Women Of Excellence Magazine by Deborah Risper

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

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Table of Content 4

EDITORS NOTE

BROWN BEAUTY OF THE MONTH

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

MAN OF MUSIC

THE INCLINE

CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS

THE NEW WAY OF THE WORKFORCE

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Deborah Risper Patricia Hill

Takyla Gordon Erik Kirk

Jessica McNeil

Deborah Risper

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Editors Note Deborah Risper Happy New Year!! O.M.Gossshhhhh can you believe we are in a new year already?! I promise it seems like 2021 dipped in and headed back out in fast motion. Even though we are in year 2 of the covid-19 pandemic a lot has happened for us and to us. Of course, there were good days and tough ones for many I’m sure. One of the biggest highlights of 2021 was the launch of this magazine! LISTEN……..I was shaking in my boots when I released our first edition to the world; wondering if it was appealing to the eyes of readers. Fast forward 1 year later and we’ve become an international publication being read in 4 different countries. We’ve had over 40 contributing writers & advertisers and an overall successful year. I cannot say thank you enough to every subscriber, contributing writer/advertiser, MUA, photographer, and graphic designer who made this all possible. Sure enough, I was scared but I chose Faith over fear, this year won’t be any different. I am excited not only for our future but for everyone who is taking a leap of Faith to live out their purpose and dreams! XoXo,

Deborah Editor-In-Chief

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Brown Beauty Of The Month Patricia Hill

atricia Ann Donahue was born in Maywood, IL, on December 13, 1979, as the youngest child to Pastor Norman and Lady Dianne Donahue. Being a sick baby, the doctors had given up on her but her praying parents didn’t give up on God and God manifested a miracle. Patricia

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grew to become a healthy and blessed child. She graduated from St. Eulalia Elementary School, 94, and Proviso East High School, 98. With a passion for cosmetology, she continued on to Pivot Point International School of Design, 99, becoming a licensed Cosmetologist. Immediately after graduation on May W.O.E

2, 1999, Patricia married the love of her life, Rev. LeAundre D. Hill. God blessed her with one of the greatest gifts of a woman and that is to birth three beautiful daughters into the world, Le’Kayla, Le’Tavia, and Le’Kendra, and a wedding gift Chelsea. Growing up a preacher’s daughter, Patricia was raised in the church and at an early age took on the passion for music at the Mt. Hebron Baptist Church singing in the choir. She continued with that passion as her father Pastor Norman Donahue Sr. was led by God to organize Three Crosses of Calvary M.B. Church. Patricia has sung, recorded, and shared the stage over the years in the gospel industry with New Direction, Gray Boy Productions, JC Ensemble, Bethel Green Family Worship Center Choir, Marlowe Cribbs and Friends, and many others. Although she loves singing, Patricia surrendered to the will and call of God to preach the Gospel and minister to God’s people not only through a song but through God’s Word. On Sunday, October 7, 2007, she preached her first sermon before the body of Christ at Three Crosses of Calvary Church. It is there where Evangelist Hill has served as an Associate Minister and Minister of Music.

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In February 2012, Pastor and Lady Hill relaunched The Purposed Church, where she serves as an Executive Assistant, and Praise Team Singer. In 2009 after seeking a career change Patricia graduated from Everest College with Dean’s List Honors as a Medical Assistant. Evangelist Hill also is the founder of Wounded Women Ministry, a ministry that was birthed to aid and uplift women from all walks of life. No matter the race, or religion the assignment is to serve and assist with whatever resources or tools possible to help motivate them to live the best life that God has intended for us to live. On June 9, 2013, Evangelist Patricia Hill was licensed and ordained as Prophetess PaTricia Hill where she serves in this capacity at the Purposed Christian Church, under the Leadership of Pastor LeAundre D. Hill. October 2014 Prophetess Patricia Hill became an author, with a book entitled No Fear, Just God. December 2017 She became a Gospel Artist with her new single entitled Amazing. January 2021, she became the author of her second book, G.L.A.M. God Loves All Of Me.

