C H A R LOT T E
May/June 2020 Vol. 3 Issue 8 FREE
Helping Bosses Build
®
www.sunsetsoulfood.com
We Cater and Deliver Dine In or Take Out
FISH, TURKEY, OX TAILS, SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS CHITTLINS, RIBS, DESSERTS & MORE 2
5009 Beaties Ford Road - Ste 112 Charlotte, NC 28216 704-919-1701
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
Listen To Every Episode On The Following Platforms
www.mykelmedia.com
www.thisiswhoiam.libsyn.com
Surviving, That Has Become A New Normal There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It! A Letter From The Editor It appears that out of nowhere the Covid-19/Corona Virus A Letter from the EditorWith its onset, the world all of sudden pandemic has arrived. came to a screeching halt. Churches have been closed, businesses are shutdown, the new term of social distancing What tomorrow arrive?and All of your plans, hopes became partifof society’sdidn’t vocabulary, it has been alright to and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if shop in the grocery store while being masked. This is our new everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never normal. happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare the depends trouble ofon making As a small business ownersomeone who greatly the promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired business and support of other small businesses and their today?I have Whatfelt would do? patrons, the you brunt of this global pandemic also. It
has caused me to adjust the ways I operate and develop more I’vemethods been toldtothat I oftenand seem likemy I do too much. effective produce share products and Honestly, I feelto liketrying I am to notbe doing enough and I’m a firm services, all while profitable and relevant. The believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me new normal is quite simply learning how to survive during a that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would pandemic. be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity With revenue being the most vital component needed to is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge operate and sustain a small business, many owners have been to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? greatly impacted by Covid-19 in a negative manner. How do we If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn survive? How will our bills be paid, and most importantly how something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in will I be able to feed and care for my family? We need revenue return acquire life. and the support and patriotism from those who have kept our doors open. Unfortunately, these individuals are facing the The best advice ever given to me happened when someone same or similar challenges themselves. told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only As a result of everything that has occurred, our ability to hope provided. I have also learned the difference between survive and maintain has become our new normal. The things what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with that we once did, just don’t work the same today. This doesn’t as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and mean the end is near, I believe that God is really telling us that when to be quiet, because He continues to have all the power someone may get it confused and our today and tomorrow with being arrogant. still flows through Him. In our complacently of accepting Make you tomorrowthe hustlehappen and bustle of yesterday, today, but most God proves yet again that He will importantly make it count. turn our down Lifeworld is butupside a whisper andto get us on we track with Him. Surviving must put ourselves in a has become Lets positionthe tonormal. hear what it is embrace it and be better than we telling us. were before Covid-19.
Terry L. Watson
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder 4
4
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
November/December 2014
www.huamimagazine.com www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Publisher Terry L Watson
Terry L. Watson Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Dawn C. Thornton Writer Terry L. Watson Writers Writer Junious Smith Dixon Writer Tonya Terry L. Watson Alana Allen Todd Youngblood Tamara Smith Photographer Jeuron Dove Photographer Lechele Trent-Jackson JLG Photography Photographer Photographers Perfect Lenz Photography Todd Youngblood Photography
Shaw Photography Group Still Shots Photography
Howard Photography Who Shotya Keep UpGaither With Photography Us on Facebook Huami Magazine For Charlotte Layout A Group For Followers and Mykel Media Company Supporters of Bennett Huami Magazine Linda
mykelmedia@yahoo.com huami.charlotte@gmail.com (336) 340-7844 (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 2020 All Rights Reserved 2014 All Rights Reserved
On The Cover
Photo by Shaw Photography Group Want to advertise, Call 336-340-7844
Want To Advertise? Call (336)340-7844
MAY/JUNE 2020
CHARLOTTE EDITION
CONTENTS
Gullah Cooking
Chef Carlos Brown
6
On The Cover
Dominique Rice DominiqueRice.com
Cuttting At Another Level
Javan Posey
24
08
Congratulations Graduates
The Class of 2020
14
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby
Braxton Langston Moore
23
Also Featured
Andrea Pitts Meet the founder and director of Uncovered Scars Nashville, TN
26
Angelique Walker It’s all about the look. Meet this fashion designer who style is just as unique as she is. Memphis, TN
18
Charlotte - May/June 2020
Tangee Moore Avail Outreach shares how the Covid-19 Pandemic has impacted their practice. RIchmond, VA
HuamiMagazine.com
12
5
Helping Bosses Build
Dominique
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Dominique Rice
Dominique Rice is a serial entrepreneur. At the age of 22, she started her first company, Perfect Fit Placement. She is also passionate about helping people and inspiring women entrepreneurs. Dominique currently owns Dominique Rice Consulting and INFLUENT. Dominique Rice Consulting is a consulting firm for women entrepreneurs that focuses on helping them grow and scale their company. INFLUENT is a travel company that allows women to travel in style with groups. Their first trip is scheduled for the continent of South Africa in January/ February 2021.
