Huami Magazine Dallas/Fort Worth Sept./Oct. 2021 by Terry Watson

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

Sept./Oct. 2021 Vol. 2 Issue 1

Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Old Ways Don’t Work On The Driving Course A Letter From The Editor

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

It seems like such a long time ago. The moment had arrived for me to become a licensed automobile driver. I was only 16 years old. For the most part, just a little young guy, full of ambition and excited about driving a car. I had enrolled in a driver’s education program at school. A Letter from the Editor The classes included several other soon-to-be legitimate juvenile drivers and were conducted after school for six weeks. We were all ready, but I don’t think anyone was more eager than I was. What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if On the driving course, there were several cars with an automatic everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never transmission. However, there was only one vehicle that contained a happened? There would be no to save rainythe only manual transmission (a stick shift). Asreason fate would havefor it, aI was day, and you could spare someone the trouble making and student familiar with a stick shift, as I had gained prior of instruction promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly driving experience from a few experienced drivers. I knewexpired the gear today? What would youtodo? pattern and understood how manage the clutch and gas paddles and keep the car powered. So I chose that vehicle to drive during class. I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, feel I am not doing and I’m a firm I appeared toIbe in like a league of my ownenough on the driving course believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything onand me amongst the other student drivers. I handled the curves well, couldn’t I sometimes wonder how life would didn’tthat run Iover any ofhandle. the cones. I managed the straight paths well, and looked well to in reverse. I was good,what at least thats whattoI me. beleived. bepretty if I chose sit idle and accept it presented I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity One in class,that the isn’t vehicle I was driving was at the front of the is day a blessing afforded to everyone. A challenge pack on the driving course. I jumped out the gate fast, andhappen? that was my to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can first mistake. As I went around curves, I used brakes, If I do nothing, I fail, and ifthe I try I don’t, butlittle instead learnand the tires on my car were screaming. “Stop!” That command was screamed something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in through the megaphone held by the driving instructor. He made me return acquire life. park the car and get out for the remainder of the day. I laughed it off while trying to keep my cool but onsomeone the inside, The best advice everamongst given to my meclassmates, happened when I was embarrassed. I would eventually drive again and completed the told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so program, but it was clear that I almost jeopardized all of that from I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only happening. hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with At the time, I didn’t realize how I had put myself and others in danger as well. arrogant I compare it comfortable to knowing when be confident by becoming and duringto a moment whenand instead I when to be quiet, should have been learningbecause and listening. may get it confused I made someone the mistake of applying invalid with being arrogant. experience in a setting where I was supposed to gain experience to be you tomorrow validated.Make God showed me on that but mostmy day thathappen when I today, try to do things makeorit instruction count. way andimportantly use information Lifecome is butfrom a whisper that didn’t Him, I and am just an accident waiting to happen. Yet, we must put ourselves inwhen a I do listen and obey His commands, position to hear what it is He will qualify meus. to drive on the roads and telling highways of life.

Terry TerryL.L.Watson Watson Editor/Founder

4 HuamiMagazine.com

November/December 2014

www.huamimagazine.com Terry L Watson Publisher www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Writer Ellen Richardson Terry L. Watson Gamal Williams Writer Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Teyah Glenn Writer Writers

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A Group For Followers and mykelmedia@yahoo.com Supporters Huami Magazine (336)of340-7844 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 Email or Telephone E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com terry.editor@yahoo.com terry.editor@yahoo.com 336-340-7844 or to Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NCReserved 27420 2021 All Rights HUAMI MAGAZINE 2014 All Rights Reserved

On The Cover

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CONTENTS

SEPT./OCT. 2021

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

Shannon Frazier 24

Answering The Call of God

On The Cover

Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC Monica Nevels

A Mother’s Luv

Kim Alexnder

Walk By Faith Counseling

Wendy Tucker

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Tegan Kennedy

Also Featured

Dj and Dr. Jasmine Felder Meet the owners of Elite Sports & Performance Academy. Huntsville, AL

Djuan Short He has dedicated his life to serviing others and his community. St. Louis, MO

Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

Natasha Jones She offers services to help get individuals on track for better credit. Greensboro, NC

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Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC

By Arielle Kilgore Photos by Monica Nevels The Covid 19 pandemic shed light on the significance of interacting. In 2020, when the virus made a thunderous introduction worldwide, many of us were forced into isolation. We lost our ability to connect. This sudden interruption of traditions prevented families from coming together and enjoying the presence of each other. One amazing thing about coming together with people is the connections you get to make. Whether it’s a family cookout, graduation party, or homecoming, you get to feel people again. See people and talk to them again. The connections are endless, but the link to food is the real reason why we all love gathering around each other. Monica Nevels understands that and devotes her catering business, Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC, to bringing everyone together again. Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC provides food dishes for all events, but not limited to weddings, ceremonies, graduations, and professional affairs. Their menu ranges from seafood platters to soul food courses that satisfy whatever theme the occasion may call for. Their services included setting up for the event and cleaning once the party is over. Faith N’ Nevels LLC offers personal pans and dinners for families and a personal chef option for couples. Uniquely, you would believe that Monica serves with exceptional service through culinary academic training. Her skills are homegrown from a small town where cooking was a way of life.

Monica was born in Lake Providence, Louisiana. There she would cook with her mother in the kitchen. Her love for the kitchen grew there. What started in the kitchen found its way to her dorm at Alcorn State University, where she would cook for her friends and sorority sisters from Zeta Phi Beta, INC. Later on, she and her mom moved to Fort Worth, TX, and partnered to cook for First Missionary Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX. As her love grew even more, she started cooking delicacies like cheesecakes and Cajun Seafood recipes. “When you eat my food, you get an old-school feel. You get a Marvin Gaye that makes you dance. I can’t even describe my style of cooking, I just know that God has blessed me with the gift to do it,” Monica shares. Monica did not know that while servicing diligently in her faith with her friends and family from Koinonia Christian Church, it would be a platform to embark her on a new adventure. As they were like family to her, they would come to Monica’s home for many occasions to eat. These things Monica loved to do often. As life continued to happen, a family friend asked her to cater an event. After talking with Billy Nevels, her husband of nine years (five at the time), they agreed to see where this could go. Monica said, “Yes, no problem!” Monica created a setting using Eiffel towers with food geared towards the country of London. When her friend saw this, she was blown away, realizing that Monica had taken her skills to another level. “She asked me how I should be announced. My reply was “FAITH’N’NEVELS, Have Faith in Nevels, we’ll take care of you,” she says. That was October 21, 2017, and the stage was now set for Monica to host her first event. She catered her second event on October 21, 2019, and finally launched her business in the same year for everyone to enjoy. While food brings us together, Covid-19 was set on keeping everyone apart. “It was two weeks after Covid started, and the demand for my food was unbelievable. I had to come up with something as opposed to doing big pan food, I had to minimize it for them and their families,” she says. Monica would soon combat this with a contactless service, making personal dishes from phone orders and setting them outside for people to come and pick them up. One of her most memorable clients was Taylor Gabriel, a former professional football player. “He went dancing with my food and was like, “Girl, you did that”. It was an exciting experience,” she explains. Although the accolades are tremendous for her business, the inspiration to keep going comes from cooking and building connections. Her peace is found in the decorative ideas God gives her and carrying out that idea. In all, Monica would choose to do this simply for the pure joy of it. “Some people might think that I spend too much money to run my business, but it’s not about the money. Don’t get me wrong, I do want to make money, but all in all, I desire for my clients to be happy.”

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While Monica has enjoyed some fruits of her labor, she has also faced a few setbacks. Family and friends helped her start her business and what has kept everything together. Monica’s mom lived with her from college graduate school to the birth of Faith ’n’ Nevels. She was the backbone of her operations and a firm foundation for Monica. When her mom needed more care, family decisions were made, but her mom primarily made the decisions for herself so that Monica could pursue what she loved to do. In the future, Monica hopes to expand into a possible storefront and eventually purchase a commercial kitchen. She also hopes to become more versatile and grow her skills and create new dishes. Everything that Monica does happens with her 16-year-old daughter in mind. “I am creating a legacy for her and hope that she will carry on this tradition,” she says. For more information or booking with Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC, please visit their website.

