Huami Magazine for Atlanta November/December 2019

AT L A N TA

®

Nov./Dec. 2019 Volume 1 Issue 2 FREE

Denise Renee Write YourBook Tips Atlanta - November/December 2019

HuamiMagazine.com

1

5300 Memorial Dr., Suite 115, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 http://bit.ly/EzerCounselinghelps

How Can I Help You? Need help to achieve your goals in life? I use an array of counseling, coaching, and cognitive techniques to provide services that give you the tools for success--the way YOU define it. In addition to 1-on-1, couples, and group sessions, I regularly host and speak at workshops and seminars.

My job is to provide a caring, safe environment for you to begin healing and to give you the tools and techniques to understand your own thoughts and emotions and where they are coming from, and to ultimately achieve a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. My special blend of cognitive behavioral therapy and strengths-based eclectic techniques will help guide and inspire you to achieve more of your personal and professional goals.

Call TODAY for a FREE Consultation

Jill D. Mays, MS, LPC 770-540-7681 Most Major Health Plans & EAPs Accepted Convenient Evening & Weekend Hours

Huami Magazine.... A National Brand of Black Excellence

Charlotte

Huntsville

Triad

Memphis

Richmond

Dallas-FortWorth

Nashville

Hampton Roads

Raleigh/Durham

www.huamimagazine.com Online and in Print

Atlanta

Greenville/Spartanburg

Your Gifts, Your Plans, And What God Says A Letter From The Editor

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It! One of the hardest things for me to understand has been

what is my purpose in life. I’m the kind of individual who has seen a lot and experienced a lot. I’ve had my shares of ups and A Letter from the Editor downs, both good and some bad ones. While everything has provided me with an opportunity to learn, it has also made it kind ofWhat difficult to understand myAll true purpose is. hopes if tomorrow didn’twhat arrive? of your plans,

and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if When I wasthat a young child, I had dreams of being a rap artist. everything you decided to put off until tomorrow never Thishappened? was well before emergence of Hip I remember There the would be no reason toHop. save for a rainy attending concerts and mimicking thetrouble performers in my day, andrap you could spare someone the of making attire and posture. mother purchased aseemingly record player for promises.

What ifMy your last opportunity expired metoday? and myWhat brother, and my dream was fed even more when the would you do? music videos would come on the television on Friday nights. I was sure destiny.

I’vethat beenwas toldmy that I often seem like I do too much.

Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm As I got older, I began to God writewouldn’t raps for put myself and soon believer in knowing that anything on me found myself investing in my dream by recording my songs at a that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would fewbelocal recording was my plan for my life.

To be if I chose to sitstudios. idle andThat accept what it presented to me.

I a rapper, but God had something a different in mind for me. have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge As pass, theWhat desireisto a rapthat artist fizzled.

I no to time me iswould an adventure. thebeworst can happen? longer wrote songs, andand myifwalk attire well.

If I do nothing, I fail, I try and I don’t, butchanged instead as learn Little did I know that everything that I applied to my rapping something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in career, were jewels that God had intentionally placed in path return acquire life. to be used in a whole different capacity. Instead of writing rap songs, I used giftever to begin for Huamiwhen Magazine.

The bestthat advice givenarticles to me happened someone Instead of mimicking rap artist and attending rap concerts, told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I set my sights on my being a publisher and entrepreneur and I have pressed way through doors with a key that only conducting myself as such. hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with What Iwhen had intomind for my lifeand as a as well. I compare it to knowing be confident child didn’t upquiet, with because what God when line to be did. He shared some things that someone may get it confused I needed learn,arrogant. but He didn’t withtobeing allow me to get complacent while doing so.

In life, must learn Make youwe tomorrow to seek God for confirmation happen today, but moston all ourimportantly hopes and dreams.

If it’s make it count. not connected to what God has Life is but a whisper and purposed for us, then it will be we must put ourselves in a short position lived. Wetomust hear always what itseek is God’stelling plan first. us.

www.huamimagazine.com Terry L Watson Publisher www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Writer Dawn C. Thornton Terry L. Watson Terry L. Watson Writer Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Yasmine Regester Writer Writers

Ashleigh Crawley Tonya Dixon Photographer Terry L. Watson Photographer JLG Photography Alana Allen Todd Youngblood Tamara Smith Photographer Jeuron Dove Photographer Lechele Trent Jackson Photographers Perfect Lenz Todd Youngblood Photography Want To Photography Advertise?

Shaw Photography Group Send An Email or Call Today Still Shots Photography

huami.atlanta@gmail.com Howard Gaither Photography Who Shotya Photography (336)340-7844 Layout

MediaUsCompany KeepMykel Up With on Facebook Bennett HuamiLinda Magazine for Atlanta

A Group For Followers and mykelmedia@yahoo.com Supporters of Huami Magazine

(336) 340-7844

HUAMI MAGAZINE is published bimonthly quarterly by the Mykel Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher prior to doing so. Mykel Media doesn’t accept responsibility for statements made by individuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning this publication may be submitted to the editor by E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com Email or Telephone terry.editor@yahoo.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to 336-340-7844 Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2019 All 2014 All Rights RightsReserved Reserved

Terry L. Watson

4

HuamiMagazine.com

Terry L. Watson Atlanta - Editor/Founder November/December

On The Cover

2019

Photo by Shaw Photography Group

CONTENTS

NOV./DEC. 2019

ATLANTA

A. Dural Home Staging

Agnes Dural

6

On The Cover

Writing Tips For You Denise Renee

Nee Chic Styles

Anetra Johnson

10

22

Precious Health & Wellness Spa

Precious Stephens

Quality Education School

Tonya Bellanger

18

24

Also Featured

LaKesa Cox She stepped out on faith and devoted her life to writing.

