.
At the age of ten, I was a savvy hustler. I took some of my movie money and persuaded my father to take me to Kresge's to buy a little metal loom and a big bag of loops. Every Friday after school, I would make potholders and every Saturday, I would get out my “business box” which was a saved gift box with tissue paper and neatly lay the potholders inside. I went door to door selling my little handmade potholders for fifty cents each. The people in the neighborhood were surprised at my Chutzpah and they always bought every single one. I was making money. But the drawback was I was not supposed to leave the street, so that enterprise played out in about a month.
At twelve, I saw an opportunity on the back of an Archie comic book, selling greeting cards. I invested a little of my profits in one purchase of the greeting cards. There were a lot of old people on my street and someone was always dying. I could tell by the wreaths hung on the doors, so sympathy cards sold out first, followed by birthday cards. My little war chest continued to build. When I was fourteen things were not going well at home and we never had enough food, so when a neighbor opened a store right around the corner, I persuaded them to hire me. Every Friday when I got paid I would spend half on food and pocket the other half, no one ever questioned where the food came from but I knew that little hustle was making a
difference. At one point I made enough money to buy two roundtrip bus tickets, and my sister and I went to visit my aunt in Harvey, Illinois. For my efforts, I was able to feed my family for a period of time, enjoy life beyond my street, and learn the importance of budgeting. As I got older the art and face of hustling changed substantially and the opportunities dwindled accordingly, but I never lost my art for the hustle, it was just held in abeyance.
Interspersed with my childhood hustling activities, I managed to learn a wealth of life skills that would serve me well in my adult hustling. Two of these were learning to cook and learning to sew These lessons began at age nine and led me to a couple of my adult hustles. Like a lot of people, I too experienced job loss and death resulting in the loss of income and each life-changing event led me to another skill and another hustle. I was injured on one of my jobs and while my workers' compensation was being decided I learned how to “lead” and paint glass. I tested the water by investing twenty dollars or so in materials and a picture frame. The frame provided both cover glass and the frame itself The first one sold for thirty-five dollars and from there I did windows, mirrors, and even clocks – all revenue used to pay bills and support my family. I used my sewing skills to make tie and suspender sets which I sold faster than I could make, and later designed and created plus size and dwarf size wedding gowns. These are all examples of how side hustles kept things going financially.
Today's hustle opportunities are presented by both very organized multi-level, multi-million dollar corporations that sell everything from flavorings and spices, to cosmetics, jewelry, and even Girl Scout cookies, and lower-level venues such as arts and craft shows and flea markets. The income generated from these endeavors helped to pay the bills. But what happens when a global disaster derails all those opportunities.
Few people could have predicted the Great Pandemic of 2020 and the financial repercussions associated with it. Indeed 2020 was supposed to be the best year ever. The year got off to a great start and the mood of the country was positive, the economy was sailing on a high note, and the jobless rate was one of the lowest in history Then barely three months had gone by when disaster struck. The surrealness of Covid-19 was akin to living in a seemingly never-ending Stephen King novel with no ending in sight. It was as if time was standing still while moving at the same time. As the orders came from the Governor's to shut down state after state after state, the economy was suddenly shocked into a standstill. All but those essential businesses were shuttered and paychecks became non-existent as the deadly Covid-19 virus began
to not only claim lives but drain the bank accounts of millions of Americans. Survival became a multi-faceted issue. Access to government-funded income was a nightmare and food lines seemed to increase exponentially week after week. But there were still opportunities for the hustle. The most challenging part of the equation was just getting started.
Think of the hustle as Plan B of your personal financial disaster plan. Forget the notion that Plan B indicates the failure of Plan A because like the pandemic, that decision may be taken out of your hands. Survival is paramount. Mastering the art of the hustle requires a mindset reset. You also must think of the hustle as your personal brand, a brand that is sustaining and reflective of your goal, which is to sell products or services. While thousands of dollars were made by seamstresses sewing masks, there is a need beyond that as we are living in the new normal. Old school hustlers know that to create a sustainable income, the hustle must be “lawful, legal and clean.” This is what will set you apart from the snake oil scammers.
Getting started is a lot easier than most people think. Everything from dried bean mosaics to repurposing as opposed to recycling aluminum cans can create an ongoing stream of income. Something as simple as redesigning an empty oatmeal box can become a survival income. The art of the hustle involves devotion, discipline and consistency. The internet provides free and almost
free marketplaces that allow you to connect with buyers nearby and far away and an extra fifty or sixty dollars a week in sales can put food on an empty table and fill at least four or more emptystomachs.
