Red Leaves Publications, April 2021 by Red Leaves Publication

RED LEAVES

PUBLICATION PUBLICATION

WOMEN'S

EMPOWERMENT

Featuring Articles from Adrienne Carter Veronica Prichard Tiffany Legette Kelli Jacobs Tameka M. King Sabrina Reeves Karen B. Moore Irma Bannerman (Cover) Dr. Janice C. Brown

APRIL 2021 EDITION

Editor-in-Chief Dorcas C. Beatty

RED LEAVES

WOMEN'S

PUBLICATION PUBLICATION

EMPOWERMENT APRIL 2021 EDITION

Table of Content Dorcas C. Beatty ........................................................ Editor-In-Chief

Adrienne Carter........................................................

1 2

Guest Editor-In-Chief

Veronica Prichard..................................................... Tameka M. King......................................................... Kelli Jacobs................................................................ Tiffany Legette......................................................... Sabrina Reeves ........................................................ Karen B. Moore........................................................ Dr. Janice C. Brown..................................................

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

National Poetry Month

Irma Bannerman (Feature Cover)......................... Women on the Move...............................................

10 -11 12 -14

Editor-in-Chief Dorcas C. Beatty

Message From the Editor “The Empowerment of A Woman”

Dorcas C. Beatty

want to take this opportunity to speak to you concerning the “EMPOWERMENT OF A WOMAN”. Women empowerment is a term that is used to encourage, inspire and celebrate women. In the years that I have grown-up, women’s empowerment has become a significant topic of discussion and has changed our world.

So what is the definition of women’s empowerment? Surprisingly, there is no common definition of women’s empowerment. In fact, the word “empowerment” does not exist in most languages. But let’s look at the following definition. Empowerment is the process that creates power in individuals over their own lives, society, and in their communities. So where do we go from here and how does one become empowered? Allow me to announce to you first and foremost, the “POWER OF GOD IS AVAILABLE TO US.

DORCAS C. BEATTY

With the strength of God, we are no longer running on our own strength. We can switch over to His power in our lives – and I’m glad about that. Isn’t that amazing? Even in working for the Kingdom as Women of faith, He fills us with His mighty power to do what we need to do. The first woman of Empowerment that I’ve known was my mother. She was a woman of faith in God, Sunday School Teacher, Woman of Church Missions, Wife, Mother, and Entrepreneur (Seamstress). When I grew up, she became a friend and confidant – she was solid as a rock. I’ve had to face a lot of life’s tough choices, but I can still hear her voice sounding off in my heart with what to do and how to handle some things. I didn’t quite understand her when I was young but when I became an adult, I got her! . God's power is at work within us and He often uses what we are going through, to bring about His purposes. We must not resist His working in our lives, but embrace Him. God's power wants to bring us through any current difficulties and challenges to a place where He wants us to be. God has great things in store, things that are super-abundant, far above what we could ask or think according to the power that works in us – His power! His power makes all the difference. Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

A.P. CARTER

GUEST EDITOR -IN-CHIEF When I was 19 years old, I wrote a letter to Essence magazine. I expressed my desire to create a magazine for young adult women that dealt with prevalent youth and young adult issues, fashion, music and the arts. I envisioned the magazine to be the equivalent to Vogue Teen . Well, 25 years later, I established Kingdom Princess Empowerment, and now I am helping my mother build her vision of a publication that will help empower all women. She sees the need to address the issues of women and to uplift the spirit of women of all cultures. It is indeed a blessing to work side by side with my mother on this journey. My heart's desire is to see the mindset of women changed to a more positive and encouraging outlook on life for themselves and others. Women supporting each other is a powerful force that inspires and ignites creative minds. We look to each other for strength and inspiration. The inspiration that we receive helps motivation us to strive towards our destiny. Powerful and secure woman are always looking for an opportunity to uplift and push others to reach their full potential. Women, we are great because we come from a Great God. He is righteous, holy, and majestic. He created us to be loved and respected. He poured his love in us, so that we can pour out His love to others. We were created to create, to discover, and to build. Because we are builders, we have no time to tear each other down. We are confident in the gifts and talents that God has given us, so we embrace the excellence of our sisters.

