Huami Magazine for Greenville/Spartanburg by Terry Watson

GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG

Sept./Oct. 2021 Volume 4 Issue 1

Vernon Veteran Services Inc. Greenville/Spartanburg - 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 A Letter from the Editor driving a car. I had enrolled in a driver’s education program at school. 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 What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes don’t think anyone was more eager than I was. and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never On the driving course, there were several cars with an automatic happened? Therethere wouldwas be only no reason to save forcontained a rainy a transmission. However, one vehicle that day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making manual transmission (a stick shift). As fate would have it, I was the only promises. What if your lastasopportunity expired student familiar with a stick shift, I had gainedseemingly prior instruction and today? What would you do? driving experience from a few experienced drivers. I knew the gear

pattern and understood how to manage the clutch and gas paddles and been toldSo that I often seem like to I do tooduring much.class. keep the I’ve car powered. I chose that vehicle drive Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believertoinbe knowing thatofGod put anything on me I appeared in a league my wouldn’t own on the driving course that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life amongst the other student drivers. I handled the curves well,would and I chose and Iaccept what presented to well, me. and I didn’t be runifover any to of sit theidle cones. managed theitstraight paths lookedhave pretty well that in reverse. I wasboring. good, at thats what I beleived. found to be very Inleast my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge Onetoday the vehicleWhat I was is driving was atthat thecan front of the meinisclass, an adventure. the worst happen? pack on the driving course. I jumped out the gate fast, and that If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learnwas my first mistake. As I new wentabout around the curves, I used little andinthe something myself. Relinquish your brakes, pride and tires on my car were screaming. “Stop!” That command was screamed return acquire life. through the megaphone held by the driving instructor. He made me park theThe car and out for the remainder the day. when I laughed it off bestget advice ever given to me of happened someone while trying to keep my cool amongst my classmates, but on the inside, told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I was embarrassed. I would eventually drive again and completed the I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only program, but it was clear that I almost jeopardized all of that from hope provided. I have also learned the difference between happening. what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and At the time, I didn’t realize how I had put myself and others in danger be quiet,when because by becoming arrogant and comfortable when duringto a moment instead I someone may get it confused should have been learning and listening. with being arrogant. I made the mistake of applying invalid experience in a setting where I was tomorrow supposed Make to gainyou experience to be happen today, but most validated. God showed me on that it count. day thatimportantly when I try tomake do things my but a whisper and way andLife useisinformation or instruction wecome must from put ourselves a an that didn’t Him, I am in just accidentposition waiting to happen. Yet, hear what it iswhen I do listen and obey telling us. His commands, He will qualify me to drive on the roads and highways of life.

TerryL.L.Watson Watson Terry

Editor/Founder

www.huamimagazine.com Terry L. Watson

Dorjae McClammey Editor In Chief Writer Terry L. Watson Writer Terry L. Watson Allen - Deputy Editor GamalAlana Williams Writer Ellen Richardson Writer Writers

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mykelmedia@yahoo.com (336) 340-7844 HUAMI MAGAZINE is published 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 Greensboro, NCeditor by may be submitted to the 2021 All Rights Reserved E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2014 All Rights Reserved

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November/December 2014

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GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG

CONTENTS

Hill’n Hands Massage

LaToya Hill

On The Cover

Vernon Veteran Services Inc. Vandavid Vernon

A Mother’s Luv

Kim Alexander

SEPT./OCT. 2021

I Got Next Game Truck

Alex Macklin

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Tegan Kennedy

Also Featured

Wendell White He is an overcomer. Learn more about his story and how he is helping others in his community. Milwaukee, WI

Monica Nevels It all started in the kitchen with her mom. Learn more about Faith ‘n’ Nevels Catering LLC. Dallas, TX

Joe Rush Are you looking to purchase a food truck or trailer? He can help. Richmond, VA

10 5

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Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

