Huami Magazine for Dallas/Fort Worth July/August 2021

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

®

July/August 2021 Vol. 1 Issue 12

Brandon Thomas

Brandon Thomas Insurance Services, LLC Dallas/Fort Worth - July/August 2021

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Understanding The Power of Your Influence A Letter From The Editor

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

Now that I am many years settled into fatherhood, I sometimes reminisce on those precious moments when my son was only a baby. Though small and quite fragile, I wanted to make him tough and brawn, selfishly hoping that he would live out the hopes and dreams that I had for my life. That A Letter from the Editor is what dads do, or at least I think they do. My son would eventually grow up right before my eyes to be a very grown man, which I am quite proud of. Still, I reminded of his dependence on me and his mother for What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes everything while he was a child and our responsibility to understand and and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if provide for his needs.

everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never would be no reason save forand a rainy As a happened? baby and notThere yet able to form words, myto son cried made other day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making baby sounds when he wanted to let us know he was hungry. When his your lastIopportunity seemingly expired diaper promises. was wet, heWhat didn’tifsay [dad, am wet]; instead, he cried.

It was my What youtranslate do? duty totoday? determine hiswould need and the information he was trying to share. Thank God I was able to, and my son was fed and cared for.

I’veonly been told that seem like Ihave do too much.

Though I can imagine howI often difficult it would been for him had I I feel I amtonot doing enough ignoredHonestly, his cries or waslike unable understand them.and I’m a firm

believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me As adults not babies, ourI methods of communicating our pains, that Iand couldn’t handle. sometimes wonder how life would wants,be andif needs aren’t into aitbaby’s cry. However, I chose to sitgenerally idle and boggled accept what presented to me. I it doesn’t mean thatthat we to arebe not crying.

When and have found very boring.

In we my become opinion,prideful opportunity shamed, can be difficult to express what is truly hurting us, which is ait blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone.

A challenge causesto usme to internalize these issues and not let them out. is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen?

If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn When God blesses His children to be a well or source for others, it something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in often comes with some form of influence. With influence, there is power return acquire life. and the ability to impact someone’s life. Not understanding the power of your influence is just as careless as someone who is driving a car at 100 everclosed. given to me happened when someone miles perThe hourbest withadvice their eyes

told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I haveattracts pressedthe myinterest way through doors with ainfluence key thatisonly Influence of others.

Because often hope provided.

I have also learned the difference between associated with power, it oftentimes attracts weakness. What I am what God me with andyou what life can trying to share; If blesses someone is treating wrong you burden feel like me youwith are as well.on”, I compare to knowing when to be confident being “hated it might it mean that person is actually crying outand and when to be quiet, because cannot convey what’s hurting them. As someone getthese it confused Christians, we can’tmay ignore cries.

We should listen witharrogant. our hearts and seek with being God’s instruction on how to respond.

Make you tomorrow

If you are in a position of influence, happen today, but most fill yourself importantly with the lovemake of Godit on a daily count. basis. I was to adetermine what my Lifeable is but whisper and son’s needs were only because we must put ourselvesI loved in a him. God’s love gives us power and position to hear what it is the ability to understand the cries and pains telling us. of others.

Terry L. L. Watson Terry Watson Editor/Founder

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On The Cover

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CONTENTS

JULY/AUGUST 2021

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

Chess’Mia James 32

Kingdom Step Ahead Academy

On The Cover

Brandon Thomas Insurance Brandon Thomas

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SCLC-North Carolina

Michael Sparks

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Crescent Surgical Supply

Rueben Hays

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Asher Grady

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Also Featured

Tracee Hester She has been in the game for quite a while. Meet the Nailz Mogul.

Durham, NC

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Djuan Short Do have something to talk about. She is ready to listen.

Meet the owner of Dahlia Rose Wellness.

Philadelphia, PA

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Dallas/Fort Worth - July/August 2021

Jermaine Jefferson Meet the face of Reality Check Mentoring Inc. He is committed to saving the lives of the black youth.

