Huami Magazine Chicago Sept./Oct. 2021

CHICAGO

®

Sept./Oct. 2021 Vol. 1 Issue 4

A Voice For The Voiceless Chicago - Sept./Oct. 2021

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OldThere WaysAre Don’t On The Course NoWork If, Ands, OrDriving Buts About It! There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter From The Editor

A Letter from the Editortime ago. The moment had arrived for me It seems like such a long to become a licensed automobile driver. I was only 16 years old. For A Letter Editor the most part,from just the a little young guy, full of ambition and excited about WhatI had if tomorrow arrive?

All of your plans,athopes driving a car. enrolled indidn’t a driver’s education program school. and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on.

What if The classes included several other soon-to-be legitimate juvenile drivers everything thatafter youschool decided tosixput off until tomorrow never What if tomorrow didn’tfor arrive?

All of your plans, hopes and were conducted weeks.

We were all ready, but I happened? would beano reason to save a rainy and dreams wouldn’t have street to park on. for What if don’t think anyoneThere was more eager than I was. day, and you could someone theuntil trouble of making everything that youspare decided to put off tomorrow never promises.

What your last On happened? the driving course, there were several cars with Thereif would be opportunity no reason toseemingly save an forautomatic aexpired rainy transmission.

However, there only onethe vehicle thatofcontained today? would youwas do? day, andWhat you could spare someone trouble making a manual transmission (a ifstick shift).

As fate would have it, I was the only promises.

What your last opportunity seemingly expired student familiar with a stick shift, as I had gained prior instruction and I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. today? What would you do? drivingHonestly, experience from a few experienced drivers.

I knew the gear I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm pattern and understood how manage the clutch and much. gas paddles believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put on me and I’ve been told that Ito often seem like I do anything too keep the car powered.

So I chose that vehicle to drive during class. that I couldn’t sometimes wonderand how would Honestly, I feelhandle. like I amI not doing enough I’mlife a firm be if I chose to sit idle and accept whatput it presented believer in knowing that God wouldn’t anything to onme. me I I appeared to be in a league of my own on the driving course haveI found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity that couldn’t handle.

I sometimes wonder how life would amongst the other that student drivers.

I handled the curves well, and is a blessing isn’t afforded to everyone.

A challenge be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I didn’t to runme over anyadventure. of the cones.

I managed the straight paths well, and is an What is the In worst that can happen? have found that to be very boring. my opinion, opportunity looked pretty well in reverse. I was good, at least thats what I beleived.

If aI do nothing, if I try to I don’t, but instead learn is blessing thatI fail, isn’tand afforded everyone.

A challenge something new about myself. yourcan pride and in to me is an adventure.

What is Relinquish the worst that happen?

One day in class, the vehicle I was driving was at the front of the return acquire life.

If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn pack on the driving course. I jumped out the gate fast, and that was my something myself.

Relinquish pride and first mistake.

As Inew wentabout around the curves, I used your little brakes, andinthe The best advice ever given to me happened when someone return acquire life. tires on my car were screaming. “Stop!” That command was screamed told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In through the megaphone held by the driving instructor.

Hedoing madeso me I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only The best advice ever given to me happened when someone park the car and get out for the remainder of the day. I laughed it off hopeme provided. have also learned the today. difference between make tomorrow happen In on doing while told trying toto keep myImy cool amongst my classmates, but the so inside, what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only I was embarrassed. I would eventually drive again and completed the as well. compare it toalso when beallconfident and hope provided.

I have learned the to difference between program, but itI was clear that Iknowing almost jeopardized of that from whenlife tocan be quiet, what God blesses me with and what burdenbecause me with happening. may get it confused as well. I compare it to knowingsomeone when to be confident and with being arrogant.

At the time, I didn’t realize how I hadwhen put myself others in danger to beand quiet, because by becoming arrogant and comfortablesomeone during a moment instead I may getwhen it confused should have been learning and listening.

Make you tomorrow with being arrogant.

I made the mistake of applying invalid happen today, but most experience in a setting where I was importantly make it count.

