Huami Magazine for Greenville/Spartanburg Nov./Dec. 2020 by Terry Watson

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Nov./Dec. 2020 Volume 3 Issue 8 FREE

Leading By Example Greenville/Spartanburg - Nov./Dec. 2020

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To say the year of 2020 has been overwhelming would be an understatement. For as long as I can remember, there has always A Letter from the Editor been some mystique etched in my mind about the year 2020. What will happen? What won’t happen? By now, I believe that What tomorrow didn’t of arrive? ofyear yourhas plans, hopes everyone has iftheir own version whatAll the turned out and dreams wouldn’t have streetato parkbetter on. What if to be. I am hoping that 2021 willa have much outcome. everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? would reason to save forthat a rainy With the onsetThere of Covid 19,be it’snomy interpretation many day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making people may have taken the eventual pandemic for granted. All promises. What last opportunity seemingly of a sudden, and out if ofyour nowhere, the way we go aboutexpired our daily today? What would you do? lives was interrupted. Can’t go to church because of the dangers associated with the virus. Schools are closed, businesses have I’ve been told thatcases, I ofteneven seem likedown I do too much. been closed and in some shut permanently. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm Everywhere I go, I must wear a mask or protective covering to believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me ensure that I do get infected or possibly infect someone else. that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would Then a new word was even invented as a result of our new way be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I of living; social distancing. Oh, how things have changed. have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge Even with the discourse confusion, God to me is all an of adventure. Whatand is the worst that canhas happen? continued to show His might and power through it all. While If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn somesomething things have been taken away, He has replaced them new about myself. Relinquish your pride andwith in evenreturn greater ones. With the new normal, many business owners acquire life. including myself have been forced to develop new ways of how we do business. As a result our businesses have flourished and The best advice ever given to me happened when someone become All that I am left withIntodoing thinkso is, but toldeven me tomore makedynamic. my tomorrow happen today. God. I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between I’mwhat excited what God and is preparing in with Godabout blesses me with what lifefor caneveryone burden me 2021. asWhile are closing the year, wetomust continueand to be well. we I compare it toout knowing when be confident mindful of all things that when to of bethe quiet, because someone may it confused God didn’t allow to get happen, and with being appreciate whatarrogant. He has. What I continue to learn is when God Makethings you tomorrow takes some away, He always happen today, but most replaces them with even greater importantly count. things. When onemake dooritcloses, Lifeone is but whisperKnowing and another willa open. wemust must stay put ourselves in aand this, we encouraged position to hear what it is continue to pursue our purpose. telling us. More than anything, we must always trust God.

Terry L. Terry L.Watson Watson Editor/Founder

www.huamimagazine.com Terry L. Watson

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GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG

CONTENTS

Shrimp & Grits Cafe

Chef Carlos Brown

On The Cover

Leading By Example Javion Woods

iSERVE with JOY

Joy Campbell

NOV./DEC. 2020

LifeLine Unified LLC

Stephanie Carver

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Russell (Russ) Pennix

Also Featured

Dmitri King Meet the owner and face of D King Electric Atlanta, GA

Rhonda Crowder She is making Power Moves with her organization. Charlotte, NC

JaQuessa Hayes-Finney Meet the face and founder of GlamHer Hair Addiction. Nashville, TN