Prince George County, MD HuamiMagazine.com

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Brandon Thomas

Brandon Thomas Insurance Services, LLC

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Dallas/Fort Worth - July/August 2021

By Terry Watson Photos by Brandon Thomas

One of the primary responsibilities we have as adults is to ensure a succeeding plan is left intact at the time of our demise. The purpose of this plan of action, or what is often called final wishes, is to execute our last wishes and ensure there are no financial burdens for others to absorb. Brandon Thomas has firmly planted himself in the soil of future preparedness with his company, Brandon Thomas Insurance Services.

Moving forward, Brandon has plans to build his brokerage firm up and give more opportunities to people who look like him, and help as many people as possible with their services. He also has other ideas that involve venturing into other industries but shares that he’s taking things one step at a time.

To learn more about Brand Thomas Insurance Services, please visit their website.

Brandon was born and raised in Austin, TX. After attempting a run at the college route and working meaningless jobs, he learned at the age of 22 that entrepreneurship was the way for him. “When I first jumped into entrepreneurship, I had my hand in a lot of things. Yet experience taught me that if I focus on one thing at a time, I have a better chance of being sustainable,” he says. Utilizing his advice led Brandon to pursue a career as an insurance provider, one that has lasted for almost four years. “I began in 2018, working for a financial services network marketing organization. After about a year there, I realized that I did not like their business model. I wanted something I had control and ownership over, so I decided to start my own brokerage,” he says.

Brandon Thomas Insurance Services is a life and health insurance brokerage that educates its clients on the importance of avoiding financial distress due to life-changing circumstances such as death, disability, or financial hardship. Many of the products offered by Brandon include life insurance, final expense, and health insurance for families and individuals, but specifically, he provides both term and permanent life insurance for seniors, adults, and children. He also offers services for business owners and benefits for their employees, such as group insurance and key person life insurance.

Brandon shares what he loves most about his work: providing life insurance for our clients and knowing that I am playing a small but integral role in making sure the next generation inherits a legacy.

“I enjoy being a person of interest on the subject of life insurance when it comes to educating the community,” he says.

Brandon shares his primary inspiration is financial freedom, providing for himself and his family. He wants to make sure his mother retires soon and ensure that he passes something on to his children that they can pass on to their children’s children.

His advice to anyone chasing a dream is to change your mindset. “I’ve been around poor people, I’ve been around rich people....the only difference is the mindset. Change the way you view the world, and focus on how you can be the best person you can be in the world. You must always strive to be a victor and never a victim,” he shares.

Brandon Thomas Insurance Services LLC Brandon Thomas - CEO/Owner 512-549-6123 www.bthomasinsurance.com 7

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SCLC

NC State Chapter

Change Is Happening

By Terry L. Watson Photos by TMF Photography

From the conception of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, North Carolina has lead by example of what it means to be a freedom fighter. Dr. Golden Frinks served as the first president of the state organization. He was instrumental in integrating several Jim Crowe organizations and commercial sites.

Dr. Frink’s was the national Field Secretary for the national office, answering directly to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the founder of the national SCLC in New Orleans, LA, in 1957. Dr. Frink’s held this position until Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. He then concentrated on the development of freedom in his home state of North Carolina. Benny Rountree was his right-hand person doing the movement of the late ’60s and beyond , until Frink’s death in 2004.

Bennie Rountree has been a national board member for the last 20 years. In 2010, the SCLC-NC was created to address the needs of the citizens of North Carolina.

Rountree is a Pitt County Civil Rights leader. Rountree’s start as a community leader began as a teenager on a Pitt County farm, where he tried to get blacks to understand their history to empower them. After Rountree learned of Martin Luther King, Jr., he joined the Southern Christian Leadership Organization (SCLC) in 1957. During his career, Rountree met and worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dr. Frinks. By 1970, Rountree had risen to become the President of the Pitt County Chapter of the SCLC and later,

Bennie Rountree SCLC-NC President 2004-2021

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state President of the organization. Before Rountree grew to become President of the Pitt County branch of the SCLC, he had been vice-president under the leadership of George Garrett, the older brother of D.D. Garrett, leader of Pitt County’s NAACP. Since 2010, SCLC-NC has worked to address discrimination, the criminal justice system, and voter suppression, just to mention a few. The majority of financial support has come from the community and the generous support of other sources that possess a desire for justice and equality. SCLC-NC has partnered with the North Carolina NAACP, the faith-based community, and other organizations with similar goals and objectives.