From Richmond, VA

14

Ronnie Rice Author and Entrepreneur Meet the face behind R2 Enterprises, LLC Greenville, SC

8

Atlanta - November/December 2019

Aubrie Tate She is the cutest, and has been selected as Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby.

Greenville, SC

31

HuamiMagazine.com

5

6

HuamiMagazine.com

Atlanta - November/December 2019

Denise Renee Write Your Book Tips

By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Denise Renee

Denise Renee of Atlanta, Ga is somewhat of a Creative Entrepreneur. Under that umbrella, many things can be listed, but for the most part, she is a writer, musician, and teacher. She is also someone who loves using her God-given talents and timetested skills to help others accomplish their personal or professional goals, and live their life to the fullest.

Denise’s brand name is Write Your Book Tips. “I help urban professionals and entrepreneurs write books that attract clients and opportunities for their business or personal brand. I also help people realize a dream they’ve had for a while, and assist them by putting it into words and in their hands,” she shares.

“I developed a love for creative writing when I was around 8-years-old and haven’t stopped.” English Literature was one of Denise’s majors in college. Throughout the course of her career, she’s done journalistic writing, editing, blogging, marketing, copywriting, and book ghostwriting and writing coaching.

As a writer, it should be no surprise that Denise is inspired by other authors. “I read a wide variety of books, so I find inspiration in a variety of sources, from fiction, to self-help books, to spiritual and even marketing books,” she says.

The person who as impacted her career and business the greatest she says is her ex-husband. “When we were splitting up several years ago, I challenged myself to remember who I was and recall my own personal gifts and strengths. I had to figure out what I wanted to do with my life after the marriage. As a result of the process of healing from the hurt of our split, I founded my company.”

The only thing Denise says she would change about her journey is that she wish she would have started sooner. “It is also not a good practice to stay stuck in hurtful situations for more than one day,” she says.

Currently, Denise is putting the finishing touches on a e-book that she plans to release in 2020. The focus will be to encourage more people to release their inner writer. She is also working on a 2020 launch of a self-study course that gives people a step-by-step outline of how to write their own book.

“My hope is that I have the opportunity to hear everyone’s amazing testimonials as a result of working with me,” she says. h

Find us on Facebook and Instagram @WriteYourBookTips You can learn more about my story at http://WriteYourBook.tips/DeniseRenee 7

Ronnie Rice R2 Enterprises, LLC

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Apollo Wonex Greenville, SC resident Ronnie Rice wears many hats. He is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and Human Resource Professional. He holds a M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. Additionally he is a published author, and his work ‘When Phoenix Rise: Life lessons for effective leadership®’ is available Amazon and Barnes and Noble for purchase.

Ronnie’s book was largely inspired by a cousin who asked him, “How did you get out of the Southside of Waukegan, Illinois when so many others you grew up with did not?

How did you make it with so much adversity and negative distractions all around you? In essence, his cousin wanted to know what made Ronnie different. “I attempted to answer his questions by sharing my life’s journey, the good, bad, and otherwise choices that helped shape me as a person as well as how it all helped me meander my way through corporate America to a level of success that I am proud of today,” he says.

Ronnie is also the founder of R2 Enterprises, LLC. Pronounced “R squared” his company specializes in offering Motivational Speaking services. He is also a developer of an after-school program entitled, ‘The Raising Corne® Program Seminars,’ which is recognized as one of the longest running programs in the state of South Carolina’s Low-country. Ronnie is also the designer of his own t-shirt apparel brand named R.I.S.E. ® (Reach In-Side for Excellence) Motivational Wear that currently offers two designs available for purchase on Amazon.

Rice expects four more designs to be available by the approach of the new year.

“I look forward to the day when I will see a stranger donning one of my tees. Even better, seeing a star athlete or entertainer wearing my apparel providing me with great free marketing would be a huge plus.”

8

Ronnie initially started R2 Enterprises LLC in 2002 after leaving a 17 year career in corporate America at Abbott Labs.

His first project was the after-school program, and then motivational speaking. He served as a member the NCAA Speakers Registry for a few years and spoke to students and student-athletes at various colleges and universities. “For a long time, I envisioned having my own apparel brand similar to a Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, versus making t-shirts for others. Of course, it’s much more difficult to penetrate the apparel industry the way that I am trying to do it, but I really wanted to have my own brand with my motivational slogans,” he says. “I look forward to the day when I will see a stranger donning one of my tees. Even better, seeing a star athlete or entertainer wearing my apparel providing me with great free marketing would be a huge plus.”