Be true to who God has called YOU to be. It is wonderful to see others shine and achieve great feats, but never underestimate the uniqueness and the beauty in which you possess. Please do not compare yourself to another woman. Celebrate the woman that God has created you to be in this Earth. Remember the motto of aStyle Photography, "Because Everything God Makes is Beautiful"

Hello my Fellow Sisters,

Veronica A. Prichard

I am Veronica A. Prichard, wife, mother, grandmother and awesome woman who loves God and God’s people. But more importantly, I was a woman who really discovered who I was in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. When COVID-19 rocked our nation in 2020, like many I was lost. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know if I would have a job, or if my family members were doing well. In the midst of all things COVID, I begin to become really anxious. Anytime I need a quick getaway, I always go to my love of reading and writing. I searched for notebooks to journal my thoughts, but could not find exactly what I wanted. Therefore, I used what I had and just kept reading and writing. In doing so, God placed Ink Station Creations into my spirit. I took a tragedy and turned it into triumph. Ink Station Creations is composed of journals, notebooks of different covers that God had shown me all through last year. It is a faith based business, but caters to the masses. At first I suppressed what He was showing me, but then it suddenly clicked. God has given you this vision for a reason. So that is how ISC was born, and I am truly excited. I am currently reading a book by Dr. Myles Monroe which speaks on being a woman of purpose and power. And in this devotional he mentions how every purpose is not known to us. This startled me until I realized that my purpose was waiting on me during the pandemic. It was my love for reading and writing that birthed my business. Just like you reading this right now, your purpose is waiting on you. What you need is waiting on you to create it and bring it to fruition. If your desire is to know and understand your purpose; get to know who God is. Yes there are days when I miss the mark, there are days when there are no sales, and there are days that I question if I stepped out too soon. But it’s in those days, when I fully turn to God for clarity and He never lets me down, He tells me “Daughter, I have you, don’t fret.” If you jump in faith, God will have your safety net waiting, but if you don’t jump, you will not know what you are carrying. Yours in Christ, Veronica A. Prichard Visionary, Ink Station Creations

Teeka Talks gniK .M akemaT

There was a time that I did not value myself, instead I based it on how others treated me. How so? Well, there are many things that make and mold us as we are growing up. Sometimes those experiences are bad. My pain became the catalyst to my self discovery. Your pain is not to be wasted, as you endure and overcome, the path of purpose is set. It seems easy to feel unworthy after making mistakes, bad choices or having hurtful connections. God knows what you are going through and when it will expire. Walk in it. I grew up in a broken home with parents who needed healing. I carried the brokenness and then passed it down to my oldest children. We are resilient. Capable of complete healing if we trust God enough to let go of what broke us. Familiarity. Cycles. Curses. Self destruction. Hard lessons that we must go through to grow through. When it reaches you be the breaker! As I learned my truths and accepted them my life began to change. My ministry, Teeka Talks was birth after a 21-day liquid fast on trusting God. My biggest struggle has been my inability to truly trust God with my life. As I started this ministry, I knew I wanted authenticity to be the goal. I also understood that God knew that fast would set it off. It did not make sense then and sometimes now. But I am certain God entrusted me with a responsibility to share my most painful experiences with the world. I have been molested, a teen parent of two/ single parent of three children, raped, beaten, and so much more. But above all of that I have been forgiven, healed, delivered and loved by God. I am free because He set me free. I accepted His grace and it saved me. Now I can give the enemy a fight that he cannot win. I know who I am, and I know whose I am. You belong to Him too. It is your turn to take on whatever you are facing and allow it to become your turning point. The place that you start living in your truest form. I encourage you to forgive yourself for every mistake, short coming, and disappointment. As you enter this new chapter recognize that you were created to win! May God bless you abundantly!

