C H A R LOT T E
May/June 2022 Volume 4 Issue 7
I’m Your Traveling Expert
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We May Wish, But God Has A Plan There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It! A Letter From The Editor A Letter from the Editor
Modern technology, such as the internet and smart devices, has changed the way consumers shop for everyday necessities. Everything from groceriesdidn’t to televisions, tires, medications, and What if tomorrow arrive? All of your plans, hopes patio furniture be purchased directlytofrom smartphone and dreamscan wouldn’t have a street parkaon. What if or computer. Foot traffic in stores has been greatly reduced, everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow and never the Covid 19 pandemic may have played a big role in that also. happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy Anyhow, many retailers have someone adjusted how they make their products day, and you could spare the trouble of making accessible in order for to survive. promises. What if them your last opportunity seemingly expired
today? What would you do? As a child, I remember the huge department store catalogs that would come in the mail every year, usually Christmas I’ve been told that I often seem likearound I do toothe much. holiday season. I would look at them and prepare my list of items Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm thatbeliever I wantedinbefore submitting to my mama. Sometimes I got knowing that Goditwouldn’t put anything on me most of what I wanted, but not always. Still, looking through the that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would catalog believing I would get what themitwas very exciting be ifand I chose to sit that idle and accept presented to me.forI me. have Unfortunately, the catalogs are long gone now and have been found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity replaced by digital ones. is a blessing that isn’tAwwwe, affordedtechnology. to everyone. A challenge
to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? I compare those Ichildhood surfing moments to some If I do nothing, fail, and ifcatalog I try I don’t, but instead learn experiences I have as an adult. I have often tried to plan out my life something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in by creating a wish list for various stages without the assistance of return acquire life. a department store catalog. I have made plans for various things and experiences and made plans on how to acquire and accomplish The best advice ever given to me happened when someone them. Those plans were submitted to God, and I’m always amazed told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so at what I receive from God in response. I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between See, I have learned that even though I make plans, God has the what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with final say. What I think is good for me, God knows what is truly best as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and for me. Even in my lowest moments, God has already prepared a when to be quiet, because path to higher ground for me. And even when I choose to follow my someone may get it confused own way, He redirects. with being arrogant. I strive to live a better life, a life Make you tomorrow that is connected to God through happen today, but most obedience and grasping a better importantly make it count. understanding of what He desires Life is but a whisper and for me. I admit that I don’t have all we must put ourselves in a the answers, and sometimes I make position to hear what it is mistakes. It’s good to know that even when Itelling get offus. track in life, God’s love never changes.
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder
Terry L. Watson 4
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HuamiMagazine.com
November/December 2014
www.huamimagazine.com www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Publisher Terry L Watson
Terry L. Watson Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Dorjae McClammey Writer Monica Montgomery Writer Writers Ellen Richardson Tonya Dixon Writer Terry L. Watson Alana Allen Todd Youngblood Tamara Smith Photographer Jeuron Dove Photographer Still Shots Photography Fredro Star Photographers Photographer Luanna Moglamu Photographer Perfect Lenz Photography Todd Youngblood Photography Shaw Photography Group Still Shots Photography
Howard Photography Who Shotya Keep UpGaither With Photography Us on Facebook Huami Magazine For Charlotte Layout A Group For Followers and Mykel Media Company Supporters of Bennett Huami Magazine Linda
mykelmedia@yahoo.com huami.charlotte@gmail.com (336) 340-7844 (336)340-7844
HUAMI MAGAZINE is published bimonthly quarterly by the Mykel Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher prior to doing so. Mykel Media doesn’t accept responsibility for statements made by individuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning this publication may be submitted to the editor by E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com Email or Telephone terry.editor@yahoo.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to 336-340-7844 Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 2021 All Rights Reserved Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2014 All Rights Reserved
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On The Cover
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MAY/JUNE 2022
CHARLOTTE EDITION
CONTENTS
The Healing Process
Germany Inke
On The Cover
My Legendary Travel LLC Shanna Jennette
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Where The Heart Is
Veronica Henry
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Shmeka Gibson
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Marrel Gravely Foushee
Innate Success
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby
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Also Featured
Whitney Morgan Do you need help with repairing your credit? Do you need funding for your business? He can help. Kansas City, MO
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Delvin Sullivan He is on a mission to educate the youth about the importance of financial literacy. Huntsville, AL
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Charlotte - May/June 2022
J Franklin Along with Lady E Specs, Wood You? Specs has launched a innovated method to sell eyewear. Jacksonville, FL HuamiMagazine.com
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I’m Your Traveling Expert By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Todd Youngblood “We are a group of people who are well-versed in the fun and rigors of traveling. Our travel agency came together to help other people plan and book their dream vacations.” It’s that time again. The warm weather months have arrived and if you haven’t already booked your summer vacation, Shanna Jennette of My Legendary Travel LLC is here to help. Last year, she launched her very own swimwear line, showcasing her creativity and style. Shanna, who resides in Greensboro, NC, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She began her career as a special education teacher with Teach for America. After accepting the position in 2011, she was relocated to New York City to teach in the public school system for the next two and a half years. Moving to New York was Shanna’s very first major traveling experience and the first time she had ever traveled by plane. This was the furthest she had ever been from North Carolina, and this experience introduced her to a lot of new things.