More than anything the art of the hustle requires thinking outside the box. In addition to creating products and services to meet the needs and wants of the public, you can also recycle free porch and curb used items that may require a minor fix, a small paint job or simple embellishment. The newly refurbished item can then be sold at a comfortable profit. With a little imagination, even mismatched socks can become a work of art. The art of hustling requires the determination to brighten the light at the end of the tunnel and most importantly address and meet as many financial needs as possible during times of desperation or to just complete a project. There is no doubt that given the magnitude of the economic downturn as a result of the pandemic many jobs will be lost forever and for a lot of people, the hustle will become their main gig for the long term.
Learning the art of the hustle makes a person humble and appreciative of a new set of survival skills. I learned the art of the hustle as a child and it continues to serve me well, but if you are new to the game it is never too late to learn how to market your best self to remain financiallyafloat.
Founder, Cleveland Flower Walls DENISHA ANDERSON
The famous American poet, Edwin Curran once said, “Flowers are the music of the ground. From earth's lips spoken without sound.” Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. Research also shows a positive correlation between flowers and mood improvement. Denisha Anderson, a proud Clevelander has taken the design and arrangement of flowers to another level. Her company, Cleveland Flower Walls has been the preferred go-to-place for decorating events, weddings, and other social occasions.
Following her graduation from Whitney M. Young, a gifted and talented leadership academy, Anderson enrolled in Cleveland State University (CSU) where she graduated with a B.S. in Marketing. She joined KeyBank and worked as a management associate but her stay there was short-lived and was let go as she was not successful in selling debt.
So, how did this marketing graduate/banker end up being an entrepreneur? Phenomenal Woman recently caught up with Denisha Anderson to delve deeper into her journey and eventual success.
“I caught a glimpse of my entrepreneurial spirit when I sold candy in high school to pay for all my senior expenses,” Denisha said. Her husband, Andrew, a photographer later introduced her to what it took to be a successful entrepreneur. Speaking highly of her hubby, she said, “I was mainly blown away by the freedom he had to create his own income, on his own terms. I was confident that if I could take back ownership of my future versus allowing a company to dictate where I'd go, would I be unstoppable.”
Anderson's childhood was pretty adventurous. Her mom believed, 'An idle mind was the devil's playground,' so she stayed busy She fondly remembers her this time and said, “From sports camps to church camps, artistic camps, to volleyball camps, to swimming camps, and survival camps to name just a few. Literally every camp you can think of, I was probably in line with my Power Puff girl pillow smashed in my purple suitcase ready to be checked in.”
In her own words, Anderson said, “Cleveland Flower Walls has been established to fill the void created in Cleveland. There wasn't anything like it and I realized that while planning my own wedding in 2018. I was a simple bride and the only thing I desired was a custom flower wall, but all I found was crazy shipping fees from outside the U.S and no one locally to make it custom, set it up, and deliver it!”
The Greek Philosopher, Plato once said, 'A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem.' Anderson wasted no time and put her creative mind to work leading to the birth of Cleveland Flower Walls. Launched in January 2019, her company offers one-day Custom flower wall rentals for brides, and special occasions as well as permanent walls. The company responds to the uniqueness of every customer and works with brides/clients to determine the size they need and creates their dream flower wall at the company's showroom on Lakeside Ave. Anderson's team delivers, sets up, and breaks down the wall offering a carefree, stress-free experience for their clients. Pleased with the establishment of the company, she stated, “We created and introduced a completely new market to Cleveland that has never been executed this way before.”
Cleveland Flower Walls has already provided services to numerous weddings/ baby showers and has done a permanent wall at Cleveland's 9 Hotel. However, as the demand for her company's services has increased, so do the challenges! Among others, securing a delivery truck is an immediate challenge. She candidly explained, “we are working diligently to purchase our own delivery truck. Until then, we are sharing and bribing my Dad for his delivery van every weekend.”
Although the key factors in business success may not be one-size-fits-all, there are some elements that are common to many thriving companies. Anderson learned a few lessons along the way To become a successful entrepreneur, she says, “You must have a burning desire to do what you love, otherwise every obstacle will conquer you and every excuse will fall from your lips. Also, you must be honest with yourself about where you are and where you're trying to go! Write it down. Read it daily. Finally “If you can change your thoughts, you can change your life.”
A number of small businesses have gained practical knowledge from the services of organizations that provide free training opportunities and entrepreneurs should make use of them. One such example is the Cleveland based-JumpStart Inc., and its' carefully designed Core City: Cleveland Impact Program. The 12week business assistance program has been designed to drive economic impact in the city of Cleveland by helping individuals overcome obstacles to entrepreneurship through hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. The program will culminate in a demo day-style competition where participants will use their new knowledge and skills to pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to take home up to $10,000 to grow their business. Over the years, the program has tangibly benefited numerous entrepreneurs. More than 90% of the companies served so far have been led byAfrican Americans.