Monica Nevels Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC www.faithnnevelscatering.com 682-554-2449

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Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

Kim Alexander A Mother’s Luv

By Ayana Bryant Photos by Kim Alexander Often times there isn’t much that can be done to prevent a miscarriage from happening, but have we ever considered how women and families are to recover from such loss? According to the US nonprofit “March of Dimes”, approximately 10-15% of detected pregnancies end in miscarriage, and about 1 in 100 women experience repeat miscarriages. March of Dimes is an organization committed to the work of improving maternal and infant health. Kim Alexander has positioned herself to answer this question. She is the founder of A Mother’s Luv Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports women and couples who have suffered a miscarriage. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Kim understood early on that her calling would be to help people. With aspirations of becoming an attorney, she attended Xavier University in New Orleans, LA, and studied political science. After deciding to continue her education, she returned home to Wisconsin to receive her master’s degree from Marquette University in Public Service and Administration of Justice. Kim is also a very proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc and has been for the last 15 years. Ultimately her career goals shifted, and Kim went on to become a law enforcement officer. She truly loves what she does and feels honored to be able to protect and serve the people in the city of Milwaukee and all over the world. It brings Kim great joy to help others, and she knows first hand how emotionally challenging it can be to experience a miscarriage. “My husband and I had no idea that we would have a hard time growing our family, nor suffer numerous miscarriages. However, after several miscarriages. This devastation revealed something to us that was missing from the health industry; there was nothing given to women to help start their journey of healing,” she says. In 2018, after suffering the loss of her twins due to a miscarriage, she began to question why weren’t there any support resources offered for people experiencing this? That thought brewed in her mind for about two years until 2020, when she suffered another miscarriage and sadly lost her son. Despite her pain, she knew that something needed to be done. She refocused her energy on creating a nonprofit that would help women cope with this kind of loss and provide information for those who were uninformed on miscarriages. Thus, A Mother’s Luve Inc. Continued on the next page

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Kim launched A Mother’s Luv Inc. in June 2020. This nonprofit organization’s work is centered around donating homemade care packages to local Milwaukee hospitals for women and families who have experienced a miscarriage. Each care package is full of self-healing products, including aromatherapies, candles, and spiritual and self-help books. In addition to the nonprofit, Kim has started her own podcast, also entitled “A Mother’s Luv” after her organization. This first episode of the podcast discusses a deeper look into her personal journey dealing with miscarriage. The subsequent episodes discuss other women’s journeys of loss and mental health post-miscarriage, the benefits of having a doula, and coming in September, an episode featuring a maternal-fetal medicine doctor. Kim is no stranger to resilience, and this is a testament to her support system. When asked what inspires her, she answers, “My family. I have a great support system behind A Mother’s Luv. I may be the face of it, but behind the scenes, my husband does it all. Whether he’s editing podcast episodes or making my flyers, he continues to motivate me and cheer me on.” She also says that her mother is another source of inspiration, “My mom is the definition of a mother’s love, her wisdom, her prayer, her strength is incredible. Although all her children are adults, she still finds time to do her motherly duties. She inspires me the most.” The part that Kim says she enjoys the most from her nonprofit work is the feedback that she receives from hospital workers who see first-hand the impact of these care packages. “When I donate these packages to the local hospitals, some of the nurses are saying that this is a great thing to be able to give to the women who do miscarry and a great way to support the fathers as well.” A word of advice that Kim would offer to anyone who may be dealing with infertility is to never give up. She says to “keep the faith” despite how hard things may get to “trust the process”. She encourages women to do whatever is necessary to keep their spirits lifted and cast out any negativity that may try to sneak its way in.

www.amothersluvincwi.com Facebook @ A Mother’s Luv Inc. IG @ amothersluvwi

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A Mother’s Luv Inc. is looking to expand its outreach by the top of next year to serve the local hospitals of Milwaukee and branch out through the entire state of Wisconsin. Eventually, Kim hopes to see her organization in hospitals throughout the country. Another goal she has set is to start a conference regarding miscarriage and infertility to provide information and necessary resources to those in need. h

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A Life Dedicated To Service 14

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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. Continued on the next page

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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.” Continued on page 10

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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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“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.

