Huami Magazine Charlotte September/October 2016 by Terry Watson

CHARLOTTE

Sept./Oct. 2016 Volume 1 Issue 8 FREE

Jamal Hunter

Arletha Mcclelland

Anna & Camille

Yes, We Care! Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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Mistakes MakeOr You Better There Are NoCan If, Ands, Buts About It! A Letter From The Editor A Letter from the Editor

One of the hardest things for me to do is to admit that I made a mistake. It is not because I think that I’m perfect; it’s because I try real hard to get What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All when of your plans, hopes things right the first time. If only I had listened I was instructed dreams wouldn’t have a street park on. What if free. to slowand down and take my time, chances aretoI would be blemish everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never Yet, how much fun would that have been? It would deny me from the happened? There wouldand be learning no reason to them, save for rainy experience of making mistakes from anda the challenge of developing to prevent them from day, andmethods you could spare someone thehappening trouble ofagain. making

promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired

When we can admit to ouryou shortcomings, it says a lot about our today? What would do? character. It reveals that we are not too prideful or ashamed. It also helps us to let loose of thetold burdens canseem oftenlike consume usmuch. when we allow I’ve been that Ithat often I do too tough situations become Honestly, to I feel like I perpetual. am not doing enough and I’m a firm

believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me

In order me to get to thisI position, I had to conduct selfwould evaluation that for I couldn’t handle. sometimes wonder how alife and identify what were my intentions and motives, and more importantly be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I who do they benefit more. The exam started initially with a conversation have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity with God because He knows more about me than I do of myself.

is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to methat is an adventure. worstlife that happen? I learned It is impossibleWhat to liveisathe fulfilling andcan never impact If I else’s do nothing, fail, that and if I try Ithem don’t, someone life in aI way allows tobut liveinstead greater.learn God told me something yourour pride and He doesn’t bless usnew just about so thatmyself. we can Relinquish go around with nose in in the air, return acquire life. boasting about what we have. He does it so that others can see His work

through us. Just as a young boy watches his father shave and prepare for The best advice ever given to me happened when someone work each morning, or a young girl that helps her mother prepare a meal told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so for their family, there are others who are watching and learning from what we do Iand how we do my it. way through doors with a key that only have pressed

hope provided. I have also learned the difference between We all mustGod be mindful ourselves. Once word or sound escapes what blesses about me with and what life acan burden me with our lips, can’t take themit back. Our actions how we treatand our aswe well. I compare to knowing whenand to be confident neighbor is a precise reflection of when to be quiet, becausehow we really feel about them. That is why it is someone may get it confused so important to be arrogant. careful with what you with being

allow your ears and eyes to receive. What we take in will eventually come back Make you tomorrow out. Love and pain has equal power, but happen today, but most very different intentions. I would rather importantly make it count. live my life, trying to find ways to love Lifeeven is but a whisper and give it everyone, those who don’t we must putan ourselves in a to live back, than to waste opportunity position to hear what it and never know what it feels likeisto love.

www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief

Terry L. Watson Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Writers

Tonya Dixon Terry L. Watson Alana Allen Jeuron Dove Photographers Perfect Lenz Photography Todd Youngblood Photography

Shaw Photography Group Still Shots Photography

Howard Gaither Photography Who Shotya Photography Layout

Mykel Media Company Linda Bennett

mykelmedia@yahoo.com huami.charlotte@gmail.com (336) 340-7844 (336)340-7844

HUAMI MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the Mykel Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher prior to doing so. Mykel Media doesn’t accept responsibility for statements made by individuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning this publication may be submitted to the editor by E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2016 All Rights Reserved 2014 All Rights Reserved

telling us.

Terry L. Watson

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

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Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

November/December 2014

On The Cover

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CONTENTS

Bobby J

Sept./Oct.

Kisha Mitchell

2016

Demetra Moore

Also Inside

Cutest Baby Contest Xeal Anhi Jordan

Angelene & Perry Hill A Ray Of Hope Ministries

Antonina Griffith Stay Out Of Her Way!

Anna and Camielle

Jamal Hunter

Arletha Mcclelland

16 O

Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

Dale Townsend

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Anna & Camille

Yes, We Care!

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Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by Todd Youngblood or as long as Anna Bryant can remember, she has been taking care of someone. As a partaker at New Life Fellowship in Charlotte with Pastor John P. Kee, she has always been obedient to what God asked of her. At the young age of 14, her mother, who was a nurse, passed away, leaving Anna’s father and their six children behind.

She is a 1979 graduate of Eastside High, in Paterson, New Jersey, and partaker at New Life Fellowship in Charlotte with Pastor John P. Kee. She is also the third oldest, and assumed a motherly role within her family, and helped raise her three younger brothers. As an adult, after her job in Corporate America abruptly ended, it felt only natural that she returned to what she knew and loved – taking care of those in need. In 2005 Anna became the caregiver to a mentally disabled man and his sickly mother just by answering a job ad. She did everything from cook their food, transport them to doctor’s appointments, and plan their daily activities. “The son, who was older than me has Downs Syndrome and couldn’t talk when I met him. After a while, he could talk, care for himself, and do everything else except cook.” Having assumed the caregiver role for the two for at least nine years, she was like part of their family. One day she shared her idea with the mother, of forming her own organization and the client thought it would be a great venture. This prompted Anna to attend school and earn a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) degree in 2008. By 2012 Anna and her brother Joseph Bryant had completed the complex process of applying for a 501(c)(3) to be recognized as a nonprofit organization. “Obtaining a nonprofit certification is very difficult and expensive so my brother and I contributed together.” Later, her longtime friend Camille Stephens, a 30 year, now retired, Army veteran joined the organization and she too earned her CNA degree shortly thereafter. Finally, with a lot of prayer and perseverance, ‘Yes We Care’ was up and running. The nonprofit provides a myriad of services to senior citizens, such as respite care (temporarily relieving a normal caregiver from caring for the patient), transportation services, field trips and outings, providing birthday celebrations and gatherings, and even daily companionship. “Joseph would offer maintenance services to