By Jalessa Rogers Photos by Vandavid Vernon For years men and women have dedicated their lives to service through the different branches of the United States Military. After serving, many of them share a common feeling; finding it difficult to readjust to society. With knowing this, veteran Vernon Vandavid Jr. created a program, Vernon Veteran Services Inc., designed to provide information and assistance for veterans seeking to get reacclimated with society. It’s also a place where military veterans and their families can belong and relate soldier to soldier, shipmate to shipmate while acquiring resources, training, and mentorship programs. Born and raised in Spartanburg, SC, Vandavid did not grow up with dreams of joining the military. He actually dreamt of becoming a professional football player. Growing up as the only boy with two older sisters and two younger sisters, he was accustomed to making a way for himself and standing out, which he did really well on the football field at Dorman High School in Spartanburg. After gaining attention from powerhouse college football schools, he decided to take a season off and try his hand at basketball. Basketball did not work out, but he learned a valuable lesson about being a part of a team. “Due to my failed commitment to my football team in the eleventh grade, it caused me to lose my starting position and scholarship opportunities my in my senior year,” he says. Continued on the next page

After high school, he attended Greenville Technical College and Maryland University but soon decided to join the military after the birth of his first child. “I joined the military at 20 years old because I felt it was the best option for my family,” stated Vandavid. A program that was started as a “let’s talk face to face,” is what Vandavid was aiming for when he created Vernon Veteran Services Inc. “Personal experience is the greatest teacher when searching for something or trying to understand someone that has been through a tough situation,” he says. After being a part of the military, coming back to what felt like a whole new world was something that Vandavid and many other veterans struggled to readjust. “I don’t want to say that I wasn’t welcomed back, but there were no relatable people that I could talk to, and resources were hard to find,” stated Vandavid. “I set out to create a program that would provide and be the resource that veterans need. The moral to my story is not to throw things down to the soldier I see stuck in a hole, but to jump down there with them because I’ve been there before, and I want to show them personally how to get out.” Mr. Vandavid has worked really hard to make the transition back to society easier for veterans through this nonprofit program by making donations and paying for them himself. Although everything has not been easy, he has had some amazing success stories. As a new program, his biggest success story was when a veteran made him realize it wasn’t what you could provide for them sometimes, it was just being there and listening to them. “Meeting and helping different veterans are effective ways to assist, but sometimes you learn that listening and asking simple questions can provide a lot more,” he says. “Providing knowledge that we are there no matter what, and knowing that any time you need a veteran, you have someone to talk to has been one of his biggest lessons and goals so far.” Vandavid’s next goal for his program is to take it to a national level and make it available on military bases for active duty service people. He is also looking into providing housing and jobs soon for veterans. For further information about Vernon Veteran Services Inc., please visit their website.

www.vvsinc.org 864.867.9865 8

MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

Tegan Kennedy The son of McKenzie and Chris Kennedy

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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The Cart Guy 10

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Greenville/Spartanburg - 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.”

Continued on the next page

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.

Continued on the next page

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Greenville/Spartanburg - 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

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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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Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Wendell W hite I’m An Overcomer By Gamal Williams Photos by Wendell White