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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Cutest Baby

Tegan Kennedy The son of McKenzie and Chris Kennedy

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Pastor Abiding Faith Church Of Baytown 24

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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. Continued on the next page

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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 Tonya Dixon Photos by Still Shots Photography Some would say that being an entrepreneur is a difficult road to travel. Natasha Jones would probably agree. But more importantly, she recognizes the blessings and fruitfulness of her 8-year journey owning and operating her own businesses. “It hasn’t been an easy road for entrepreneur’s, especially during COVID, but I can say my business actually doubled. That’s a blessing,” she said. Credit repair has not only been her business for nearly a decade, but it has also been what she believes to be her calling. It began as a problem she was trying to solve for herself. She became so passionate about it, it was the natural next step for her to help others, including her fiancé, restore their credit, resulting in the establishment of Natasha’s Credit Services. “I have no problem telling people that I started off with bad credit myself. I don’t teach anything that I haven’t already experienced and known it’s proven to help, ” she said. The saying goes that experience is the best teacher; it certainly holds true for Jones. She has experienced nearly every type of devastating financial situation one can think of, including financial instability, eviction, subpar credit scores, staying in public housing, which she says is not an indication of someone’s worth, however may indicate the need for financial literacy, as well as many other difficult circumstances. There were several tipping points, but Jones recalls going to make a significant purchase, but was told her credit wasn’t good enough. It was a gut punch and reality check all in one. “I couldn’t believe it. I was stunned. But I tell people this all the time. Credit is not something we were told or taught,” she said. “The top three reasons people have bad credit are divorce (believe it or not), helping people (when we can’t afford to) and simply not being taught.” Continued on the next page

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Prior to making the decision to improve her credit, Jones says she had never heard of credit agencies. She definitely didn’t know their purpose. Once she knew better, it was time to do better. She began writing letters and making the necessary changes to restore her credit. It took time, but she educated herself about the process and its necessity. “It was as simple as taking the first step to better my own credit. I believe in being a product of the product,” she said. “Anything you do, promote or service, you should be able to experience it or go through it yourself.” Jones worked for Apple, Inc. for years and loved her job, but her passion was elsewhere. She had a desire to help people understand their credit and become financially stable and successful and that comes with good credit. Initially, she worked for a financial education services company. She was able to help individuals restore their credit, but her ability to be more hands-on and provide personal assistance was severely hampered because she was unable to share certain specific credit information with her clients. In a move that was probably motivated more by a sincere desire to help others than personal gain, Jones got all the knowledge she could and established her own company. “It had gotten to the point where I realized, I was too much of a middleman and I couldn’t tell clients what they needed to know about their credit. So, I did my research and discovered software that would be more beneficial and better assist me with helping others,” she said.

In 2021, Natasha celebrates three years of being a full-time entrepreneur and ultimately following her dreams and passions, and making a real, tangible difference in the lives of other people for generations to come. 30

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Word of mouth has been Jones’ best form of advertising. Clients are seeing personal results and telling their family, friends, co-workers and basically anyone who will listen. “Recently a realtor approached me about a client who was in the middle of building a home, but basically made a late payment and experienced some [credit] issues. I often come across people who recognize me and call me ‘the credit lady.’ But that’s okay. People know when they come to me, they are getting a reliable and proven service. Again, I don’t tell people anything that I wouldn’t do or haven’t done,” said Jones. In addition to personal credit restoration services, Jones has expanded into helping clients establish business credit as well as helping homebuyers prepare for the homebuying process. “I provide credit restoration for personal and business credit. I also offer an awesome home ownership program where I team up with local realtors and lenders and help improve their clients’ ability to purchase a home.”

Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

“I’m a huge advocate for home ownership,” she says. “One of my favorite slogans is, if you can pay rent, you can pay a mortgage! Too often our money goes one way, when it could go toward investing in something like owning a home.” For Jones, it’s all about education. It’s not enough to help someone improve their credit, but she is also committed to making sure they continue to grow and improve their financial health, particularly understanding how to maintain and even boost and build upon the knowledge they obtain and not having to return to rebuild credit. “We advocate for our clients. We don’t want to see people come back into the program. We try to educate them along the way, so they won’t go backward and have to return,” she said. The more she expands her knowledge base and recognizes greater needs, Jones has also ventured into tax preparation and, more recently, assistance with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans though the Small Business Administration. No matter the service, she requires clients participate in a free one-on-one consultation with her to make sure they are ready for the process and required patience of credit restoration. “I always recommend doing a consultation first. I don’t take just any client. I need to know that your mindset is in the right space because credit repair is an investment,” she said. “You have to be ready, not only financially, but you have to be ready mentally. It is not an overnight process. I stress that all the time. I need people to be committed and know what they are facing. Believe it or not 65% of credit repair is you and the other 35% is me, the specialist.”