18 5

Leading By Example

HuamiMagazine.com

Greenville/Spartanburg - Nov./Dec. 2020

By Laci Ollison Photos by Javion Woods For Javion Woods, much of life has been spent serving others and raising her ten children. However recently, she has decided to steer her life into a different direction; running a business, managing a non-profit organization, and encouraging others along the way. Javion was born in Clinton, North Carolina and raised in the Bronx of New York. She has spent much of her life living in Greenville, South Carolina, the place this accomplished business woman calls home. She was married and became a mother at a young age. “ I gave my life to my husband and to being a mother because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do,” Javion said. “I thought that was one of the admirable things a woman was supposed to do.” B ut over time things began to change. “ My husband became abusive and controlling. He was older than me so he thought he could tell me what to do. So I had to figure out what to do.” Javion found that leaving wasn’t easy to do. Javion quickly realized that there were not many resources for a single mother at the time. “ I left my marriage with no college degree, with eight children, and one on the way,” she recalls. “I was fleeing with my babies, but I had nowhere to go. I couldn’t knock on a friend’s door because there were so many of us. I couldn’t apply for section eight assistance because my family exceeded the occupancy limit. Shelters weren’t an option because there was a rule that boys over seven had to go to the male shelter, so some of my kids would be with me and some of them wouldn’t. I had to make a decision.” Javion prayed for an answer. God spoke to her and told her that she was more than just a wife and a mother. That message from God was very clear and was carried on to the inception of her non-profit, More Than A Mother. The organization’s message is a simple one. It pushes women to pursue life outside of being a mother and a wife. “While those are wonderful attributes,” said Javion, “Your business and your purpose does not stop just because you get married and have children. When roles change, women adapt to the challenges but sometimes put themselves on the backburner.”

“Your business and your purpose does not stop just because you get married and have children.”

More Than A Mother started as a Facebook group on the basis of providing women a platform to begin talking about things that mothers dealt with. Within 30 days, the group had reached 2,000 members. Javion shares that she wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared for it because there was still some healing that she needed to do and some healing that needed to take place inside of her. Javion said that after she healed, she was able to come back and form the non-profit which now focuses on a variety of different initiatives. “I’m also a domestic violence survivor. So of course I’m a domestic violence advocate. But I’m also a mental health advocate and we’ve also done things around breast cancer awareness,” she says. T he organization is in the 2nd year of hosting a breast cancer awareness luncheon. “ We pick things that affect the community and we focus on that. We recently did a homeless drive to fight COVID-19. So we’re not stuck with serving one purpose permanently, we try to do a variety of things.” T hey also held a Bee Essential Back to School drive, collecting kits for teachers and childcare workers. Javion is also in the process of hosting a retreat for mothers called Mom Boss Launch. The retreat will encourage moms to pursue passion and vision while still being effective in their roles of mom and wife. In addition to managing her non-profit organization, Javion is also the owner of LifeEaze, a virtual assistance company that also offers business strategy and business coaching services to entrepreneurs. “I’m a Human Resources Manager by trade,” Javion said. “I was working as a government contractor and I was the executive assistant to the CEO. So I did everything and learned it all.” O ne night, Javion went to a church service and realized that so many people there who owned businesses didn’t know how to do things like file for an LLC, manage their social media pages, or create a landing page. “ At first I was offering my services for free,” she said. “One day I heard my pastor preach a sermon and he said that everything you need is already inside of you. If you’re asking God for a financial increase, take what you already have and use it.” Once Javion launched her virtual assistant businesses, clients became her norm. “Just about every time I did a consultation, I booked the client.” A s a mother, business owner, and non-profit CEO, Javion has learned to be her biggest supporter. “ You can’t control what other people say or do. Other people may not clap for you, so you have to clap for yourself. Every day you look in the mirror and decide to show up for yourself,” she said. Javion is the proud mother of Patience, Malachi, Charity, Faith, Kevin Jr., Zion, Nehemiah, Soloman, Ezekial, Harmony, and a bonus child, Jayda. h

Javion James More Than A Mother www.iammorethanamother.org 864-982-7831 LifeEaze Virtual Assistant www.lifeeaze.com 864-982-7831 9