“I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-yearsold, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.” One thing I’ve come to understand about our (African-American) community is that many of us don’t want to be held accountable. It’s normal with us living a certain type of way. Trauma has become normal in the African-American community. The incidence of murder occurs often. There is teenage pregnancy and high dropout rates. Poverty is normal, and I don’t believe that poverty defines our neighborhoods, I think we have a poverty mindset. But I know that we can’t fix this overnight. It took me thirty years to arrive to where I am today, so I have to be patient and keep working. That’s what God wants me to do so, I will do it. - Wendell White Usually, I start my articles with a poignant quote or Bible verse that ties neatly into my interviewing subject. There was no need to find such a quote for Wendell White. His quote above speaks to the core of Wendell’s mission, to a fundamental change of perspective and purpose rooted in experience, and when it comes to experiences. He has had many. Wendell was born and raised in the Englewood section of the South Side of Chicago, the “Wild Hundreds,” as Wendell explains. After leaving foster care, Wendell moved into the projects with his mother and family. Unfortunately for Wendell (and many children in inner city, African-American communities), he returned to a world full of drugs and violence. What made Wendell’s situation exponentially bleaker, he didn’t even have to leave his project apartment to find it. His family sold the drugs and contributed to the violence. “When you’re a child and your watching your mom and family sell drugs, how does someone tell you to go to school and get an education? Everybody around me sells drugs and they are lucrative! My uncle was making $50-60k a day! I was twelve years old, and one day he gave me a bag with over $250,000 to hold for my auntie. He had all the cars, and everyone admired him. I wanted to be like my uncle. When he left, I went into the bathroom and saw all that money. I decided right then and there I was going to sell drugs. But at 12-years-old, you don’t understand all that comes with selling drugs. You don’t see that death, prison, and violence come with selling drugs. All you see is the money. You don’t see how you’re destroying people’s lives.” Soon after that decision, Wendell joined a gang and quickly realized that gang life wasn’t the glitz and glamour he thought it was. Not only did he learn that he would start nowhere near the level his uncle was, but he was now a gang member in one of the most violent cities during its most violent time in history. According to the Chicago Police Department, from 1991 to 2004, there were 3,422 gang-related murders in Chicago. That’s an average of 244 murders per year. A ghastlier interpretation is this: there was a gang-related murder in Chicago every 36 hours, for 14 years straight. Yet, despite this reality (which is to say nothing of the other violent crimes, drug overdoses, and high incarceration rates), Wendell saw no other way to live. It was all he knew and taught, and turning to his family for guidance offered no respite. Even his own kidnapping didn’t turn him away. Continued on the next page

“I started making money, big money. We were buying cars, flashing cash, but one day God decided that wasn’t the plan. I was kidnapped, beaten, and left for dead. That was the beginning of my transformation. The person that did it to me was near and dear to my heart; he set me up. But God spoke to me and told me to repent. I was in the hospital for eight weeks, but when I got out, I didn’t know anything else. I was eighteen and all I knew was selling drugs.” Wendell moved to Milwaukee soon after, and though he had changed locations, his mindset hadn’t. He continued to sell drugs, yet one day, it all stopped, but not through any choice of his. “One day, my phone just stopped ringing. I was selling drugs every day, all day, then one day, my phone just stopped ringing. I realize now that God has always been with me. HE stopped it. All my money started dwindling away. Then one day, I was coming home, stuck my key in the door, and broke down and cried. I broke, man. I cried for six months. I was depressed, but it was in that depression that I found God. It was all of these emotions and feelings that I had been feeling for years, and it all came out.” His wife asked him to attend church with her, and though he was still depressed and drinking heavily, he decided to go. Wendell found that some church members had written books that shared their testimony. That inspired Wendell to pen his story, The Devil Thought He Had Me! He has even gone on to start his own mentorship program.

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

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“My mentorship program started when my book came out. It was something that started when I started getting mentored. I joined my church, Unity Gospel House of Prayer, here in Milwaukee, WI. I just see the upside of having a mentor, man. We all need a mentor; we all need somebody to help us navigate through life, not really trying to control our lives, but teach us someone who can hold us accountable. If feel that I can get enough of the men and the youth, if I can just get them and talk to them. Tell them my story and the things I’ve been through. We could make such a huge impact. Not just in the city of Milwaukee or Chicago, but in the world. God gave me a testimony, and I believe God is setting up to give that testimony.” h

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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Hill’n Hands Massage Therapy By Dorjae McClammey Photos by Todd Youngblood

“As a single mother starting my journey, I had some challenges to overcome. However, I was determined not to allow them to stop me.”