What Ronnie says he loves most about what he does is the ability to influence others to move from Point A to Point B in their lives, or in their careers. “I am often overwhelmed from the feedback many give to me on how I made a difference in their career trajectory, or their decision to avoid negative pitfalls of life by making better-informed choices from something I may have said. I have a passion for assessing challenges and for motivating change in order to improve the process, whether in business or in society,” he says.

Ronnie says he is inspired by his wife, his family, Altruism, and people. He is also moved by the actions of individuals such as Robert E. Smith who recently donated millions of dollars to pay off the school debt of many young men attending Morehouse College Atlanta. “In spite of all the evil that takes place in the world, I am still encouraged by and believe the human spirit of most people will prevail over evil. I find inspirations in individuals who change our world including Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Reginald F. Lewis, OPRAH, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Bezos, Alex Zuckerberg, Muhammad Ali, and Colin Kapernick. These are the risk takers who provide an intoxicating approach to not being afraid to “think-outside-the-box’ in order to move the needle forward,” says Ronnie.

He also finds inspiration in millennials. “They are revolutionary in their thinking and what is occurring in society and in business across the country today is a phenomenon.

They offer a refreshing approach to business because they are not afraid to challenge the status-quo and they are making sure their voices will be heard. They all inspire me daily and confirm there is still reason to believe in the progression forward of the human race,” he says.

Some of the challenges that Ronnie has faced in business are the struggles of maintaining a small business during the 2008 recession. With real-estate and having one of my properties being located in Atlanta, GA. I did not have a mentor to help navigate me through the areas of business and for unforeseen challenges,” he says.

Ronnie’s book, “When Phoenix Rise” is available online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble for purchase.

Ronnie Rice R2 Enterprises, LLC 864-561-0233 www.r2entreprises.com

When asked if he would change anything about his journey, Ronnie shares a few points. “I would like to have a judicial system that lived up to and honored the image of what “Lady Justice” represents, where justice is truly blind to power, corruption, and negative influence. We need more effective internal controls in government and big business as well as measurable external ‘checks and balances’ to ensure we do not repeat another Enron, economic meltdown or Bernie Madoff-type situation in this country,” he says..

In the future, Ronnie shares that he would like to occupy a position in leadership that would allow him to have more autonomy to use his work experience, education, and creativity to better influence an organizations’ culture. This is something Ronnie describes similar to what Matthew McConaughey did for his alma mater, the University of Texas by offering an acting class in an effort to bridge the gap between education and the workforce to help ease the transition from school to the real world. “I would like to propose a life-skills class using my book to interested colleges to be incorporated into its curriculum as an elective. One day when I retire, my ultimate goal is to make my money work h while I sleep,” he says.

9

Home Staging 101

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Agnes Aura

Agnes Aura of Dallas, TX has been creating artistic designs for over 25 years. She has a strong passion and love along with an inner gift for design. Her expertise includes a combination of Interior Decorating, Redesign, Staging, Event Design, and Floral Design. Agnes believes in a strong work ethic and a spirit of excellence is exemplified as a lifestyle.

Agnes describes herself as an Innovative thinker, initiative risk taker, and multidimensional professional with exceptional logical and analytical skills. She began manifesting her entrepreneur spirit after the death of her spouse in 2007. As a widow and single parent of three children, she was determined to provide the best life for herself and kids. Thus came A. Dural Staging and Design company was developed. “The company was founded in 2018 after realizing my true passion for design and my inner desire to help others. Property staging allows me to extend my creativity while helping my clients achieve their goal to sell their properties. It is a rewarding journey to live my passion on a daily basis,� she shares. “Our typical clients are individuals, Listing Real Estate Agents, Investors, and Builders.

A. Dural Staging & Design is a Premier Staging & Design company serving the Dallas Metroplex area. It specializes in capturing the unique details and features of a Real Estate Property by using professional staging techniques that will cause a transformation any potential buyer is sure to fall in Love with. Agnes says their goal is to help lessen days a property is on the market and maximize equity (ROI).

Continued on the next page

11

12

Some of the services offered are Real Estate Premier Property Staging. This is the art used to maximize the architectural features of a property and transform the property into an environment that is appealing and cause an emotional connection with buyers.

The process entails a combination of merchandising and arranging of furniture, wall art, and decorative accessories. This Includes vacant, and occupied staging.

This is an attractive option for listing Real Estate Agents, Investors (flips), Builders (new construction), Individuals (for sale by owner).

There is also an interior Decorating service that is offered which involves the art of planning the decorations and furnishings of the interior of a home, building, or office. “We can customize spaces aesthetically pleasing and functional based on your specified criteria’s,” Agnes says. “This is an attractive option for those who have recently remolded their home, purchased a new home, setting up a new office, or looking to furnish a new corporate property. We offer furniture, wall art, and decorative accessories to fully help decorate your environment,” she said.