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Anderson has also been a beneficiary of the program. While searching for resources in Cleveland that assisted entrepreneurs, she said “my industry friends were competing in Jumpstart's Pitch Competition that summer and I purchased a ticket for my husband and me to attend. While there, we were introduced to some of their staff and applied for the program on the spot.”
According to research conducted by the Brooking Institution, people of color represent about 40% of the population nationally, but only 20% of the nation's 5.6 million business owners with employees. Alleviating the barriers faced by women and minority-owned businesses requires taking bold steps. These groups face numerous challenges including; lack of access to capital funding, lack of mentorship, and biases in the business world. From her experience, Anderson pointed out the case of legitimacy! On this, she said “My biggest challenge as a double minority is constantly proving our legitimacy People say, “wait, is this your business?” It's especially frustrating when companies look past me for the person “in charge” of me. I say, “Yep, it's little ol' me right here.” Overall, I think we aren't represented well and we have allowed the masses to create an identityfor us instead.”
While the complexities of the challenges are there, Anderson says, “We as women and minorities should work to improve ourselves, our standards, and our knowledge
first. That means listening more, speaking less, reading and learning from people who have already achieved what you're doing, not people who have no fruits to show. Once I stopped placing the blame on why something wasn't working and started making decisions to improve myself, my situation began to improve. It's patience and endurance.”
Anderson is grateful for the support she receives from family and friends. In particular, she pointed out the unwavering support she receives from her husband Andrew who has been instrumental in growing their business. She said, “If I was a boy, I'd be Andrew If Andrew was a girl, he'd be me. He's the one that pushes me out the bed at 5 a.m. He throws away my emotion and brings me the logic to operate my business effectively. Andrew and I are collaborating in life to reach our highest human potential and my business would definitely not be at the level it's at without his amazing photography and marketing skills.”
Speaking of her mom, Denise, Anderson said, “She showed me resilience. I watched my mom wake up at 4 a.m. every day to go to work without complaining. She taught me to give my all in everything I did. She taught me how to be responsible, take care of myself and not to settle for anything I didn't desire.” She is also thankful to her God-mommy, Nichole, and her mentor, Margaret who both played meaningful roles in shaping her skills and values.
Anderson enjoys what she does and said her work is her life. “I absolutely love what I do and I never want a break from it. I love working with my husband every day and being creative. I wake up every day at 5 a.m. I pray, meditate, visualize, plan, and execute. It's not easy. I get thrown off track, but I'm kind to myself and give myself the grace to try again the next day.” Despite its infancy, Cleveland Flower walls has already been named “Best of Cleveland 2019” by Cleveland Magazine and won first place prize from the Urban League of Greater Cleveland Competition.
To young girls aspiring to become entrepreneurs, she says, “Get to know yourself. Stop looking outward for answers about who you are and what you desire because you'll never find it. Be honest with yourself about where you are and determine where you want to go Write that down. Nothing is out of reach. Everything is trial and error.” She continued, “If you're serious about being an entrepreneur, read these bookstoday Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, and As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. If you're unable to order these books, email me.
For more information: cleflowerwalls@gmail.com
TOALLTHE FRONTLINE HEROES Thank
Dr. HEATHER E. BURTON
Grounded in Faith, Pushing for Equity
Heather E. Burton, Ph.D. serves as Director of NSF ADVANCE IDEAL-N and Partner Institutions Faculty and Student Development at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU.) In this capacity, she encourages and ensures the r e c r u i t m e n t a n d a d va n c e m e n t o f underrepresented students and women faculty specificallyin science and engineering.
Most recently she played an important role in IDEAL-N, a four-year project (2015-2019) that built a learning community among 10 research universities across two states (Ohio and Pennsylvania). The project was instrumental in creating knowledge, sharing, developing, adapting, and evaluating innovative and sustainable tools, practices, and policies to promote gender equality in academic science and engineeringdisciplines.
As a testament to her exemplary work for more than 20 years, Dr. Burton has received various honors and awards. She recently took some time out of her busy schedule to discuss her life and career with Phenomenal Woman.