On June 18, 2021, Reverend Michael Sparks was installed as the President of the SCLC-NC, replacing the retiring Bennie Roundtree.

Reverend Michael Sparks SCLC-NC President

“Our goal is to address many of the issues that are affecting the Black communities today. Our primary focus moving forward are health disparities and voting suppression. We will come from a non-volient approach and seek to partner with other organizations and systems who share similar interest.”

Rev. Michael Sparks 10

Sparks has been a resident of North Carolina since 2000, moving here from his native home of Houston, TX. While in Houston, he met his wife of 24 years, Charlene Sparks, a traveling nurse. He shares the magic happened, and the bells rung, confirming that she was the one God had prepared just for him. Charlene headed back home to North Carolina with her husband-to-be. Today, today they share 3 wonderful daughters and 2 grand children and are faithful members of Love and Faith Christian Fellowship in Greensboro, NC, growing under the leadership of Pastor Michael Thomas.

As the new head for the SCLC-NC, Sparks says his goal is to reinterate the plan set forth by Dr. King. “Our goal is to address many of the issues that are affecting the Black communities today. Our primary focus moving forward are health disparities and voting suppression. We will come from a non-volient approach and seek to partner with other organizations and systems who share similar interest,” he shares.

Sparks is an entrepreneur at heart. He owns several businesses while enjoying a lengthy career as an airplane technician for American Airlines.

Dr. William A. Merritt serves as the Field Secretary for the SCLC-NC. He is a native of Washington, D.C., and currently resides in Burlington, NC. He shares his primary objective with the SCLC-NC is to assist with opening additional chapters within the states of NC. There are currently three chapters; Greenville, Roanoke Rapids, and Greensboro. “I believe there is so much that still needs to be done to address the problems in the Black communities. We are ready and willing to put in the work, along with others, to make a change and impact,” he says.

Also sworn into the position of State Event Coordinator was Denise Little. She will be responsible for assisting the SCLCNC with fundraising events to support the State initiatives. Denise will lead and coordinate the future for effectiveness and justice for voters rights.

The SCLC-NC has partnered with the Women With Vision Inc. organization to bring education and awareness to the health issues that are affecting not only the members of the SCLC-NC, but also the Black community as a whole. Led by Charlene Sparks, Women of Vision Inc.’s mission is to empower women to embrace abundant living through the impartation of knowledge, the strengthening of faith, and the birthing of vision.

Dr. William A. Merritt SCLC-NC State Field Secetary

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Rev. Michael Sparks was sworn in as the new President of SCLC-NC on June 18, 2021

Denise Little was Sworn in as the North Carolina State Event Planner. She ‘s also the acting Secretary until vacancy is fulfilled.

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Sparks shares her goal is to partner with SCLC-NC and conduct health events around the state of North Carolina that will address the health concerns of African Americans.

One recent event held by Women With Vision and sponsored by SCLC-NC was held on June 19, 2021, in Greensboro at the Salvation Army Events Center. “With our events, we want to focus on educating our attendees about high blood pressure management, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes management, chronic pain, and medication management,” she shares.

“We are in an opioid crisis right now.

People are in their homes and overdosing on their medicine at alarming rates, partially due to their inability to manage their prescribed medicines. I believe that with proper education, we will save lives.”

Moving forward, the SCLC-NC is excited about the opportunities to bring change and restoration to the Black communities throughout North Carolina. For anyone interested in being a part of or interested in learning more about the programs and services available, please visit their website.

h

Michael and Charlene Sparks Women With Vision Inc.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference of NC Contact State Event Coordinator 336-833-7025 OFFICIALSCLCNC@gmail.com www.officialsclcnc.com

Women With Vision Inc. Charlene Sparks www.wwvinc.org wovision12@gmail.com 336-365-1457

Denise Little State Event Coordinator/ SCLC-NC

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The Nailz Mogul

By Ayana Bryant Photos by Jerry Barbry

According to www.mariam-webster. com, the definition of the word ambitious is: t: having a desire to achieve a particular goal.