Moving forward, Dominique plans to take her business ventures to even greater heights. She clearly understand there is a great deal of work to do and is preparing herself to meet the challenge. “I want to continue to help all women entrepreneurs. I also look forward to having the ability to work aboard and travel. I truly enjoy the perks that being self employed offers such as the flexibility to spend time with my family and friends,” she says. h
“I am regularly sought as an adviser to global and North American CEO’s and business leaders. My plan will help your company reach your earning potential. I am driven by my relentless passion to help visionaries get what they really want in business and life. My clients come from a wide range of industries, including consumer packaged goods, childcare development, and professional services. My coaching structure is built on my belief that CEO’s and business leaders can have tremendous business success, along with an enriching and adventurous lifestyle,” she says. Dominique started Perfect Fit Placement in 2012. “I was a nanny and wanted to start my own firm. This company quickly grew and became in high demand. Before I knew it, I was placing high profile and high net worth clients. I was really rocking it in the corporate baby-sitting world and decided to divide my company in half. All baby-sitting was to shift to the franchise we acquired, College Nannies Sitters and Tutors, and Perfect Fit Placement was to continue doing the entire nanny placement. I knew I could grow the baby-sitting service to the point of selling in a short amount of time,” she says. Over the last three years Dominique has primarily been consulting. She has helped a handful business owners scale their businesses. Once she sold the baby-sitting service, Dominique knew it was time to really focus on helping others. She used everything she learned along the way and it worked. It was then when she officially launched Dominique Rice Consulting. “I love helping people the most that is what I am proud of. I am truly inspired by Beyoncé. Not the singer, but Beyoncé the entrepreneur and mother. Beyoncé is one of the greatest not just because she is talented but also because she works the hardest. She is a wife, mother, and creator. She expects perfection from herself and those around her. I admire her hard work and work ethic,” Dominique says.
Dominique Rice Dominique Rice Consulting www.dominiquerice.com
While being faced with many challenges in business, Dominique has persevered. “I’ve had former employees leave and start their own business while stealing valuable content and work for competitors. I have faced all the issues with growing and scaling too quickly. I feel like I have faced it all and through that, I am able to teach others and help them to learn from my mistakes,” she shares.
7
Javan Posey Cutting At The Next Level
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Bernard Smith Javan Posey is a native of Greenville, S.C. He is also a registered and professional barber who takes pride in the God given gift of grooming others. He has even establishied his own brand, The Groomers Touch. Now in his tenth year as the lead barber of The Official Next Level Barbershop in Mauldin, S.C., Javan has set his sights on accomplishing greatness. “I consider myself to be a professional groomer who has made a career as a barber. Some would only see me as a barber, but I look at it as more than that. It’s not about the haircut or styles of hair. It’s all about building self-esteem and earning the trust of people to keep them looking good. That’s why I’m in this profession,” he says. “I would describe myself as a beard specialist who is able to construct a nice outline and detail to one of the most important part of ones appearance...the beard.” As a barber, Javan takes into account the value that comes with being an architect of the beard and work to provide the best services to each client. “I feel that it is important to provide hair care tips to the customer to assist with crafting a beard masterpiece. I enhance the structure and outline of the beard to give the customer a distinct look. Additionally, I provide cleansing services for the beard that will help the customer maintain growth and shape,” he says. Now, as a veteran barber, Javan has established other services including haircut enhancements and hot lather shaves. The Groomer’s Touch offers a haircut experience without any worries, lots of relaxation, therapy, and prayer. To separate himself from others in his profession, Javan focuses on being able to provide the best possible grooming experience to his clients. This includes a signature Haircut Enhancements service that involves hair coloring to increase the value of the haircut, shape-up, or shaping. The purpose of this service is to present a more upscale look for the customer. He also offers Hot Lather Shaves, a rare commodity in the barbering game. “When customers request this service, they are seeking a cleaner look with their shaving experience. It comes with steaming towels, a fresh razor, and the application of a post-shave soother. It is a
9
state-of-the-art experience that guarantees a confident look,” Javan says. While most services offered by Javan typically can be executed under one hour, he generally asks his clients to relax and enjoy their experience. Moving forward Javan says his number one focus moving forward is to work on developing and expanding his brand, The Groomer’s Touch. “My aim is for the customer to receive a sophisticated haircut with a luxurious experience from a topnotch barber. This includes adding more styles and techniques to offer my clients a greater grooming experience. The ultimate goal is to provide compassion and courage to my clients so that they feel comfortable with illuminating their appearance,” he says.