Make you tomorrow supposed to gain experience to be Life is but a whisper and happen today, but most validated.

God showed me on that we must putmake ourselves in a importantly it count. day thatLife when I try to do things my position to hear what it is but a whisper andis way andtelling use information or instruction us.put ourselves we must in a that didn’t come from Him, I am just an position to hear what it is accident waiting to happen. Yet, when telling us.

I do listen and obey His commands, He Terry L. on Watson will qualify me to drive the roads and highways of life.

Editor/Founder

www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief

Terry L. Watson www.huamimagazine.com www.huamimagazine.com Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Editor In Chief

TerryWriters L. WatsonPublisher Terry L Watson Alana Allen - Deputy Tonya Dixon Editor Terry L. Watson Jalessa Rogers Writers

Writer Alana Allen Terry L. Watson Dixon Writer Tonya Jeuron Dove Gamal Williams Terry L. WatsonWriter Alana Allen Ellen Richardson Writer Photographers Dove PerfectJeuron Lenz Photography Areille Kilgore

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November/December 2014

On The Cover

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CONTENTS

SEPT./OCT. 2021

CHICAGO

By The Book Services LLC

Zeola Charles

On The Cover

A Voice For The Voiceless Latosha D. Barnes

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A Life of Service

Todd Gilyard

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His Life Is A Testimony

Wendell White

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Tegan Kennedy

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Also Featured

Charlene Sparks Are you a Destiny Caregiver?

Women With Vision has a program designed for you.

Greensboro, NC

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Pastor Shannon Frazier He shares his story about answering the calling that God placed over his life.

Houston, TX

Chicago - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Wendy Tucker Meet the face and founder of Walk By Faith Counseling.

Indianapolis, IN

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A Voice For The Voiceless

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Latasha Barnes

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope – Romans 5:34 (New International Version).

When trying to envision the bigger picture of your life or career, I imagine that few of you see yourself going through pain and feeling hopeless before becoming an accomplished professional. Although most of us would prefer that we coast through life on easy street, the truth is that no one accomplishes anything in this world without the scars to prove it. This is definitely the case for inspirational domestic violence advocate Latosha Barnes.

The founder and director of Patricia’s Place domestic violence shelter, serving Chicago’s west side and south suburban communities, knows firsthand what it is like to endure the pain and scars of domestic violence.

“My first experience with abuse occurred when I was a young girl, who experienced my mother Patricia being beaten and introduced to drugs by her ex-husband,” said Barnes.

“Despite my grandmother attempting to shield me from this violence, it would not take long before I realized what was going on.”

Although Barnes hoped never to endure the kind of life that her mother, whose namesake is now a beacon of hope to the hurting women of Chicago, chose to overcome, it would not take long before her family’s history caught up to her. At the age of 20, four months after marrying her first husband and now a mother of two young children, Barnes began to experience the traumatic experience of spousal abuse.

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“I had started some classes at a local junior college in South Holland and had to ask a male friend of mine, who I went to high school with, to give me a ride home,” said Barnes. “Although I told this jealous man that I took the bus home, he apparently saw me get out of this guy’s car, and when he realized that I was fearfully lying to him, he slapped me for the first time.”

Despite her ex-husband’s mother and grandmother sitting close by, neither woman decided to do anything. After attempting to walk away before the abuse got worse, Barnes would run to the woman who was always there for her growing up.

“My grandmother was very strict, but she has always been there for me, that is until that fateful night,” said Barnes.

“Although I showed up to her house with my two children and carrying a third and fourth at 2:00 a.m., she told me that I had to go home – back to him and the abuse – because I was married now. This experience actually stuck with me for decades before she finally told me that she was also a victim of domestic violence.”

“I realized that I was stuck in a pattern started by my grandmother, and now seeing one of my kids endure her first form of abuse, God made it clear that it was time for me to walk away.”

Barnes tries to explain how she, her mother, and grandmother stuck out relationships that would lead to broken bones, hospital stays, and multiple calls to local police. She even watched her ex-husband go after one of her daughters as she attempted to protect Barnes from yet another attack. Enough became enough, and Barnes finally got the courage to file for divorce.