Those six words have a deeper meaning for this career businesswoman of Durham, N.C. For Tracee Hester, the hustle is what separates the have from the have nots.

“Some have it, and some do not,” she says.

Tracee is ambitious, and a naturalborn go getter. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a trait she identified with early on in life. At the age of seven, she remembered being introduced to the artistry of nails by watching her mother do nails for fun at the kitchen table. Later on, at the age of 14, she fell in love with the development and art of acrylic nails while she was being serviced at a local nail salon. This love eventually became her passion and purpose and would lead to her earning the crown of The Nail Mogul.

While attending high school in Durham, Tracee took a course in cosmetology for school credit. This opportunity was rewarding and allowed her to express her artistic and creative side. During this time, she also launched her first business called “Tracee’s Young Adult Job Service” which was a youth employment agency.

Though only an infant in the world of entrepreneurship, she exhibited a business savy that caught the attention of many others. Soon she would be featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Teen People Magazine, and Black Enterprise.

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She hired local teens to work in a retail store owned by former NBA standout Jerry Stackhouse with her job service.

“At the time, crime rates and gang activity were rising in the city of Durham involving lots of youth, and I wanted to do something that would positively impact my generation,” she shares. Her community involvement would then lead her to be awarded with an official holiday by the city of Durham, proclaiming May 4th as Tracee Hester Day. Shortly after graduating high school, Tracee passed her N.C. State Board Exam and obtained her cosmetology license in 1998. “Although my love for nails was immense after gaining my license, I had an urge to explore what else life had to offer me in the world of business,” she shares.

Her journey started by cutting hair in great clips before going full throttle with her true passion for doing nails. After working for herself as a booth renter, which was not as financially rewarding as she hoped, she was afforded the opportunity to work as a nail technician in an Asian-owned salon. That was the beginning. That experience provided the platform Tracee needed to shine in the nail world. Tracee also happened to be one of the few women of color to break the racial barrier and work in an Asian salon. From there, she was regarded as just as good as her Asian colleges, who had dominated the industry. She was embraced amongst the Asian nail community. Her presence influenced salon owners to incorporate diversity, which was good for businesses to display inclusion and involve all races.

Student turned staff member - Monica Shelton

In 2008, she opened a hair salon, nail salon, and shoe store all in one location and called it “Queens Of Weaves , Trendy Nailz And Tippin Divas”. The brand Trendy Nailz was birthed in her all-in-one salon, yet she still struggled with finding technicians who were coachable or had the skill set to provide quality nail services.

Unfortunately, due to the recession, she to work four jobs, and her dream was short lived. “I had to do what I needed to do at the time,” she shares.

For some professionals, the answer was finding a new path to travel in life.

Yet for Tracee, there was some unfinished business to attend to, and the journey of becoming the nail mogul continued.

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Student turned staff member - Tamerra Tyler

“At the time, crime rates and gang activity were rising in the city of Durham involving lots of youth, and I wanted to do something that would positively impact my generation.”

Student turned staff member - Olga Coriano 19

In 2013 her determination fueled her to challenge the NC state board in which she successfully passed and received her manicurist instructor’s license. She knew one day she would pioneer the change needed within the nail industry to represent diversity and quality amongst technicians. “I was to provide proper education, job placement, and ownership opportunities. So that is exactly what I did,” she shares.

In 2017, her dedication, determination, and discipline pushed her to take a leap of faith and use all of the money she had available on credit cards to open Trendy Nailz Institute. It is Durham’s first African American-owned, state board-approved school of her time. Trendy Nailz Institute trains people in 10-12 weeks to become licensed nail technicians, and upon completion of the program, it provides them with job placement and school or salon ownership. She now has two nail school locations (one in Durham and one in Greensboro, N.C.), a Trendy Nailz Salon, a salon staffing agency, a nail product line, Trendy Nailz supply store and a Trendy Nailz Magazine.

Tracee says the thing that she loves most about running her company is building other people up.

“I enjoy pouring into people and helping them realize their dreams. The Trendy Nailz brand is a beacon of hope and inspiration for others. Our main purpose is to help people design and develop their life’s blueprint,” says Tracee.