“I consider myself to be a professional groomer who has made a career as a barber. Some would only see me as a barber, but I look at it as more than that. It’s not about the haircut or styles of hair. It’s all about building self-esteem and earning the trust of people to keep them looking good.”
The Groomers Touch brand is truly a work in progress, but Javan shares that he is confident that it will have a positive influence on each client that he is able to service. To learn more about The Groomers Touch, please contact Javan Posey.
Javan Posey 864-887-1741 10
The Impact of Covid-19
Tangee Moore - Avail Outreach
How has the Covid-19 Pandemic affected or impacted your practice? Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC is a private, mind-body practice focused on empowering and healing the total person- mind, body, and soul. Avail services are healing focused, personcentered, and goal directed. Avail offers outpatient psychotherapy, empowerment coaching, and holistic healing services such as Reiki, Yoni Steaming, Mindfulness Meditative Practices, Nutrition Psychoeducation, and Physical Fitness. In addition to programs and services, Avail offers holistic healing products such as yoni steam herbal blends, sage, Palo Santo, CBD products, and more. To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Avail has followed through with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation of social distancing. Many people have had to change the way they conduct business—this includes private practices such as Avail. To reduce in-person contact, Avail’s programs and services are now being offered completely online through virtual platforms. Avail has been fortunate to have always had wellestablished business continuity plans in place. In 2017, Avail launched TelAvail™, an online
12
platform for clients with transportation issues, health issues, or daycare issues. Prior to COVID19, we were able to operate from multiple locations and in a highly secure work-from-home capacity. At this time, we have been able to continue to manage our operations through this evolving situation. It is important however to note that in offering online treatment to clients, we face lower or no reimbursement from insurance companies and payers. The main barriers to maintaining usual care by telehealth require changes that are unlikely to come from the federal level. Commercial reimbursement, Medicaid reimbursement, and credentialing are the states’ domain. Only 20% of states require payment parity between telemedicine and in-person services. Fortunately, both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and some local commercial payers have modified payment policy in response to Covid-19. We hope others will follow suit.
one hour session that includes physical Movement (workout routine that incorporates Hip-Hop, Afro-beats, and Latin dance moves), and Mindfulness techniques (mindful breathing, visualization, and movement) by qualified professionals. The Avail Workplace Wellness program is designed to support and encourage a holistic approach to employee wellbeing by creating an organization culture of health. Avail Workplace Wellness Program provides a series of interactive and engaging online workshops that includes the following topics: Effective Communication, Cultural Competency, Mind-Body Balance, and Self-Care. Each workshop provides practical yet effective tools that employees can readily access and easily implement. Each workshop is led by Avail’s MindBody experts who are clinical licensed social workers, certified fitness instructors, and corporate leaders.