Living in New York City, Shanna became intrigued with all the new people she met and their cultures. An interest in learning more about the cultures of her students and friends began to grow, and “Weshe are would a grouptravel of people who are wellshe decided that to these versed the fun andWhen rigors of traveling. places and see theminfor herself. Our travel came together to help she began planning heragency first international other people plan and book their dream trip, she learned a lot of new information and thought vacations.” about how she could share this knowledge with others. Shanna It’swith that an time The warm weather then reconnected oldagain. college months have arrived if you haven’t friend who also happened to be a and travel booked your summer agent. Afteralready many conversations, Shanna vacation, ShannaofJennette of My Legendary eventually learned all the required Travel LLC is that hereshe to help. classes and certifications wouldLast year, she launched very own need to begin this newher venture. Fastswimwear line, showcasing creativity forward to 2016, and her her company wasand style. ready to go. Shanna, who resides in Greensboro, NC, isTravel a graduate of the University of My Legendary LLC provides North Carolina Greensboro. quality care, and service for its clients andShe began career as agency a special education their vacationher plans. This does it all teacher withor Teach for America. After accepting for international domestic travel, cruise, the position in 2011, of shefashion was relocated to or land adventure! The addition Yorkwomen City to with teachfinding in the public school allows them New to assist system for the next twofor and a half years. functional and affordable swimwear Moving to New York was Shanna’s very their vacations. first major traveling experience and the first time she had ever traveled by plane. While planning her own vacations, This was the she had ever been Shanna always seemed tofurthest find trouble from North Carolina, and picking swimsuits that complimented this experience introduced herprovided to a lot of new things. her shape. Swimsuits that the coverage she needed were never quite in New York City ,Shanna became that stylish, andLiving the more fashionable intrigued withfind all the newbe people she met swimwear that she would would cultures. too revealing.and She figured An thatinterest other in learning more the cultures of herthe students and women wereabout probably experiencing began creating to grow,her and she decided same issues, friends so she began she would travelpandemic to these places and own pieces. that When the COVID-19 see them for herself. she began hit in early 2020, traveling came to When a planning her first international complete standstill all around the world. trip, she lot of new information and That situationlearned shiftedaher attention and revealed an opportunity for her to expand the business.
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During the lockdown, she forged new business relationships with a swimsuit vendor and a fashion designer who had made unique swimsuits for her in the past. Through collaboration with the vendor and the designer, Shanna produced multiple designs for monokinis, one-pieces, and two-pieces. Each swimsuit has a price point that ranges from about $25-$45, depending on the style. Shanna finds motivation from the community of women entrepreneurs that she is now surrounded by. She stated that attending business workshops and seminars where other black women share their success stories inspires her to keep going. “Going to those kinds of events allows me to network and build new friendships and business relationships, we are all able to help each other and keep each other motivated,” says Shanna. Shanna shares that her success in business continues mainly due to the rapport she has built with her clientele. “I get so many returning customers. I love that they always come back because it is a testament to my service,” says Shanna. She also gets a lot of business from the referrals made by her previous clients. Moving forward, Shanna plans to continue expanding the fashion sector of My Legendary Travel. She also plans to expand her business to other areas around the country. Recently, she dropped eight new swimwear styles on her website and has plans for more styles in the upcoming weeks. All previous styles are currently 50% off.
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thought about how she could share this knowledge with others. Shanna then reconnected with an old college friend who also happened to be a travel agent. After many conversations, Shanna eventually learned of all the required classes and certifications that she would need to begin this new venture. Fast forward to 2016, and her company was ready to go. My Legendary Travel LLC provides quality care, and service for its clients and their vacation plans. This agency does it all for international or domestic travel, cruise, or land adventure! The addition of fashion allows them to assist women with finding functional and affordable swimwear for their vacations. While planning her own vacations, Shanna always seemed to find trouble picking swimsuits that complimented her shape. Swimsuits that provided the coverage she needed were never quite that stylish, and the more fashionable swimwear that she would find would be too revealing. She figured that other women were probably experiencing the same issues, so she began creating her own pieces. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, traveling came to a complete standstill all around the world. That situation shifted her attention and revealed an opportunity for her to expand the business. During the lockdown, she forged new business relationships with a swimsuit vendor and a fashion designer who had made unique swimsuits for her in the past. Through collaboration with the vendor and the designer, Shanna produced multiple designs
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“I get so many returning customers. I love that they always come back because it is a testament to my service.”
Additionally, there are lots of summer travel deals. There is still a $200 deposit required per person to book, no matter the destination or cost. Many countries have lifted their Covid 19 restrictions and no longer require Covid testing to travel there, but it is still required to get a test to return to the U.S. Covid testing is available on most resorts, and if not, resorts will provide a location for a fee. Contact Shanna about Covid testing for specific locations before traveling. To learn more about My Legendary Travel LLC, please visit their website.