It all starts with her hands. There is no magic involved, nor does she have any tricks under her sleeves. It’s all in her hands. LaToya Hill describes herself as quiet and observant. She loves to make people relax laugh, two qualities that she shares without hesitation in life and with her business. However, young LaToya was a curious child who seemingly had an interest in all of her surroundings. That curiosity resulted in a few accidents involving her hands. One happened when she burned her hands as a toddler; another accident occurred when she slammed her hand in a house window while trying to help close it. Not to be outdone, her fingers somehow got jammed in the doors of an old model 80s vehicle, and she even found a way to accidentally stab the palm of her hand with a pencil while playing in middle school. Today, LaToya is the owner and founder of Hill’n Hands Massage Therapy, a mobile massage therapy based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their mission is to help promote a pain-free and stressfree lifestyle with its therapeutic treatment as a holistic alternative to medicine. Their ultimate goal is to build enduring and rewarding relationships with their clients and community through knowledge, wellness, and providing a world-class level of service. Some of the services offered by Hill’n Hands are sports stretch and massage, and chair massage, which typically involves massaging the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and hands and cupping. Additionally, she provides sports massage services for amateur and professional athletes throughout Charlotte, having some players for the Carolina Panthers as clients. LaToya was born and raised in the small town of Arapahoe, N.C., but spent her summers in Charlotte. She officially relocated to Charlotte in 2006, full of ambition and drive. She always knew she wanted to be her own boss; it just took her some time to get the hang of it. While in Charlotte, she enrolled at a community college and received an associate’s degree in General Studies focused on Criminal Justice, and set her sights on being a paralegal. She soon realized that wasn’t the right field for her, and so she returned to school and received an obtained a diploma in massage therapy from Southeastern Institute, which would eventually pave the way to Hill’n Hands Massage. Continued on the next page

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Soon after her initial launch, LaToya began working with other massage companies while building hers. This gave her a unique opportunity to build her clientele while servicing others, many who were connected with the corporate world, high school athletes, and professionals. While building her skills, she realized that her true passion was sports massage. That direction presented itself to be more of a challenge, mainly because it required more certification, but that didn’t stop LaToya. She faced it head-on and enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University and prepared for what would eventually come. “At Johnson C. Smith, I met some amazing teachers, mentors, and advisors, including BerNadette Lawson-Williams. I was also able to participate on panels of discussion with Serena Williams, Sarah Thomas, and even President Barack Obama,” she says. LaToya also gained the chance to work with retired NFL player Antoine Bethea. “It was funny because I didn’t know what to expect, but his family was so nice. His five-year-old son was even watching what I was doing and waited for his dad to finish so he could get on the table,” she shares. She loves working with the families as a whole Hill’n Hands primarily provides mobile massage services on-site at their client’s request. Hill’n Hands also conducts weekly sessions at Pure Grind Fitness on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. These sessions LaToya says do not offer the same privacy that in-home sessions do. At first LaToya was slightly nervous about being at a location, but she’s seen an increase in booking which has kept her busy at the gym.

Continued on the next page

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“I can do whatever I want to do. I can set my schedule to my liking, which is important because it keeps me from overworking myself and still be available to meet the needs of my daughter as much as possible.”

When asked what she loves most about her company, the answer was simple; freedom. “I can do whatever I want to do. I can set my schedule to my liking, which is important because it keeps me from overworking myself and still be available to meet the needs of my daughter as much as possible,” she says. “I’m proud to have established the clients I have because it allows me to take my daughter with me to appointments. My daughter is very quiet but quite helpful. She carries supplies, and clean cups and other utensils used during a session.”

Some of services offered by

Hill’n Hands Massage Sports Massage Cupping Chair Massage

While freedom is her main drive, she has made it known that she has such a huge team that pushes her every day. “As a single mother starting my journey, I had some challenges to overcome. However, I was determined not to allow them to stop me,” she says. Even more, LaToya shares she is inspired by the opportunity she has to be a role model to her younger clients. She recalls how one of her client/athletes wished her happy birthday and thanked her for all of the conversations they’ve had, and everything she’s done and continued to do for him. “Being able to help young athletes grow and have such an effect on them makes this all worth it,” she says.

Continued on page 31

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As for anyone planning to follow in her footsteps, LaToya offers the following advice. “Follow your heart. While you’re in school training, start building there. The steps you make towards becoming an entrepreneur begin where you develop a passion for it. Dream bigger and never discount yourself. In the world we live in now, there is the pressure of wanting to be better than the next person, or not feeling like you’re where you’re supposed to be or knowing why you’re not there yet. All of that can weigh heavily on you and affect your mental state. So please train and discipline yourself to remain positive and remind yourself that you will get there one day. LaToya is currently in her second semester at JCSU, interning in the Esports and sports compliance departments. She is also working on becoming a transition coach for different athletes from high school to college and from college to pro. She is also working on opening a brickand-mortar location to house her business and give other therapists a space to work. With her determination and drive, we can expect this to come sooner than expected. In addition to being the face and force of Hill’n Hands, LaToya also serves as an associate chair for Entrepreneu(HER) in the City, a non-profit women’s networking organization designed to highlight and unite local women in business. She still offers notary public services and styles hair, and designs t-shirts in her free time. To learn more about LaToya Hill and Hill’n Hands Massage, please visit their website. h