Joy Campbell

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Joy Campbell

Who is Joy Campbell? She never understood why some people have and some don’t. And making a difference in someone’s life has been at the forefront of her life, even as a child.” Joy is also a young philanthropist, from Orangeburg, SC. She was birthed and raised by John and Jestine Campbell. After not having children for 11 years of marriage, her parents share that it seemed suiting to call their baby girl “Joy”. Her name is fitting. As a child she was always giving, loving, and wanting to help others. Her parents also kept her very busy. “I was always involved with something. From choir, track, the North Charleston Police Cadets, JROTC, and more. My favorite of all activities was Outreach,” she shares. Her motto is, “love God and love God’s people”. Growing up, Joy says she didn’t feel like she possessed a gift or special talent. She just loved to serve others. “I feel as if I spent half my life trying to figure out what I wanted to do, where do I fit in, and how can I make it,” she shared. Though there was one constant, Joy had a desire to serve others who were less fortunate. Presently, Joy is the face of I SERVE with Joy. I SERVE with JOY aims to bring joy and love back into the community by providing care and assistance to the less fortunate. They specialize in serving the homeless, displaced teens, and single-parent families. It is their goal to bring joy to the community, one piece at a time, through engagement. Joy got her program off the ground on October 16th 2016. “We were getting ready for our annual coat drive and this year was different. A few months prior we had sent 65 kids to prom. Their school wasn’t able to give one in the previous five years, and Hurricane Michael was on the break and we just wanted to make a difference,” Joy says. Continued on the next page

Most recently Joy was recognized as a community angel by receiving the Tywanza Sanders award given by The Spotlight Awards, honoring the nine angels of Mother Emanuel, in Charleston, South Carolina. Tywanza was one of the nine victims shot in the “Emanuel 9 shooting”. “Tywanza had a heart like mine he loved helping the youth just like I do. Her family gives out scholarships to help high schoolers get higher education. We continue to let his light shine through empowering the youth of tomorrow.

iSERVE with JOY PO BOX 41783 N. Charleston, SC 29423 347-774-0155 iservewithjoy@gmail.com www.iservewithjoy.org 12

With the ordeal of Covid-19, I SERVE with JOY has stepped into action. “We are doing our part in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. Our current initiative “We Hear You” provides learners with wireless earphones to help them stay focused during virtual learning experience rather in person, or at home. We understand that it takes a village and we are that village. We appreciate the opportunity as it assists us to reach the needs of underserved youth in the greater Charleston area,” she says. Another program they have created is R.E.A.C.H. 2020, Rebuild (hearts), Empower (youth), Advance Communities, Help (underserved). Serving her community and others is what Joy loves mostly. “I am one person with one dream to serve others. With your continued support, volunteering, and donations, iServeWithJoy will do more to serve the community and world,” she says. Now that iSERVE with Joy is in their fourth year of operation, the challenges of serving are being realized. “I think my personal challenge is to accept the fact that we are growing and be OK with that. We are taking greater caution because of Covid 19 and doing everything in our power to help stop the spread. PPE is not cheap, and obtaining funding and sponsorships is always a priority,” she says. What inspires Joy the most? “My life changed when my dad introduced me to Mr. Anthony Wright, legendary Charleston Peanut Man. At age 20 I went to work with Mr. Wright as a “Peanut Girl”. Through ups and downs he always told me, “you can be and do whatever you want”. That encouragement changed my whole life forever,” Joy said. “We could do any of this with the help and support of our volunteers. They really go the extra mile to make sure the vision comes to pass.” In the future, Joy says her goal is to show people that serving others can be fun. “We will continue to do that in moderation due to COVID-19. I believe that when you serve there are two wins that happen; the person giving and the person receiving. As we grow, we will continue to create innovative ways to bring joy to communities near and far,” she says. Presently, iSERVE with JOY are running behind with obtaining donations and are in need of help. She says that no donation is too small. h

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Chef Carlos Brown He has taken his talent to even further heights. Executive Chef Carlos Brown is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of C3Culinary Group LLC. He believes in “Food that Makes You Smile” and “Saving Hospitality”. Today, Chef Carlos has opened The Shrimp and Grits Cafe, inside of the Citadel Mall Food Courtin Charleston, SC. If you have ever tasted anything that has been prepared by Chef Carlos, then you shouldn’t expect anything less than delicious at his newest location. The menu items consist of Gullah Whole Wings, Collard Green Spring Rolls with Chef Carlos Gullah Sauce, Chef Carlos Award Winning Low Country White Cheddar Shrimp & Grits, Classic Cajun Seafood Etouffee, Pan Seared Gullah Grilled Salmon with White Cheddar Grits, B.B.Q Garlic Shrimp and Jalapeno Cheddar Grits, Braised Short Ribs and White Cheddar Grits, Mac and Cheese, and more. He also offers a full catering service. 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. 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