“I knew that this was going to be the hardest thing I had ever done. I realized that I was stuck in a pattern started by my grandmother, and now seeing one of my kids endure her first form of abuse, God made it clear that it was time for me to walk away,” said Barnes.

After walking away, Barnes’s future of success would begin to take shape. Beginning with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, and master’s degrees in both criminal justice and addiction studies, Barnes also started to put her efforts into helping other women, men, and children escape abusive situations. “Before opening our brick-and-mortar shelter, my 501C3 community-based organization would begin as a referral source for those who were leaving abusive situations in 2016,” said Barnes. “While I dreamed of owning a shelter to help women escape abuse, for several years, it wasn’t until last year that my new husband and I were able to open an emergency shelter for up to 10 women, children, and their small pets. This temporary haven provides not only a safe place to stay but also provides clothing, food, legal counsel, and other supportive services to those who need someone to care and help them through this traumatic experience.”

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Along with opening the kind of safe home that she and her family had always dreamed of, Barnes is quickly becoming a voice for the voiceless through her recently published a book, Un-Veil: Surviving Domestic Violence, a memoir and 10-step self-help activity and resource guide for surviving spousal abuse. She is also in the process of publishing her second book entitled, Pieces of My Childhood, which will share an in-depth journey of her life and will be available through She Publishing, LLC in the next few months.

“Through Patricia’s Place I have begun several domestic violence teaching and counseling programs such as the S.T.A.R. Program (Surviving Traumatic Abusive Relationships) and Purple Power. These tools allow women to learn what resources and support are available for them,” said Barnes.

“We have also started a program for kids who have lived in a family of domestic violence. My goal is for women to feel the love and respect that I did not receive when I was going through this.”

This empowered woman has also begun doing her part to have local politicians pay more attention to this ongoing issue. “I have recently approached a well-known councilman about the possibility of moving National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to another month so that this cause is not lost in the celebration of another important cause.”

We are so proud of Latosha Barnes for finding her way out of the ashes of abuse and using her newly empowered voice to help others find the strength and victory necessary to overcome abuse.

To learn more about Patricia’s Place and Barnes goal to work towards the elimination of Domestic Violence against female victims, please visit their website. h

Latosha D. Barnes Patricia’s Place

20200 Governors Drive Unit 203 Olympia Fields, IL 60461 www.patriciasplace.org 773-900-3301 773-996-4900

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Wendell W hite I’m An Overcomer

By Gamal Williams Photos by Wendell White

“I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-yearsold, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.”

One thing I’ve come to understand about our (African-American) community is that many of us don’t want to be held accountable. It’s normal with us living a certain type of way. Trauma has become normal in the African-American community.

The incidence of murder occurs often. There is teenage pregnancy and high dropout rates. Poverty is normal, and I don’t believe that poverty defines our neighborhoods, I think we have a poverty mindset. But I know that we can’t fix this overnight.

It took me thirty years to arrive to where I am today, so I have to be patient and keep working. That’s what God wants me to do so, I will do it. - Wendell White Usually, I start my articles with a poignant quote or Bible verse that ties neatly into my interviewing subject. There was no need to find such a quote for Wendell White. His quote above speaks to the core of Wendell’s mission, to a fundamental change of perspective and purpose rooted in experience, and when it comes to experiences. He has had many.

Wendell was born and raised in the Englewood section of the South Side of Chicago, the “Wild Hundreds,” as Wendell explains. After leaving foster care, Wendell moved into the projects with his mother and family. Unfortunately for Wendell (and many children in inner city, African-American communities), he returned to a world full of drugs and violence. What made Wendell’s situation exponentially bleaker, he didn’t even have to leave his project apartment to find it. His family sold the drugs and contributed to the violence.

“When you’re a child and your watching your mom and family sell drugs, how does someone tell you to go to school and get an education? Everybody around me sells drugs and they are lucrative! My uncle was making $50-60k a day! I was twelve years old, and one day he gave me a bag with over $250,000 to hold for my auntie. He had all the cars, and everyone admired him. I wanted to be like my uncle. When he left, I went into the bathroom and saw all that money. I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-years-old, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.”