Burton's upbringing has been similar to anyone else, however, she said, “what stands out is that I was nurtured in a single-parent home by a Christian Black mother who reared me in the principle that 'God made me and everything that God made is and was good'; so as a child that gave me the encouragement to always move forward and push for something greater”
Her formative years of education were started within the Cleveland School district and Warrensville Heights; th predominately Black school districts; but in 7 grade, her family moved to North Olmsted; a predominantly white school district and this is where she finished her secondary education. Burton recalls, “I believe that in all things God has a plan and this transition allowed me to do the work that I do; around racial and gender equity. It gave me a
story that I can tell to say I get it. I get being the only. th Because I've been the only since 7 grade.” Nonetheless, “my mother introduced me to the concept of faith and through my years of growth it is what has gotten me through, the good, the bad, and the indifferent.”
After graduation, Burton enrolled in The Ohio State University to begin her collegiate studies in Biomedical Engineering before switching her major to Broadcast Journalism and Black Studies with a minor in theatre. She then joined Cleveland State University as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Minority Affairs and Human Relations. The academic atmosphere at the university overcame Burton's initial hesitation to pursue her graduate studies, and coupled with hard work, she earned a master's degree in Public Administration.
Her professional work began with her first love of acting and modeling. She noted “For years, I worked as a professional actress and model financially supporting myself through modeling. I then began working in the non-profit industry and community outreach. This garnered me the opportunity to enhance my public speaking skills through workshop presentations and keynote engagements.”
Burton's deep passion for serving her community encouraged her to pursue further studies and coupled with some encouragement she received from her mentor, Dr. Terry, she enrolled and successfully completed her Ph.D in Urban Studies and Public Affairs from Cleveland State University.
Reflecting further on her inspiration to complete her Ph.D., she said, “my choice for Public Administration and Urban Studies was based on my interest in non-profit organizations. It was my goal to open a non-profit performing arts center. I did not do the performing arts center but I do have a non-profit geared towards the holistic development of women.”
Dr. Burton then joined the University of Akron and held successive responsibilities including; Director, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, Director Graduate Student Development, and Interim Program Director Upward Bound Classic Program. Meantime, the Director of the Social Work Program at the University inquired about her teaching and she taught a few semesters. At the University of Akron, Dr Burton has served as Adjunct Faculty Pan African Studies and as Adjunct Graduate Faculty Social Work. Subsequent conversations with the Director also convinced her to complete another master's degree in social work. While this is an accomplishment, she pointed out the real challenges of going back to school when 'you are facultyand has a Ph.D.'
Following a distinguished career at the University of Akron, Dr. Burton joined Case Western Reserve University, one of the nation's top universities and an independent leading research institute. At CWRU, she holds the position of director and serves as adjunct faculty in the Jack and Joseph Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.
As Director of NSF ADVANCE IDEAL-N and Partner Institutions Faculty and Student Development, Dr. Burton seeks to increase the number of underrepresented students in graduate programs and academia and is responsible for designing and implementing education, diversity, research and mentoring programs for faculty and students at CWRU and partner institutions.
She also put tremendous effort towards the recently completed, IDEAL-N. The grant project designed to institutionalize gender equity transformation at leading research universities by creating a learning community of academic leaders has been exemplary.
Over the course of working at CWRU, Dr. Burton’s responsibilities have grown to include the IDEAL-N project, The Academic Careers in Engineering & Science –Summer Undergraduate Research Program (ACES-SURP), NOA- AGEP summer bridge program, Case Fisk Partnership, and Diversity Engagement on campus with faculty and students. In a nutshell, her work has been around gender and racial equity
According to Dr. Burton, when you deal with issues of racial and gender equity, your day is never quite the same. She said, “my days change from day-to-day. But typically I spend time in meetings, conducting trainings and workshops, reviewing and implementing programs, reviewing policy and mentoring students and faculty”
When asked how she became interested in this noble cause, she said, “I don't believe I became interested in the cause versus it being a part of who I am. I am a Christian Black Woman; these identities make me a part of two marginalized communities which means I've had to overcome many of the obstacles that my students overcome. So it is important to let them know they are not by themselves. There are people in this world that look like them who are on this path to help them.”
The struggles of women and minority groups have been well-documented. While some progress has been made to overcome hurdles faced by these groups, much more needs to be done to level the playing field. Dr Burton and other like-minded trailblazers have gone above and beyond the call of dutyto uplift these communities.
She explained, “I live by the motto, if God can use me to touch, change, motivate one person then my work is not in vain. I believe when you realize your purpose in life and why God created you, it puts you in a place to help others. I also believe that history has been distorted and this country is founded in principals of discrimination and prejudice, and that requires work to reshape and counter ingrained beliefs that impact marginalized communities.” She continued, “as we look and move forward and obtain success we must always remember that we did not do it by ourselves; it took the help of someone else. I must always reach back and bring someone along on this journey because I won't always be here to do the work and the work to fight against discrimination and prejudice will remain as long as human interaction occurs.”