2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Charleston, SC 29407 (Citadel Mall Food Court) 843-737-5196 15

Making Power Moves By Terry L. Watson Photos by Todd Youngblood Who is Rhonda G. Crowder? When asked that question, she describes herself as someone who keeps her focus on family and career. The single mother is vibrant, creative, jovial, and hard working. She is also determined, optimistic, and someone who puts God first. “I am a mother of two wonderful children, Kaila and Jaydn. I am an alumnus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. There, I majored in Journalism Mass Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations,” she says. Rhonda is the CEO and Founder of Power Moves Education & Consulting, and Power Moves Performing Arts Academy. “I am driven by pulling the creative out of someone who never thought they would succeed. I enjoy expounding on the greatness inside of them, bringing it to flourish it,” she shares. Power Moves Performing Arts Academy is set to personalize and develop, refine and showcase in dance, drama, musical theatre/theatre, photography, vocal and instrumental music and studio engineering while providing them with a rigorous academic curriculum. Everyone is welcomed to apply and all students must have a goal driven attitude. “We thrive on an HBCU level with creativity, allowing students to re-invent their creativity through arts,” she shares. Power Moves Education & Consulting prepares, exposes, and broadens all student’s horizons for colleges, universities, and first-generation students in either a one on one, group sessions and/or speaking engagements while building and connecting education and striving for excellence. Rhonda shares that her journalism and educational background have allotted her creativity to be cultivated in entrepreneurship. “Without God, and the vision He placed in me, none of this would be possible. GOD is my CEO!” Rhonda says she enjoys educating and bringing out the creativity in others. She is also inspired by strong women who have a story of power and strength and are willing to share how they overcame. She also finds strength in single mothers, just as she is, who are pushing to succeed and become successful. For more information, please contact Rhonda Crowder 336-325-8855 powermovesenc@gmail.com Follow Power Moves on Facebook and Instagram

In the future, her goal is to own her own school, and have her own performing arts studio. The sky’s the limit, and Rhonda is proving that anything is possible with God. h

Russell (Russ) Pennix

MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

The son of Crystal Adkins-Pennix and Rufus Pennix

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

GlamHer Hair

Addiction

By Laci Ollison Photos by LA Photographie During the day, she has the responsibility of delivering packages and mail to local residents as a postal worker, but at night she is mixing, creating, and serving up natural haircare products to her male and female customers who are looking to grow and maintain their healthy locs and manes. Thirty-three-year-old Jaquesa Hayes-Finney is the proud owner of GlamHer Hair Addiction, which offers natural hair products for all hair types. She founded her company after gaining inspiration from her sister who was diagnosed with cancer and lost all of her hair. Her oldest daughter also has eczema on her scalp which lead Hayes-Finney to create a product that could be used on children’s hair as well. “I wanted to create a natural hair product to help women and children who have lost their hair for different reasons and to help establish healthy hair habits,” stated Hayes-Finney. “Although many of my customers wear extensions, I want them to understand that it’s okay to wear them but their hair should be healthy underneath as well.” She shares that her best-selling product is her, HERJuice which helps with the health of the scalp which is vital for healthy hair. HERJuice also helps with hair retention, density and breakage. Hayes-Finney states, “This product has helped women that have experienced loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy and eczema. It can also help with chemically treated hair and stress points.”

“I went to cosmetology school, but I never wanted to actually do hair. I was always more focus on the anatomy of the scalp so I could formulate, mix and create my own products.”

Continued on the next page

Customers have also used her natural products on baby’s who have experienced cradle cap and need moisture on their scalp and help with their hair growing back.