Pictured with Natasha (from left to right) is her daughter Makayla, her fiance Jesse and daughter McKenzie

Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

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“People think it happens with the snap of a finger, but it doesn’t work that way. I want to be a fairy, I really do, but it just doesn’t work that way. That’ what makes the consultation vital. We have to make sure that we’re compatible and that we are both on the same page.” Jones’ program requires monthly check-in meetings to make sure everyone is still committed, on the right track, transparent and accountable. She discusses areas of opportunity, makes sure the client is happy with their results and more. “Those calls are very important. The people that have the greatest success rate in the program are the ones that do their monthly calls and they’re staying on top of their credit,” she said. Of course, credit restoration services aren’t free and for those who bemoan paying for the service when they already have financial difficulties, Jones quickly tells them they have more resources than they know. “I definitely come across people who say they can’t pay for the service and have reservations, but I tell them, ‘Don’t eat out for one week and that is the source and opportunity for you to begin your credit repair journey,” she said. Being an entrepreneur hasn’t been easy, but Jones has enjoyed the ride and taken notes along the way to make sure she grows and expands just as much as her clients. This year marks three years of being a full-time entrepreneur and ultimately following her dreams and passions and making a real, tangible difference in the lives of other people for generations to come. h

Natasha Jones

Natasha’s Credit Services 2641 Randleman Road Suite B1 Greensboro, NC 27405 1-888-857-6884 www.natashascreditservices.com

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The Cart Guy 34

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Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Joe Rush For most business owners, their success is often determined by the quality of their products, the level of service offered to their customers. If both of these are superior, their relationships with their customer base will span a lifetime. This is part of the story for Joe Rush, owner of Joe The Cart Guy. Joe Rush is a self-made entrepreneur and family man, and father who loves to inspire others around him. Based in Richmond, Va, Joe The Cart Guy focuses on building original Food Trucks and Food Trailers. They also specialize in the (all-electric) trailer, something that Joe invented. They also sell restaurant equipment and cater to first-time entrepreneurs, many of who are just beginning their journey in the food industry. Being a native of the Richmond community, Joe started his business out of desperation. He shares, “After many years of working dead-end jobs and not ever having any progress, I decided to make a change. I needed a job but didn’t have any luck with finding one. However, one day I met a chatty food cart vendor at a gas station by chance. The guy gave me some good advice, but most of all inspired me to jump into the industry. I was sold, and from then on, I set my eyes on having a food cart. I built my first one, and the response was great. Soon I was building and selling them so often that it turned into a business for me, and now here I am, Joe The Cart Guy.” Some of the products offered by Joe are the Basic Food truck Trailer, Standard, and Fully Loaded. There is also the Porched Trailer and Big Boy. Each trailer is fully enclosed, and all of them except the Basic series come equipped with a Fire Suppression System and are priced beginning at $15,900.

“After many years of working dead-end jobs and not ever having any progress, I decided to make a change. I needed a job but didn’t have any luck with finding one.”