What has been Avails response? Avail has taken proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of our therapists, student interns, and clients. We recognize the personal impacts that the current uncertainty may have on our clients and the emotional uneasiness it may cause. To that end, we have continued to monitor the situation closely, providing weekly emails with resource information from reputable sources to our clients and staff. We have assisted our clients with safety planning, made contact calls outside of scheduled therapy sessions, remained involved with providers outside of our practice for treatment coordination purposes, and kept our website www.availcounseling. com updated with information regarding COVID-19 and ways to continue to access our programs, services, and products. Avail’s social media platforms to include Instagram (@ availcounseling), Twitter (@availcounse1ing), and Facebook (Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC) remain active offering uplifting messages or quotes and information to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and educate the community in which we serve on ways to meet unmet mental and physical health needs. We recognize that individuals are using homeopathy, essential oils, and other forms of alternative medicine to prevent COVID-19, or to treat it. Avail does not have a cure, but we do have mind-body, holistic healing products to help ease one’s distress, lower anxiety, and find their center. Our online shop offers essentials that can help individuals with dis-ease in an effort to avert stress that will only weaken the immune system, making one more susceptible to any virus, infection, or disease. In response to COVID-19, majority of our programs are being offered online to both our local and global communities. One of our programs used by many schools and daycares is “Mindfulness, Movement, and Motivation.” We are currently offering this online to students at E. W. Wyatt Middle School in Greensville County for their 21st Century after school program using the Zoom platform. Students receive a
Avail, in partnership with Education Connection Academy (ECA), a nonprofit organization, continues to host our monthly series titled, “Girl, Take Off Your Cape”: Community Chats about Superwoman Syndrome online. Avail contributes to “Cut to the Chase,” a safe space for men to discuss men’s mental and physical health issues. This has continued online. To learn more about Avail Outpatient Counseling LLC visit www. availcounseling.com. Attached is also a flyer that shares how to support Avail during COVID-19.
13
The
Huami Magazine Celebrates You! Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana Miss Indiana University 2020 Kelly School of Business Honors
High Point Christian Academy High Point, NC Contra Costa College San Pablo, California Business Major
Noah C. Lowe
Alexandria Ford
Ragsdale High School Jamestown, NC GTCC Criminal Justice Major
UNC-G - The Middle College Greensboro, NC Dudley High School National Honor Society NC A&T State University Animal Science Major
14
Kylah Bates
Jeremiah D. Brown
Class of 2020 Grimsley High School Greensboro, NC
Grimsley High School Greensboro, NC Class of 2020 UNC-G Musical Theater Majo
Avilon Trust Tate
Jonathan Hayes James B. Dudley High School Greensboro, NC Marching Band of Thunder Service Learning Diploma NC Central State University
Chelsea Alyssia Pettiford Alabama State University Suma Cum Laude
Chelsea Alyssia Pettiford
Kierra McNeil Southeast Guilford High School Greensboro, NC GTCC Early Childhood Education
Southampton High School Courtland, Virginia
Paul Wyche
Tynese Matthews 15
Page High School Greensboro, NC East Carolina University Business Major Minor in Communications
The Academy of Dudley Greensboro, NC UNC Charlotte Biomedical Engineering
Jason “CJ� Crump
Drey Latta West Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC Winston Salem State University
GTCC Middle College. North Carolina Central University Theater & Dance Major
Jamille Earl
Briquel Jackson
Fayetteville, NC North Carolina Agricultural and State University Biology Major
Southern Guilford High School Greensboro, NC GTCC Cosmetology
Jamestris Avery 16
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
Amiaya Rey
James B. Dudley High School Greensboro, NC North Carolina A&T State Univ.
The Middle College at NCA&T Dudley High School Greensboro, NC Elizabeth City State University
Jordan Minor
Khalil V. Smith
Phillip O’berry Academy Winston Salem, NC ECPI
Wanya NaShawn Milton James B.Dudley High School Greensboro, NC North Carolina A&T
Wayna NaShawn Milton
Tracy Peeler Jr.