Kelli J. Jacobs In the Summer of 2012, I was a 17-year-old, Christian girl, preparing for college. I was trying to walk with Jesus, quickly learning that He really meant it when He said “narrow is the way.” I did not know many people my age who were living out faith, and at times, I felt a bit lonely. Before my first semester of college, I attended a life-changing Christian conference and discovered the power of small groups. There is so much blessing in assembling for mass worship gatherings; however, that summer, I learned that God could also move through smaller, intimate friend groups. These were places where accountability happened, friendships developed, and faith was encouraged. After the conference, I shared this new-found passion with my pastor, and we put our heads together to design a small group ministry for young girls. In February 2013, Godly Girls was born. This ministry was prayerfully created for middle school girls who were fighting the battle each day to choose the narrow way. Our goal was to let them know that they didn't have to walk alone. Our first meeting was held around Valentine’s Day, and in preparation, my team and I decorated our fellowship hall with pink, glittery frames that held these words: “Dear Godly Girl, your secret admirer is not so secret. He died on the cross for the whole world to see.” From that first meeting, we knew Godly Girls Ministry would be a place where girls find refuge from a broken world that tries so desperately to tell them who they are. In this small group ministry, young girls would learn who God designed them to be, and first and foremost, just how much He loves them. Today our mission remains the same, to celebrate the love of God and empower girls to become young women of purpose through a knowledge of God’s word and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While our ministry is geared toward middle school girls, I’d like to remind everyone that at the heart of this ministry is a message for all women. No matter what this world may say about us, we are royalty, daughters of the King of Kings. “And so, made heirs by his own grace, eternal life we now embrace.” - Titus 3:7

Tiffany Legette

As a native of Clinton NC, Tiffany Legette, attended Clinton City Schools. Upon graduating from Clinton High School, she went to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. For the past 12 years, Tiffany has found much pleasure being a Social Worker for the disabled and elderly population by ensuring that their health, safety, and well-being needs are met. She is a woman of many layers, which includes being a woman in ministry. She is now being recognized as an uprising voice within the Kingdom – as she is influential and an inspiration to many. It is by a combination of her own personal life experiences, social work career, and ministerial training that has allowed her to birth a relatable, transformable teaching and preaching approach to the word of God. She desires to see everyone pursue a personal relationship with God, serve Him with their whole heart, and fulfill their highest potential in Him, as they seek to walk in their God-intended purpose and assignment within life and ministry. Tiffany often says, “encouragement is her love juice”, as she loves to encourage people, especially God’s people. Whether it is via social media, in person, through a text or phone call – she will always find a way to pour hope, faith, the love of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ into those she is connected to or those whom she may encounter. Tiffany understands that life comes with many transitions and if we are not careful, we can sometimes feel that we are losing our footing, so she seeks to cultivate and maintain resilience in the life of the Christian believer, particularly women - as a means of keeping their “spiritual buckets” full, if you will. The Bible depicts how Jesus empowered, protected, honored, and celebrated women. He respected women and held them in high esteem, as He blatantly demonstrated in His relationships with those of Mary Magdalene, Mary [His mother], the Shunammite woman, and even the woman at the well. Tiffany aspires to follow that same standard as she so strongly believes in the power of sisterhood and in the value of fixing another women’s crown, without making it known to the world that it was crooked. In late Fall of 2021, Tiffany anticipates launching a project that God has assigned to her hands that will serve as a great resource to both, young and adult women.

Finding the Beauty within Yourself By: Sabrina W. Reeves

Sabrina Reeves

My love for pageantry, make-up, and hair have always been a

part of my life. As a little girl, I used to sit in my bathroom sink trying new hair styles and make-up tips. As I got older, my journey into pageantry started. I learned so much about myself. I learned that it was more important to find my inner confidence by believing in myself and that would help radiate my outward beauty. Make-up and hair are accessories to enhancing our inner beauty. My experiences from my pageant years lead me to believe that I could do anything I set my mind to. I gained poise, confidence, interview skills, and understood the true meaning of “being yourself”. I now share these skills and traits with other young ladies who start their journey in pageants and now within my side business. It’s no surprise that after all of these years I would find myself partnering with Limelife by Alcone as a Beauty Guide. I’ve been with the company for almost 2 years now.