GLamHER Edges Control

GLamHER Conditioner

GlamHer also offers a variety of other haircare products for customers such as shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leavein conditioner, butter crème and edge control. “My edge control works with all different types of hair,” said Hayes-Finney. “I have a lot of customers who wear locs and they like to use the edge control to retwist their hair.” The single mother of two said that she has always wanted to work for herself and to own her own business. And although she has always had a passion for hair, she says that she was never really interested in becoming a hair stylist. “I went to hair school, but I never wanted to actually do hair,” she said. “I was always more focused on the anatomy of the scalp so I could formulate, mix and create my own products.” Hayes-Finney said that the science behind hair and hair products drew her more because she loves science. She also earned a degree from Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis. The Nashville native said that the anatomy behind the hair and scalp drew her to taking online courses to create her own product line. “I took classes on how to mix products together and I learned what mixes well. Once I learned how to make the products, then I added my own twist to make something that would work for all hair types,” Hayes-Finney said. She also states that when coming up with inspiration for her products, she had a specific type of hair and customer in mind. “My target was 4C hair because that’s the type of hair that my oldest daughter has and it is the hardest texture of hair to maintain and find products for,” Hayes-Finney said. “My youngest daughter has curly 3C hair and I have 4A 4B hair. I made the product to where it is versatile on all type hair.” Hayes-Finney said that it was important for her to create a product that would work perfectly on all of her family’s hair, no matter the texture.

GLamHER Juice 20

GLamHER Shampoo

Continued on the next page

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

I keep my daughters very involved in the business. Not only do they assist with getting the products together by helping with packaging, but they are also co-owners of GlamHer Hair Addiction.

As an entrepreneur, Hayes-Finney states the hardest part about managing a business has been the marketing but being consistent and having good customer service is what has helped her be successful as a business owner. And although, working a full-time job and raising her daughters while managing her business can get tough at times, she keeps with the grind because failing is not an option. She hopes to pass down the importance of entrepreneurship to her daughters. “I keep my daughters very involved in the business,” Hayes-Finney said. “Not only do they assist with getting the products together by helping with packaging, but they are also co-owners of GlamHer Hair Addiction,” she says. She encourages her daughters and teaches them that they can be their own boss and pave the way for the next generation to come. The businessowner is now looking to start two lines of products specifically for kids and for men. “The men products will be for men who may be experiencing hair loss, or who may just need a good moisturizer for their beard,” Hayes-Finney said. GlamHer Hair Addiction has been in business for over a year and you can also find the natural hair styling products on the shelves of Colored Essentials on Jefferson Street. All of the products that GlamHer offers are vegan friendly, kid friendly and have been approved by the FDA. h

Ja’Quesa Finney GlamHer Hair Addiction www.glamorousbombshell.com 615-863-1578 22

D KING ELECTRIC By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by Khi Visualz

The trajectory of your life is usually determined by the decisions you make for yourself and the odds that may be stacked against you despite those decisions. Unsurprisingly, black men tend to face these odds at a larger rate than any other ethnic category. In high school, in Greensboro, NC, Dmitri King was traveling down the wrong path. He was hanging out with friends late at night, taking the family car without permission, and eventually ran into trouble that he couldn’t escape. After he graduated, not much changed. Things got worse even. He and his stepfather weren’t getting along due to his constant mischief and eventually he was kicked out of the house. A close friend and his family took him in and for years it seemed his life was turning around…until he got arrested and thrown in jail. While spending time behind bars, King received a phone call from a close cousin that would change his life more than he could’ve ever imagined. “My cousin came and bailed me out and asked me was I ready to leave Greensboro, NC now. I knew I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. So not only did he pay my bail, but he paid to rent a moving truck, packed up all my stuff and brought me and my son down to Buford, GA put us up, and put me to work that week,” King explains. He is beyond grateful to his cousin and freely admits that he could never repay him for giving him the career he currently has and a new lease on life almost two decades ago. Perhaps he’s reimbursing him by following in his cousin’s footsteps and being a successful businessman.