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Athlete Of The Month Takyla Gordon W.O.E is always proud of our young athletes. This month we have the pleasure of speaking with the talented Takyla Gordon who happens to be a cheer extraordinaire. When she is not cheering she is an amazing daughter, sister, and amazing student. Thank you Takyla for allowing W.O.E to feature you this month. Check out how Takyla is making her mark in the world. W: Outside of your sport, who are you? T: Outside of cheer, I’m 13 years old and I am the middle child. I have an older and younger brother Travis Jr(15) and Tyler (4) who I reside with along with my dad and mom Travis and Rickeeta. I like to go shopping, dance and I also like to hang out with my friends and family. W: Why/how did you choose your sport? T: When I was younger, I use to watch HBCU cheers on YouTube and would try to learn them. W: How long have you played your sport?

opportunity to share my success and failure with my teammates. W: Do you see yourself playing this sport for life or as a professional? T: I do not see myself doing cheer for life or as a professional, however, I see myself using cheer to put me through college so I can pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. W: What are your goals for this sport now and in the future? T: Next year, I plan on becoming a junior coach for my old team Black Knight. I also have plans to make my high school team and to continue my journey with my traveling team Cheertastic Diamonds. Hopefully, this will help me earn a scholarship to college. W: What advice would you give to newbies in your sport?

T: I’ve been doing cheer for 2 years.

T: Cheer is not easy but, if you are doing it, it is going to get better if you put the effort into it.

W: What is your position and how important is it to your team?

W: Do you have any exciting things in your life or sport that you’d like to share?

T: I’m a back spot, the back spot helps the stunt go up more easily and helps it keep the stunt up. It is also my job to make sure no one falls on the floor.

T: Yes, I’m part of a traveling team called Cheertastic Diamonds and it allows me to travel to different states and allows me to perform and compete on a very big platform. Not only am I a part of their travel team I am also on their battle squad.

W: What has this sport taught you? T: This sport has taught me that you don’t get anywhere with a bad attitude. You have to have a good attitude to make it in life. W: What does teamwork mean to you? T: Teamwork is an opportunity to learn and is an

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If you have a social media page you’d like us to include, please list it here. Please follow my traveling cheer team on Instagram or Facebook Cheertastic_diamonds

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Man Of Music

Erik Kirk

ervant. Child of God. Family man. Music lover. These are a few things that would describe who Erik Kirk is. 80’s baby and raised by a single mother with a village. That village, single mother, leading hand grandmother, and a host of other key people helped raise me to be who I am today. Being born to a teenage mother in a small town in Indiana in the mid-’80s, most would immediately think nothing much would come out of either one of us. My mom worked hard to move to Chicago to be with her mother, so she could have a support system for herself and me I. Strength, God, and family would be our foundation. Growing up without a father did have its

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moments of being hurtful. But I had plenty of uncles that made sure they were in my life to be role models. Early on I was taught certain things to help me to get and stay on the right path in life. I enjoyed going to school early on to show my mother that I could do my very best and have independence in doing so. Of course, having a single parent, she wasn’t always able to be around due to work. Until this very day, she enjoys telling people I was able to stay on the honor roll my entire childhood. Early in life, I realized that I enjoyed the music. I enjoy all types of music, but gospel music is my number one. I started going to church at the age of 6. I started singing in my first church choir at the age of 7. I started

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directing my church choir at the age of 8. I never looked back after that. I wanted to enhance and grow in all that I did with music. By the age of 10, I could teach choirs 3-part harmony. By the age of 16, I would become the head director at my church and direct 3 choirs per service. I started wanting to see what music would bring outside the walls of a church building and Sunday mornings. I joined my first community choir at the age of 17. From there I would learn and grow from many Chicago leaders and ministries until this very day. I am always willing to keep learning and never stop learning. I was blessed to record with a few artists along the way as well. In 2018, at the age of 33, I finally stopped running and started a Chicago-based community singing ministry. Erik Kirk & True Worship (EKTW) was birthed on the westside of Chicago. Erik Kirk & True Worship combines diverse backgrounds of musicality and culture Christians to produce a sound that will first uplift, praise, and give God all the glory then connects with the nations of God’s people. With all the experience I gained throughout the years, many friends and supporters would get behind the ministry to help us along. In the fall of 2019, EKTW would have their debut event in a packed church of 500 people. In March of 2020, we would get the opportunity to perform at the 2020 Soar Gospel Radio Awards, held in Rockford, IL. This taped for tv event was packed with over three thousand people. In 2021, EKTW would get our very first award nomination. We were nominated for Group of the Year at the 2021 Eddy Awards