Limelife by Alcone is a multi-million-dollar professional make-up and natural skincare company, where its founding company has been around since 1952. Their philosophy has always been to find the best products in the world and make them available to all of their customers so everyone can benefit from them. From being featured in top magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan, to their products being used on Broadway, Limelife by Alcone speaks for itself. For the past six years, Limelife by Alcone has now been offering women and men the opportunity to be part of their company. Your success is entirely up to you. Climb that ladder…Soar to new heights.

Limelife by Alcone offers anyone the chance to be successful by empowering each and everyone of us, while also having the opportunity to give back through their Brighter Together Foundation. Limelife by Alcone is a company that believes in their employees and creates products that speak for themselves. My journey has helped me create new relationships with women all across the country. Our common goal is “Empowering each other to create success for each other.” We inspire, motivate, uplift, and so much more. It’s more than just make-up and skincare. That’s just the pop of COLOR, like a great lipstick! Quality skincare, quality make-up, quality time together. Making a difference while looking and feeling fabulous! That’s Limelife by Alcone.

Karen B. Moore My name is Karen B. Moore and I am the CEO of KarenBMoore.org! My purpose is to empower women from the inside out. This purpose takes place, with each woman I touch, by helping her speak intentionally to unveil her passion and reveal her true purpose. From that point, she will walk boldly into the path God has created just for her. I would like to share with you a few ways that I accomplish this mission. First, I share encouragement and empowerment with my faith-based t-shirts. The desire is to provide a way for women, and men, to not only speak what they seek, but wear it as well. The reminders of faith are always in order and will also bless others who read it. I have always been a writer, but during a very tough time in my life, writing during my morning time with God helped me navigate that difficult path. I realized the benefit of journaling and had to share it with every woman possible. As I listened, God spoke and downloaded the quote for each one. Many journals have prompts in them, but this journal was created with blank, lined pages so that God can speak to the woman writing and fill the pages with all He needs for her to hear and understand. Lastly, I am an Empowerment Speaker. I speak all things encouragement and empowerment, that are filled with the power and authority of God’s Word. After years of not speaking many things and then only speaking what I thought people wanted to hear, I was delivered into the place where God needed me to be in order to share with others how to live in power and on purpose. The reward of walking in your purpose and knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are making a difference is fulfilling and priceless. Daily, I walk in my purpose to empower women from the inside out.