The Middle College at NCA&T Greensboro, NC North Carolina Central University Computer Science Major
Page High School Greensboro, NC North Carolina A&T Supply Chain Management and Visual Arts (minor)
Rhyan Baker Charlotte - May/June 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
17
1 of 1’s by Jolie 18
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Angelique Walker Angelique Walker of Memphis, TN is a strong, God fearing, fearless, hard working woman. She is also a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and loves designing clothes, and making her own lane and rules. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin she migrated to Memphis in hopes of making her impression in both business and personally. Business wise, she has made her mark as the owner of 1 of 1 by Jolie, and fashion boutique that specializes in creating quality and luxury denim pieces for the everyday woman. “I cater to women who are petite and curvy. I provide a service that every women can love,” she says.
inside me to never give up and keep going regardless of the challenges that come. My children keep me humble. They keep me human,” Angelique shares. Moving forward, there are plans to have a boutique on wheels in 2021. The demographics change so much in Memphis and having a mobile store will create a change of scenery and a different way of shopping for Angelique. “We are now looking into manufacturing h jeans in an effort to eliminate all pre orders,” she says.
There is no coincidence how Angelique’s career started. While she was working in the ladies shoe department for Dillards in 2013. “There was a huge event that was taking place in Memphis at the time. I seen a lot of women purchasing the same pieces, from dresses to shoes. I wanted to go to the event as well but I wanted to wear something no one else had,” she shares. She’d always been obsessed with Beyoncé, and was fond of a red Robert Cavalli dress the star wore to the 2009 MTV VMA awards. She decided to make that same dress but in white, with custom shoes to match. The day after Angelique shares who people began messaging her on Facebook, asking where how to order the same things. As a result, 1 of 1’s by Jolie was born on July 20, 2013. In 2020, her husband, officially became her business partner. “He’s everything. He keeps up with all invoices and books. We are a team and I owe everything to him,” she shares. Some of her clients include Cardi B, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Lil’ Mama, Keyshia Kior, Zendaya Justina Skye, Young Dolph, Tae Heckard, and Karen Civil. For Angelique, her connection to fashion is genuine. “I love that people love what I create. I try my best to stay authentic and make my own fashion trends and I believe the success of my business is directly tied to my creativity. I try to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing and it always works for me. I try my best to create a piece that will get stares all night, and in a good way,” she says. Like most other businesses, Angelique has faced her share of challenges as well. One is learning to say no and being organized. “I had to learn that the hard way. I gain local attention fast and global attention so after mainly due to social media. My inability to say no during the moments when I couldn’t keep up with demand caused my customer service to plummet. I always tell people I never got the chance to learn how to operate my business as a business. I just knew how to make clothes and that was it. I did everything by myself, from making clothes, shipping, to answering emails. I failed miserably. It took me almost seven years to realize I was in my own way. I finally have help and a team of people who are eager and willing to help me grow,” she says. One might ask what motivates this ambitious and outgoing woman. “My children are my drive. I have a three year old son and a one year old daughter. I want to give my business to them when they are of age. They created this competitiveness
www.shopjolie.net Shop Jolie 1138 N. Germantown Parkway - Suite 101-189 Cordova, TN 38106
19
Leah Rogers House of LA
20
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Leah Rogers Leah Rogers is really big on family. Affectionately known as Leah Marie, she is the eighth born of 11 children, and the fourth youngest. She is a native of Kinston, N.C. and grew up watching her parents struggle to provide for their family. Leah shares that while under her mother’s tutelage, she learned the value of hard work and determination. “In my household, I learned many lessons that established the framework in building a successful business enterprise. At the age of 16, I started my journey by working modest jobs but I realized that I needed to pursue a higher education to solidify my goals. With my eyes set to attend college but not sure how to finance this goal at the age of 18, I joined the North Carolina Army National Guard. Upon completion of my military training, I was accepted into North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (HBCU). In 2014, I graduated with a degree in Business Management,” she says.
clothing boutique, known now as LA Kloset. In 2018, I relaunched and rebranded my business to House of LA, LLC,” Leah says. As a National Guard soldier, Leah had the opportunity to serve her country, while also pursuing a civilian career. She wore her uniform one weekend out the month and 2 weeks during the summer unless deployed or activated state side. While in uniform, there are certain regulations that must be followed when it comes to appearance and hair. Being a black female with natural hair, Leah shares how she had to work around the frustrating limits of the Army regulation. To eliminate the constant troubles with her hair, Leah started wearing wigs to cover it up while on duty. LA Luxe Extension Brand was created in 2019 under the parent company House of LA, LLC. Its focus is to allow female Soldiers the opportunity to not have to compromise their personal styles to adhere to military standards.