Connect with Shanna Jennette at www.mylegendarytravel.com or via Instagram @legendarytravel1 13
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Public Service: A Path to Destiny By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by Tory Bass Photography
Whether it’s in his church, his local community, or as a North Carolina State Trooper, Master Trooper Shawn Harvin’s commitment to public service shows in a big way. As a young man, Shawn knew he was destined to help others. His question was, how would that look? Born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., Shawn attended James B. Dudley High school. When Shawn was a student, the student population was predominantly black. As a student, Shawn believes he and his classmates weren’t given the support needed to explore their career options post-high school. “I always knew I wanted to work in some public service area, but I had no idea of how to get started or who to talk to,” Shawn explained. “Our school counselors weren’t effectively guiding us in the area of career development when I was in school.” Although grateful for his education, Shawn admits that African American students were not being prepared and informed in the same way their counterparts were. When Greensboro’s first black Police Chief, Sylvester Daughtry, visited Dudley high school, Shawn’s vision of the future began to take shape. “It just happened that when I was trying to figure out what public service looked like for me and where to start, I was given a little divine help. The first black chief of police, Sylvester Daughtry, came and spoke at our school. I was impressed and excited. This was someone who looked like me, and there he was, the chief of police. As a young black male, it said that if he could do it, I could do it too. That was a very important moment for me.” Shawn admits as he looks back that his excitement faltered when the realities of life hit. “I wish we would have had what students today have in the way of counselors and mentors. We needed people willing to expose us to all that life had to offer beyond high school. That way, I could have had a clear plan of what I wanted to do. What we got instead was the pressure to graduate. It was all they focused on, ‘get out of school, get out of school,’ and that’s what I did. Without knowing what my next steps should have been, my dreams were just dreams. My reality was I needed to earn money to live.” After graduating from high school in 1992, Shawn says he worked a few small jobs. When first daughter Jonquil Smith was born, Shawn knew it was time to get serious. His serious first job was with Cone Mill in Greensboro, N.C. “I was just happy to have a steady paycheck at that point. I had a new set of adult responsibilities, and they couldn’t wait for me to figure out the future. Having children has a way of making you grow up fast,” Shawn shared. Shawn worked at the mill for three to four years, but just as he was becoming complacent, he was reminded that life had more to offer, and so did he. “It was a good job, with great benefits, and I was making decent money, allowing me to take care of my daughter. But I wasn’t following my passion for public service,” Shawn confessed. “My mom didn’t want me to settle, and she would regularly remind me that working at the mill for the rest of my life what not it. That was not a career; it was just a job. Her wisdom helped get me back on track.” Holding tight to his dreams and his mother’s words of wisdom in his ear, Shawn explored different avenues that led to the path he was meant to follow. While at Cone Mills, Shawn joined the in-house fire brigade. It was just the spark he needed to pursue the destiny he believed awaited him. “I applied to the Greensboro Fire Department several times but kept getting denied. Then a friend told me about the BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) program. Becoming a firefighter was my first choice, but law enforcement was also a way that I could serve my community, so I went for it.” On the advice of his friend Shawn, sponsored by A&T State University, he took the BLET course at Rockingham Community College. According to the North Carolina States Attorney’s website, The Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Curriculum is designed to prepare entry-level individuals with the cognitive and physical skills needed to become certified law enforcement officers in North Carolina (NC DOJ, Basic law enforcement training 2019).
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“From the moment I started as a police officer, I knew it was for me,” Shawn explains with a big smile. “Sure, there were many other public service jobs out there, but I was hooked after my first taste of law enforcement.” Not every member of Shawn’s family was as sure about the path he had taken, but still supportive. “My mother was worried about me becoming a police officer initially. She tried to get me to look into a position at the post office and everything. My father was a stonemason, and my brother worked construction, so this was totally different.” Although Shawn met his wife at A&T, they lost touch after he left. They reconnected in at the end of 2002 and were married in June of 2005. From the start of his journey, the love and support of his family are what has kept him going. “My wife and my daughters are everything to me. I am a man of faith, and it matters to have a praying wife to cover you every time you step out the door. In law enforcement, nine times out of ten, we see the worst of the worst. Death, tragedy, and people at their absolute worst and it’s hard. So, you have to have, in my opinion, a strong faith in God and the support of a loving family. Without those, I don’t think I would be sane.”
After completing the BLET, Shawn started his career as a law enforcement officer on the campus of A&T State University in 1995. “I was grateful for my job at the mill, but I knew I had to do something to build a future for myself and my daughter. Taking the BLET was a step in the right direction,” Shawn explained. It’s been said that when you are on the right path for your life, you will find everything you need for the journey along the way. While working at A&T State, Shawn first met his wife, Keffney, a student at the University at the time. Years later, they would meet again and marry, but she says she knew that he was her husband from the first moment they met. Once Shawn started in law enforcement, he knew that education was the way to move forward. While working at A&T as a law enforcement officer, Shawn went to school at Guilford Technical Community College, where he earned his associate’s degree in Criminal Justice Security in 1998. He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Homeland Security from Liberty University in 2016, and his master’s in Criminal Justice with a minor in Homeland Security from Cumberland University, Kentucky, in 2018. “In high school, all I wanted to do was get out. When I worked at the mill, I learned that I wouldn’t get far with only a high school diploma. Once I started at A&T, I set my sights on what would move me forward in my chosen career path… more education.” As Shawn continued to study, he took advantage of opportunities along his path. In 2000, Shawn left A&T and started at the Thomasville Police Department in Thomasville, N.C. After a year there, Shawn went to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In 2002, the law enforcement side of the NC DMV merged with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Shawn officially became a trooper in 2006.