Dr. Janice C. Brown I Am Beautiful

Poet/Author Spotlight

By Janice Carter Brown I am beautiful, Not in the traditional sense of the word; A beauty so loud it stands out in a crowd, (With this physical glory, I was not endowed); Calling attention to itself from across a crowded room I am beautiful Like an angelic halo, an essence that looms, I am beautiful, unique, Blushing with a heavenly countenance. Fearfully and wonderfully made, I wouldn’t be chosen if a contest would be held The Word says, To judge my qualities against other females, With my own idiosyncrasies, my signature ways; Whether fashion or form, charisma or calm. My own self, like no one else. I am beautiful, but not typically; My voice has its own cadence from deep within, Not that my smile would show, Although I do sound a little like my sister Glen Infrequent as it may be and a little crooked, you know; Who took wings one day, and flew away, Too contemplative and reflective, too serious at times; Leaving an emptiness for humanity to pay; Too many times, hence, the reason for my frown lines. Compassion’s chosen removed from time. I’ve burned bridges, against my better judgment, When I catch myself smiling with a wayward glance, I’ve even burned timber that was Heaven sent. I stop suddenly, before the expression gets the chance I’ve sat in sack cloth and ashes of my own making, To develop into a habit and become a vulnerable form of Took on cares of this life as if for the taking. me, But for this load of cinders of grief, trials and trouble, So others will not confuse me with someone else, you see. God has given beauty for these ashes, (I am beautiful, not because I feel that I am). Double for my trouble. My parents were beautiful but each had flaws, He erased the stain of iniquity, purged all my sins; And I seem to have inherited my share of them all. Took the sooty garments of my humanity So my critique of myself from head to toe And made them new again. May seem harsh, even self- depreciating, I don’t know; He adopted me to be his child and heir For the real beauty that I know is mine When I relinquished my own will; Is not what I can see, but what I know abides To live in a mansion on Heaven’s tablelands Inside of me, When my earthly tabernacle no longer stands. From inside out, what true beauty is really about; I am beautiful, Beauty that comes from my mind in the words I write; Not in the traditional sense of the word Beauty I paint on canvass, prayers I utter at night; Where praises and accolades of grandeur can be heard; The warmth with which I show love An admiration of worldly values And judgment as insignificant as moth ridden cloth And the gratitude I reciprocate, Shallow as a rainless puddle. Love showed me by my God, my family, my mate. For as I am, I am not as I shall appear I am beautiful, When glory clothes mortality and eternity But certainly not all that, Is near. Not even all that which once was. I shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye I was a pretty girl, I was told, And be adorned with the beauty of the eastern sky. Way back when in the days of old. But till that great day that still awaits me, I’m certainly not all that which I shall be, To realize the totality of what I will be A glorified me on the other side of a crystal sea, I’ll hold fast to this eternal hope In a placed called Heaven, somewhere in eternity. I am beautiful.

Birthed of the Holy Spirit within, And taste the cup of joy everlasting Again, and again and again!

Irma Bannerman Princess Empowerment She’s the one. The one who was pushed to the side a few times. The one who was ignored. The one in which some didn’t want to hang or be around. She’s the one who was disliked by some for no apparent reason. The one who was misunderstood. The one who “didn’t know what she was talking about.” Yeah, that one. Well, allow me to introduce myself: Hi, I’m Irma. I was that one. Throughout my journey of being a young-adult, I started to examine and observe my surroundings and how other young-adults adapted within their surroundings. I observed how my life choices and decisions didn’t necessarily coincide with others—and hey, that’s okay. I found myself in a place of confusion, of loneliness…. trying to find out, why am I not the same? Why doesn’t my mindset coincide with others? At a young age, I found it a priority for me and God to establish a relationship. Seeking God, he let me know that you are peculiar. You are different. Yes, like today—everyone in this room. You are peculiar. You are different. You were made to stand out and not to blend in. God plucked you by his hand to be a representation of PURPOSE. PURPOSE—Rising above the norm. PURPOSE. Living in indifference. PURPOSE. Living freely. PURPOSE. Walking on the path God has destined just for you. With that, I decided to take this road called, PURPOSE. As I got older, this road seemed to really, really, really grow. Just like the road grew, I grew. While walking on this road, I have discovered many things. I discovered understanding, I discovered right from wrong, I discovered the TRUE ESSENCE of failure—that failure is not necessarily a place nor a sense of sadness or guilt, but it is a place of GROWTH. While attending Clinton High School, I was a part of a young ladies’ organization called S.A.S—which stands for Service. Academics. Sisterhood. Where Mrs. Carter is one of my mentors. It is truly a phenomenal and amazing group where young ladies come together in unity and togetherness. We simply just embrace each other, we encourage one another, we love each other as simply sisters— and we took all of that over to the middle school to mentor young 8th grade ladies (Where Mrs. Boykin being the mentor advisor), doing the same thing— Understanding leadership, empowering each other, and learning the actuality of consistent growth and elevation. I can remember a session that we had, where we discussed specifically the essence of failure. I have gone through and experienced many failures throughout my life. With experiences I have learned that the things we encounter or go through are just simply lessons and understanding them. Lessons keep us equipped for the next time failure comes knocking on the door. Lessons helps us to grasp the true understanding of the failure—so we know how to handle it the next time. I expressed to them that failure is just simply a part of the process—we are going to fail at some point in our lives, AND THAT’ OKAY. We are not perfect. The ability in getting up and progressing forward is success. Failure propels success, and we must understand that success is not always about winning. Its about moving. Moving up, moving forward, moving towards PURPOSE.