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ACES Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Always grateful to her mom and speaking highly of her, she said, “My mom is my rock, the one who compliments but critiques with a spirit-filled heart. I call her my 'Petunia' and she calls me her 'Bundle of Joy'. My mom doesn't push me but she uses words of wisdom to push me.” She is also appreciative of numerous individuals and said, “I had two mentors early in my career who also doubled as my supervisors, Donna Whyte, Cleveland State University, and Coleen Curry, University of Akron. These were women who epitomized professionalism and wisdom. They both took me under their wings and nurtured me as only women that looked like me could do.”
Dr Burton doesn't try to procrastinate because she never knows what work, task, assignments are going to pop up for tomorrow Nevertheless, to energize and create a better work-life balance, she said, “I take 'me days' and 'Me-cations.' I will go away, travel for days by myself, it's the best form of self-care there is.”
Dr. Burton has her own non-profit Crimson Heights Ministries, Inc. and sits on two non-profit boards, SHINE Inc., and Greater Cleveland Delta Life Foundation Center. She is involved with her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is active in her church -East Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Greater Friendship Baptist Church. She also holds Coordinator positions with the RH Boyd
National Baptist Congress/Vision Congress and the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. In all of these facets, she provides mentoring opportunities.
As an accomplished author, Dr Burton awaits the release of her second book 'I'm Single! So What? She is also working on a third book dealing with Intergenerational Women's Ministry and a fourth book dealing with diversity. She has been instrumental in securing grants to benefit important causes and has conducted countless presentations. She is also a member and contributor to numerous professional associations.
When asked to render advice to younger women, she said, “I would tell young girls don't operate in your fears; but operate as if there are no obstacles, challenges or fears and then overcome them when you actually face them or have to deal with them.” She also cited her favorite quote from Khalil Gibran, “We choose our fears and sorrows long before we experience them.”
Dr Burton's work will no doubt alleviate problems associated with the under-representation of women and minorities in professional fields of studies and careers, particularly in STEM professions. For this professional woman of deep faith, changing people's lives, particularly the marginalized is of utmost priority. More is definitely underway
PHOTOS: JASON GARRETT
Leading Tri-C's Nursing Program Through the Pandemic Dr. WENDY BATCH-WILSON,
By Shelley Shockley PWM Managing Editor
Last October, Dr. Wendy Batch-Wilson was named the Dean of Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), a position that would give her an opportunity to help develop the next generation of nurses in Northeast Ohio. Dr. Batch-Wilson's appointment allowed her to put into practice the knowledge she had gained over the last 20 plus years and the ability to play a role in diversifying the nursing pool through recruitment and retention of students of color.
She had high hopes for the work she was just learning to navigate when the world was turned upside down by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic that quickly spread across the world. The pandemic would impact all walks of life, business, education, medicine, and particularly nursing programs in the state of Ohio, thus striking the new administrator during the infancy of her tenure.
Batch-Wilson was prepared to jump into the crisis and create a plan for success because in the words of LeBron James, “In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned,” and as a native Clevelander, she was prepared to demonstrate the fortitude that is part of her birthright.
Growing up on the southeast side of Cleveland, BatchWilson's parents sought to give their children the best, beginning with enrolling them in parochial schools to ensure they had the best education. While navigating through St. Benedict elementary school, young Wendy's dream was to become a doctor, a hope she held on to as she entered Regina High School.
Each spring, schools take time away from classroom instruction to offer their students some real-life experience with speakers visiting classrooms to offer an overview of their careers. These dialogues include a look into the lives of these professionals explaining why they chose a certain path, what types of classes they excelled in, and how you too could become a lawyer, corporate manager, police officer, firefighter, or an array of careers.
The career missing during all of these discussions was medicine, or more specifically doctors. She remembers seeing others in the “medical” profession, but not her dream job of a doctor. So, without the insight of someone who had followed this path in life, Wendy began to look at other possibilities and nursing was the career that truly aligned with her dream of caring for others. Dr Wendy Batch-Wilson, recently recounted this experience and others when she took time out of her day to share with Phenomenal Woman, highlights of her journey to becoming Dean of Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C).
Batch-Wilson recalls that her journey began as she was looking into post-secondary education and was not
attuned to all of the possibilities available in Northeast Ohio for an education in nursing. As the eldest and the first child to go to college, her parents wanted her to stay close and as she looked around she found John Carroll and Baldwin-Wallace didn't have nursing programs. She would find her school in downtown Cleveland, at Cleveland State University(CSU).
At the time, the recent high school graduate was a participant in the INROADS, a national mentoring program, designed in the 1970s to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership When INROADS began, the focus was on business and engineering careers, but as Batch-Wilson continued under their tutelage, they began to expand to other areas including health careers and nursing.