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Shawn and his family find themselves walking a fine line in the recent clash between civilians and law enforcement. It is hard to celebrate him as an officer when there seems to always be a negative connotation around that uniform. As a black male and a law enforcement officer, you would think he would struggle between the two worlds. Shawn’s perspective is this… “You have to know what you are out there for. My job is to serve the people, even those who don’t want me to. I still have to and want to help them. I treat every situation and individual with respect because that is what we all deserve. It can be difficult at times because I still have young daughters who hear negative things at school or in the neighborhood. That’s why we talk with our children and we communicate regularly. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that my children know who their father is and that I love them.” He also said his family can’t wear any paraphernalia outside of the home in fear of putting us in harm’s way. As Master Trooper Shawn Harvin walks his destiny path, he continues to honor God, himself, his family, and people have noticed. Shawn received the North Carolina 2021 State Trooper of the year award and has been featured on Fox 8 News “Highlighting Heroes.” Shawn works with several community service groups, including his church, True Salvation Christian Fellowship, and the Masons. He is a certified EMS for Guildford County, and he teaches law enforcement at several local community colleges. It’s clear that Shawn loves what he does, but he is realistic about the future. “I’m forty-nine years old, soon to be fifty. I know I won’t be able to do what I do and keep up this pace forever, but I will do whatever I can to make a difference while I can. When I retire, I will focus on my other passion, photography.” Like with every other thing Shawn puts his hands to, he is no slouch as a photographer either. His photos have been featured on the Food Network channel, Essence Magazine, and MunaLuci Bride Magazine. Some of his pictures will also be featured at Massanutten Ski Lodge Resort. “I want to build something for my daughters. Something they can be proud of and that will help carry them forward. Something that will help them as they discover their path to destiny.” h
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Where The Heart Is Catering & Events By Terry L. Watson - Photos Provided by Veronica Henry Veronica and Jerome Henry of Cleveland, OH are genuine representatives of what love, hard work, and dedication look like. Their union of 14 years has produced several successful businesses and many beautiful memories. Still, they admit that none of what they’ve accomplished outweighs their desire to serve others. Veronica and Jerome are the owners of Where The Heart Is Catering and Events and Where The Heart Is A New You. Their catering business is a full-service offsite catering company that caters to all types of events such as weddings, birthdays, retirement parties, baby showers, school, and corporate events. They offer everything from food to full-blown decorations, including Table Linens, Centerpieces, Wall Monograms, 360 and Selfie Photo Booths. They also have flexible setup options from Full Service, Presentation Setup, and Drop Offs. While Veronica focuses on the food side and decor design side of their business, Jerome works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure every aspect is executed and carried out with perfection and excellence.
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Born and raised in the inner city of Cleveland, particularly in the Collinwood community, Veronica discovered her passion for cooking at a very young age. She recalls working alongside her mother in the kitchen. Her father worked second shift at Ford Motor Company, and Veronica would prepare him food and put it in the oven until he came home. She says, “I remember sleeping light and listening for his key in the lock, and then I would go running to the kitchen to get his food out for him to eat dinner. I would sit there with my hands on my cheek, smiling and waiting for him to eat the meal I had designed for him. My father would eat the whole plate as I sat there and watched him.” The dish she created for her father consisted of ground beef, elbow pasta, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce. Veronica poured her heart into that meal and said it felt great to cook for her father. However, she would find out years later that her father didn’t like ground beef. It didn’t matter, Veronica said, because “My father was truly a girl’s dad, My hero and food taster.” Where The Heart Is A New You provides corporate in-service and training for companies and individuals that want to offer their clients a new method of treating and caring for people. They offer lessons on receiving people with warmth and how to maintain a professional presence. Their clients are those who are committed to personal development and self-improvement and who are engaged in the constant pursuit of excellence. Jerome is also a native of Cleveland. He is an experienced Service Recovery Specialist and has over 25 years of experience. He has always possessed leadership qualities, many of which appear while he conducts business. He is complimented often for his level of professionalism and genuineness. He is known for leaving lasting impressions on his clients and providing valuable tools and information for them to reference in personal and professional arenas. He says, “When a person lives true to who they are, it makes it easier to help and leave lasting impressions. This is the way of light, and we are light. Be the light that you are.”
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After graduating from high school, Veronica attended the University of Akron and studied Criminal Justice Technical Education. During this time she had an apartment and would prepare meals for her friends, such as Barbecue Neck Bones, Fried Pork Chops, Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Yams, Greens, Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, and more. “All you had to do was tell me that you were hungry, “ she says. Veronica’s apartment was that apartment where people on campus knew they could always come and get a meal. After graduating from The University of Akron, she landed a job working for Cleveland Municipal School District as a Learning Disability Tutor for 12 years. After leaving there, she worked a few other jobs in the same field but soon decided that she really wanted to do something else more fulfilling. “I knew it was something more profound on the inside, drawing me to cooking and entertaining on a different level,” Veronica says. So, in 2010, she decided to start a catering company. In 2012, she enrolled in Culinary School at Cuyahoga Community College and perfected her craft. Veronica says when God gave her the vision to start the catering company, she asked Him what she should name the company. “I heard Where The Heart Is. I was told that name would be the umbrella for many companies,” she says. “In 2013 we changed the name from Where The Heart Is Catering to Where The Heart Is Catering & Events.” Veronica said their company, Where The Heart Is A New You, is birthed out of a desire to help people tap into the true essence of who they are by loving and accepting themselves. Their focus is also on assisting and teaching good customer service skills and using your inner voice to pursue the business you have always wanted. While the official starting date for Where The Heart Is A New You is October of 2021, Jerome says the company services came to him in 2006. “My wife and I wanted to have a community and peoplefocused aspect to our catering and event décor. We wanted to emphasize customer service and people treatment,” he says.