Soon after that decision, Wendell joined a gang and quickly realized that gang life wasn’t the glitz and glamour he thought it was. Not only did he learn that he would start nowhere near the level his uncle was, but he was now a gang member in one of the most violent cities during its most violent time in history. According to the Chicago Police Department, from 1991 to 2004, there were 3,422 gang-related murders in Chicago. That’s an average of 244 murders per year. A ghastlier interpretation is this: there was a gang-related murder in Chicago every 36 hours, for 14 years straight. Yet, despite this reality (which is to say nothing of the other violent crimes, drug overdoses, and high incarceration rates), Wendell saw no other way to live. It was all he knew and taught, and turning to his family for guidance offered no respite. Even his own kidnapping didn’t turn him away.

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“I started making money, big money. We were buying cars, flashing cash, but one day God decided that wasn’t the plan. I was kidnapped, beaten, and left for dead. That was the beginning of my transformation. The person that did it to me was near and dear to my heart; he set me up. But God spoke to me and told me to repent. I was in the hospital for eight weeks, but when I got out, I didn’t know anything else. I was eighteen and all I knew was selling drugs.”

Wendell moved to Milwaukee soon after, and though he had changed locations, his mindset hadn’t. He continued to sell drugs, yet one day, it all stopped, but not through any choice of his.

“One day, my phone just stopped ringing. I was selling drugs every day, all day, then one day, my phone just stopped ringing. I realize now that God has always been with me. HE stopped it. All my money started dwindling away. Then one day, I was coming home, stuck my key in the door, and broke down and cried. I broke, man. I cried for six months. I was depressed, but it was in that depression that I found God. It was all of these emotions and feelings that I had been feeling for years, and it all came out.”

His wife asked him to attend church with her, and though he was still depressed and drinking heavily, he decided to go. Wendell found that some church members had written books that shared their testimony. That inspired Wendell to pen his story, The Devil Thought He Had Me! He has even gone on to start his own mentorship program.

You can purchase your copy of The Devil Thought He Had Me by visiting www.wendellwhitespeaks.com Also available on Amazon

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“My mentorship program started when my book came out. It was something that started when I started getting mentored. I joined my church, Unity Gospel House of Prayer, here in Milwaukee, WI. I just see the upside of having a mentor, man.

We all need a mentor; we all need somebody to help us navigate through life, not really trying to control our lives, but teach us someone who can hold us accountable. If feel that I can get enough of the men and the youth, if I can just get them and talk to them. Tell them my story and the things I’ve been through. We could make such a huge impact.

Not just in the city of Milwaukee or Chicago, but in the world. God gave me a testimony, and I believe God is setting up to give that testimony.” h

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Pastor Abiding Faith Church Of Baytown 16

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“I love seeing people healed in every area of their life. My love for people keeps me excited and continues to challenge me to give more. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset and watching how that creates a positive life.”

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Pastor Shannon Frazier For some, the journey of life can be very unpredictable. Promises are not always fulfilled, and ones’ perception of life can be as isolated and individualized as a fingerprint. For Greensboro, NC native and now Houston, TX resident Shannon Frazier, those details duly describe how life was once like for him.

Today, it is appropriate to greet him as Pastor Shannon Frazier. He is the shepherd called by God to lead the flock of Abiding Faith Church of Baytown, located in Houston. He is also the Founder and CEO of Shannon Frazier Ministries. Not to be stereotyped, Pastor Frazier shares that his heart is set on saving lost souls and advancing the kingdom of God. He is the husband to Shanel Frazier and the father of two sons, Seth and Josiah.

Pastor Frazier grew up in Greensboro, attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., and majored in Music Education. He later moved to Houston and answered the call of ministry. “I believe that I was called to preach at the age of 14, however at that time, I chose not to respond to the call. As a result, I encountered many unnecessary trials and learned many life lessons that I continue to use today. I am a Black American Pastor that believes in embracing every race, creed, and culture with the love of God. I am a third-generation, extraordinary musician who has traveled worldwide playing the piano with Broadway musicals and various gospel artists. I discovered my passion and love for ministry as I traveled and experienced the different cultures and ethnicities,” he says.

