HAMPTON ROADS
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Jan./Feb. 2020 Vol. 1 Issue 3 FREE
Sasha A. Ridley Heart To Heart Consulting Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
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There Are No About If, Ands, About Don’t Just Talk It, Or Be Buts About It It! There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
A Letter From The Editor
A Letter from the Editor
If we never allow ourselves to experience the things that Letter from weAimagine, wethe areEditor not really living our lives according to What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All your plans,requires hopes what God purposed us for. To achieve theofimpossible and dreams wouldn’t have You a street parkbeon. Whattoiflet go fortitude and determination. musttoalso willing everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, of somethings that you previously thought was a part ofhopes you. happened? beaare no reason toinsave a rainy and dreams wouldn’t have street to park on. What if that Letting go also There meanswould that we growing thefor direction day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never our destiny is pointed. promises. What your last happened? Thereif would be opportunity no reason toseemingly save for aexpired rainy today? What would you do? day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making A dream is just a dream until action is applied. That is the promises. Whata ifdream your last opportunity expiredI moment of which grows its wings seemingly and takes flight. I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. today? What would you do? might say that I would like to lose 40 pounds of body weight Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm this year, but if I never do anything that relates to getting me believerbeen in knowing that God seem wouldn’t put anything on me told often liketo I do too much. to thatI’ve goal, then allthat I amI doing is talking myself. To lose 40 that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would Honestly, I feel like I am not require doing enough I’m a firm pounds of body weight would for me and to change the be if I chose to sit idle and accept whatput it presented to me. believer in knowing that God wouldn’t anything on meofI way I eat, I would have to exercise, and develop an attitude have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity that I couldn’t handle. wonder It how life would someone who wants to beI sometimes 40 pounds lighter. would require is aifblessing that to what everyone. A challenge be I chose to sitisn’t idle afforded and accept it presented to me. I for me to apply action to my goal or dream. to mefound is an adventure. What is the In worst that can opportunity happen? have that to be very boring. my opinion, If aI do nothing, if I try to I don’t, but instead learn is blessing thatI fail, isn’tand afforded everyone. A challenge In 2020, I have decided not to make a lot of resolutions. something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? To be honest many of the ones that I set last year, I didn’t return acquire life. If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn reach. Instead, I believe that if I attempt to live a more positive something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in lifestyle, there will be little or no room for negativity. In terms The best advice return acquire life.ever given to me happened when someone of being positive, the things that seem impossible I am going to told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so approach with a possible mindset. Doors that may look closed, I have pressed myever way given through doors with a key thatsomeone only The best advice to me happened when I am going to knock on them anyway with expectation. They hopeme provided. have also learned the today. difference between told to makeImy tomorrow happen In doing so have to open. blesses and what cana burden with Iwhat haveGod pressed my me waywith through doorslife with key thatme only as well. I compare it toalso knowing when be confident and hope provided. I have learned the to difference between The most important action that we can make this year whenlife tocan be quiet, what God blesses me with and what burdenbecause me with requires no action at all. To get to where we may are dreaming to get it confused as well. I compare it to knowingsomeone when to be confident and go, we must allow God to lead us. Life has proven that the with being when to bearrogant. quiet, because navigational system created by someone may get it confused man is full of flaws and will all Make youarrogant. tomorrow with being too often leadtoday, us to abut dead end. happen most If we just sit still and be patient, importantly make it count. Make you tomorrow and trust toawork for us, LifeGod is but whisper and happen today, but most every importantly dream that we ever had we must putmake ourselves inwill a it count. become a is reality. position what it is Life buttoa hear whisper and telling us.put ourselves in a we must All that matters whatwhat Godithas position toishear is planned for our lives. If we dream telling us. it and give Terry it back L. to God, we are Watson then living a truly a purposed life.
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Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
HAMPTON ROADS
CONTENTS
JAN./FEB. 2020
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Tanika Dean & Co.