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Since its inception, Where The Heart Is A New You has been able to keep the product highly potent and consistent and keep the subject of people treatment interesting. “Maintaining the integrity of our product has meant making hard decisions on what business to pass on and structuring the work so that it produces the same high-quality outcomes,” Jerome says. Veronica says she is inspired by Jerome’s encouragement and support. “He’s my biggest supporter and loudest cheerleader. It’s nice to have a Booster Club in the audience when you’re moving off pure vision and determination,” she says. She is also inspired by her brother William, who she says reminds her “Presentation Is Everything”, a motto she has spoken since the beginning of her business journey. She also shares that running a business can have its challenges and says her biggest challenge is to remember the answer is inside of her, and she must be willing to go inside.
Pictured with Veronica & Jerome (left to right) are Tiera Patillar, Aisha Tate and Sharrell Pointer These are some of the faces behind the excellence of Where The Heart Is Catering & Events
Their advice to up-and-coming Chefs, Caterers, or Event Designers is to know your worth and never devalue what you do and offer. “Know the signs when it’s time to walk away from the deal. Most importantly, know that it’s ok to walk away from the deal,” she says. In the future, Veronica and Jerome plan for Where The Heart Is Catering & Events to offer a one-stop shop, state of the art event venue that can accommodate four events of 250 people at the same time. “We are writing our vision and making it plain,” they shared. To learn more about Veronica and Jerome, and Where The Heart Is Catering & Events, and Where The Heart Is A New You, please visit their website. h
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wheretheheartis.anewyou@gmail.com 216-313-0390 216-322-7641
www.wthicateringandevents.com 216-322-7641
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Germany Inke Germany Inke & Co. By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by Still Shots Photography
Germany Inke I is a woman of many talents. In addition to running the Terah Syrong Foundation and being an entrepreneur whose business is to help others launch their dreams, Germany is a poet, painter, art therapy teacher, and photographer. She does all of this while dealing with stage five kidney disease. Germany has always moved at the speed of sound, knowing precisely what she wanted early in life. At sixteen, she forwent the high school experience, took the GED, and went straight to college. Germany earned her Bachelor of Arts in photography, then went back to get a Bachelor of Science in psychology at the University of Phoenix. Germany intends to go back to school and get a master’s degree in psychology. “I guess you could say I’m a professional student. I will never get tired of gaining knowledge. There is so much more to learn and know.” Germany self-identifies as a giver. Just about every business endeavor Ms. Inke has made has been birthed out of a desire to help and serve the needs of others. “I love helping people achieve their goals. My business assists people who are just starting in business by giving them guidance and mentorship. I help them navigate the confusing steps of starting a business and provide them with all the information and resources needed to get a successful business up and running.” There is a kind of fearlessness about Ms. Inke that is rarely seen but desperately needed if you plan to strike out on your own. “You have to be willing to fail. You have to be ready to make mistakes with the understanding that your dreams don’t die there.” Germany explains. There was a time when Germany believed that her life was set. She was preparing for what should have been the best year of her life when the unthinkable happened. Germany’s mother, Terah Longmire, died of lung cancer.
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“It wasn’t just losing my mother to cancer, but it was what we as a family went through. There was so much we didn’t know or understand about caring for someone who was in the final stages of life. There were people to tell us about the technical and clinical parts, but there was no real emotional support. Not to mention financial help.” Germany shared. “It was difficult to cope with the idea that my siblings and I were losing this amazing woman. Death is a reality for us all, but having those last precious moments with our loved ones helps bring closure and peace to the living.” From this experience, The Terah Syrong Foundation, named after her mother, was born. The Terah Strong Foundation’s mission is to provide emotional support to the families of those who are in their final moments. “If losing my mother has taught me anything, it’s that we have to mourn.” Through family counseling and art therapy Germany’s foundation is doing just that. Over the years, Germany has worked to be a source of support and inspiration to anyone who needs her. As a single mother of two, now adult children, and a grandmother to one, Ms. Inke finds herself constantly on the go. So, when she was diagnosed with stage five of chronic kidney disease, known as end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure, in 2021, she felt like her faith was being tested in a big way. “I was like, ‘Really, God? With all that I’m doing and carrying, now this?’” Despite it all, Germany still found it easy to laugh about. After so many years of helping others, Germany realized that she hadn’t taken good care of herself. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of twenty-one, Germany knew her health was important, but trying to be all things to all people took its toll. “I had a stroke at forty and a heart attack at forty-one. I suffered from different health issues all of my life, but because of lack of information and being underinsured, I couldn’t see that all of my symptoms resulted from a larger problem. Being your own boss is great, but it does have its drawbacks. One of which is having proper health insurance.” At forty-three, Germany is taking a different approach to life and her well-being. She is learning how to balance the demands of her family, her business, her dreams, and herself. “I’ve been pouring out to others so long that I never realized I wasn’t taking time to care for myself or receive from others. I had to stop and stock of my life and what I needed and what I wanted.” In her search to find out what the next chapter of her life would look like, Germany encountered at a casual gathering with Wade Copper. “My chance encounter with Wade was one of those weird things where you meet this stranger you have no familiarity with, but their honesty is jarring because as much as you don’t want to believe it, you know it’s true,” she explained. “He held nothing back, and it shocked me at first, but it was just what I needed to hear.”