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Pastor Frazier grew up as a church musician. He describes himself as ardent and always striving to empowering others. That passion led him to leave the music industry and answer the call to pastor. “I love seeing people healed in every area of their life. My love for people keeps me excited and continues to challenge me to give more. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset and watching how that creates a positive life.”

Leading anything in life can be pretty daunting. To be an effective leader, one must be tried and tested. Pastor Frazier has been. “I remember when we first started our ministry, we were young and excited and full of zeal. We had very little knowledge of what we were doing. It was 2012, and God knew that we would really need help. We were setting up and breaking down chairs in a daycare center each week, and many times the only attendees would be my family. We prayed and believed God and trusted that we would have our own building. We also believed that more people would see the vision and help us bring that vision to life. One day, I heard God tell me to take a CD of me teaching to a barbershop. Out of obedience, I gave the CD to the lead barber and told him that God told me to bring this to him.

He played the CD in the barbershop the next day, while a pastor of another church just so happened to be there. He heard the teaching and immediately told the barber to get in touch with me. After a few times of that pastor and I connecting and talking, he shared with me that God told him to give me his church. Naturally, I was shocked, and we both began to pray. I was then led to visit the church, and to my surprise, it was grand in structure, a 15,000 square foot building and sitting on ten acres of land. The pastor handed me the keys to the

property, all while God was blowing my mind. We prayed and believed for God to show up, but we had no idea that He would show up like that. We went from setting up and breaking down chairs for one year and three months to having a fully furnished building with over 50 active members. Having faith in God and believing when faced with doubt is how we overcame,” he shares.

Now that his position has clearly been defined, Pastor Frazier has set his sights on leading Abiding Faith Church of Baytown into the direction that God desires. One of his personal goals is to stay connected to Jesus and allow Him to teach him and show him how to continue to walk by faith and defy the odds. “One goal that we have at AFC is to connect with the city of Baytown and provide assistance for students in our community who may be behind in school because of the Covid 19 pandemic. I understand that many children need tutoring and assistance, and we are actively putting together a plan to hire teachers to create an online help center as well as using our facility for in-person learning,” Pastor Frazier shares.

The future looks bright for Abiding Faith Church of Baytown. Having a leader chasing after God’s heart and being committed to serving others is obviously what God had in mind when He chose Pastor Frazier as its leader. This shows that when you are obedient to what God calls you to do, He will make provisions to see it through. To learn more about Pastor Shannon Frazier and Abiding Faith Church of Baytown, please visit their website. h

www.afcbaytown.org

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By The Book Services LLC 20

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By Ellen Richardson Photos by TMF Photography While most use their career to become a financial success or a powerhouse that the younger generation looks up to, there are those who take the path less traveled. A path that allows them to become a voice for the voiceless.

Zeola Charles began her job path with the U.S. Army and eventually became a part of the Las Vegas insurance game. Yet, her career path would change after returning to a dream born at the tender age of eight.

“Ever since I was an 8-year-old girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. However, life would take me along a different path, and I joined the army at the age of 18,” said Charles. “During this time, I also obtained an associate degree in paralegal studies, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After leaving the army, I obtained my MBA all while starting my career as a litigator in the insurance world, where I remained for more than 20 years. Although this career path had an air of legal air to it, I kept feeling my childhood dream calling, so I returned to law school at 38 years old.”

Along with making a career change a bit late in the game, Charles would also begin her path to greatness with a move from Las Vegas to Alabama for law school and eventually North Carolina.

“It is funny because we decided to move to North Carolina after a spring break road trip where we fell in love with this state,” said Charles. “It was just so beautiful and ran well by people who cared about each other. Seeing the pride that everyone had to make this state the best possible was also something that I had never seen before, so I knew that I wanted to start our family’s new life and adventure in North Carolina.”