“The nonprofit provides a myriad of services to senior citizens, such as respite care (temporarily relieving a normal caregiver from caring for the patient), transportation services, field trips and outings, providing birthday celebrations and gatherings, and even daily companionship.” Continued on the next page

the clients when they weren’t able to handle them on their own. He even helped relocate a client to another state and transformed his entire home to be handicapped accessible.” As the nonprofit grew, Anna and Camille, who met while working at the Charlotte Housing Authority in the 1980’s, also saw growth within their own families. Anna adopted three children from a family of 10 (of those, five other children were placed in foster care) after the mother was deemed unfit to raise them. About the same time, Camille found herself as the head of a four generational household; Her mother and daughter who are also caregivers, reside in the home, along with her son, and two of her precious grandchildren. “I’m constantly busy with someone in my family,” says Camille. I can hear a smile in her voice when she shares the dynamic of her home. One day, Joseph mentioned to Anna that he thought Camille should be more involved and wanted her to assume a more important role within the nonprofit. “I thought it was a good idea, but I didn’t realize it was his way of preparing me for the future.” In 2014, tragedy struck, when Joseph was senselessly murdered by a border he’d provided shelter for in his home. “My brother simply asked the guy for the rent money that was due and an argument broke out. He stabbed my brother to death 2 days after his 50th birthday.”

We’ve always been there for each other. Camille is my rock and I’m hers. I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else.

Obviously, Anna and Camille were both devastated by the loss and Anna wasn’t sure how she would go on – with life or with the business - without him, the brother she had raised from a boy. Camille stepped in to help pick up the pieces and eventually they were able to carry on. “Anna is like my sister. We’ve been friends for decades. She’s helped raise my kids. She even bought my son his first pager when he was seven years old,” Camille reminisces. “We’ve always been there for each other. She’s my rock and I’m hers. I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else.” While they try and offer services for free, at times they do have to charge minimal fees just to cover certain costs. Eventually they hope to become an approved service through Medicare, but in the meantime, they plan to continue raising money the best way they can and servicing those who serviced us for so many years in the past. h

Yes, We Care! 7209-J East WT Harris Blve #126 Charlotte, NC 28262 704-605-7921 - 704.661.4011 abryantyeswecare@gmail.com cstephensyeswecare@gmail.com

State Approved to Bill Medicaid & Medicare 8

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Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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By Terry L. Watson Photos by Todd Youngblood

obby Erwin is a man of dignity who walks by faith and not by sight. The Charlotte, N.C. native was brought up in a church where morals and values of life were taught. His values were also taught by his mother, who he says always had her doors open to help anyone, even if that means giving her last. Erwin comes from humble beginnings. At the age of three, his father left him to be raised alone with his mother and other siblings. “I recall growing up in a two bedroom duplex and sleeping in the bed with two other people. Our struggle was real. Being part of a big family helped to ease the fact that we had no financial stability to do everything we wanted to,” he says. “I had to learn how to be a man on my own, because of the absence of my father.” Erwin considers his mother, “Momma Fat” a hero because she took the time to raise not just her children, but her whole family and a neighborhood. Now, he is building his own legacy as owner of Prostyle Barbershop in Charlotte, which opened its doors on June 30th, 2014, Erwin’s 30th birthday. He considers his shop to be one of the greatest gifts God could have blessed him with. “I wrote a paper In elementary school stating that I wanted to be a barber. I’m 32 years old now and not only a barber but a shop owner,” he says. After graduating from barber school in 2010, he dreamed of owning a barbershop, day in and day out. “I ate, slept and believed that I would be a shop owner until it became a reality,” he says.

Prostyle Salon & Barbershop The barbers and stylist of Prostyle provide the highest level of customer service possible, from retro to the latest styles, trends and textures. Their stylist also provide womens cuts, color and styles. Client consultations are always recommended and every Tuesday they promote a $5.00 special for kids regular haircuts. Erwin says he understands what a haircut does for a kids confidence, and how important it is to a parent. This is why he makes a haircut affordable for everyone.