Pictured with Tracee is Director Sabora Daniel

Moving forward, the future of Trendy Nailz includes expansion in Atlanta, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and California.

This year she will be starting the development process for Trendy Nailz International with her first international location in Ghana and the next one in Belize.

Tracee’s dreams are as big and bold as her nails, and only the best is yet to come from this successful businesswoman. Tracee’s advice is “never to allow people to dim your light or make you fit into a box. Dare to be different and be different unapologetically. Pursue your dreams with the mindset of no boundaries, surround yourself with iron sharpeners, and know that your network determines your net worth. You should focus and lock in on your target; stay passionate, patient, and persistent!” h

For more information please visit www.TrendyNailz.com Instagram and Facebook @ TrendyNailz

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Pictured with Tracee is student turned staff member Natalie Gilbert

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Crescent Surgical Supply

By Gamal Williams Photos by Rueben Hays

The comedian Milton Berle once said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” Rueben Hays built that door, and the company it led to, Crescent Surgical Supply. The Los Angelos native, and seven-year Navy veteran where he served as a surgical technician, started his journey when he took a chance.

After separating from the Navy, In 2003 Rueben briefly worked as a sales representative for a major surgical device manufacturer. The field was very competetive and severely underrepresented by African-Americans. One day, he learned surplus surgical supplies were being sold on eBay. “I asked myself ‘What is this equipment doing being sold online? It was a different time back then,” Rueben recalls. “You can’t do that anymore. That limitation is how I was able to get into the industry, get buyers and connect with vendors.” As Louis Pasteur said, “chance favors the prepared mind.”

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Formerly kown as RomeMed Inc. which was founded in 2003, Crescent Surgical LLC was birthed in Greenville, S.C. in August 2019. This represented more than a name change, it represented a new chapter in life and business. A painful divorce set the stage for Rueben’s renewed focus and limitless vision. CSS currently employs eight employees and forty contractors that work throughout the country.

Rueben and his CSS team focuses on the medical equipment set to expire and be disposed of if left unused. This is the leverage point CSS uses to acquire said equipment from wholesalers, distributors, and vendors at a lower price point, then resells them at a mark-up but much lower than the retail price. “We sell mostly specialized, one-time use devices: electrocardio devices, mesh, implants used in hernia surgeries, staples for different types of resections, sutures, and harmonic wound sealing devices, for example,” explains Rueben. “If we don’t buy and resell short dated surplus from hospitals, most often they are thrown away. We also donate all the products that we can’t move,” he shares.

According to Allied Market Research, in 2019 the global surgical equipment market was valued at $33.72 billion. By 2027, it is estimated to grow in value by 33% to $44.48 billion. Grand View Research estimates the disposable surgical equipment market will be valued at $5.5 billion this year. Yet even with the high value of these products, in the U.S. alone, its estimated that hospitals spend almost $10 billion per year in disposal fees for supplies, equipment and trash.** Rueben has ensured CSS is seizing a piece of that market, with half of the CSS buyers being international. One can understand how Rueben’s medical training, initiative and business acumen have positioned Crescent Surgical Supply to be a key player and large stakeholder in the disposable surgical equipment market, but it was not without obstacles.

“There is not another me (African-American person) out there doing what I do. In seventeen years in this business, I have never seen another me.” When asked if entering a market with no African-American representation was difficult, Rueben let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course!” he exclaimed. “It took a while. Luckily, I was able to find a niche market.

I don’t have to deal with the end users, like hospitals or clinics. I deal with the distributors. But it was challenging to break in, to get people to trust me. We just ensure that we conduct sound business practices and are trustworthy. That is what has built us into what we are today.” And should a product expire before it can be resold, Rueben has a plan for that as well. “We donate a lot of products, products we cannot move. In the United States, there must be time left on a product in order to resell it. When the expiration date is too close for resale or has expired, we donate it to Partners For World Health.” Partners For World Health, a Portland, ME based charity, has donated over 236 tons of medical supplies worldwide.

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“Fear is not from God. Fear is of the devil. God did not give us the spirit of fear. For me, if ever I get afraid of journeying down a path, whether it be in business or in myself, I know that is the devil trying to push me away from what it is that God really has for me.”