After deciding to settle down in the Triangle of Raleigh/Durham area, the woman with a passion for the law started her new career path as an employment judge for the North Carolina Division of Employment Security Commission. “I am one of those people who enjoys being the ultimate decision maker, so when I was offered this opportunity, I could not pass it up,” said Charles.

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Despite her love for being a decision-maker, it wouldn’t take long before the born litigator would decide to return to her calling. “Within a few months of working in North Carolina, I decided to leave the bench and make my way back to my first love – being a lawyer,” said Charles. “The truth is, I’ve always loved arguing a case and I began to miss being a part of the true art of law, which involves arguing a relative message to 12 jurors, hoping that your voice helps them be decision-makers in your favor,” said Charles.

Today, Zeola Charles and her family’s private law practice, By the Book Services Charles & Associates, is becoming the legal voice for those who need assistance. By The Book Services offers services in the realm of real estate law, family law, civil or criminal trials, traffic violations, and more throughout the Raleigh/Durham area. “Honestly, we provide attorney services in almost every area of law with the exception of wills and estates,” said Charles. “I am even contracted with one of the largest legal firms in the state for legal debt collection.”

Picuted (on the opposite page) with Zeola and Chad is their daughter Ladeja

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According to Charles, the primary goal for this firm is to be the voice for and to serve the underserved in this area. “The fact is that I want my life and career to have purpose rather than seeking after financial gain,” said Charles.

“Making a decision like this took a lot of prayer and the support of my family, who were there for me through the entire transition, including moving states, going back to school, and even starting my own practice. In fact, my husband was so supportive that he became my paralegal.”

“Ever since I was an 8-year-old girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. However, life would take me along a different path and I joined the army at the age of 18 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.”

Prior to going into business with his wife, Chad Charles was also on a different career path.

“I started my career in the Army alongside my wife but was injured. After retiring from the U.S. Army, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in engineering, after which I worked as an engineer in several different industries in Las Vegas,” said Chad.

Despite he and his wife working in separate careers, Chad and Zeola Charles would begin a new career journey alongside one another following this family’s move to North Carolina.

“When we moved to North Carolina, my wife needed to be fingerprinted and also needed a notary, so I started my new career path by obtaining a license to become a fingerprint technician and notary,” said Chad. “This is actually how we started By the Book Services.”

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Following Zeola’s decision to return to a calling given to her as a child, Chad also followed his new calling. “When my wife decided to leave the bench and become an attorney, I knew that the best way I could help her was to go back to school and become a paralegal. So, that is what I did, and I am excited to say that I received my certification as a paralegal from North Carolina State University on August 12th,” said Chad. “Now, we can work on cases together and build a business that can help our family and community for years to come.”

Along with this family’s new business becoming the legal voice for the underserved in the Triangle, the Charles family and By The Book Services is also doing their part to assist other bright minds in the community in their future success.

“I know how expensive it can be to obtain a higher education, which is why I worked the entire time that I went to school,” said Zeola Charles. “In order to help students like my 16-year-old daughter, who will be graduating summa cum laude from Chatham School of Science & Engineering and obtaining her associate degree in applied science this year, succeed in furthering their education we are offering work from home opportunities where these students can set their own schedule and make a few dollars to pay for materials like books, etc. We are also offering a $500 scholarship to an area student in need.”

Now that their purpose has been realized, Zeola and Chad Charles are pursuing their God-given calling and proving that one can accomplish some things, but together, a team can do a great deal more. The team of

By The Book Services is proof that anything is possible when you make your purpose your priority. h

To learn more about By The Book Services LLC, please contact them directly or visit their website.

By The Book Services LLC 273 Brown Bear Road Chapel Hill, NC 27517 702-338-0474

www. bythebookservicesllc.business.site Veteran Benefits Compensation Notary Public/Notary Signing Agent Mobile Fingerprinting Traffic Tickets Personal Injury Mediation 26

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“Throughout my journey in life, I have put God first, and my counseling sessions have been no different. I seek God for wisdom and allow His presence to set the atmosphere to help each client.”