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There is steep contrast between the Basic system and The Big Boy. With the Basic Trailer, the features are a 6x12 fully enclosed food trailer, with FRP fire Retardant Walls, Fully Self Contained Three Compartment Sinks (handwash sink included), Vinyl Flooring With Baseboard Cove, Stainless Steel Equipment Table, 120V Full Electric Service with 30 amp, with no additional equipment included. Joe says this cart is suggested to be used for a Coffee Cart or Ice Cream business. The Big Boy Trailer is a 7x16 fully enclosed food trailer. It has FRP fire Retardant Walls, Fully Self Contained Three Compartment Sinks And Hand Wash Sink, Chrome Treadplate Flooring, Chrome Stainless Backsplash, 24 Inch Commercial Griddle Lpg, 40 Pound Floor Standing Commercial Fryers, Ten Cubic Foot Full Size Fridge, 27 Inch Refrigerated Prep Table, Fullsize Commercial Food Warmer, Six Burner Full Size Oven, Fire Suppression System, 8-foot Customer Ventilated Hood, Propane Tanks (mounted and installed), Stainless Steel Equipment Table, 120v Upgraded Full Service Electric Service, 700-watt Microwave on the custom shelf, Bluetooth Ceiling mounted speakers, LED Interior Lighting, Exterior LED Lighting, Custom Cabinetry over the sink area, Full-Color Logo (front and rear), and 13.5k BTU Ceiling Mounted A/C. This is a turnkey unit designed for clients with high volume. Additionally, Joe offers a very innovative lease program that helps his clients get started with little money down. “These things are inherently expensive, so we try to make these as affordable as possible,” he says. Joe has a genuine passion for what he does and has set out to help as many people get started in his industry as possible. “I have strived to make the best quality and most innovative food trailers as possible. I also have committed to making the trailers affordable, to make accessible to everyone. I not only make a good product, but I price them for thousands less,” he says.

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Dallas/Fort Worth - Sept./Oct. 2021

“There isn’t any representation of African Americans in this industry, and that is why I pride myself on providing our community with top-notch service and respect.”

Joe says he also loves the opportunity he has to engage with members of his community. “There isn’t any representation of African Americans in this industry, and that is why I pride myself on providing our community with top-notch service and respect. I value our dollar, and I love seeing peoples dream come true, and seeing their life instantly change after taking the leap of faith. Because I design all the trailers I sell, I love being able to express my thoughtful and creative designs with my clients.” Like most businesses, Joe has faced a few challenges. “The Covid 19 pandemic has kind of been a blessing and a curse. We had our busiest year ever and are on pace to sell about 40-50% more than our previous peak. On the bad side, we have experienced heavy delays and supply chain problems, which have lead to customer service woes,” he says. For those who are interested in following in his footsteps, he offers some advice. “Stay the course and keep pushing. It eventually gets easier when you have the experience under your belt. Most people just don’t stick it out long enough to see the work come to fruition,” Joe shares. In the future, Joe plans to include world domination in his chosen industry and become a household brand synonymous with food trucks. He will be opening a second retail location to better serve his clients on the west coast. To learn more about Joe The Cart Guy, please visit their website. h

Joe Rush Joe The Cart Guy www.joethecartguy.com 804-477-9734

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“It was time that we put our faith into something that we both would love to do for the rest of our lives. It’s always been a thought and a goal, and now is the time that we execute.”

Elite Sports and Performance Academy By Terry L. Watson Photos by Elite Sports

Don’t look now, but the way physical fitness is understood is changing. Elite Sports & Performance Academy is a training academy that believes in utilizing experience and professional knowledge to build an elite system while advancing its clients in every area of development. Thier concept is TEAM; everyone is involved to maximize motivation and optimal participation. Elite Sports & Performance Academy is led by husband and wife duo Dj and Dr. Jasmine Felder. Their mission is to create an experience for total body progression. They pride themselves on being detailed, as they are keen on individualization. “We prioritize our training with recovery and injury prevention first, which helps us maximize the improvements of our clients,” they said. Dj and Dr. Felder strategically structured their training curriculum to address all skill and experience levels. After playing at the collegiate and international levels of basketball and years of experience working with children’s mental health, DJ Felder began to focus on the overall athlete performance. Dr. Felder, a physical therapist, provides both collegiate experience and workout expertise with doctoral knowledge for prevention and recovery. With their skillsets combined, they provide a unique tailored training experience. At Elite Sports & Performance Academy, they offer three programs: sports training, #fitWIFEmomLIFE/#fitMOMlife, and bridge the gap. Their Sports Training Program is tailored to developing fundamentals and skills in each sports element, whether on the track, field, or court. Their #fitWIFEmomLIFE/#fitMOMlife program provides moms who have a hectic schedule with the option to have a physical therapist come to their home. This program is a workout tailored to develop the pelvic floor while individualizing their cient’s physical needs. Finally, their Bridge the Gap program is designed for athletes discharged by a doctor or have completed formal physical therapy but require help with returning to sports. “We provide attention to injury prevention, form, body mechanics, and ongoing weakness that sometimes results from lacking endurance. No doctor referral is needed to have access to a physical therapist. This option allows us to address issues related to conditioning and provide education or activities in a wellness setting,” they share.