Rueben ensures CSS donates money and resources to charities in the Greensville area as well. “The biggest thing for me is giving back, philanthropy,” states Rueben. “Most of my donations are focused on the Greenville community.” Some of those charities include Lisa’s Schoolhouse Rocks, which provides camps to teach civics lessons; Vernon Veteran’s Services who help military personnel transition from the military lifestyle to civilian beginnings; Upstate GEMS (Going the Extra Mile for Success) that promotes positive qualities in young ladies; and the “Spread the Love” initiative, a food drive sponsored by Harvest Hope, amongst others.

Rueben offers this advice to any young woman or man that recognizes a potential opportunity but is unsure if they should take the chance: “Fear is not from God. Fear is of the devil. God did not give us the spirit of fear. For me, if ever I get afraid of journeying down a path, whether it be in business or in myself, I know that is the devil trying to push me away from what it is that God really has for me,” he said. “I’d tell them to lean into it, even if you fail, failure is not final.

You learn some of your best lessons from failing. This wasn’t just a linear track for me. There were ups, there were down. I had many obstacles, much to learn and I didn’t have the privilege of partners or even people that looked like me that really wanted to empower me or educate me. I had to go into places I didn’t know or what to expect. I got ran out of a few places. But I learned from it. So, I would tell them you have to go for it.” h

1327 Miller Rd – Suite B Greenville, SC 29607 1-888-481-1086 www.crescentsurg.com 27

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Djuan S hort Dahlia Rose Wellness

By Arielle Kilgore Photos by Djuan Short

When you think of stress, you assume the cause of it would be employment or the engagement or involvement with other people. However, the number one leading contributing factor is mental.

Djuan Short is a licensed clinical therapist based in Philadelphia, PA, and the owner of Dahlia Rose Wellness. With her practice, she offers individual or child and family therapy sessions. She also takes an EMDR approach which suggests specialty care for those with past traumatic instances.

Other services include yoga instruction and online therapy classes such as female entrepreneurship and relationship advice. Furthermore, the option of a holistic approach is available with a holistic psychotherapy session with Djuan.

Djuan provides consultations and counseling services for non-profits and businesses, as well.

These services are designed to help pilot their staff more efficiently and, in some cases, produce the task more successfully. She believes her techniques for dealing with stress prove that a strong mindset encourages a great life. “I’m a people person at my core. I strive to understand the needs of others and assist with finding solutions for them,” she says.

Djuan received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. “The business was always an afterthought to me. It wasn’t until three years later the thought of Dahlia Rose Wellness Center came to fruition,” Djuan explains.

“In 2017, I applied for a program that helped licensed therapists develop and achieve their practice. In May of 2019, the paperwork was filed, and the following January 2020, the doors were opened for business Djuan officially launched to the world, she says a freight train came roaring out of nowhere by the name of Covid. “I didn’t know what to think. I was trying to figure out whether or Continued on the next page

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not I’m actually going to be able to have a lucrative business or even have a business at all,” Djuan says.

Fortunately, Dahlia Rose Wellness was fruitful and became a beneficial service for people in April 2020, mainly because everyone needed guidance, and Djuan was positioned to provide it.

Since launching in 2020, the business has grown significantly, with Djuan being able to service a wide range of women, especially women of color. It’s success can be attributed their commitment to provide the best possible experience every day.

Djuan follows up her practices with journaling, yoga, and an emotional advisory team to keep her focused. “Since I’m a big advocate of practicing what you preach, I do the things that I preach to my clients,” she says. “I also invest very heavily in myself. I have a business coach, a book coach, and a money coach. Why? When you think about a business, it’s not just about creating a business to serve other people. You are truly creating a business to service yourself, and the business is only as good as you are in terms of how you take care of yourself at the end of the day.”

Consistency, collaboration,self-exploration, and balance are core values that Djuan lives by. Her goal is to show up in her clients’ lives and help them explore who they are and what they want out of life. Finding these things can help produce balance and self-esteem that others dream they could have.

For example, a client of hers received a big offer from a job they were practicing for. While trying to hold back tears, Djuan was able to get her client to use her voice and trust herself. “Moments like that make me realize this is why I do what I do. It’s just reassuring and validating that my work is transformative.”