Erwin credits his wife, JaTavia with being the force that pushes him to do more. “She impacts my career and life in ways that can’t be measured. When you have someone that believes in you just as much as you believe in yourself, it is amazing. There was a point in my life when I was working a third shift job while going to school and maintaining my duties as father and husband,” says Erwin. He had a breakdown during that time but no one understood him but his wife. “I wanted to give up and leave school

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and quit trying to chase my dreams. But she told me that I must be a fool to come this far and give up. She reminded me that is what people wanted me to do,” he explains. What Erwin loves most about being a barbershop owner is the fact that nothing was handed to him. “We worked hard to get here. The atmosphere that we provide for our customers is kid friendly and family oriented. I love the fact that every barber here has their very own uniqueness which makes our team special. We take pride and pour love into everything we do. We learn daily and grow with each individual and client,” he says. The staff of Prostyle is led by Erwin aka “Bobby J” who gives the coldest blackouts in the city. Ms. Doris aka “Ms. D” lets her presence be known with over 20 years of experience and is always willing to try new techniques. Malisha Stowe aka “Le Le The Fly Stylist” brings several tools to the team. She is a cosmetologist and barber and strives to be the best. Mario Mobley aka “Rio” specializes in the latest designs and designer cuts. Maurice Mobley aka “Moe” considers himself a specialist at fading everything in the chair and is capable of servicing all textures. Prostyle is a shop that believes in serving and giving back to their community. Each year they host an annual back to school bash and collects school supplies and book bags for students. Many of the supplies that are given away are donated from many of the devoted clients of Prostyle. Along with Chef Darnell Bennett, they provide Thanksgiving dinner each year for 200 people. They’re also able to sponsor a family each year for Christmas by hosting a toy drive with the help of donations from their community and clients.

Pictured with Bobby J are (from l to r) Ms. Doris, Maurice and Malisha

For anyone that may follow in Erwin’s footsteps, he advises them to never give up on their dreams. “Never depend on anyone and believe in God and have faith,” he says. “Success is by choice. You don’t always have to be the loudest, but be the smartest and with everything you do give it your best. Go confidently in the direction of your dream and make it your reality.” h

4016 Wilkinson Blvd, Ste D Charlotte, NC 28208 Bobby J 704-884-1198 cell 704-574-4533 shop Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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Salon & Boutique hen you first see the name, you will probably think the obvious ... sex! But if you venture beyond the title, Jamal’s Pure Sexy Salon & Boutique, you will realize that you can’t always judge a book by its cover, and you can’t solely judge a business by its name. Jamal Hunter, owner and operator of Jamal’s Pure Sexy Salon & Boutique is a man rooted in faith. “You can not succeed without God in your life,” says the believer. His faith in God has always been strong and there is no question on how he arrived where he is today. The proud 42-year-old credits God, his strength, and his mother who is also the General Manager of his business, for inspiring him to become a business owner.

The Anchorage, Alaska native has always styled hair, starting with his own. As an adolescent in middle school, he picked up a pair of clippers and took to his own mane after a botched cut from his mother. Since that moment, no one else has trimmed a hair on his head. Years later as a teen, his amateur barbering skills were tight enough for someone to notice that there was talent waiting to be discovered. He was soon working with professional barbers who became his mentors at a Denver, Colorado barbershop, honing the skills he needed to make a living. For more than ten years thereafter, Hunter explored different cities and worked at different barbershops, but as fate would have it, he always returned to the shop in Denver where he served his apprenticeship. “The owner always had a space for me when I came back, but working in different shops and being around other barbers motivated me to refine my craft,” says Hunter. He decided, after years of apprenticeship, to become a licensed barber.

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Charlotte - July/August - 2016

Taking the step to attend barber school was a major decision for Hunter, but he knew it was the only way he could move to the next level in his career. In 2011, he applied to a program and after being accepted, learned that the person he expected to be his instructor had recently resigned. Hunter thought his dream of obtaining his license was crushed until the Admissions Counselor persuaded him to apply for the Cosmetology Program. “She told me that women would love for me to do their hair! But I initially didn’t think it was right for me. However, she convinced me to try it and I was in a class with 46 women. I ended up learning so much more than I ever expected,” he says. Later he landed a job as a barber with a well known Denver hair salon that also sold a large amount of hair and hair products. “The facility initially was a skating rink, so it was huge. And it received so much business, it was almost like a nightclub. The entire time I worked at this hair salon, in my mind I was creating my own business. I was psychologically projecting myself to where I am today,” says Hunter. His Mother chimed in, “Tell them about the name, and how you came up with it.” He shares a brief story about his days in the Denver hair salon when customers would almost magically transform as they walked out the door with their new hairstyles. “When you add our flawless hair extensions to a woman’s head she transforms. She leaves our salon glowing! Our definition of sexy is intelligent, confident and classy and that’s what we mean by pure sexy,” he explains. Unfortunately, during the same year, Hunter encountered a traumatic experience that would change the course of his life forever. He was a victim of police brutality. After that incident, he expressed a heightened sense of faith in God and believes he was richly blessed to move forward with his plan to create his business for the community. When asked about his journey, it is difficult for the salon owner to hold back his tears. He explains how he hasn’t always made the best decisions, but he is now living his life for God. “I decided to obey God. He told me that if I served Him, He would stand me on my feet. And since that exact moment, I’ve kept my end of the bargain and He hasn’t let me down,” he says. As a Charlotte Community Partner, he hosts an Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. This year he is looking forward to touching even more families in their time of need. Feeding families and giving back to the community has been the highlight of his experience as a local businessman. It is obvious that Hunter is passionate about God and his faith, but he is also very passionate about his business. “This business affects women in our community in a positive way, and I take pride in that,” he says. Like many local business owners, Hunter feels an overwhelming need to keep the revenue flowing in our community. He says, “Let your dollars pass through the hands of the people in our community two or three times before it leaves. Have a plan, and follow through with that plan. Dream Big!” In his first year of business, Jamal’s Pure Sexy Salon & Boutique was the 2016 Queen City Beauty Professions Award Winner for the Best Hair Salon in Charlotte. Hunter has big plans for Jamal’s Pure Sexy Salon & Boutique and is looking to the future where he hopes to continue to build his team and expand his brand of flawless human hair extensions and haircare products. Hunter takes great pride in knowing that he is the first African American man to have his name on a dry weave product. Currently he is transitioning to a Paul Mitchell Signature Salon to expand his services to a more diverse clientele. With a wink and a smile, Hunter emphasizes, “I am invested in this. It’s my life, and I’m all in. With the Lord’s help, this will not fail.” h