Tanika Dean
On The Cover
Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises Sasha A. Ridley
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Da Reggea Cafe
John Horn
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BPolished Beauty Supply
Frankesha Watkins
KinderMission
Betsy Rodriguez
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Also Featured
Brandon M. Frame He has dedicated his life to helping other young black men. #theblackmancan Atlanta, Ga.
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Sydney Prater Meet one of the faces of the Mother & Daughter Experience. Nashville, TN
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Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
Kiason Priest He is the cutest, and has been selected as Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby.
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Sasha A. Ridley Heart To Heart Consulting Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Sasha Ridley
Sasha A. Ridley of Chesapeake, VA is a devoted mother, multifaceted business woman, purpose pusher, and creative thinker. She is also extremely empathetic. By the sounds of it, Sasha lives a pretty simple life. She loves meeting and connecting with new people from all backgrounds and vantage points. Even more, she believes the best way to view life is from the perspective of another person. Life hasn’t always been easy for Sasha but she has proven and battle tested. She has faced being homeless three times within the last four years, all while battling depression and anxiety. “I felt as if I didn’t belong. I have adjusted by learning how to shift my focus and to slow myself down and reconnect with my faith. Searching for the lesson in the situations rather than focus more on trying to move on to the next survival shift was the game changer which helped me to become the change agent in my own life,” she shares. “Realizing and owning the role I played in each and every situation allowed me to be able to connect and be of value to others”. Within her circle of friends and family, Sasha is the one everyone seeks for questions and advice. Even though she may be the youngest in most cases, she is still the go to and describes herself as the “baby in charge”. Currently she operates as a certified Relationship Life Coach with Sasha A. Ridley Enterprises and Heart To Heart Consulting. Coach Sasha works with those who are looking to overcome debilitating fears in regards to vulnerability, communication and adversities that may limit one’s ability to establish personal and professional relationships. She is also a transformation speaker and author, and has published her first book, The Relational Mindset How to Heal and Build Healthy Relationships, which is a take action memoir. “Writing my memoir offered me freedom and healing. The book has also helped others take a closer look at their life and the toxic things they are allowing or have allowed in past relationships. Furthermore, being able to speak on these topics and my mirror confidence method allows me to take my one on one coaching model into a group atmosphere,” she shares.
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Sasha has over eight years of management, customer relations, coaching, marketing, and development experience; skills that she utilizes to assist her with Heart to Heart Consulting. “I am committed to serving those individuals who are ready to put forth action to uncover their who, why, and how and shift their mindset of lack and self-sabotage in order to start their business,” she says. “It is my ultimate desire to equip today’s business owners with the tools and strategies to realize their financial worth, and help them with building an unmatched brand and to dominate their market. I want to help others find their purpose as a person outside of their brand.” Sasha began working as an Executive Assistant with a non profit organization. After two years there, she went on to work as an Telecommunications Officer with the area police department, a move that spanned four years. Due to a family illness, she terminated her employment with the police department and jumped into full-time entrepreneurship so that she would have more flexibility. Both opportunities played a role in helping her to launch Heart to Heart Consulting, and helped her with establishing client relationships. “Working with many different companies over the years I began to see things that challenged my morals. I knew I had to fully invest in Heart to Heart and give the people something different. I also realized that starting a business was a big investment and required a lot of trust. Clients come to me because they trust that I will offer them solutions, and that is what Heart to Heart Consulting is all about. From my heart to yours,” Sasha explains. Her desire to be a life coach had been a long time passion. She studied psychology at Virginia Union University and was always deeply intrigued by the cognitive development and thought process of a person and how it impacts behavior. When the opportunity came to implement life coaching into her business, Sasha knew she had to be strategic and intentional about it. “It was important that I mastered the areas in which I was trying to advise someone else on. Vulnerability and being able to communicate with yourself is vital. You can’t expect to have an honest and authentic exchange with anyone if you are hiding from your own face in the mirror,” she says. She finds the most joy as a Life Coach when her clients experience “the light bulb moment”. “A client called me once and was so excited about being able to use a method I used and taught them. When my clients are able to stand in their boldness and implement the practical tools and strategies they have learned in sessions with me, makes it all worth it,” she says.