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DJ specializes in overall athlete performance and has been coaching and building up athletes for over ten years. He was born in Topeka, Kansas but was raised in Hinesville, Georgia. He found himself leaning on sports a lot during his childhood, with basketball becoming a passion. He has modeled himself into an experienced and knowledgeable athlete throughout his life, working with athletes on and off the court/ field. He played collegiate basketball at East Georgia State University and led his team to its first championship in program history. He later transferred and played for Jacksonville State University. Following graduation, he played years of international basketball until deciding to start a family with Jasmine.

Client Testimony “I’ve had 6 major surgeries in my career; therefore, I have issues here and there in which one has been my knees. In one session, I seen major improvement in my range of motion and tightness. In my time with Dr. Felder, my overall strength, flexibility, and range of motion has increased. Her knowledge on the body, especially the athlete’s body is spectacular. I trust her with my health and she has always provided me with excellent service, customer service, and reliability. Not only has she mastered physical therapy, but she is one of the most selfless individuals that I’ve ever met. She has played a humongous part in my recovery and athletic journey and I am forever thankful for her and this company!” CEO of Life Key Financial Group Former Pro Athlete - Bridge the Gap Amber J. from Birmingham, Alabama 42

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Though Dr. Jasmine Felder was born in Frankfurt, Germany, she was raised all over the world due to active military involvement by her parents. She graduated from Bob Jones High School in Huntsville and was a part of the first girl’s basketball championship team her junior year. That same team went on to repeat the championship that following year. After graduating, Dr. Felder played basketball for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Throughout her sports career, she suffered multiple injuries, one that was career-ending. As devastating as this was, this further fueled her. She graduated with her doctoral degree from Alabama State University in 2016. Since becoming Dr. Felder, she has tailored her practice to sports and orthopedic. She also specializes in Temporomandibular Jaw Dysfunction (TMD) and has a keen interest in women’s health. She provides both collegiate experience and workout expertise with the knowledge for injury prevention and total recovery. Dr. Felder is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The idea of Elite Sports is something that DJ and Dr. Felder have always talked about for years. “We always dreamed of having a gym, but we never really got into the specifics. It’s always been on the back burner sort of speak. I have never been a monetary risk-taker, and I’ve always been strategic. However, in June of this year, we turned 30, and I reminisced about how much we accomplished individually and together. I thought about what’s next and what our lives could be in the next ten years. I saw that the time was now,” Dr. Felder shares. DJ shares, “It was time that we put our faith into something that we both would love to do for the rest of our lives. It’s always been a thought and a goal, and now is the time that we execute.”

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Client Testimony “Coach DJ is a laid back type of trainer, but also great at explaining and getting his point across while training. He can train athletes on all levels from junior high to pro level guys. He loves the grind and loves to share the passion with others. He has helped me develop my skills over the years as I finish up my college career at Oakwood. I highly recommend!!!” Oakwood College Sports Training Kaleb G. from Huntsville, AL

Dr. Felder shares that she is inspired mostly by her family. “I go hard for my crew! I just want our little ones to do better than us and not have to face some of the challenges we have.” DJ credits his wife with having the impact on his life. “My wife is my biggest inspiration. She wakes up every morning and does something she loves, something she worked hard for over the years. The drive and the determination that she has rubbed off on me, and I can’t wait to inspire others,” he says. Running a business and managing careers, all while raising two kids, sounds quite challenging; however, it’s something the Felders appear to do very well. “We are a busy family of four, and we both still work full-time. Our little boy is just six months old, and our first child is two years old, so being intentional about our business time and time together without sacrificing too much of the precious time we have with our children is hard, but I know it will pay off,” Dr. Felder says. “Getting started was very challenging for us. We want to rent out some space or partner with a gym initially, but that’s been a challenge with pricing. We just want to get the Madison area and surrounding cities to understand that we are for health and fundamental development at all ages. By combining physical therapy, it’s something that gives us the edge. This is a huge passion of ours, and we are willing to go the extra mile for our customers to assure satisfaction,” DJ says.

Elite Sports & Performance Academy

To learn more about Elite Sport & Performance Academy, please visit their website. h

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www.espaofal.com 256-434-8199

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