Salon & Boutique

3130 Monroe Road Charlotte, NC 28205 (980) 209-9884 www.jamalspuresexy.com Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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Angela Thornton By Terry L. Watson Photos by Jarvis Harris

Three Roads To Success

here are three simple things that Angela Thornton believes that someone who strives for success must acknowledge and live by. First, she says remove the word “can’t” from your vocabulary. Secondly, get rid of the dream killers in your life. Lastly, she says you must have no fear, because fear is the biggest dream killer there is.

A native of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Angela moved to North Carolina at a very young age. After high school she received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from North Carolina Central University in Durham and her master’s degree in computer science from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. She has over 20 years of IT corporate experience while working in various roles as a software engineer, business systems analyst and project manager. However, her true gratification comes from being a mother to her 13-yearold son and athlete. When she is not working, she can be found traveling, painting, working out or playing flag football with the Durham Lady Bulls flag football team. Earlier this year, she completed her first mini-triathlon. She is the owner of three very dynamic businesses. Adella Creative is a web design, graphic design and IT consulting business that provides full-service, website development. She also specializes in customized websites, WordPress sites, Wix.com and SquareSpace platforms. “We also provide graphic services such as logo design, business card designs, flyers, booklets and more. Adella Creative can also assist with social media set up and management, as well as other IT related services,” she says. As a web applications developer for many years in the corporate world, Angela also developed a love for website and graphic design. After successfully completing a website for a friend many years ago, she realized there was something else she was good at doing and more gratifying than her corporate job. “I love working with graphics and layouts. What’s tedious to most is fun for me,” she states. Her graphic design business has grown by leaps and bounds, mainly due to the support of repeat customers and referrals. It was because of this growth that she felt it was time to introduce her business to a much larger audience and thus, Adella Creative was born.

networking marketing side of the business didn’t appeal to me as much,” she says. While on a Sandals trip for travel agents in December 2014; she met a lady who had her own home based travel agency. This lady was kind enough to tell Angela how she started her agency. Fully enlightened by the information that was shared with her, she decided to start an agency of her own, Sunrise Escapes Travel was born in January 2015 and currently has seven independent agents who book travel under the agency’s name. Angela’s third venture is North Carolina Staged Interiors, a home staging and interior design business focusing on the Raleigh/Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Garner and Morrisville areas of North Carolina. “We understand the buyer demographic and real estate market for each of these areas,” she says. North Carolina Staged Interiors’ styling and redesign services connects their client to each space in their home, so that it’s organized, beautiful, stress-free and the perfect reflection of them. She already possessed a natural talent for creativity and design, whether it be architecture, art, graphics or interior design. She was accepted to Hampton University to pursue a degree in architecture upon graduating from high school, but instead found herself following a different path towards engineering and received a degree in computer science. Over the years she has enjoyed decorating her own homes as well as those of friends and family. Having been a part time real estate agent since 2001, she realized that a home staging business would blend well with her real estate practice, while giving her the opportunity to live her passion. In 20 years of working as an IT professional in corporate America, Angela says she has been laid off four times. “I remember the first time I was laid off, my mother was in shock and disbelief. I told my mom that’s how corporate America works. My mother grew up in a generation where someone could work for a company for 30 plus years and then retire. You got pensions, retired somewhere and lived a good life in your golden years. That’s not the case anymore. When I was laid off the second time, I knew I had to have a “plan b”. Well now I have three of them.” Angela is mostly inspired by her mother who she also describes as her hero. “She raised three kids alone and had a phenomenal career in academics as an administrator, dean and nurse educator. She didn’t understand why I wanted to leave such a good paying corporate job to start my own business but before she passed, I think she realized that I was doing what was necessary and was also proud of my tenacity to make it happen,” she says. Additionally, she credits her grandfather with paving an entrepreneurial path for her, as he owned a barbershop and sold hair care products himself. More than anything, Angela loves to help others. That is another reason why she wanted to get out of the cubicle and connect with others. “I’m a people person and my businesses have allowed me to make so many friends and meet some of the most interesting and accomplished people,” she says. Moving forward she says she hopes to add more agents to her travel business and employ others. “I want to provide jobs to our community and internships to our young, African American students so that they can have some experience when they graduate and not just a piece of paper,” she said. h

Her second venture is Sunrise Escapes Travel, an independent host travel agency specializing in cruises, destination weddings, group travel and tours. While being certified with Sandals, Disney and Royal Caribbean, they can book any cruise, resort or tour that their clients may desire. They are capable of producing custom travel packages for their clients, while working with them to understand their destination desires, such as adding zip-lining adventures with their kids in the rain forests, or a romantic relaxing get-a-way with their significant other at an all adult, all-inclusive resort. From 2013 - 2014, Angela was involved with a marketing business in the traveling industry. “Although I enjoyed the travel aspect of the business, the

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Adella Creative www.adellacreative.com 919-600-7299 NC Staged Interiors www.ncstagedinteriors.com 919-424-1934 Sunrise Escapes Travel www.sunriseescapes.com 855-629-4827

Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

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Arletha Mcclelland SoirĂŠes Entertainment

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Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Todd Youngblood lassic elegance with a hint of quirkiness; that is how Arletha Mcclelland describes the style of her business, Soirées Entertainment that officially launched in September 2014. She began planning events while in college, as a member of the university programing board at UNC-Charlotte. While enrolled, she studied theatre production. That experience she says caused her to fall in love with creating shows and events. “I started out planning small birthday parties, social gatherings, and meetings. After I graduated, I continued planning events on the side for fun and for extra money until one day while I was driving home, I realized that I should start my very own event planning business. By the time I got home I had decided to step out on faith and start Soirées Entertainment.”