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held in Jacksonville, FL. With a weekend full of performances, we would gain great connections and were blessed to win our first award. EKTW also was able to release their first single entitled, I’ll Praise Him. This single is a twist of group and choir sound with a fusion of traditional, contemporary, and quartet music. We were blessed to win Group of the Year again with another music organization. God has been so amazing to Erik Kirk & True Worship. To date, we have been blessed to be able to perform with and in front of Mary Mary, Travis Greene, The Walls Group, James Hall, Tye Tribbett, and BET’s Sunday Best Tiffany Andrews. A God-led ministry with high energy is what we bring to any ministry opportunity. Entering 2022 being two-time Group of the Year winners and nominated for 7 categories at the 2022 Rhythm of Gospel Awards is completely mind-blowing. I am humbled to be a man that made it through the streets of Chicago that now is married with children of my own. I am blessed to be able to provide for my family, have the support of my family and friends, and God has shined some small indie light on this single mom-raised Christian man that could have gone another way. I strive to keep God first, follow him as others follow me, remember where I came from and went through in life. Also, to be the best Erik Kirk I can be daily, as people are always looking at you even when you don’t realize it. I love God and I love music. Those two are within my core. Never let your starting point and the world’s outlook, dictate where you want and can go. With God all things are possible.

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The Incline Jessica McNeil

n 2021 I was challenged to stop existing and start living. I allowed the roles that I filled to define me, and I lost myself. Juggling being a wife, mother, pastor, teacher, sister, friend, entrepreneur, coach, social media influencer, author, and several other hats became hard to manage and maintain my personal growth and wellbeing. I decided to go after all the dreams and visions that I’ve had. I embarked on the path of discovery by heading up 10,500 feet up for skydiving. It seemed the least daunting on my to-do list compared to becoming an author, launching businesses, and a ministry. I chose to elevate my life to thrive. You can flourish and live life to the full as well. How will you navigate life from here? Now is the time to start moving forward in life with purposeful steps and intentionality. Earth is expectantly waiting for the sons and daughters of God to show up. The beginning of a new year is the better time to hit the ground running. We are at the onset of an amazing opportunity to scale life and reach the point of abundant living. Are you ready to take life on the incline? Life on the incline requires that we not only move forward but that we also move up. Take every experience, situation, skill, wisdom, and survival tactic and use it to propel yourself into

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the position to prosper. There’s a point where we must make up our minds and press toward the mark of the prize that Jesus called you out for. Everything that you have encountered up to this point was preparation for your ascent. Either you learned what to do or what not to do, but one way or the other take the lesson and use it as a stepping stone to reach the peak of your life. The further you go, you will encounter alternate terrain, different air quality, and new inhabitants. What does that mean? The path on the rise to greatness will be unlike what you’ve encountered up to this point. Get out of your comfort zone and venture into new territories. New places will afford you the opportunity to gain a new language for a new level. Yep, talk right! increased vocabulary to function in your upgraded sphere. Grab a book or two to enhance your communication skills to dominate verbally. As you progress, you’ll advance in your relationships which will assist with the resources necessary to execute. Guard and govern your connections accordingly because without wise counsel failure is on the horizon. (Proverbs 11:14) I encourage you to take this uphill trek to success with confidence knowing that you are on the rise to excellence. Strategize and

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set routines that will build discipline and character in the process. Revel in the victories, learn from the disappointments, and keep moving up.