Hill’n Hands Massage Therapy LLC Hillnhandsmassage@Gmail.Com www.hillnhandsmassage.com

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Greenville/Spartanburg - 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

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

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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Alex Macklin

I Got Next Game Truck

By Jalessa Rogers - Photos by Alex Macklin In the electronic and social media era, gaming has become a big deal. Gaming is so big that you can get paid to do it professionally. Games like Fornite, Call of Duty, NBA 2k, and many more have their own tournaments, often associated with impressive cash prizes. Parties and events that were once hosted outdoors have now turned into indoor events in front of a television, a game console, and a handheld controller. This recreational change would soon catch the attention of Philadelphia, PA native Alex Macklin. He found a way to capitalize on this growing market for gaming by creating a company that caters directly to it. Introducing I Got Next Game Truck. As a child growing up in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, Alex Alex was groomed to be an entrepreneur. Along with his two brothers, he grew up helping at their maternal grandparent’s businesses that consisted of corner stores, laundromats, restaurants, and daycares scattered throughout Philly. “As a kid, that’s all I knew. We worked in the stores from the time I could walk. We were stocking shelves and sweeping floors. My grandfather had a water ice stand at one of his stores, and every summer, he gave me a job to scoop water ice. And so, the entrepreneurial spirit was instilled in me as a young boy,” stated Alex. Developing a solid work ethic is something that he learned from his parents and grandparents as well. “I watched my grandparents work hard at something that they owned. My parents worked hard too, they weren’t entrepreneurs, but I watched them get up every day for work,” stated Alex. Although he loved and valued what he learned working for his grandparents, Alex had his sights set on something else in regards to career choice. Alex wanted to be a marine biologist. After graduating from La Salle College High School in 1986, he attended Millersville University to study marine biology. When he became the parent of two beautiful twin daughters, he decided to take some time off from school. In 2011 he returned to school and completed his degree at Gwynedd Mercy College.

In 2019, at his grandson’s ninth birthday party, Alex developed the idea of a Game Truck. After doing the research, he discovered an existing Game Truck market. So you know what happened next. To build a Game Truck, Alex leaned on his technological and networking skills. Being new to the industry, he reached out to other Game Truck owners for information and advice. With a desire for extra knowledge for his developing business venture, Alex and his family found a way to make his Game Truck into a mobile entertainment center. His teenage son helped broaden his gaming view and helped him choose which best attractions to have in the truck. He utilized the graphic designing skills of his daughter to bring a more corporate appeal. Alex says I Got Next Game Truck was created to appeal to people of all ages and for events from birthday parties to corporate parties. With over 32 games for XBOX, Play Station, and Nintendo, Alex is capable of hosting parties, game nights, and movie nights. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, I Got Next Game Truck was closed like other businesses in 2020. For a new and “fledging business,” this was hard on Alex. Since reopening, he was able to keep his business going with significant events such as Black Voters Matter. Although COVID-19 has been a scary time for everyone, preparing for the unexpected has also been a learning experience. “One thing I learned was to adapt and adopt,” stated Alex. He adapted by incorporating COVID protocols to help keep his clients safe, such as practicing social distancing while they are in the truck. Since starting I Got Next Game Truck, Alex has secured a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers G-league team and hosted an NBA 2K tournament. He has also been able to maintain his goals of investing in his company the right way. “I have done many types of events, and I’m looking forward to doing more of them. If there is a need to have my Game Truck there and I can make it fit into what h their vision is I’ll have it out there,” stated Alex.

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

HuamiMagazine.com

Greenville/Spartanburg - Sept./Oct. 2021

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