Arletha is a pretty simple person with big dreams. She is also a “southern gal” and woman of much faith. “I love family and the things that make you smile. I exude positivity and I have no problems sharing that energy,” she says. Though she is spontaneous and quirky at times, her creative nature and warm spirit has only complimented her as a business person. She is the type that would rather lie in the background than to be out front. She doesn’t aim to please others just to be credited for that. She feels her signature is enough to leave a lasting impression on her clients. She is also a lover of humanity. “People may not always be right, but everyone has some type of good in them.”

At Soirées Entertainment, they offer the ultimate event planning experience through their unwavering commitment to professionalism and artistry. Arletha vows to partner with her clients to provide exceptional event management skills and services to make sure that their event ideas become event realities. She expects for her company to be the ‘ultimate event planning experience’ in respects to weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, launch parties, corporate events and fundraisers. “I love being able to take my clients’ vision, create it and then see them celebrate in it. It is the coolest feeling to see them and their guest enjoying the surroundings and having a great time,” she says. “I also love the rush of planning for the unexpected. You never know what type of issues you will have to address when planning events, but I honestly love that challenge”. Arletha’s life and business has been impacted by several people and events. The most impactful experience was the death of her mother. She was always a supporter of anything that she did and helped her to remain grounded and focused. Her mother would be the first to criticize her and also the first to congratulate her. After her death last year, she says she realized that tomorrow is not promised. “I could have given up but deciding not to, made me work harder.” Moving forward, Arletha hopes to be a sponge and soak up as much information and experience as possible while continuing to make Soirées Entertainment a household name in the event planning arena. She also hopes to expand her product line and establish new relationships beyond the Charlotte area. She knows there is a lot of work to do, but she is ready for the fight. “Sometimes you will fail and it will hurt but also know that tomorrow is a new day and all that happened yesterday is gone. Whatever I do, I promise that I won’t give up,” she says. h

Soirées Entertainment - www.soireesentertainment.com Charlotte - Sept./Oct. - 2016

- 704-780-4272

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Perry & Angelene

A Ray Of Hope Ministries By Tonya Dixon - Photos by Still Shots Photography

hristianity looks different in different areas. Ministering, pastoring and preaching follows suit. If anyone knows how to navigate and relate to different people and different styles of worship its Pastors Perry and Angelene Hill. From Nebraska to Germany to Oklahoma to Georgia and Colorado then back to Germany, the two former U.S. military and federal government employees have faithfully served their country, as well as their Lord.

Beginning in 1992, the Fayetteville, N.C. natives spent 15 years pastoring a military church in Germany. The ministry was under the Church of God in Christ governing body in connection with the military. Although designed and instituted especially for members of the military, local German civilians often joined the congregation. There was nothing average or typical about their assimilated congregation, but to the Hills it was an amazing testament to the universal message and power of Christianity. “It was very refreshing and encouraging. It made us aware that it wasn’t your everyday cultural church setting,” said Angelene. “We learned to accommodate different cultures and people that worshipped God in different forms. One person may raise their hands in worship while another might be more jubilant. We embraced the different cultural types of worship. It was good for the natives as well as the Americans.”

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As the senior pastor, Perry says that it took some time getting used to delivering a sermon with an interpreter if locals were involved in the service. “You had to wait for the interpretation and the interpreter had to be as enthusiastic as you were,” he said. “We learned how to deliver a message in all different forms and fashions. However, it was a great experience to see the same spirit and God move on different people even though they all didn’t speak the same language.” Nonetheless, there were military-related issues that the pair had to adjust to dealing with that wouldn’t be as prevalent in standard churches. Spouses were often left alone while their counterparts served their country in a foreign land. The associated temptations and issues were constant causes for counseling and teaching sessions. “It’s easy to introduce infidelity in that type of environment,” said Angelene. However, as a military wife herself, she was able to relate to the women and understand their unique perspectives, as could Perry with the men. While members were committed to their faith they were also committed to their country and station, which often meant, due to the rotation cycle of the military, the church experienced large amounts of families joining and leaving the ministry every three years. It seemed by the time the pastors and congregants got used to one another a rotation would occur and they had to constantly prepare themselves to minister to new people and often, new problems. Pastoring the church in Hohenfels, Germany, in addition to Angelene’s sevenmonth stent as an interim pastor of a military-only church, was training ground for the ministering duo. The Lord began preparing them for the time in which they wouldn’t be pastoring, but still preaching and teaching the Gospel. In 1997, A Ray of Hope Ministries was birthed in Nuremberg, Germany. As the Hills transitioned back to the U.S., the new ministry took root and nearly 20 years later it has grown and expanded throughout North Carolina and across the United States. “When we came back to the U.S., I pastored a church in Mooresville, N.C. for about four years. During that time God took us to another level in prayer,” said Angelene. “God would get us up early in the mornings for intercessory prayers and conference call prayers. That was 10 years ago and we still do it to this day. Bits and pieces of the ministry we do now originated during that time.” The Hills spent many years as faithful pastors and shepherds of churches, but God called A Ray of Hope Ministries beyond the four walls of a traditional church. They describe the ministry as “a bit of everything” for the Lord. “We literally take church with us. God has given A Ray of Hope Ministries a special anointing for prayer. We love doing prayer vigils or what used to be called shut-ins,” said Angelene. “We were recently called out to California to do a 72-hour shut-in. We went in at 6 p.m. on a Thursday and left at 6 a.m. on Sunday. It was beyond powerful.”