Another service is Property Consultation, which is a comprehensive, step by step, customized recommendation for preparing a property for market. There is also the Property Walk Through feature. which offers a tour of a property and provides recommendations for preparing property for market while the client takes notes. Next is Redesign. Agnes says this the art of taking that which exist (furniture, wall art, décor) and transform the look, style, and feel of a space. This is also an attractive option for those looking for a trendy style, must have seen design, or simply desire a new and fresh look.

“I love creating the prefect design plan for each property. Choosing color, style, and furnishings that enhances the major features of the property. It is such a rewarding feeling when everything comes together and results in lessening days for property on the market. My desire is to establish a successful and prominent business that I can leave to my kids and/or grand-kids is the driving force for what I do,” Agnes shares. “Success starts with the right attitude.

Consistency is very important, and you must be aware of the obstacles that can either make you stronger or break you. I chose to be stronger!” h

A. Dural Staging & Design Company 817-797-3715 astagingcompany@gmail.com

LSheaK esa Cox Writes With Love

By Terry L. Watson Photos by LaKesa Cox LaKesa Cox of Richmond, Va is a wife of 26 years, mother of three, daughter, sister and a self-proclaimed “superwoman”. She is also fond of long summer days and Caribbean vacations. She graduated from Strayer University with an Associate’s Degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

While utilizing the gifts that God has blessed her with, LaKesa serves as an author, screenwriter, and content creator. She recently retired from her career that spanned 22 years in corporate America, to pursue writing full-time.

“I love writing dramatic and true to life stories filled with realistic and interesting characters,” she says. “I am definitely a drama queen when it comes to writing. I’m a multi-genre writer. I write adult, young adult, and children’s books. I write something for everyone!”

The journey for LaKesa as a writer hasn’t always been smooth. In 2018, she was at a crossroads. She was working a corporate job that paid well but she was no longer happy. “My passion had always been writing and when given the opportunity to take a buy-out, I prayed about it. I wanted to make the right decision for me and my family. I could’ve stayed at my corporate job for eight more years or I could take the buy-out and follow my dreams. Then, out of the blue, I received a random email titled ‘Take The Leap’. I felt like God was telling me to step out on faith to follow my dreams, and that’s what I did,” she says.

As a child, LaKesa says she was one of those kids who loved reading, so much so that her family members would give her books as gifts for birthdays and holidays. As a teen, her taste in reading grew as she became interested in books by Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel. “When I discovered authors Terry McMillan and Eric Jerome Dickey, I was fascinated. Mainly because they wrote stories about characters who looked like me. It was then I realized it was time for me to put my pen to paper and start creating my own stories,” she says.

LaKesa started writing her first book in 1993, right around the time she got married. However, she put the book down for a while because life got in the way. She was working full-time and had two small children, in addition to taking college courses. “I watched as the African-American literary world exploded. In 2002, I finally published my first novel, After the Storm. A year later, I followed up with my sophomore title, Water in My Eyes,” she says.

Continued on the next page

15

International Houston Black Film Festival. Her comedy TV pilot script, Wait a Minute Mr. Postman won 1st place in the Best Spec/TV Script at the 2017 Urban Mediamakers Festival, and was selected as a quarterfinalist in the 2017 WeScreenplay TV Pilot Screenplay competition and was also selected for the 2017 Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. LaKesa’s second feature screenplay, social drama Black and Blue (title change pending) was recently selected for the Beautiful Soul Film Festival screenwriting competition, and was selected as a semifinalist in the 2019 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices screenwriting competition. It was selected as one of the top 50 finalist for the 2019 Your Script Produced screenplay competition. She recently completed her third and fourth feature- length screenplays, a romantic comedy titled, Christmas Hiatus and a drama titled, Purple Roses. She has completed another 30-minute comedy TV pilot titled, Oh Brother!

She was named one of the top 100 African-American authors of 2017

by UBAWA.org.

LaKesa’s love for writing is rooted in her ability to bring characters to life. “As a writer, I battle with the characters who take up space in my head. Often times, it keeps me up at night. I have a vivid imagination and one word or thought could spark a story idea,” she shares. She also loves talking to her readers and discussing her books with them. “It’s humbling when a person who’s never met you reaches out to you on social media to tell you how much they enjoyed your work. My readers give me the motivation to keep writing.”

As an author, LaKesa shares that she faces various challenges.

“Writing a book is the easy part for me. The hardest part is marketing. Getting my books into the hands of my targeted audience is the biggest challenge. I have learned to remain committed by pushing my work on every social media platform, relying solely on the impact of word of mouth. I also attend book festivals as a means to assist with marketing,” she says. Another challenge is writers block. However, she understands that writing is a self-motivating job, therefore she sets writing goals weekly, and works diligently to meeting these goals.

A few years passed before LaKesa met and befriended author Nikki Turner. She offered LaKesa an opportunity to collaborate with some amazing authors for an anthology titled, Street Chronicles: Girls in the Game. It became a New York Times Best seller and was featured in Essence magazine.

Throughout the years, she wrote another short story in another anthology under the Nikki Turner Presents banner and completed her third full-length novel, Fetish for a Blue Skyy. She became an award winning author as a result of a short story she wrote in an anthology, The Ex Chronicles, which was published

by Brown Girls Publishing. It would receive the 2016 African American Literary Award for best anthology.