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Germany was caught in the trap of people-pleasing. You know the one. We wear the mask and smile despite how we feel or what we are going through. We say, yes, of course, it’s no problem. When we really want to say, are you insane? Can’t you see I’m struggling too? Germany learned that you could help others but make sure you put your life jacket on first. “After years of saying I was fine, I am learning that it’s okay not to be okay. Some days I’m great and ready to go. Others, I’m fatigued, and my entire body hurts. Being honest about what I’m dealing with is a big part of dealing with my illness. The other is finding a comfortable place to heal and recover.” Germany was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up between there and Atlanta, Georgia. Her business, Germany Inke & Co., the foundation, and her Podcast are all mobile, so Germany decided after years of living in North Carolina that it was time to find a place where she could work and heal. “My friendship with Wade has had a huge effect on me. He helped me see who I was versus who I thought I was. Wade’s energy was refreshing. I learned through our friendship that I was missing peace and calmness. I needed a quiet place so I could think. Free from the social demands and external voices.” Germany found it when she visited Williamsport, Pennsylvania. A town with about 28,000 residents, Williamsport was utterly different from anything Germany had experienced and seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. “I felt it instantly, and I knew that was where I needed to be. So, I made preparations to move. I took a job that was again completely different for me because I’ve always been my own boss, but I love it. It allows me to continue to pursue my passion. I have a fresh start where I can continue to explore the person I am becoming without the mask.” Dealing with stage five chronic kidney failure is a challenge for Germany, but with her new perspective, she is more hopeful than ever. “This move is all about my health, both mental and physical. I am taking a holistic approach to my kidney disease, and it seems to be working for now. The balance and peace that I have found have come at a high price, but it’s the tool that God has used to make me better. I will never stop being Germany the entrepreneur, advocate and support for families as they prepare to say goodbye to those they love and all-around friend to the fledgling business person. The only difference is I’m putting myself first. That way, I can be at my best in the many roles I am honored and blessed to work in.”
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Whitney Morgan M-Powerment Solutions LLC
By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Whitney Morgan He is young, black, and making moves in the Kansas City, MO, business district. He is the owner and founder of M-Powerment Solutions LLC, an experienced financial literacy company that focuses on credit restoration and helping individuals become debt-free. They also help businesses establish business credit and funding options. Their award-winning services have assisted in removing all types of derogatory items such as bankruptcies and medical bills from their client’s credit files. To be clear, M-Powement Solutions LLC gets the job done. At just 34 years old, Whitney Morgan has seen a lot. While he presently resides in Kansas City, he has also lived in Atlanta, GA, Port Townsend, WA, and his native home of Minneapolis, MN. He has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a masters degree in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas. His background involves Transportation Planning, City Development, and Small Business Advocacy, and he’s held many leadership positions and volunteered just as well. His volunteering efforts include Kappa Alpha Psi, Freedom Schools, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, Finance and College Ministry Leader with Faith City Christian Center, and Black Student Union. What separates M-Powement Solutions LLC from other companies that provide similar services? Whitney says it’s their commitment to providing quality service at a very affordable cost. “We also have various products to help our clients build positive credit in their name, such as our secure credit card with cashback rewards. We also have the Credit My Rent program that adds all positive rent payments to their credit report, and we partner with various credit builder companies like Self, Credit Strong, Grow Credit, and more. Our goal is to provide our clients with excellent solutions to address their financial struggles,” he says. Charlotte - May/June 2022
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Some of the additional tools offered by Whitney and his team are Credit Restoration Will, Trust, and Power of Attorney, and Budgeting/Debt Payoff Education. There is also a Smart Credit Monitoring App that allows users to view all three credit scores, and Merchant Services that offer payment processing systems for businesses. Additionally, they offer a Youth Financial Literacy Scholarship and Educational Program, Rocket Lawyer Services, Student Loan Assistance, Mobile Telehealth Services, and Business Credit Business Funding.
“Experience is the best teacher. Knowledge is not power; applied knowledge is. If knowledge by itself were power, most librarians would be millionaires.”