So, allow me to reintroduce myself: Hi, I’m Irma. The one who realized that yes, my destiny has a lot to do with me, but it also has a lot to do with the OTHER ME. You all remember that one I mentioned at the beginning?— the one who was pushed to the side. The one who was ignored. The one who didn’t want to be hung around. The one who was misunderstood. The one who didn’t know what she was talking about. Young lady, You are not alone. Do you know that your story, each and every one of your stories and testimonies carry honorable weight? Yes, that weight that you thought that you could never get over, that always weigh you down, that always would sink you into the ground. NO, there’s someone that has a testimony and a story too—and that is there to whisper in your ear, I went through too. To the young lady that’s going through, there is someone to say: “You are just not that one, but WE ARE that one. We both have a story to tell.”

Princess Empowerment She’s the one. (Con't) So, allow me to rear you over to this road called Purpose. That is what PURPOSE will do, it will turn all of those negative attributes into a positive growing reality! God designed it. He created it. The exact God that created YOU—created your path. Created your destiny. Created your future. God is amazing, miraculous, powerful, joyous, excellent, strong, faithful, favorable---SO WHY NOT WALK ON THAT PATH? PURPOSE DRIVEN. JOY LIVIN’. GRACEFULLY GIVEN. PURPOSE. Yes, you have it. Yes, you obtain it. Just walk on the path. You don’t have to sprint at first, you don’t have to jog—you can start off as a simple stroll, as a simple walk. Trust me, when you get caught up in the massive blessings that God places along your path, you’ll want to start jogging, then start running, then start sprinting because HE HAS SO MUCH MORE. So, the next time a person says in your face, or starts to embrace negativity saying-- I don’t like you: you say I LIKE ME. Matter of fact, I LOVE ME, and because God loves me, he saw fit to create me. If he loves me, I don’t need approval from anyone else, because true love is the relationship between me and God. That is where it all starts. For he says in his word in Psalm 139:14-- I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 1 Peter 2:9—But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into the marvelous light. You are a LIGHT. To the girls-- Be the dream chaser walking in your PURPOSE. God’s wants to give you BIG. He wants to give you THE WORLD—way more than what the world can ever offer. Worth? Young Lady, You’re outstandingly worth it. Beauty? Young Lady, look in the mirror: beautiful and gorgeous you ARE. Strong? Young Lady, you are strong to conquer whatever is thrown in your face. Loved? Young Lady, you are loved by the Most High King- Our God. I love you my sister. And look around, WE LOVE YOU. Go for it Young Lady, you’ve got this. Chin up, shoulders straight, confident smile, & head forward Princess.

Irma Christine Bannerman is from Clinton, North Carolina, representing as a 2019 Clinton High School honors graduate. She is currently a junior at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, majoring in Sociology and Psychology. Her consistent and ongoing pursuit is for Christ to be first and center in her life. Every day when Irma wakes up, she strives for the true reality of empowerment, inspiration, and positive change to stand as alive. Irma stands on the firm foundation and resonation of Jeremiah 29:11— “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This reminds us as children of the Kingdom, that we all have great purpose and future, by which Christ has fearfully and wonderfully instilled. Irma’s daily affirmation and motto stands as her daily reminder of passion— To Help. To Inspire. To Motivate.

LaToya Marible, Owner

Destiny Fullwood

Anitra Howard-Wilson

Adrienne P. Carter, Photographer

PRAISE