The training Leah received in the Army provided the discipline needed to accomplish her educational goals and created the opportunity to strive for more. This included the option to pursue an advanced degree. In 2018, she graduated from Liberty University Online with her MBA, and later received a professional certification in Human Resources. Later that year, she was called to serve her country in an austere environment located in Afghanistan. She returned from Afghanistan organized, disciplined, and focused. Those three words can accurately describe the guiding principles on how Leah pursued her business ventures, how she supports her community, and her commitment to mentor young women. “When I set a goal, I pursue it with passion and vigor until it is reached,” she shares. Currently, Leah owns and manages House of LA, LLC. It is also the parent company for her clothing boutique (LA Kloset) and hair extension brand (LA Luxe). LA Kloset is a boutique for women wanting a curate mix of clothing and accessories that reflects their personal styles. LA Luxe provides ready to wear and custom-made wigs for women wanting to switch up hairstyles, protect their natural hair or dare to be different. “Our wigs are glue-less, making them perfect to throw on in little to no time, without the need for a hairstylist or visit to a salon. Our custom units are 100% human hair and can be made with your preference in regards to length, texture and/or color. Our goal is to provide our customers with an all in one seamless shopping experience, eliminating the need to shop in multiple locations to put together one look,” Leah says. How did it all began for Leah? She was first introduced to the beauty of fashion while working as a sales associate at a women’s clothing boutique in Greensboro, N.C., called “Q Fashions”. Then, she was a part-time guardsman and full-time college student studying Business Management. Her job as a sales associate consisted of showcasing the store’s most popular items and offering solutions or ideas to customers, providing guidance on product fits and styles. As her passion for fashion grew, so did the relationship with her customers. It was then Leah realized she wanted to get into fashion more. “What started as a dream, selling my own used clothing and shoes, eventually tuned into much more. In 2013, I started my
Starting a business is a big accomplishment for many aspiring entrepreneurs, but maintaining it can be the biggest challenge. Time management is essential. Leah shares that when she initially started, she was a full-time college student, working part-time with the Army National Guard, and working part-time at my civilian job. “In the beginning, I struggled with finding a balance between my business, work and school. Finding ways to devote time to both has proven to be key for achieving a work-life balance. Now that I am done with school, I have a better handle on devoting time to my business,” she says. Being an entrepreneur gives Leah an opportunity to pour her love into something that she loves, and to help others. “Being an entrepreneur can be daunting at times but my family, friends, customer base, and other business owners make it worthwhile. Serving my growing clientele and learning the day to day operations of building my brand is always an ongoing . Waking up each day knowing I get to do something I love is more than I can say about almost any job that I’ve held,” she says. Furthermore, Leah loves the opportunity she has to create new clothing outfits and hair styles and the ability to collaborate with other creatives, social media influencers, and business owners all over the world.
21
Leah says that her parents have inspired her to be the person she is. “My parents are my role models. Their actions in life guided me and give me the courage to face obstacles. Since childhood, my mother has always been a hard worker, working days and sometimes nights and doing everything possible to provide for us. She inspired me to never give up and to keep working hard no matter what. My dad came to the United States with little to no education from the Common Wealth of Dominica. His goal was to make a better life for himself. He is my pillar of strength. I’ve seen him at his highs and lows, and one thing I noticed is that he never gave up or surrendered to the situations life threw at him. At his lowest points in life, he remained positive and vigilant. No matter the circumstances, he continues to smile. He is the most caring, loving, and humble person I know. He gives me strength to face any problem in life. He inspired me to look at the bigger picture in life and focus on what’s really important,” she shares. For those who may be thinking about starting a business, Leah offers some advice. “Believe in yourself. Your vision starts with you. If you don’t believe in yourself or your vision, how can you expect the next person to do so. Having the vision and believing in myself is the force that keeps me going daily even when times get hard or business is slow,” she says. Leah also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do the time and put in the necessary work to succeed. “Success doesn’t happen overnight. Everyone starts as a beginner. You have to invest time into your business. No one succeeds in business alone. It took me a while to realize this but now I have the assistance of family and friends to help me with small things. I lived by the saying, teamwork makes the dream work.”