LaKesa’s highly acclaimed young adult/teen novel, Mulatto Girl Aggie, 13: Name on the Ledger, was released in 2017 and her children’s picture book, Shirleen and the Shoes, was released in the spring of 2019. She plans to release her next adult novel titled, Is Love Enough in December 2019.

In 2015, LaKesa decided to expand her creativity by crossing over into screenwriting. Her first feature film, I Love You to Pieces was selected for several screenwriting festivals including the 2017 Urban Mediamakers Film Festival and the 2017

16

LaKesa says she is inspired mostly by her family and small circle of close friends, all of which are her biggest cheerleaders and supporters. She is also inspired by other writers. “I love the art of storytelling and I know that as long as people are still buying books, there’s still room for more of my stories,” she says.

LaKesa advises others not to be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. “Being comfortable won’t get you anywhere. Ever since I decided to step out on faith and become a full-time writer, so many doors have started to open for me and I’ve met some amazing people. As an extreme introvert, it’s a struggle talking to strangers and meeting new people but the Lord has put me in rooms with people who had the power to change my life. The one thing I can’t stress enough is you have to get uncomfortable to make progress.

I’ve done a lot of that this year and it has paid off tremendously,” LaKesa shares.

Going forward, LaKesa plans to write the movie scripts for her current books while continuing to release new material. She is in the process of pitching her movie scripts to networks and streaming platforms while also searching for funding to produce and direct one of the movies herself. Her goal is to see all of her books on the big screen while continuing to create more content.

In her spare time, she serves as a mentor to 4th and 5th grade girls.

The mentorship program provides a variety of activities that promote healthy physical, social, and emotional development to young girls. h

For more information, please visit LaKesa Cox online at www.LaKesaCox.com 17

Precious Health & Wellness Spa

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton Photos by Todd Youngblood In life, there are those whose circumstances cause them to be counted out even before they really get started. According to statistics, Precious Stephens is one of those people. A native of Newark, NJ, she is the eldest of three children between two parents whose struggles often isolated them from their roles. By the age of 15, she was a parent herself. Considering the toxic environment she and her siblings were exposed to, the young mom took custody of her brother and sister, and began raising them as her own after she graduated from high school. In a few years, she packed up and relocated her family to North Carolina.

It was her move to Atlanta, GA years later, that opened her eyes to the realization of affluent minorities creating their own opportunities, holding offices, and being assets to the community. She knew then that one day she’d have a piece of that pie.

Precious has always been an advocate of taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. She became aware of the importance of self-care while print modeling and affirmed she wanted to continue the lifestyle and share it with others. To do this, she came up with a business plan that would allow her to provide different types of counseling and consulting, such as weight loss, behavior modification and self-imaging. Next, she researched the certifications she needed and began working towards each one. Within two years Precious had received certifications and was ready to move forward with her idea. Coupled with her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was anxious to get to work on her venture.

In January 2019, the entrepreneur, along with the help of her angel investor, Djuan Leverette, opened Precious Health & Wellness. The facility offers noninvasive liposuction, vaginal steaming, teeth whitening, cryoskin 3.0, waist training with meal plans, and the most popular service, an ionic foot detox bath.

Her sister, whom she raised, is currently a massage therapist at the facility.

“Right now, the foot detox has become it’s own entity. It helps pull positive and negative ions through your body. It detox’s from your liver, your kidneys, your ovaries, your urinary tract, and other places in your body. The color of the water will tell you which part of your body you’re cleansing. And you’ll immediately feel the effects,” Precious explains.

Once the exterior has been altered for the better, she boasts that the interior experiences a transformation also. The former psychology major spends additional time with her clients enhancing their self-esteem and pointing out how worthy they are of this renewal.

Then she sits back to watch the caterpillar grow into a butterfly.

“Right now, the foot detox has become it’s own entity. It helps pull positive and negative ions through your body.

It detox’s from your liver, your kidneys, your ovaries, your urinary tract, and other places in your body. The color of the water will tell you which part of your body you’re cleansing. And you’ll immediately feel the effects.”

Continued on the next page

19

“The most amazing part of all this is after someone receives a treatment, she knows she’s a part of the Precious Health & Wellness team, that she’s not in this by herself. I monitor her and check on her progress. She gets counseling and constant motivation. I even send posts and things through Instagram to help keep them going. After that, she’s walking out of here with a whole different bounce, with her head held high, and promoting the services,” she says.

With the need for mental health advocacy in the black community, Precious sees that her clients are more inclined to open up to her now, than ever before. They’re ready and willing to talk about themselves and their emotional state of mind. She’s noticed that her clients range in age and are mainly women, but hope to appeal to more men one day, as they are in just as much psychological turmoil.

If peering in from the outside, it seems that this was a year-long task, but it has actually been brewing for five years, in her mind. She knew she wanted to provide these options to the community and wanted to pursue something she was passionate about. The slight hesitance was understanding the innerworkings of a business focused on health and how to provide for her family in the meantime.

Precious Health & Wellness will celebrate their one year anniversary in January 2020 and the owner is already making moves towards her next project.