The decision to launch M-Powement Solutions LLC happened in June 2020, during the Covid 19 pandemic, Whitney shares. “My wife and I struggled with bad credit caused by debt consolidation. That debt was built because my wife was laid off multiple times, and I was repeatedly passed up for promotions I qualified for. This caused a lot of stress in our marriage and ironically served as a learning experience. We decided to educate other families about the importance of having good credit and the opportunities that come with it.” Whitney says what he loves most about his business is being able to help people buy brand new houses and new cars, find funding for their business, and increase their financial literacy. “We are breaking generational curses,” he says. Waking up every day knowing that he has a gift that can help a lot of people and then putting his gift into action is what pushes him. He also credits his father and grandfather for being great examples of what a man should be. “I was raised by a single father. He has instilled loving and caring principles in me and showed me how to work hard and provide for my family. He told me ever since I could remember that I could be anything I wanted to be and often called me Mr. President as a child. My grandfather taught me how to fish. He also showed me what a consummate professional and respectable Christian man looks like. He has been married to my grandmother for over 50 years. He has held multiple civic positions and joined a fraternity. My grandfather is an architect and has designed buildings all across the country. He’s been retired for over 20 years and wakes up every day and does what he wants,” Whitney says. Whitney offers the following advice for those who may follow in his footsteps. “Experience is the best teacher. Knowledge is not power; applied knowledge is. If knowledge by itself were power, most librarians would be millionaires.”
Whitney Morgan M-Powerment Solutions LLC www.mpowerment-solutions.com (816) 348-3223 32
As life continues to happen for Whitney, he plans to use his products and services to help people across the country. There are also plans to expand. To learn more about Whitney Morgan and M-Powerment Solutions LLC, please contact them directly or visit their website. h
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The Mobile Eyewear Experience Lady E Specs & Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by The Mobile Eyewear Experience
The fashion industry is constantly changing, and entrepreneurs like Erika Hendrix and James Smith are always looking for new and better ways to give customers what they want. Erika Hendrix wore glasses for years, but she could no longer wear contacts after a stroke in her left eye. Erika discovered that wearing glasses was an outlet for her creative side. “My glasses are the one fashion accessory that I’m very unreserved about. I wear a lot of bold colors and unique styles. My choice of eyewear allows me to be one hundred percent me!” Like most of us who have become accustomed to online shopping, Erika was a consumer looking for something special when she found Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin. Erika became a repeat customer and came to the attention of owner, designer, and entrepreneur James Smith. “I started this business, Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin, five years ago and never thought it would grow to where it is now,” James shared. “I got into this industry because I’ve always been a fashion-forward kind of guy. People would see me and how I dressed and carried myself and say, ‘Hey, where did you find that?’ When I started posting pictures of the glasses, people all over noticed, including Christian comedian Jonathan Slocomb. He reached out and became my brand ambassador, and things just took off from there,” James explained. James is also someone who mentors other entrepreneurs, specifically in designer eyewear. “I’ve helped several people start their own designer eyewear line, and everyone has enjoyed their individual level of success.”
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Erika was surprised when James reached out to her in 2019 about launching her designer eyewear line. “James sent me a DM and asked had I ever thought about launching my own line of designer frames. I had never thought about it before he suggested it. I never saw myself as a fashion designer, but I know what I like. This was an opportunity for me to share the creative side of myself with the world.” Erika has been the executive pastor at her local church for twenty-six years, and she has worked in the mental health field for nineteen years. These two careers require a great deal of self-sacrifice with little room for self-expression or individual creativity. Launching Lady E. Specs allowed Erika to show a side of her that very few people get to see. So, she decided to go for it. After talking to James and mapping out the Lady E. Specs Eyewear line, she and James went full speed ahead with launching the virtual marketplace for Lady E. Specs. James has helped several other people launch designer eyewear lines, but none with the exuberance and tenacity that he found in Erika. “Erika was excited about the new venture, and it showed in her focus. She took the information and guidance I gave her and put everything she had into making Lady E. Specs a success,” James explains. Erika is a bi-vocational Marketplace Influncer, and James works in full-time ministry. After working together, they found they share a lot of the same ideas about where the industry was and where it could go. Both Erika and James agreed although they were in two different states, they worked well together. It was no surprise that when James was looking for a partner for his next big venture, he called on Erika. “You wouldn’t have known that we didn’t live in the same state. I live in North Carolina, and James lives in Florida. In fact, we didn’t meet in person until we launched The Mobile Eyewear Experience in March of this year,” Erika shared.
www.ladyespecs.com 336-303-9814
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Although online shopping isn’t new, the pandemic pushed business owners like Erika and James. Brick and mortar businesses were once the standard, but now virtual markets have taken over. Consumers have become accustomed to the luxury of shopping for their favorite items from anywhere. This was the inspiration behind The Mobile Eyewear Experience.