Djuan believes that being a constant learner, observer, and seeking wisdom and guidance from other people aids her business and grows it more. To add, this is what makes her work enjoyable. “Being able to be a positive presence and create my own working conditions, makes it all worth it,” she says.

Expansion is something that Djuan is considering in the near future. She would love to expand her clientele and staff and develop her coaching program.

In addition, she would love to add different sources of income.

Djuan short also works with organizations such as ODAAP . She is also a board member on Dacha , which helps promote family planning and addresses teen violence and abuse.

www.dahliarosewellness.com

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To learn more about Dahlia Rose Wellness, please visit their website. h

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Kingdom Step Ahead Academy, LLC

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Chess’Mia James

It’s all about the kids for Atlanta, GA resident Chess’Mia James. This loving woman and mother enjoys the very thought of family and strives to live a life pleasing unto God. This is precisely the kind of love and compassion required to lead the young minds she encounters at Kingdom Step Ahead Academy. Also known as KSA, they provide early childhood education for children ages (3-5) in the community of Covington, GA, and surrounding areas. Their curriculum teaches everything from Bible scripture reading, literacy, arts and crafts, early math, social studies, science, green screen videography, and camera presence. “Our mission is to get students a step ahead in their education and prepare them for their future,” James shares.

James’ journey of becoming the face of KSA began when she decided to be obedient to what God had called her to do and embrace her educational convictions. “In January of 2019, my Shepherd, Dr. Gabriel Allen Powell, instructed me to leave my occupation at that time. Of course, I did not want to listen because that was my source of income, and I had a one-yearold daughter. So, I told God, “If this is in your will, then you are going to have to show me through someone else that doesn’t know me as well as my shepherd knows me.” The very next day, my co-worker approached me and stated, “I had a dream about you last night, and you were leaving the company”. I cried, but in my obedience, I surrendered and said, “Yes, Lord!”

I attained a master’s degree from Central Michigan University in 2018. This educational venture became a highlight for me, as I held a 3.8 GPA and was recognized as Magna Cum Laude. As time passed, I knew there was more for me to do, so I continued to seek God for direction, and He delivered. In February of 2019, I walked away from my job and became a stay-at-home mother,” she shares.

KSA was birthed from prayer and meditation. One day, while soaking in God’s presence, James says the idea of starting a preschool fell into her lap. “I heard God so clearly, and I immediately enrolled in school to pursue early childhood education. I enrolled in January 2021, and I completed my certification with honors in May 2021,” she says.

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I dream big because I know:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Ephesians 3:20

Her passion for Early Childhood Care Education ignited when she began teaching her toddler educational fundamentals. After discovering this, James’ way of teaching landed her toddler with the ability to recognize numbers, letters, colors, and shapes. By the age of one, she could adequately place them all on the learning boards.

Additionally, James has always been intrigued by American Sign Language. To further her interest, she has studied ASL to teach it to her two-yearold. “There are no limitations to learning in my book. Every moment can be a moment of teaching,” she says.

Coming from a place of working for someone and now finding herself responsible for the growth and development of children has been life-changing for James. She shares, “My mind is blown away as I know that God handpicked me to build in the kingdom. I am following the will of God in my life, and the fact that God called me to do this job is what keeps me going.” God has made a way for James to impact the lives of others. “I love how I can pour into the little innocent minds of young people and share my lifes experiences. I love to see toddlers get excited, smile, and laugh. It warms my heart. I also like that I can do what I love and have my daughter right beside me.”

In the future, her plan is to have one of the largest and most effective academies in the state of Georgia. Her advice to anyone that may follow in her footsteps is t0 keep going, stay organized, and keep God first. “Don’t look for the finish line, but take it one day at a time, and eventually you will get there if you keep walking and be obedient to the Holy Spirit,” she says.

P.O. Box 226 Porterdale, GA 30070 www.kingdomstepahead.com

To learn more about Kingdom Step Academy, please visit their website. h

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Reality Check Mentoring, Inc. A life of service is a life worth living.