Timing in life can be the invisible doorman leading you into your destiny, as she found out during her freshman year at CSU. As a new career tract, internships for health careers and nursing were new and there was only one in the area of nursing. Batch-Wilson applied and began as an intern at Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital. She recalled, “I started there as a gopher the first summer, from cleaning up to dropping something off to filling in for the secretary that was my job.”
This entrance into University Hospitals, one of Cleveland's largest medical campuses would prove fruitful. She interned at the prestigious hospital throughout her collegiate career She reflected on her internships, “I learned how to take vital signs while I was taking nursing classes and clinicals. Early on I did a rotation in the sexual abuse unit, patients would come in with their parents, and I would assist. There were suspected child abuse cases. It really helped me to see early on what it means to be a nurse. It is not easy I worked primarily with pediatric patients and that became my love.”
The experience she recalled was hard and eye-opening, but it also put her in the right position to be seen by a Nurse Manager and when an opportunity came to hire a nursing assistant from the pool of interns, she was able to accept the position because she was a local intern, and would be in town. This part-time position was valuable in helping her to continue to hone her skills while still pursuing her degree.
After graduation, she was offered a full-time position at Rainbow and began her career as a Pediatric Floor nurse, which fit in with her internship experience. In each phase of her advancement, she worked with pediatrics, and this would be her home throughout her tenure with the hospital system. She also had the opportunity to serve as a Pharmaceutical Nurse and took part in a Clinical trial for Xenical, which is marketed as Alli, an over-the-counter weight loss pill. The trial tested the drug on adolescents in out-patient clinics.
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While working at the hospital, Batch-Wilson married her long time sweetheart and became a mother to their first child. After her son's birth, returning to a job and career she loved was mixed with the pangs of motherhood. She said a few months into returning to work, “I felt like I was missing his milestones.” Her brother was her son's caregiver and would write down all of the new things her son had accomplished and she longed to be there to experience them. During this time, she began looking for a part-time job A part-time job came up at Tri-C to teach clinicals, but it was only two days a week and she needed to have a little more than that to help sustain her family
The idea of leaving the hospital after ten years was not an easy decision, but her position at Tri-C would allow her to be home with her son during the day and on weekends so she took the plunge.
After two years, Batch-Wilson was approached to take on a full-time role as an instructor and felt the time was right as her son was reaching preschool age. She taught for five years while also earning a master of science in nursing specializing in nursing education from Walden University. She said of this accomplishment, “I noticed that in education a lot of people had those advanced degrees,” and while the position did not call for the degree, she felt this was something she could do for herself and her career.
Also during this time, she was able to keep her connection to the hospital because a part of her week was held in the hospital. She said, “In the beginning, when I was teaching students in the classroom, part of my week was held in the hospital.” This association with the hospital was further solidified when Batch-Wilson was approached by the Nurse Manager to be a part of their
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Often minority students will get into programs but don't complete them, at Tri-C they seek to not only get them into the program but help them thrive.
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“As Needed” list of nurses. So sporadically during breaks, she would come in and serve as a nurse.
Throughout her career, Batch-Wilson has sought to do a good job, but also to challenge herself This passion and drive she brings to her job is personal, yet visible to those around her resulting in opportunities being placed in her path. This occurred as she sought additional responsibilities in her current position because she realized a leadership position in the area she worked wasn't forthcoming. As this occurred, a search committee sought to fill the Director of Skills Lab position and a member of that committee encouraged her to apply for the job
As she assumed a more administrative role, she was able to stay close and affiliated with the hospital as a part of the “As Needed” list, until one day she went to put in her paperwork and found the manager who had sought her was no longer in charge and she had been taken off of the list.
This is the point that she began to mourn the end of her career as a nurse. She said, “I was missing the patient care. There was a sense of loss of what I really became a nurse for It took me a little time to get over I clearly could have gone to UH and asked to be on the list every other weekend, every other holiday Yet, I realized that was not something I wanted to be committed to and I would be spreading myself too thin.”
With that encouragement she applied and received the job, a position she would hold for eleven years. During this time she also began her doctoral studies, completing them in 2016 when she was awarded the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Walden University That recognition of her talent didn't stop there, in the summer of 2017 she was approached to take on the role of Associate Dean of Health Careers on the Western campus on an interim basis.
Understanding that this was not a permanent move she said, “I didn't want to lose that momentum and connection that I had in the Skills Lab especially if it was temporary.”So, she was able to serve as both which she described as, “arduous at times, but rewarding to bring something to the Western Campus that they needed.”