A month after opening the wellness facility, Precious and Djuan broke ground on another idea committed to helping the community prosper, and named it in honor of an aunt she holds dear to her heart. In five years Precious plans to obtain her master’s degree then her doctorate and continue serving the community.

Fresh ideas and drive are boiling over in the mind of this 35 year old boss. She’s proven that just because you start with a deficit doesn’t mean you can’t still win. It just means the victory is usually sweeter when the win is unexpected. h

1427 South Blvd Ste 102 Charlotte, NC 28203 704-709-5590 www.precioushealthandwellness.com Before Noninvasive Lipo

After Noninvasive Lipo

Waist Training

Anetra Johnson Nee Chic

Styles

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Nee Chic Styles Anetra Johnson of Richmond, VA describes herself as a multifaceted mother who is passionate about empowering and uplifting women. Her strategy is simple. She wants women to see the beauty that they possession, internally and externally and she does this by encouraging them to be brave, bold, and unapologetic about who they are, what they want, and how they express themselves.

Anetra is also passionate about encouraging everyone to invest in themselves in the areas that are most beneficial in imploring growth and accountability.

Career wise, Anetra is an entrepreneur and owner of Nee Chic Styles.

She is also a Personal Wardrobe Stylist that assists women with marketing and expressing themselves through their wardrobe and style.

“Clothing and style are catalysts that provide confidence,” she says. “I work diligently to ensure that my clients are interested, open, and evolving along with the industry. I am always learning and listening, so that I can offer my clients the best possible service for themselves and their brands.”

One of the services offered by Nee Chic Styles is a Personal In Store or Online Shopper. Anetra says this ensures her clients likes and dislikes are known through a discovery and consultation period, which allows both the provider and the client the opportunity to engage with one another, which promises a better experience and relationship. Another service is In Home Shopping. This incorporates items already within women’s closets for new, inspiring looks.

An additional service is what Anetra describes as Closet Audit. It is executed through determining her clients style and body type, purging pieces that do not suit the client and her brand, then proceeding to remove those items for donation, sale, or disposal.

Finally, there is the service that Anetra describes as Capsule Wardrobe. With this service she uses existing and staple items within women’s closets to create new and interesting looks. “The goal of the Capsule is to be a minimalist,” she shares “Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, I will be relaunching my brand and services to include subscriptions for clients which will incorporate my existing services, but will also expand to include services with more access to me and contributions from retailers in the Richmond area,” she said.

Anetra started her business in 2014 out of her love for style and fashion. That love grew into her wanting to share her knowledge and skills with others. “When I first started, I was working with a very talented, local photographer on headshots and branding sessions for men, women, and children. It was a great experience and I met many wonderful and successful people during that time. I am grateful for that time and experience,” she says. Since then, her vision has taken her to feats she never imagined.

Though her list of clients is constantly growing, Anetra finds joy in being connected to everyone who seeks her services. “Some people believe they cannot afford my services, but are amazed when they learn that is not true,” she says.

Anetra shares that her life and career has been mostly impacted by her late father. “My family and I lost him suddenly two and half years ago and his absence has reshaped my perspective on what is meaningful in life. He was a successful entrepreneur for many years and I witnessed first-hand his drive, dedication, and tremendous work ethic which has

resonated with me and propelled me to be just as driven and committed. After his passing, I took about a year off. I was not in an emotional nor mental state to focus on my career. I wanted and needed to grieve and mourn the void, and adjust. I want to make him proud and hope that he is smiling from up above and nodding in approval as he sees me navigate through life and my business. He is my Guardian Angel,” she says.

Moving forward, Anetra plans to grow her business both state-wide, country-wide, virtually and internationally. She also plans to have her own shoe line in the future. “I love clothing, handbags and accessories, but shoes have always been my obsession. I want to design looks that are truly inspired by me and my creativity,” she said. h

Anetra Johnson Nee Chic Styles www.neechicstyles.com 804-366-6368 23

Tonya Bellanger Quality Education Academy

24

HuamiMagazine.com

Atlanta - November/December 2019

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton Photos by Still Shots Photography

In 1992, Simon Johnson and Cloys Cecil noticed something happening, or rather, not happening, within their community. There were no true educational opportunities serving minority children. They set out to remedy the problem by starting a private school within the walls of Carver Road Church of Christ and though it has grown exponentially and slightly changed academically, its purpose is still the same.

For the first four years of its existence, the school hosted students in Kindergarten thru second grade, taught by one teacher for all grades. In 1996, the charter school movement was introduced and the administrators quickly jumped on board. In 1997, Quality Education Academy was designated as one of the first charter schools in the state of North Carolina, serving grades six through eight.

After three years, the academy was approved to add grades third through fifth, kindergarten through second (transferred from the institute) followed. Currently the academy serves children Kindergarten through twelfth grades. The institute remains a private child care, accepting infants from one year to five years of age. They were able to adopt the slogan, “We take the children from diapers to diploma.”