Jermaine Johnson is the face and founder of Reality Check Mentoring, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the minds of young black males, ages 10-17. It provides mentoring focused on character development and education geared toward life skills, social and cultural awareness, conflict resolution, and critical thinking. Additionally, it strives to help males realize they can become valuable assets to society while offering long-term relationships and exposure to professions, resources, organizations, educational support, life skills training, and community engagement.

Born Jermaine N. Johnson to Florence and Joseph N. Johnson, Sr., this young change-maker is a native of Prince George’s County, MD. He attended Prince George’s County Public Schools, graduating from Suitland Senior High school in 2008. He is a proud father to his daughter Akirreh and son August. Jermaine is an educator, business leader, writer, speaker, and certified personal trainer.

Jermaine attended Frostburg State University, where he studied management and business, ultimately earning a Master of Science in Management with a focus in Project Management from Kaplan University. Currently, Jermaine works full time as a Business Analyst on the Grants Development team under the Systems Technology Division for the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

However, it’s his involvement and interest in his community that make Jermaine a well-rounded individual.

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He shares his story of how it all began. “The first incident that sparked this journey occurred while I was working as an elementary school teacher for an after-school enrichment program. I had just arrived to work after buying my first (new) car. As I was walking into the building, I ran into one of my former students. He says, “Mr. Johnson is that your car?” I replied, “Yes.” He then proceeds to ask, “Did you sell drugs to get that car?” I was honestly stuck that he said that to me. It might sound cliche, but it hit me that some of our young males are not too far removed from that being their reality. That stuck with me. At the same time, while working at the elementary school, I was also working at a high school in Prince George’s County as a Special Education Assistant. A few days after the aforementioned incident, a second spark occurred. I was sitting in a classroom where students were asked to present a project on an occupation of their choice, and I watched young males choose jobs such as cashiers at fast-food restaurants and greeters at Walmart.

It saddened me to hear them selling themselves short, and I was frustrated to learn teachers weren’t pushing them to strive for better. These young males needed guidance, confidence, and a reality check,” Jermaine shared. Reality Check Mentoring, Inc. began in February 2018 with just three mentees at the first session. In the fall of 2020, they had 19 mentees enrolled.

Jermaine shares that he is grateful for the opportunities Reality Check Mentoring Inc. has provided. “I love that I can share knowledge but also learn from our youth who will one day be our leaders. To know that I am having a positive impact on their future and my generation’s future is a true blessing and experience. It’s literally like planting seeds and watching the plants grow right before your eyes.

Jermaine understands that it takes a village to raise a child, as well as a community of committed change agents. For those who may be interested in starting a program that is similar to Reality Check Mentoring, Jermaine offers some advice. “First and foremost this work requires being selfless, genuine, and transparent. If you want to be a mentor only for the title or accolades, this isn’t for you. You must be willing to continuously learn and understand there is no one-size-fits-all approach when mentoring. If you’re going to go the nonprofit route, do it the right way. This means filing the proper legal paperwork, building a team, and having a strategic plan in place. It’s a lot of work but doesn’t be overwhelmed; the resources are out there, but you must ask for help. Don’t be discouraged and keep your vision and mission at the forefront of all that you do,” says Jermaine.

In the future, Jermaine says he hopes to partner with the Prince George’s County Public School system to implement Reality Check Mentoring program as a therapeutic practice. Recently they were awarded a grant from Adventist HealthCare through their Community Partnership Fund. Reality Check Run 21 is a program geared toward increasing physical activity among black and brown boys in the DMV area through running. The program entails young males completing 21 miles of running for the year 2021, incorporating health education components that will teach members the importance of injury prevention. This includes warming up, stretching, proper running techniques, cooling down, staying hydrated, healthy food choices, and healthy habits.

Jermaine shares running is a great activity to help kids build endurance, which is developed when they regularly engage in aerobic exercise. Program participants will be provided with running shoes and athletic wear. The goal will be to complete at least (2-3) miles each month until they reach 21 miles for the year.

To learn more about Reality Check Mentoring Inc., h please visit their website.

Jermaine Johnson Reality Check Mentoring Inc. www.realitycheckmentor.org

Instagram: Realitycheckmentoringinc Facebook: Reality Check Mentoring, Inc.

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MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby 38

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Asher Grady The son of Jessica and Justyn Grady

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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