LA Kloset www.shoplakloset.com infolakloset@gmail.com 919-346-3492 Facebook: @leahmarie @thelakloset Instagram: @i.am.leahmarie @shoplakloset 22
Moving forward, Leah desires to assist other aspiring entrepreneurs on starting their journey. She is in the planning stages of her next business venture. Her next move will involve taking her experience from both the civilian and military side to form Leah Marie & Company. “My dream has always been clear, to one day be my own boss and help others do the same. In order to do so, I had to learn the process on from the beginning. For those that have dreams inside but aren’t sure where to start, my team and I will be able to assist them along the way. I want to provide an all-in-one hub for upcoming entrepreneurs and help them to be able to feel confident when taking this journey by providing them with the resources needed to be successful,” she says. h
Braxton Langston Moore MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
The son of Lasaudia Moore
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
Charlotte - May/June 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
23 23
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Carlos Brown Executive Chef Carlos Brown is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of C3Culinary Group LLC. He believes that “Food that Makes You Smile” and “Saving Hospitality”. He began cooking at the young age of eight. By the time he was 16, he was declared to be a professional. “It started at home. I was raised by two great women, my mom and grandmother,” he says. Fast forward, he eventually created the Chef Carlos brand which includes Gullah On The Go, Private Stock, Kitchen by Chef Carlos Brown, Authentic Shrimp & Grits Cafe by Chef Carlos in Atlanta, and Charleston SC. His arsenal includes Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, Hospitality Consultant, speaker, personal and private chef, philanthropist, multi-product developer, and author. Carlo’s career as a chef is more than food on a plate. It’s artistry, developing, teaching, and training. Under the Saving Hospitality umbrella, he shares his talents with kids who have special needs. “That’s special to me because the love bring families, communities, and homes together,” he says. Today the impact for me is not allowing my failures to stop or slow me down. Because I realized that my cooking is more food, its an encounter! This catapult me to build a stronger career as a celebrity chef. Chef Carlos loves food and finds inspiration in cooking. “It’s starts with having a love in our strong culture of Gullah. I believe that food is an experience. I was born in the low country. Being a black executive chef was so hard and almost never heard of. But I believed that I was born to create art. That belief pushed me to move forward, reach back, and pull others up and show that we can be whatever we desire,” he says. Chef Carlos shares there have been some ups and downs in his career as a chef. “My wife LaShawn has been the greatest support. She has been on this joinery with me since it began. I’m grateful to be a part of history located in Smithsonian African American Museum For Authentic Shrimp & Grits in Washington DC. I am a 2020 National Black Chef Awards Culinary Excellence Award Winner, and I received the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Award Kingston Chef Scholastic Award Diamond Culinary Medal in 2017. Even more, in Charleston, August 23rd is declared Chef Carlos Brown Day,” he shares. He has also had the pleasure to work with and serve some great celebrity clients that include Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, David Oyelowo, Shaquille O’Neal, Julius Tennon, Jim Carrey, Phyllis Newhouse, Danny Glover, US Congressman John Lewis, US Congressman Jim Clyburn, US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Bo Jackson, Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Susan Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, Mack Brown, Bill Bellamy, TI, LIl Wayne, Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Fantasia, Rashaun Williams, Darlene McCoy, and many more. Some of the challenges Chef Carlos has faced have been investors, who tend to run away from restaurants because most restaurant fails. “That happens when owners don’t understand the concept of hospitality or how to effectly run this business,” he says. “We have developed a winning concept to be successful.” Moving forward , Chef Carlos plans to open new restaurants and expand the Chef Carlos brand that includes several products. He also plans to work with kids who have special needs, juveniles, and continue to share his talents with schools. h
Charlotte - May/June 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
25
PROOF THAT GOD HEALS 26