Pastors Angelene & Perry Hill A Ray Of Hope Ministries 336-290-2360 www.arayofhopeministries.org

Through the ministry, the Hills organized what they call The Prayer Chapel. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:15 a.m. believers from across the country unite together in prayer for 15 minutes via conference call in order to command what the Lord has designed for that day. In fact, the prayer is called, “Divine Aligning Your Day.” The Prayer Chapel: “Where Intercessors are Developed” occurs every Sunday morning from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Coordinated by Angelene, the goal of the prayer time is to intercede on behalf of others. Having studied intercessory prayer, the Hills believe God has revealed unto them the premise of intercessory prayer so that they can reveal it unto others. “We also spend time with those who show interest in being intercessors, teaching them and giving instruction via the prayer line. Intercessory prayer is different it’s not just about me and my four and no more,” said Angelene. “The prayers are focused on the world and society at large, political situations and whatever the Holy Spirit leads us to pray about.” Although A Ray of Hope Ministries takes the Hills across the country sharing the Gospel, they are both active members of New Dimensions COGIC in Mebane, N.C. and both lead various ministries within the church and humbly submit to leadership. A nondenominational ministry, A Ray of Hope conference call prayers are open to anyone and everyone seeking to gain a greater relationship and knowledge of God. According to the Hills, prayer is one tool that God has given unto believers to literally change situations and circumstances. “The condition of the world is why God has called for intercessors. The enemy has caused us to become so busy that typically if anything gets pushed to the side its God,” said Angelene. “However, it’s a trick; we have to get back on the wall and in prayer. The scripture says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then h will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

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Stay Out of Her Way! By Tonya Dixon Photos by Jarvis Harris

By Tonya Dixon - Photos by Jarvis Harris tonina Griffin travels the world telling her story and promoting her business. Today she’s a highly sought after inspirational speaker n and business advisor. Some might even say she’s living the good life. However, it wasn’t that long ago that her life and everything she knew was a perfect example of the polar opposite.

By most accounts there was nothing magical or magnificent about her childhood and certainly wasn’t indicative of the blessed life she now enjoys. “I spent the first 20 years of my life in what some would call the hood, projects or low income/no-income housing,” said Griffin. “My mom passed away when I was nine years old and my father was never around. My grandmother, Ruth Barrett, did her very best at raising my younger brother and myself. Growing up in a poverty stricken environment; life was tough.” “I was molested by a close family friend. I witnessed my mom being physically abused. Violence was all around me, but so was love. My grandmother loved me dearly. She loved me all the way up until her last breath. She died when I was 18 years old.”

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When her grandmother died she felt her world ended. However, Griffin said it was her son who kept her alive. However, even that wasn’t quite enough. She couldn’t find the answers to the hard question that were constantly racing through her mind. What was she supposed to do? How could she be a good mother? With only a high school diploma, no guidance, or encouragement, what could she do? After having her son, Griffin suddenly found herself stuck. With no money, real family or friends to depend on, she began doing whatever she needed to do to survive and to maintain some semblance of a decent life, including selling drugs. The heartache that she endured as a child only compounded as she grew older. Instead of finding the love and satisfaction that she so desperately sought after, she found their counterfeit counterparts. Before Griffin knew it, she was a single mother of four children with three different fathers. She became haunted by the unsavory names people chose to call her and soon thereafter began to play the role in which she was cast. As determined as she was not to, she began repeating the cycle and lifestyle that she witnessed as a child with her own mother. Even after trying multiple times to “get her life together” by going to church like her grandmother had taught and raised her to do, she always found herself back in the same rut and engaging in her old activities and tendencies. “I started hanging out in a different project. It was there where I learned about life. And it was there where I started searching for love in all the wrong places,” she said. After a night of partying and clubbing, Griffin chose to hang out with a guy at a hotel. Once she got there her intuition told her that something just wasn’t right and she made a decision to leave, but her friend refused to accept her change of heart. In the blink of an eye her life was forever changed. It was several years later before she revealed to anyone that she was raped that night. “I kept the rape from everyone for years and the first person I told was my childhood friend of 30 years,” she said. As difficult as that night was and coupled with all the other issues she held, Griffin said, “Instead of dealing with molestation, rape, feelings of abandonment and rejection, I swept it under the rug and I looked to men more to validate me.”