King’s cousin owned an independent electrical business and taught him almost everything he knew at the time. The New Jersey native absorbed as much knowledge as he could and moved on to another company where he worked alongside seasoned electricians who poured into him. Years later he transitioned to another cousin’s business, expanding his knowledge base even further. “I learned on three different levels and learned three different ways to run a business. They were all so smart and took their time to teach me everything about wiring and lighting and all of that,” says King. In 2010 King felt he’d had enough hands on experience to branch out and start a business of his own. He became a Certified Electrician and opened DKing Electric, LLC under the parent company Metro Atlanta Electrical, LLC. It wasn’t easy for me, but it wasn’t that difficult because I had support.” When one of his former employers changed directions to focus solely on commercial contracts, he referred two of his biggest residential clients to King because of his talent and the level of trust in his work. King met several more loyal clients who gave excellent references so it wasn’t long before his clientele began to grow. Popular nightclub owners, restaurant owners, and new construction home builders all across the area came calling and then connected him with others. Soon he had more clients than he could handle. That push only made him work harder, hire more workers, and make more money. The once troubled kid perfected his craft and is proud that he can wire an entire home by himself from ‘top to bottom’. Fortunately, he’s so busy with inspections, contracts, and clients that he doesn’t have time to do that anymore. He hires professionals whose work is just as thorough as his, so he can trust them to do a job when he’s not there. He’s currently training another cousin to one day take the rein or at the least, be his backup. “You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.” A typical day for King consists of driving from city to city, managing projects and the variety of work that has to be done on each job. “The biggest part of my day, really, is going to a [home improvement] store several times! Easy. There isn’t a day when I’m not there at least twice. Sometimes five or six times in a day. So much that I should purchase stock!” he laughed. As busy as it is and as intricate as it can be, King can’t imagine where he would be without DKing Electric, LLC. It’s like the heart of his family. His wife lends her time to the business by handling the bookkeeping and much of the paperwork and he manages the field. His 24 year old son helps out from time to time but has his sights set on entertainment for now. His bonus-daughter watches from afar. The life-saving cousins King embarked on this journey with have now expanded to being builders and restaurant owners, and he is itching to do the same. Don’t be surprised to soon see Dmitri King’s name on something bigger and better around the Atlanta area. Whatever it is, it will be lit. Literally. h

“You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.” D King Electric 678-791-3314 www.dkingelectric.com 25

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LifeLine Unified LLC

Empowering Victims To Survivors

By Dr. Marrissa Dick Photos by Still Shots Photography We are all faced with situations that seemingly will overwhelm and defeat us. We ask God, “Why is this happening to me?” Remember, when life seems out of control that what the devil means for evil Jesus will turn around for good. If you are in the midst of an evil attack by the enemy, realize that the matter is not over yet. If you keep your eyes on the Lord, He will turn the situation around to your good. Impossible? At some point in our lives, we will all be faced with situations that will overwhelm us and often leave us feeling defeated in our lives. Some experiences are so tragic we may even cry out and ask God if He has forsaken us. It is not that He has turned a blind eye; instead, He intends for the experience to be used for His glory. Much like Stephanie Carver’s “Joseph experience” two decades ago which left her feeling emotionally and mentally thwarted and physically bruised. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” ~ Genesis 50:20 ~NKJ. Stephanie could use this verse as her mantra because through the domestic violence and the sexual assault she suffered she surely wondered, “Why me, Lord?” Now she understands that her mission is far greater than her personal life experience. Instead of turning from God she listened to His voice and used her experience to educate and empower others who found themselves in similar situations and prevents them from going to that sunken place. Continued on the next page

Much like Joseph, Stephanie has been rewarded for pressing past her pain. At age 47, Carver is a single mom now living her best life with her lifelong friend and now business partner, Lamont Bradsher, coowner and managing partner ofCenterStage In The City. Bradsher’s strength and support have been immeasurable as she empowers any community within the United States with LifeLine Unified, LLC. This organization was established in 2016 to assist women with “safe” survival plans that aide in escaping emotional, mental, and physical abusive relationships. According to Carver, “It’s common for people to wonder why people don’t just leave abusive relationships. Well, that’s much easier said than done. LifeLine understands that everybody’s “why” is different. In all actuality, most relationships become more volatile when the person who is being abused decides to leave. We don’t judge why people remain in toxic relationships. We’re here to make sure that when they are ready to leave, they can do it in a safe way. We treat each person and their situation on an individual basis because we understand that every situation is different and so are our Safe Survival Plans. We don’t rush our clients into a decision, but we are here for them when they are ready because “safety” is our number one priority.” Stephanie is adamant that planning is key to survival. According to Wikipedia, planning is the process of thinking about the activities required to achieve a desired goal. It is the first and foremost activity to achieve desired results. It involves the creation and maintenance of a plan, such as psychological aspects that require conceptual skills. This definition is a staple in her organization. “There’s a right way to leave a toxic environment so you don’t lose your life. You need to have a plan and that’s just one of the things we do here is help develop successful escape plans. Another program LifeLine Unified offers is called Saving Unborn Children. Clients who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault or molestation can come to us for assistance. Our organization counsels’ women and provides resources to them so they can have that child and leave it in our care instead of tossing that child into the Continued on the next page