Level Up Top 5 Spiritual Mental Emotional Physical Relational Pray More Meditate/Quiet Focus Acknowledge your feelings Eat more nutrient-rich foods Evaluate relationship with yourself Worship & Praise Journal or write Talk with trusted counsel Drink adequate water Evaluate your relationships with others Study Scripture

It’s time out for just existing and fulfilling the roles on autopilot. Let’s go after all that God has in store for us in 2022. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that every one of God’s thoughts and plans for us is for good to give us hope and a future. Step like you know that Jesus came for you to have life more abundantly. Push past the resistance, endure hardness as a good soldier and execute. We’ve been called to be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Take your seat on top of the world and bask in the light on the incline. Jessica McNeil, The Christian Content Creator is a wife, mother, teacher, author, empowerment coach, and entrepreneur. She creates the narrative to release the truth of God’s word through topic-based Christian conversations on various social media platforms, writing books, and business. Jessica has authored 3 books in the last 2 years as well as launching her first 2 of many businesses, J McNeil and Kingdom Collaboration. Mrs. McNeil is blazing a trail for the Kingdom of God by serving others. Jessica lives by Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and Matthew 5:16 letting her light shine before men that they will see the work, but give glory to God. To connect with Jessica McNeil follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @ jmcneillight. You can also go to www. jmcneillight.com to subscribe to get the latest updates and information.

Therapy/Support Group Be open and honest Exercise regularly Set healthy boundaries

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Cervical Cancer Awareness

ervical cancer is becoming one of the fastest-growing cancers in America. Because of the high number of diagnoses in recent years, screening in women is starting as early as 21. Testing is conducted by pap smear during the recommended annual women’s physical. During the screening HPV(Human Papillomavirus) is the targeted focus. The great news with today’s preventive plan according to the CDC there is a vaccine for HPV. This vaccine helps prevent infections. Below is some key information found on cdc.org that brings awareness to prevent cervical cancer. The most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to get vaccinated early and have regular screening tests.

HPV Vaccine The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. •

HPV vaccination is recommended for preteens aged 11 to 12 years but can be given starting at age 9.

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HPV vaccine also is recommended for everyone through age 26 years, if they are not vaccinated already.

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HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to

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get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit, as more people have already been exposed to HPV. If vaccination is started before age 15, a two-dose schedule is recommended, with the doses given 6 to 12 months apart. For people who start the series after their 15th birthday, the vaccine is given in a series of three shots. HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infections but does not treat existing infections or diseases. This is why the HPV vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV. You should get screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if you received an HPV vaccine. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/ basic_info/prevention.htm

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The New Way Of The Workforce Deborah Risper

ovid-19 has shaped our world in so many ways that once seemed rare. Not only are we masking up to take on the outside world, using loads of hand sanitizer, and bumping elbows but the way we make a living has changed scenery. Working from home used to be a rare and discreet opportunity. Today, it is normal to call up your phone company and hear the sound of children or a television in the background and it appears ok. Why did it take larger corporations so long to pivot from cubicles and high-rise office buildings? Perhaps because generations down the line may have felt an employee could only be productive when they are in a setting away from their comfort. Even the extrovert person has found a way to enjoy this new norm. In a recent article and conversation amongst today’s working force, people are beginning to question if working from home is good for your mental health? This question can be approached in several ways. Our goal is to focus on the balance that working from home can bring.

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I recall working from home 6 years ago. We were given a speech that said no background noise and if ever asked are you working from home you were to say no. Today, as I mentioned above, this is not the case. Employees are feeling a sense of relief while working from home because it becomes the topic at hand. Safety has played a great part in allowing employees to feel safe away from colleagues while Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom familiarity grew to feel a sense of connection. Overall, people are finding it a great joy not to sit in rush hour traffic, wearing comfy bottoms and slippers while fixing a plate of leftovers in their kitchen. It appears that there are days of struggle when there is missing physical interaction, however, the freedom of a cubicle and office space just may be a thing of the past for many. The most searched out job type is WFM(work from home)and we don’t believe it will go away anytime soon.

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