“Since the pandemic, my eyes have been opened to the benefit of giving people the flexibility to choose how they shop,” Erika explained. “My business was launched during the pandemic, and I didn’t think twice about whether I wanted a physical store or a virtual one. I can deliver a quality shopping experience without the overhead and hassle of a brick-and-mortar business. The Mobile Eyewear Experience takes this idea of mobility and flexibility to another level.” Erika and James’s vision is to revolutionize how people shop for glasses. The Mobile Eyewear Experience is a mobile showroom that goes where the customer is. Customers book their custom experience online, and everything comes to you. Most people who wear glasses are used to going to the optometrist and selecting from rows of frames. You look for ones you like that might fit your personality, try them on, and purchase if they fit. “The vision is to bring a customizable luxury experience to you. Customers are free to select from Lady E. Specs designs or Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin, but they also have the option to design their frames. They can choose the style, shape, and materials the frames are made from. Consumers can put their names on their glasses. They can put logos and names of organizations. James explains that there is no limit on the design, and the customer is in control. With The Mobile Eyewear Experience, you will have all your local optometrist’s options. They work with a trusted optometrist who can fill any prescription. Customers can get all the additions to their lenses they would as if they walked into a store. “Some places won’t put lenses in frames they don’t sell because they are worried about damaging them. If the customer sends us the prescription, we will take care of everything. It’s all about convenience. Our goal is to be a one-stop-shop for all their eyewear needs,” James says confidently. There is only one mobile eyewear experience like Lady E and Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin located in Jacksonville, FL, and plans are in the works to launch a second mobile eyewear experience in North Carolina. For now, if you are not located in Florida, you can still have a customizable experience online. New things are hitting the market every day. Vision, planning, and perseverance separate the fly-by-night ideas from those that stand the test of time. With the formula and foundation that Erika Hendrix and James Smith have laid, I have no doubt we will see The Mobile Eyewear Experience all across the country. h
www.jfranklinwoodyouspecs.com 904-595-7351
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Dr. Shmeka Gibson Innate Success Corp www.vemashe.com Dr. Shmeka Gibson is an author, international speaker, business owner, and college professor. Shmeka is the founder and CEO of Innate Success Corp. Innate Success Corp. provides various business options, tools, and resources needed to develop business owners, organize business practices, enhance individual leader traits, and promote potential business leaders. Innate Success Core, which is one of our fivesubsidiary businesses, provides contract services to organizations in need of organizational infrastructure development and program management, research, and application to funding opportunities and data analytics. Another popular business under the Innate Success model is I.S. Cares which houses the Mentorship Program. Innate Success Corp. partners with Dress for Success Memphis to implement the “Successful Women in Business” Mentorship Program. The program utilizes the Changing the Mindset Concept© developed by Innate Success that implements a framework to help women in business and entrepreneurship. Innate Success developed and launched the program as a pilot in Fall 2020, and with the help of Dress for Success Memphis, the program flourished and now has an organizational home. The program’s goal is to help small businesses develop or enhance effective and sustainable business practices. The program participants were not required to have an established business, but if they had the time, desire and commitment, the program would help them achieve their goal of entrepreneurship. The 6-month business mentorship program offers intensive business, legal and financial consulting and resources to help businesses upskill and upscale their business. This program is offered to start-up, grassroots, and small business owners with an operating budget of less than $250,000 annually. Presently, this program has helped over 46 African American business leaders and raised over $75,000 in grant funding to support the work. The goal is to help these businesses create an organizational infrastructure and enhance stability to upscale the economy and communities. h
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The Wealthy Child “I am a Change Agent on the path to create a culture of wealth for the next generation” By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Ronald Pollard Delvin Sullivan is a Dave Ramsey-certified Financial Coach who believes that “The earlier money can make sense to a child, the better chance they have at being financially responsible adults.” A native of Huntsville, AL, Delvin is the author of The Wealthy Child, a book designed to teach youth about money and the world’s economic process. As someone who grew up in public housing, Delvin’s passion always led him to mentoring youth and posing as a positive role model for kids, particularly young men. Using the basic principles of wealth, he published his book to level the playing field and offer all children the opportunity to become wealthy through knowledge. Some of the topics discussed in the Wealthy Child production are budgeting, banking, investing, credit, income, and assets. “I am introducing children to the basics of financial literacy in a fun and engaging way and teaching kids about the importance of earning, saving, and spending responsibly. My goal is to ensure they understand the importance of earning, saving, and spending responsibly,” Delvin says. In addition to being an author, personal finance coach, and entrepreneur, Delvin is also a US Army veteran and recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. He holds degrees from Alabama A&M University and Murray State University. He is married to Felichia, and they have two children, Tierra and Jordan, along with three grandchildren. Delvin shares, “I began teaching at the Sparkman Homes Boys and Girls Club in 2017, and decided to develop a book and workbook that would give the students something they could take home with them.”
The vision for The Wealthy Child is connected to Delvins awareness of the many challenges that youth face, especially within his community. “Studies show 80% of crimes that send people to prison have something to do with money. I want to change that narrative by teaching children how to earn, save, grow, and respect the dollar at an early age,” he says. He shares that he loves being able to change the course of a child’s life by ensuring he or she is financially literate. He is also inspired by youth development and making a difference in his community. Growing up in similar situations that many of the young individuals he’s helping are, Delving feels that he has a sincere responsibility to create realistic opportunities for them. “I made it to where I am because of the men placed in my life at the Boys and Girls Club. It was Ugene Phillips, Cedric Wherry, and Tyrone Langford. They would preach, “if you want to be an eagle, don’t hang around turkey’s”. That kept me from becoming a product of my environment,” Delvin says. Delvin’s future goal is to continue to change the lives of millions of children by introducing them to the world’s economic process. To learn more about The Wealthy Child, h please visit their website.
Delvin Sullivan The Wealthy Child
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MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
Marrel Gravely Foushee The son of Sunny Gravely Foushee and Marrel Foushee
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
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Certified Trainer, Speaker, Coach with the John Maxwell International Best Selling Amazon Author Certified Professional Career Coach Certified Virtual Presenter www.facebook.com/groups/NobleSuccessGroup Email: noblesuccessgroupdbbiz@gmail.com 48
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