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Greenville/Spartanburg - Nov./Dec. 2020

“There’s a right way to leave a toxic environment so you don’t lose your life. You need to have a plan and that’s just one of the things we do here is help develop successful escape plans.” dumpster or leaving that child in a public restroom on the floor, on an abandoned porch or in a ditch. All over the world women are fighting through the shame of rape, molestation or teenagers who become pregnant because they have given into peer pressure. That child is a reminder of what happened to them or even what they willingly participated in but cannot handle the repercussion of their action. Instead of dealing with that shame many will have that child, but they will throw that baby away like it’s garbage and those precious babies are not garbage. People need to know that there is another alternative and LifeLine is that alternative. In addition to our Safe Survival Plans and our Saving Unborn Children program, we also offer a program called, Abstinence Until Marriage or as we like to call it - - ATM. Now this program has a mentor associated with it. Each person receives an “ATM” card that has their name and a vision scripture on the front. On the back of the card is the name and number of a person you can call should you find yourself in a situation where you are about to give in to a moment of passion. I know that this is not a popular topic because if we talk about it, we have to be about it. I strongly advocate for abstinence until marriage, so nobody has to have the experience of having an abortion.” Stephanie works hand-in-hand with local abortion clinics when patients decide abortion is not the right choice. She does this because she knows that there are thousands of loving families waiting to receive infants in their homes so they can live the life God has ordained for them. Unfortunately, in 2020, North Carolina has recorded 29,500 abortions to date and numbers continue to rise. The good thing overall is that the United States abortion rate is steadily decreasing from its’ 862,360 recorded in 2017. LifeLineUnified would like to see the rate of adoption rise worldwide. Carver shares, “It is important that the youth understand how their actions can affect their lives. They struggle with “puppy love” and they have sex far to early without understanding the complexities associated with sex like soul ties. If we want our youth to stand, the adults must stand up and have these conversations.” Carver states over 80% of her clients would have had a different outcome if the couple would have practiced abstinence. Abstinence or Celibacy affords couples the opportunity of getting to know one another intimately. Intimacy is so much greater than sex. Teenagers and even some adults do not understand that. Celebrities like Russel Wilson and Ciara, Devon Franklin and Megan Goode, Tim Tebow and Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters just to name a few, lived a life of abstinence before marriage. Why give your body to someone that has no intention of marrying you. You’re setting yourself up for pain, heart ache, depression and these crazy fatal attraction breakups that lead to death! My dream is that we as a community learn to be proactive on the front end before the problem, instead of finding solutions after the problem. Self-love is real and you should want to save yourself for the person God wants you to spend the rest of your life with. Here at LifeLine we promote self-love and abstinence so that our clients can see themselves in their future experiencing healthy relationships on all levels. I believe in living and teaching by example. My life, and my relationship with God, and personal relationships with others are examples. I don’t sit in the seat of judgement on anyone’s personal beliefs. I provide these services because I know firsthand that there is a need for them. Someone tossed me a “LifeLine” and let me tell you that I am grateful for it because now I have the opportunity to pay it forward.” h

Stephanie Carver Certified Community Advocate LifeLine Unified LLC Life Line Unified. Empowering Victims To Survivors. Call or Text 919-791-5546 anytime day or night. All calls and text are confidential. All services are FREE! Choose Life! 31

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