Although her aspirations never quite stretched to the level of dean, in July 2019 when the Dean of Nursing position was posted Batch-Wilson thought, “You just never know if the opportunity will come for a deanship in nursing,” so she applied and in October she was appointed as Tri-C's Dean of Nursing.
As the Dean of Nursing, Batch-Wilson oversees the nursing program college-wide and a primary function of her role is to connect with the community to ensure the College is well represented and developing and engaging in partnerships. A top priority is maintaining the high standards the program has developed in terms of curriculum, professional development and maintaining accreditation. All of this must also align with the brand and image of Cuyahoga CommunityCollege as a whole.
Often, when taking over a new role there is a “honeymoon” period, but that didn't really happen for this new leader This nurse turned administrator had a plan to improve on what was a solid base to, “impart my vision on this new chapter” As someone who came through the ranks, she knows the inner-workings of the department and wants to see the department continue to excel under her leadership.
Instead of getting comfortable with the position and her staff, she found herself in the proverbial “skillet” three short months into her tenure. COVID-19 struck and a number of the College's programs were impacted.
The program was slightly derailed when it was announced the local hospitals they rely on as partners for students to develop their clinical skills were no longer allowing students into the hospital. Batch-Wilson said, “We have 800 plus students that were told now you can't go to the hospitals. As well as you can't come to campus.” This was huge, she said, “we could not give the students that hands-on experience.”
Challenges such as this show the tenacity of a leader and the ability to align the team to make things happen during a crisis. She explained, “We were able to get some amazing faculty and lab staff on board to pull things together.” The team arranged for students to videotape themselves performing procedures, a key aspect of their learning process. Batch-Wilson explained, “A lot of it is touching and doing. We always struggled with them (students) understanding not to talk through it. Instead, I must see you do it. Did you hold the skin properly, etc.?”
The eight weeks were rough, but they made it through. To better simulate the experience they also had to seek funding to provide experiences that equated to hands-on experiences. The Dean said, “The students weren't happy when I made the decision. I couldn't win, but I think they would have been angrier if we halted things and placed them in the summer program to make up those hours. They were able to complete the spring semester and graduate.”
“As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul, and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
Currently, the summer semester has started and hospitals have opened up for students to have the on-hand experience they need. She noted they are not currently working with COVID cases. As Ohio opens up and continues to monitor the curve, Batch-Wilson can begin to settle into the “new normal” of being Dean of the state's largest associate degree program but she still anticipates challenges ahead.
While the appointment is still fresh so is the vision, and this is one area where she sees the biggest challenges. She said, “The most challenging part is not having everyone understand the vision,” and that lack of understanding is not always inside of the division.
A key role the dean will play is promoting Tri-C's Nursing program to the larger community and ensuring representation in the program from minority communities. While she doesn't cite this as a challenge or a hard sale she said, “It's difficult for minorities to grasp when you don't see it in action. We have minority nurse representation,but it's definitelysmaller.”
As with other service-oriented positions, Batch-Wilson said, “Patients want to see providers that look like them. We want to encourage people to take advantage of access to places like Tri-C.” Often she explained minority students will get into programs but don't complete them, at Tri-C they seek to not only get them into the program but help them thrive.
In an effort to encourage diversity, the College hosts tours at its facilities to “show minorities this is something that you can do.” Not only become a nurse but also serve the healthcare industry in other ways including becoming a member of the faculty or leadership team. While she knew this was the career she wanted to pursue, Batch-Wilson admits, “I had no idea how tough it was going to be.”
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When asked about the availability of jobs and the various levels of nurses she explained, “Northeast Ohio is a mecca of healthcare-related jobs and the number of students we educate really does support that.” She also noted that nursing shortages or shortages in the healthcare industry happen in cycles and depend on many factors. In explanation, she noted, “How is the economy going to shake out. Will it be where nobody is leaving their job, or will people set to retire actually leave.”
The introduction of COVID will also play a role in what the industry looks like and impacts her role as dean. She believes, “there will be dedicated units to COVID, and we will train new people to take on other roles. There should be no danger of there being jobs for our graduates.”
The nursing industry has a range of positions from home health aide to registered nurses. The difference in many of the positions depends on the licensure the individual holds. An additional variable is where the person works.
At Tri-C, a one year course of study ends with a Practical Nursing Certificate while completing the two-year program comes with the Associate Degree in Nursing. Each holding different licensure.
With an Associate Degree in Nursing, an individual can begin working and if the desire is to reach the BSN level, return to school while working. She explained, “More and more the level of degree matters in Northeast Ohio. It's not that there is a difference in the license. The higher degree says you took additional classes that allow you to think and act a little differently”
She further explained, “The need is greater than what the bachelor's programs can prepare. Many receive their Associate degree, begin working and then go back and get their bachelor's.