Co-Founder, Simon Johnson, served as the school’s CEO from its inception in 1992 until his retirement in June 2019, when current CEO Tonya Bellanger, a native of WinstonSalem was named to the role. Bellanger has a long-standing history with the school dating back to its humble beginnings on the church’s grounds. “I was actually a member of the church first. When I was in high school, I needed community service [hours], and would go there to volunteer. When I graduated from UNC-Greensboro in 2006 with a degree in information systems, they hired me as a receptionist,” she explains.

Year after year, Bellanger would set out to learn new skills and try new things to broaden her scope within the school. She briefly worked as a part time computer teacher, then transitioned to the business office and learned about payroll, accounts receivable, human resources, and other processes. In 2014 she

Pictured from left to right are Tonya Bellanger (CEO), Tanya Hinton (CFO), and Antonio Stevenson (Director of Operations)

earned her MBA from East Carolina University and a year later Bellanger was promoted to the schools Chief Financial Officer position. When Johnson was ready for a new season in his life, he tapped Bellanger to succeed him and carry the torch toward excellence.

Now, the former receptionist leads a team that includes Antonio Stevenson, Director of Operations, Tanya Hinton, Chief Financial Officer Marco Suarez, Chief Academic Officer, Ayshia Martin, School Leader grades K-2nd, Tamara Turner, School Leader grades 3rd – 5th, Nicole Stowe, Middle School Leader grades 6th -8th, and Tony Howard, High School Leader grades 9th – 12th. Each leader heads their respective schools but ultimately work together to create an educational space where shades of brown faces can thrive.

Continued on the next page

25

Marco Suarez has been with QEA for nine years, and five of those as the CAO. The Venezuelan native devotes his time to academic achievement and training and developing the staff. Ensuring that the teachers are equipped with the knowledge to help each student succeed is Suarez’s number one priority.

Grades Kindergarten through second are led by Ayshia Martin, who has also maximized her time at QEA. She began as a contract employee in 2012 and is now a school leader.

“What makes K-2 at ‘the Q’ remarkable, is simply how much our scholars teach us. Their lessons run far deeper than trendy dances, slang phrases, and technology fads. I see the true embodiment of the vision set forth by our CEO up close and personal. And our values, beliefs, and traditions shared by all really bind us together to create a genuine sense of unity,” Martin explains.

Tamara Turner is the Chief Development Officer and also leads grades 3rd-5th where they’re currently focused on novel studies, completing up to nine novels each year, per class. She feels that the critical part of reading comprehension development is the cornerstone for mastering all other disciplines.

Out of the countless opportnities she admires about QEA, she loves that the school exposes young scholars to college early, starting in Kindergarten, with annual college tours.

Pictured from left to right are administrators: Ayshia Martin, Tamara Turner, Tonya Bellanger, Nicole Stowe, Tony Howard, and Marco Suarez

The middle school, grades 6th-8th, are under the direction of Nicole Stowe who has been a part of the QEA family for eight years.

Beginning as a middle school science teacher, she progressed in the organization within four years to become a school leader. She values the amazing scholars within her grade group just as much as her team of dedicated teachers that serve them. “Our scholars come in everyday, ready to tackle whatever their teacher has planned. They know that college is the goal, so they start their day chanting, ‘I CAN, I WILL, I MUST! WE ARE QEA STRONG!’ To start preparing older students for life beyond the walls of QEA, Tony Howard is proud to lead 9th-12th grades. “We thrive on maintaining a place of intellectual freedom, where scholars critically navigate a world of knowledge at their own pace. Our high school is a place where exposure and opportunity are not predicted by zip code and where our visions are produced from a lens of equity.”

CEO Bellanger and Pre-K student Kamyrn Jasckson

“We thrive on maintaining a place of intellectual freedom, where scholars critically navigate a world of knowledge at their own pace. Our high school is a place where exposure and opportunity are not predicted by zip code and where our visions are produced from a lens of equity.”

Students pictured from left to right - Front row - Daphne Wrenn and Poppy Gomez - Back row - Matthew Shorter, Alexis Johnson, and Zion White Each school leader has earned or is working toward a master’s degree in their respective disciplines with one currently pursuing a doctorate degree, proving that a ‘quality education’ is imperative to give their students the best and brightest leadership. The total staff at QEA has exceeded 100 members, growing tremendously from 1997 when there was one. A large percentage of the instructors are African American or Hispanic, representative of their student population.

“We feel that it’s important for our scholars to see teachers who look like them. It makes a difference,” says Bellanger.

The academy operates like a regular public school, adhering to certain rules and regulations, but has its own board of directors that govern it. It also offers a myriad of sports, like basketball, soccer, tennis, and just recently, a football team. The curriculum has a liberal arts focus, offering dance, arts education, chorus, and now STEM with 3D printing options.

With Bellanger now at the helm, she is looking forward to sustaining the expectation of excellence from both students and instructors while increasing test scores, the school’s report card grade, and growing it’s overall visibility in the community. h

Quality Education Academy 5012 Lansing Drive Winston Salem, NC 27105 www.qeschools.org 336-774-7138

27

By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Shanalya Sweat

For the gentleman who take value and pride in having a good timepiece, this one is for you. Shanayla Sweat of Nashville, TN has launched a watch company that is quite unique but very brawn. A Few Wood Men. Shanayla describes herself as a creative, technology advocate, world traveler, and consultant who is dedicated to serving others through training, education, and representation. She also happens to be the owner and creator of A Few Wood Men. Shanayla has a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, a Bachelor’s in Human Resources and Management, is a Certified ScrumMaster in the technology spectrum.