She’s not just in a great state; she’s in greatness overdrive. Her energy has changed; her effort has changed; and her motivation has changed. Griffin is currently a national director in Total Life Changes, a natural health and wellness business that simultaneously promotes increased health options for consumers and offers opportunities for those same customers to change their socioeconomic status through a rewarding compensation plan. In fact, the plan is so rewarding and has been such a blessing to Griffin and her family, she has been able to add to her net worth by purchasing Prominence Funeral Services in Thomasville, N.C. Now a certified, legitimate businesswoman, walking in her purpose, Griffin uses every opportunity she has to not only tell her story, but help others, especially women, discover their purposes all while taking care of their health. She uses her book, “Perfectly Out of Order” as well as what she calls purposed “connections.” “My amazing mentor told me that what you go through determines the type of people you minister or talk to. So I connect with people through their struggle. I know everything I went through wasn’t for me, but it was for me to help others come out,” she said. “I don’t have a lot of “friends” that I hang out with, but I have a lot of purpose that I must fulfill. I can only fulfill my purpose by praying and asking God to connect me to the people that he wants to connect me to.” While Griffin is making purpose driven connections, she’s also looking to reach her personal goals, including opening a charter school in the very near future as well as conducting more of her “Loving My Inner Me” women’s retreats in the mountains of Pigeon Forge. However, Griffin says there’s much more to be done and she’s determined more than ever to get it done. Quoting one of her friends, she says, “I’m here for my dreams to h evolve and not evaporate.”

It took a great deal of time for Griffin to come to terms with her past, but eventually she did. However, it wasn’t something she did on her own. As a matter of fact, it took an intervention. God intervened and changed her life. “When I discovered Jesus, I discovered Antonina. I understood that it was all a part of my purpose. It was God that got me through it. The pain of life was sometimes unbearable and so I had to rely on the Word of God,” she said. “When I made the decision to stop clubbing, hustling, and devaluing myself by sleeping with men to make myself feel better, which by the way made me feel worse, and made the decision to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, then I realized He was all the man I ever needed. That one decision changed my life for the better!” Her relationship with God not only helped mend and repair all the broken and dysfunctional areas in her life, but it paved the way for her to develop and cultivate, other functional and healthy relationships, especially with men. Today Griffin is happily married to Darin Griffin, whom she met at church. She credits her God-sent husband as the one who helped her “unpack” all of the “baggage” in her life. “God sent me a man that helped me. Some stuff I needed to hold on to like the lessons behind the pain and other stuff I needed to get rid of, like excuses that caused the pain,” she said. “Now that I understand that the pain led to my purpose I’m in a thriving state of mind. When I was trying to figure Antonina out I was a survivor because I continued to live despite the hardship and danger. However, when I started walking into my purpose I started to flourish, prosper, grow, develop, bloom, blossom, succeed and profit. I became a thriver. It wasn’t easy, but it’s safe to say I’m in a great state.”

Antonina is her husband, Darin share 8 years of marriage.

www.ItPaysToKnowAntonina.com www.ProminenceFS.com FB: Antonina L. Griffin FB: Prominence Funeral Services Instagram: @antoninagriffin Twitter: @antoninagriffin Email: antoninagriffin@gmail.com 336-628-2816

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Educator & Author

Kisha Mitchell

“Brown Girl, What Do You See?” By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Kisha Mitchell

isha Mitchell says she was inspired to write her book, B rown Girl, Brown Girl What Do You See?after starting a girl’s mentoring group for her middle school students. She noticed a trend within the 7th graders girls of how they weren’t very confident and tended to lack interpersonal skills to communicate with others due to the insecurities that they had within themselves. Her passion for writing this book was furthered even more after giving birth to her first daughter. “It was my personal mission to instill pride in my daughter from the time she was born. I told her that she was beautiful and that her hair was beautiful and she believed me,” says Mitchell. All too soon, her efforts had been undone at the age of three when someone in her daughters preschool class told her that her brown skin was not beautiful; that child challenged her daughters belief. How could this happen so early, Mitchell asked herself. “My family and I were devastated and a result we went into brown is beautiful overload,” she says. When she is upset about things, Mitchell tends to write. Brown Girl is what she wrote during her time of heartbreak. It was a love letter to her two daughters and all of her former brown students, to let them know to love themselves and that their brown skin is amazing.

option of reading things that reflect them to peek his or her interest in reading,” she says. “In today’s society it is so difficult for children to gain a positive selfimage with what is presented to them in media as it pertains to brown women, girls and beauty. It is imperative that we begin speaking life into our daughters and girls in our lives at an early age and Brown Girl is a great place to start the dialogue.” As the production of this book began, it was apparent that there is a movement occurring among brown women. Many are proudly standing up realizing that they are beyond classically beautiful; they are intelligent and more than enough. This book is a perfect tool that helps young girls begin building the confidence that adult women are experiencing. h

www.girlinspiredinc.com

She feels that it is important to keep books in front of our children at a young age that resemble who they are. “Just as Marley Dias stated, all of the books that our children are exposed to at elementary ages are largely not about the brown girl. Diversity in reading is pertinent to the development of reading skills. It is important to the literacy of our children to have an