By Jalessa Rogers Photos by Wendy Tucker

The Lord orders the steps of a good man. That is a scripture from the Bible that clinical mental health counselors such as author Wendy Tucker use for guidance in life, education, and careers.

In the black community, counseling and therapy have been frowned upon for many years, but recently mental health has become a big topic of importance. Tucker has created two different avenues that she has successfully counseled and mentored the African American community with her company, Walk by Faith Counseling, and book series, Pennie Mae Learns.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, Tucker was the second oldest of five children in a single parent household. She shares, “Family members told me ‘Wendy you won’t live to see the age of sixteen, you won’t live to see twenty-one. According to my family, I shouldn’t be here, but God had another plan for me,” stated Tucker.

Despite being what she called a “little girl that grew up in the projects,” Tucker was the first person in her family to graduate high school, the first to go to college and receive an Associates degree, Bachelors degree, and Masters degree. “I accomplished this through no goodness of my own. I felt like God ordered my steps in a way that allowed me to continue to move forward in my education,” stated Tucker.

She had dreams of becoming a judge as a child because she wanted to lock up the bad people, but she never imagined being a clinical health counselor. She also wanted to be an author but thought that dream was impossible. However, what she thought was impossible, God made it possible.

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After working in the behavioral health field for twelve years, Tucker thought she had seen and learned a lot. Remember, she was raised in the inner city, and has worked with inner city children, and she has a strong desire to help her community, but there was more for her to experience. Her mission is to give back to the community and break the stigma of mental health in the black community, and on July 31, 2020, Walk by Faith Counseling was created.

Walk By Faith Counseling’s first sessions were conducted virtually because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Tucker adjusted and has since grown to provide face-to-face counseling sessions, allowing her clients to engage and feel safe; she says “as if God is in the building”.

One of Tucker’s goals is for people to feel that she is genuine, sincere, and understand how she is following the direction of God with her practice. “Throughout my journey in life, I have put God first, and my counseling sessions have been no different. I seek God for wisdom and allow His presence to set the atmosphere to help each client,” she shares.

In 2011 Tucker came up with the idea for the children’s book series, Pennie Mae, designed to help children learn life lessons. In July 2020, Pennie Mae Learns was birthed. On the same day that Walk by Faith came to life, Tucker created the Pennie Mae Learns interactive book series, website, and YouTube videos. The interactive series starts with the main character, Pennie Mae, going through life lessons from age three until ten years old.

“I developed The Pennie Mae book series to provide life lessons and biblical principles for kids tocarry with them. The series is designed to help train our young readers up in the way they should go, and when they’re old they won’t depart from it. That is written in the word of God,” stated Tucker.

Pennie Mae Learns Book Series www.penniemaelearns.com

www.wbfcounseling.com 317-300-4181 The books and the website include interactive games, coloring, knowledge tests, as well as educational stories. These stories have been utilized as a therapeutic form of counseling to interact and talk with children. The success of this series has garnered attention from the PGN television station in Cincinnati, OH, which is now airing the Pennie Mae YouTube channel every Saturday morning. They have even offered Tucker a talk show which will allow her to share mental health tips.

The future is looking very bright for Tucker, and her next big goal is to open a counseling center for her church. She desires to help individuals and families and offer group therapy with future therapists, case managers, and life coaches.

To learn more about Walk By Faith Counseling and the Pennie Mae Book Series, please visit their websiteS.

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A Life Dedicated To Service 30

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By Gamal Williams Photos by Todd Gilyard

According to the 2019 Annual Business Survey, racial minorities owned 18.3% of all businesses in America. Those numbers begin to look bleaker when one understands that all non-White business owners fall into that 18.3%. 2019 U.S. Census data shows that the White population comprised 76.3% of America yet owned 81.7% of all businesses. Minorities comprised 23.7% of America yet owned less than 1/5th of all businesses. Many factors have hindered business development and economic growth amongst minorities: racial bias preventing opportunities to government and private sector contracts, lack of access to capital, lack of business financial literacy, but none more important than mentorship and support. What these businesses have lacked is a champion, someone that is willing to not only extend a helping hand, but to speak up for them, support them, guide them on their path to success.