Where there are challenges there is also joy and fulfillment and Batch-Wilson said the most fulfilling part of her job is, “That even though I'm a dean, I am still a nurse and in this role, I can still make a difference. It's not the difference in the way I thought I would make, but I do make a difference.” Ultimately she believes as long as she is making sure the Division of Nursing is a quality program, she has made an impact on the community.
Most importantly she said it's not all about her, “The biggest thing about me is I'm only as good as the people that I can uplift and show that they are doing great things. I don't do this alone. The task of putting things online, that was a lot of other people. I am part of a team. This division is about the work they do. I'm just here to navigate them through the vision and create a positive place for everybody.”
In her spare time, Batch-Wilson is active in her sorority and in being a parent and wife. She said of her family, “We are not a family stretched to the limits. You might find us laying around watching TV.” Her son is a 2020 graduate, and plans to pursue mechanical engineering, while her daughter will be in the 5th grade in the fall, and enjoys musicals, videos, and face time with friends. She and her husband have been married 21 years, and the family just grew with the addition of a dog.
Dr. Wendy Batch-Wilson's personal journey has led her to the upper echelons of higher education. She is also noticeably making a difference as a role model. Her accomplishment is a testament to hard work, dedication and devotion. This Phenomenal Woman is destined to take Tri-C's nursing program to another level. Stay tuned. g
PHENOMENAL FACTS
Bachelor of Science, Nursing Cleveland State University
Master of Science, Nursing Education Walden University
Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University
Recognized for her Nursing expertise at national, state and local levels
Member, National League for Nursing
Member, Ohio Action Coalition Northeast Ohio State implementation Plans (SIP) team
Member, The Center for Health Affairs Workforce Initiative (NEONI)
Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Awardee, Nurses to Watch, The American Health Council
A PANDEMIC SIZED PIVOT
How my small business is surviving COVID-19
As a makeup artist, seeing the beauty industry shut down was so surreal. I could not believe I wouldn't be able to do the thing I love the most. I wouldn't be able to book any appointments or host my classes that I had been planning for months. As time went on, I noticed all the beauty professionals turned to social media, hosting classes and live demos, something I was already doing prior to the pandemic I became discouraged with all the over saturation of beauty content on the internet. I did not want to do all the same things everyone else was doing and get lost in the commotion. I am used to standing out and being one of the only makeup artists producing online content. So I decided I had to pivot.
Having so much free time on our hands my husband and I began evaluating what we could do to stay busy. One thing I turned to was reading, some years back I purchased the book “The Magnolia
Story” the story of Chip and Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper).
Prior to makeup I had a huge passion and love for all things interior decorating. After being laid off from “corporate America” I started a business with my mother called Royal Creations. We restored and refurbished old furniture pieces turning them from trash to treasure. We were very successful in the business, selling a lot of custom pieces and participating in the biggest home decor expos in the city. Although we were doing pretty good, living in Cleveland made it hard to keep up our productivity. Most of our projects were completed outside, so as the weather began to change it was hard to produce. Naturally my makeup business took center stage because restoring furniture during a Cleveland winter was not an option.
Reading The Magnolia Story jump started my passion for restoring things. I started looking around the house at things I could redo. My husband had already began renovating our basement bathroom and I was already eager to begin decorating once it was finished. However until he was done I set my eyes on some of the pieces I bought over time with the intent on refurbishing.
Once I completed a few projects and posted them on social media, I started to receive multiple inquiries for custom furniture. Previously working on my furniture business, we had busy periods and slow periods but lacked consistency. With the knowledge I've gained during my time as a makeup artist regarding marketing, I was able to advertise our pieces better than before.
Now that things are slowly opening back up, not only am I booking makeup appointments, but we are
fulfilling custom furniture orders as well. This is where I've yearned to be over these last few months So although this pandemic has been life changing, I have used this time to further both of my businesses and work on getting ahead for what feels like the first time ever.
If you've ever contemplated starting a business; there is no better time to do it than now. There are so many resources out there for small business owners such as grants and loans to help fund your business. If you have a business that has been affected by COVID-19, use it to pivot! Find a way to make it work for you, if you own a tshirt business you could pivot to making custom masks. If you are a hairstylist a very lucrative thing right now is virtual classes for your clients.
So where do I start? Any type of business that can be done online is huge right now, such as personal training, consulting, and tutoring.
There are a lot of ways to make this pandemic work for you. We have to shift our mind frames and turn this from a negative to a positive.
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GOING THE DISTANCE COMMUNITIES.
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