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Latasha Davis Leads

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Latasha Davis

part to Empower was founded in North Carolina m in June 2015 by Latasha Davis. Her vision for the organization is to provide a variety of services to the community that would not just cater to women but all races, genders, ages. Impart to Empower Inc. feeds the less fortunate population several times a year. They also provide care packages for the homeless population, offer a mentorship program for high school students; and provide financial support, referrals for jobs, and referrals for housing. Additionally, the organization conducts financial workshops and has a clothing closet. The organizations goal is to eventually expand the mentorship program and offer services for students K- freshman year of college and to also provide services in South Carolina and Georgia. As a native of Charlotte, Davis says the idea to start her organization came about in 2007, while she provided free hair services at her salon. Additionally, she served her community in other aspects. During these experiences she noticed there were not a lot of services available for the homeless community. She knocked on some doors but she didn’t receive any satisfying answers and then decided to do something about it on her own. The first event conducted through Impart to Empower happened in 2015, when Davis along with many other volunteers helped to feed nearly 200 homeless citizens in downtown Charlotte. She said the experience left her feeling excited and blessed because many of the citizens were very sure and precise with expressing their gratitude for her efforts. Davis knew then that couldn’t be the last time they would serve the community. They have conducted youth empowerment session where they bring in motivational speakers to discuss several topics with their youth participants. They also conduct several back to school drives where they provide area students with supplies to help them get off to a good start in the school year.

Impart To Empower Inc. 404-951-9352 ldavis52001@gmail.com

Davis hopes to be more involved within her community in the future. She also wants to expand their mentoring programs and reach even more individuals. They are also seeking individuals that are interested in impacting the lives of others within their community. h

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Dale Townsend Destine to Make it

Fitness

By Terry L Watson Photos by Dale Townsend

ale Townsend is a overcomer. He has recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body, pertaining to alcoholism and transformed his lifestyle into being a physically fit specimen. He started his own fitness company, Destine To Make It Fitness World and business in 2014 after being sober for about two and half years and desiring to quit smoking cigarettes. I stopped smoking by the grace of God and started working out. My weight went from 150 pounds to 180 pound. That experience ignited a fire within Townsend and began to help others achieve their fitness goals.

“To my brothers and sisters in Christ who like to shout on Wednesday and Friday, who confess their love for Christ in their daily spiritual walk with God, please don’t neglect the Temple. Your body is the Lord’s Temple.” Dale Townsend

Destine To Make It Fitness www.destinetomakeit.wixsite.com

I have a holistic approach and desire to provide exceptional services to all my clients offering the following services: one on one coaching, consultations, and personalized fitness training plans. I believe “exercise is therapeutic” and helps the mind to function better he says. While working in the mental health he is able to grasp a better understanding of the symptoms that are associated with depression disorders, attributing to weight loss or weight gain. Townsend has always lived a life that involved sports and exercise. This included playing sports such as basketball, boxing and baseball. He has also competed against and trained with professional athletes from a diversity of sports. He also had opportunities to work out with the following pro athletes; Ray Allen, Richard Seymour, Xavier McDaniel, Alex English and countless others. Having to overcome different obstacles is where Townsend also found himself and strength. He has dealt with self-esteem issues, battled depression and questioned his self-worth. Even while he battled substance abuse he knew that no matter what challenges he was facing, he was “Destine to Make it”. When he moved to Charlotte in 2012, he was homeless. “If you would had told me that four years later I would have my own business with t-shirts and hats, I wouldn’t have believe you. It was only God that helped me to find purpose,” he says. In the future, Townsend hopes to start a fitness movement that includes outdoor fitness. He also hopes to coach other trainers and take his brand of physical fitness around to other markets. He advises others who may face similar challenges that he did to not get discouraged. “Remain consistent because I believe that passion is wealth, and passion leads to wealth but you must be willing to sacrifice some things in order to fulfill your dreams,” he says. h

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M A G A Z I N E

Cutest Baby Xael Ahni Jordan The daughter of Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;lor L. Pinkston and Abdul Lateef Jordan Photo by Doreen Upshaw

To submit photographs into the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby Photo Contest, send a detailed email to mykelmedia@yahoo.com

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Demetra Moore

The Roller Coaster of Life www.mooreoutoflife.com

n your best days things are great, the perfect time for starting your business or taking your certification. The next day it seems as of the sky is falling and you can’t get a break. This period is what I call the roller coaster of life. Many of us would like for our lives to be predictable and remain steady. But, storms exist for everyone and they can’t be avoided.

You don’t have power of the situations, but you do you have power over your responses. In most cases panicking is the first response, but understand it’s not your only choice. Panicking can cause you to walk away from situations feeling defeated. To better cope with the cycles of life understand everyone gets knocked down from time to time, but the important thing is to not get counted out. If you would like to better position yourself during difficult times you will have to: Stay Focused- Be consistent in your drive and ambition toward your goals. Keep a list of your accomplishments. This kind of list will provide positive inspiration. Keep the big picture clear and don’t get absorbed in the mundane routine of life. Be firm in your stance – Show confidence in what you are working toward. If you feel as though you can’t move forward, hold tight to your current position. Most importantly don’t waver because things didn’t turn out the way you planned. Commit to your goal - Life will continue to have ups and downs. In each uncomfortable moment you have an opportunity learn something, but giving up is not an option. Take the lessons from each situation and apply to your repertoire of professional development. Coping with the roller coaster of life can be tiresome at times. Most people don’t like being outside of their comfort zone. But take a minute compose yourself, and get prepared you have what it h takes and lots of resilience.

Have You Seen Me?

DOB: June 18, 1996 Missing: January 07, 2016 Age: 20 - Race: Black Hair: Brown - Eyes: Brown Height: 5’5” - Weight: 120 lbs Missing From: Greensboro, NC

Tyarra Cacique Williams Anyone with info about her dissapperance should contact the Greensboro Police Departmet: 336-373-2222 28

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