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Judith Hill Photography Andrea Pitts of Nashville, TN is a burn survivor, community advocate, and very kind hearted person. She also believes in the power of a simple smile and laughter from the heart, and thrives off making others smile with positivity and helping those who are less fortunate. These are all qualities that assist her with managing Scars Uncovered, a nonprofit she has been cultivating since 2014. Scars Uncovered is an organization that encourages survivors to uncover their scars, and to be transparent and free. I have my good and bad days in this area but hearing “Scars Uncovered” continues to give me, as well as those we serve, encouragement. At the age of 18 months old, Andrea was involved in a traumatic incident that left her with severe burns on approximately 30% of her body. “While in the kitchen and watching my mom as she cooked one day, she turned her back for a quick second to get something out of the refrigerator. In that quick second, I instinctively reached for the ladle she had been using on the stovetop, trying to imitate her. This caused a pot of scalding hot water and beans to spill over me. In pain, I was rushed to the hospital and began a recovery process that would greatly shape the rest of my life. In the midst of tragedy, the nurses always told my parents that my smile spread happiness through the burn unit. I went through surgeries and countless hours of occupational and physical therapy and the medical
bills steadily increased. Unfortunately, my parents did not have adequate insurance coverage. The hospital even threatened to terminate treatment at one point, but thanks to the persistence of my parents and the help of others such as the Shriners, I was able to continue my stay. After my hospitalization, the lives of my parents as they knew it changed a great deal. I had to be given special baths, daily wound care changes, and taken to several follow up appointments. My parents were very resilient and endured quite a bit of challenges in order to get me where I am today,” she shares. That ordeal is the reason why Andrea pushes so hard today. Scars Uncovered was founded November 2014 with an understanding of the journey that encompasses coping with a burn injury. What started as an idea for a walk for burn survivors has evolved into the creation of an entire nonprofit organization. Andrea shares how she started hosting small fundraising efforts in order to obtain funding for start-up cost. “We were simultaneously in communication with hospital facilities surveying their needs and sharing what services we intended to provide. This process lasted for approximately a year and we provided our first set of care packages to Vanderbilt Burn Center in January 2016. As we collaborated with more healthcare entities, we were able to partner with more facilities to provide services and add on the financial assistance component of our services,” she says.
Continued on the next page Charlotte - May/June 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
27
Scars Uncovered has assisted over 1,000 burn survivors. Their focus is to give comfort and support to burn survivors and their families. They provide resources that ease the burdens that often come with the tragedy of a burn injury. They also partner with burn units to deliver “Boxes of Love” care packages to recovering patients and/ or family members. These are specialized care packages filled with necessities hand-picked with the needs of survivors and their families in mind. Each care package costs approximately ten dollars to produce, however Andrea says the impact is priceless. Currently, they are able to provide care packages to Vanderbilt University Regional Burn Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, OH, and the Reginal Burn Center in Memphis, TN. Andrea’s personal experience of being a burn survivor hugely impacted her life. Even today, she shares how dynamic the journey contines to be and she has a great understanding of the mental, physical, emotion, and financial trauma that can be experienced throughout the healing process. “Being a burn survivor and creating an organization to support other survivors has helped me in so many ways, especially as it relates to the healing process,” she says. Besides having compassion and a geniune concern for others, Andrea shares what she loves most about helping others. “I love when I hear from or see a patient that has received a care package or financial assistance from our organization. The gratefulness in their heart is rewarding and so fulfilling. To know that we are helping to make a difference in someone’s life during such a critical time makes it all worth it. Even if we do not hear from a survivor specifically, knowing that you are paying it forward with no expectation of anything in return is a great feeling,” she says. As a woman of faith, Andrea proudly shares how God is using her to help so many others. “I believe we sometimes go through difficult times in order for God to strengthen us to be used by Him. Through this experience I have learned that it is a blessing to share your testimony. The very thing we try to hide is sometimes the very thing God uses to bless us, and others as well.”
Scars Uncovered 615-933-9083 www.scarsuncovered.org info@scarsuncovered.org Facebook & Instagram @ Scars Uncovered
28
Andrea says they are blessed to have volunteers, sponsors, donors, social media support, and others. Should anyone have an interest in any either of these areas, she encourages them to contact her and learn more on how to be a part. please follow us on Instagram or Facebook @Scars Uncovered, email us at info@scarsuncovered.org, or contact us at 615-933-9083. We would love to chat and/or love to see you following our good works. h
29
www.iamlaurendanielle.com
Deanna Smith 2026 Ayrsley Town Blvd Charlotte, NC 28273 Ph: 704-907-3422
32
HuamiMagazine.com Charlotte - May/June 2020