A Few Wood Men is a wooden watch collection designed and created for Men of Distinction. It was created as a sounding board for black men who are striving to break down barriers, break curses, push boundaries, overcome strongholds, discover strength, come into self-love, and maintain peace while becoming fathers, husbands, leaders, commanders, and pillars within their community.

A Few Wood Men wants black men to remember that they are needed, wanted, are attractive, are desirable, and are worthy.

A Few Wood Men started as early as 2017. “The idea of me selling watches was not a thing until I began to receive random requests for watches through Facebook.

A Few Wood Men began as a gift idea for my grandfather. I wanted to provide a gift that had meaning, and I knew that he loved watches. I stumbled upon many models, but it was the wooden watch that stood out. From there, A Few Wood Men was born,” Shanayla says.

A Few Wood Men provides wooden watches and accessories for men. Every watch contains a wooden element, hence the name A Few Wood Men. Their accessories are also unisex and, in most cases, compliment the wooden watches that accompany them.

Shanayla says her inspiration comes from the strong belief of being a lifelong learner and always having the opportunity to grow and expand. “There’s always room for improvement and that is my constant inspiration,” she says. “Furthermore, technology has played a huge role in my development. I absolutely love everything about technology, and It has helped mold my business and it constantly keeps me on my toes. Technology is also an area where I want to see more African Americans dominating as we are drivers for most technology-based products.”

Shanayla says what she loves most about being an entrepreneur is being able to satisfy her customers. “I love to hear customers say how the watches make them feel. I’ve been told our watches make our customers happy and create a feeling of desire,” she says.

In the future, she has plans to scale. “We want to have our products in stores as well as expand our current collection. We want to provide more than wooden watches and accessories, eventually we want to expand to apparel. h

Atlanta - November/December 2019

HuamiMagazine.com

29

Jays shares that she is inspired by many things, but mostly her family. “I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who are very supportive and love me,” she says. Additionally, she admits that everything that has happened along her journey has provided her with an opportunity to learn. “If we don’t make mistakes, how can we ever expect to grow,” she said.

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Jay L Harris Jay L Harris of Atlanta, GA is an author, blogger, and shepreneur. Her works include the highly successful romance novel, Unlikely Love. She is the owner of the global brand, Jay L Harris Creative Werks, a digital branding firm that specializes in graphic design and social media management.

In the future, her plans are to eventually assemble a small staff that will allow her to help more people. She would also like to live abroad and work with entrepreneurs globally. h

Coming from a family of educators, spiritual leaders and entrepreneurs, Jay is ready to inspire others through teaching and creating workshops. She has created a series of workshops to help aspiring writers, bloggers and entrepreneurs get started on their journey as well as speak on topics such as Expanding the Bandwidth of Your Imagination, Beyond Writing, Social Media Content Writing, Personal Branding, and I Can Do That!

Jay L Harris Creative Werks started in March 2017. “It started as a fluke. I began blogging in 2013 to not much success. I felt as if people loved my social media posts and blog designs more than the enjoyed reading my blog. After a year of people asking me to manage their social media, I finally agreed to give it a go. I booked three clients in one month. However, it took me another year to feel confident enough to offer graphic design services to others,” she says.

Some of the services offered by Jay L Harris Creative Werks include Graphic Designs (Stationery, Websites, Lead Magnets) Social Media Branding/Management/Strategy, Email Marketing, and Recruitment Marketing (specializing in Non-Profit recruiting). “I typically work with restaurants, hair salons, coaches, comedians, consultants, solopreneurs, authors and creative entrepreneurs,” she says.

Jay said she loves everything about her career and business. “I love getting the opportunity to use my imagination to create beautiful things as well as help others see their vision come to life. It is nothing like seeing my clients post their new logo on social media, share their branded social media posts, or see my work in magazines.”

Most new entrepreneurs struggle with how to price their services. When Jay first started, she wasn’t very confident in herself. As a result, she underpriced her services. “I was afraid to charge too much for fear of losing my clients. I was beyond frustrated and often contemplated quitting my business. After doing some research and becoming more confident in my skills, I unapologetically raised my rates,” she says. “My advice to others may be in a similar situation is to research your industry for the current going rates and do a proper evaluation of the time it takes to perform each service. Most importantly, don’t undervalue your skills and knowledge. Don’t rush the process. Success doesn’t happen overnight and there will be plenty of times when you will not do the right thing. Don’t be discouraged but keep going.

Through much failure comes much success.”

30

HuamiMagazine.com

Atlanta - November/December 2019

678-922-9482 www.jaylharris.org

Aubrie Tate MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

The daughter of Aleta Tate and Darrell Tate Photo by Stacey Gardin

To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com

Atlanta - November/December 2019

HuamiMagazine.com

31

32

HuamiMagazine.com

Atlanta - November/December 2019