Enter Todd Gilyard.

Todd Gilyard formed his consulting firm, The Gilyard Group, LLC, in 2010, after previously serving as the Assistant Project Lead/Job Developer for the St. Louis Housing Authority’s Job Plus Program, and Community Outreach Director at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. He now serves as the Project Director at the Missouri Branch of the Minority Business Development Agency.

Originally established as the Minority Business Enterprise in 1969 by President Richard Nixon, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) mission is “to promote the growth of minority owned businesses through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy, and research.

MBDA has accomplished this mission by funding a network of centers that provide Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) a variety of business assistance services.”* Yet, Todd didn’t see himself in his current position. In fact, prior to his appointment, even owning his own business wasn’t in the cards.

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“I worked for the Urban League of St. Louis,” he explained. “In that role, anything that the Urban League gave away to the community, I was in charge of; toy giveaways, food giveaways, energy assistance, any special programs, I was basically in charge of. Being in that role helped me build relationships with city and state government officials and CEOs of major corporations.

People began to come to me asking for help with funding or to make a business connection.”

“One day, a woman approached me that had a home healthcare franchise out of Florida. I explained to her that she should be working with the churches. The churches should get back to being that resource for the community like they were in the ’50s and ’60s. I told her I knew the President of the National Baptist Convention-Midwest. I reached out to him and discussed her presenting her business to the minister’s union. I explained to him that churches were missing that community connection; if you needed a doctor, you went to the church; if you needed a lawyer, you went to the church; if you needed a handyman, you went to the church. I presented the woman’s business and after my presentation, he encouraged me to form my own business.”

Todd formed The Gilyard Group shortly after, and while it was a business at its heart, it was Todd’s desire to help reconnect the community that shined through. These traits were instilled in him by two strong, powerful, and beautiful women: his mother, Schatoun Gilyard, and his grandmother, Francis Jean Gilyard.

“I grew up in Kinloch, MO. My grandmother was heavily involved in many grassroots efforts devoted to social justice issues, improving educational rights for children, food programs…she was committed to making sure the community was fed, not just with food, but fed with knowledge. I grew up in the church, thanks to my grandmother. I am now a minister, and God has put it in my heart to want to see everyone made whole. I want to see everybody live their best life. If I’m in a position to help somebody, I think that is an honor that God gives certain people. Since I was a child, through my adult life and professional career, I’ve been in a position to help people. Jobs of service. It’s because of how my grandmother raised me.”

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“I tell my current staff all the time; we are in a blessed position. If we make a phone call for someone or a business, we have an opportunity to do something that could change their lives. That can change the way they feed their families.”

When asked to elaborate on his mother’s impact on his life, Todd becomes reflective and emotional.

“My mom…man, my mom is someone that inspires me because of how she made sacrifices for my brother and me. Even though those sacrifices hurt her, I see what she did for her now that I am older.

And she is still like that. She will give people the shirt off her back, or if she hears that someone is in need, she’s right there to say, ‘I got it!’ Anything to see people comfortable. Even in the church, she was always serving others. It just stuck in me.”

Todd’s reputation as a selfless, devoted, and knowledgeable leader led to his current position at MBDA. When the position for Project Director became available in late 2020, Todd’s name was submitted by people that knew him for his years of dedicated service. Once the position was offered to Todd, his actions displayed the virtues of kindness and selflessness he was raised with.

Knowing that he could impact more people in this new position, he folded the highly successful Gilyard Group and accepted the higher calling.

“I tell my current staff all the time; we are in a blessed position. If we make a phone call for someone or a business, we have an opportunity to do something that could change their lives. That can change the way they feed their families. That is tremendous for me. I get a paycheck, but more than the money, it’s the joy I feel that I was able to help these companies. I am so happy to be a part of that that I had a little bit to do with it. That gives me such joy.” h

Todd Gilyard

Minority Business Development Agency Center - Missouri www.mbdac.com

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