www.SashaARidley.com www.HeartToHeartConsultingLLC.com FB & IG: @SasahARidley FB & IG: @HeartToHeartConsultingVA 757-556-6856
Ironically, Sasha finds inspiration through many of the adversities she has faced. She is also inspired by her daughter. “When I was at some of the lowest and scariest moments of my life she was my beacon of light. We all want to leave a legacy behind as parents and our greatest legacy will be our children. My drive is to create a life that she wont have to recover from. As a single mom it is important to me that she knows that no matter who or what may come that I will always be in her corner,” she says. She is also deeply inspired by watching others succeed despite the obstacles that are thrown at them. “Life can sometimes be tricky but mastering the odds is the ultimate magic trick,” she says. h .
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Brandon M. Frame #theblackmancan
By Crystal Kelly Photos by Brandon Frame Morehouse College graduate, Brandon M. Frame, is a man that is motivated by M.K. Asante’s quote, “Once you make an observation you have an obligation.” While attending Morehouse College Frame observed that there was a need for mentorship for young boys of color attending middle school. He created a youth males mentorship group called Voice. He led this group and fostered the educational growth of young boys of color while attending college. This group met once a week and focused on fostering and building positive self-identity of young men boys of color. When asked why he chose Morehouse, he simply replied, “I wanted to attend a college that is designed to created Black male leaders.” Almost as if written destiny, Brandon’s life has always been on a path to be a leader and trailblazer for boys and men of color. Born and raised in Hartford, CT and the eldest to his five siblings you might say that Brandon has a natural tendency to care and look out for others. After graduating Morehouse College, he began teaching and coaching at a private school in MA. There he became a mentor to his students. Frame realized that he had an impact on the younger generation and became a male figure that young men looked up to. Growing up most of his life without his father, he had to learn certain things about becoming a man on his own. One thing he learned was how common it is for other young men of color to be without their fathers. Brandon wanted to create a place for young men of color to express themselves and be able to see positive images of other males of color. Often the media will paint only one kind of image for men of color and more times than not, that image has a negative tone to it. In 2010, Brandon created a blog called #theblackmancan to congratulate, educate, and inspire young
“I wanted to attend a college that is designed to created Black male leaders.” Continued on the next page
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boys and men of color. The blog set up a platform for boys and men of color to express themselves and share positive life stories. Using social media as a place for these young boys and men of color to have a voice and show the world positive images, this blog experienced tremendous growth over the next few years. He also used Instagram to post positive pictures of Black men getting married, smiling, playing with their children, and more. In 2013 Brandon decided to take this movement to the next level and wrote a guided journal entitled, Define Yourself: Redefine the World. The journal was used as a tool in his educational institute. He combined personal stories of the stories on the blog, positive images shown online via social media platforms of men of color, and education to continue to spread the message that #theblackmancan. Since its inception, Brandon began to be recognized and awarded for his movement. Some of the notable awards include, Boston Globe magazine cover, Jet magazine’s Men of Honor, BET Honors: Next in Class Awards, and the MLK award from Morehouse College. Throughout the decade he launched his own YouTube tv series “Building Minds Forever” which lasted for two years and hosted over 150 guests. He created 1000 T.I.E.S (Transforming Identities 2 Empower Society), the Blackmancan Institute which is now called ‘Building a Better Brother’ Summit. Over 7,000 young men have attended since its inception in 2013 and is headed to the Bahamas in 2020 for its first international summit. He is the Creative Visionary for several innovative events and platforms which include, #FallingBlackinLove Power Couple Brunch, #BlackManWinningWednesdays featuring young boys of color recognizing successful men of color, and #BlackMenMondays. These hashtag shows can be found on YouTube. In 2019, He co-authored his first children’s book entitled, My First Tie. This young man has a God given path to lead and pave the way for other boys and men of color to succeed and be seen as the kings they are made to be. Brandon is definitely a man that lives to fulfill his obligation to provide a positive platform for boys and men of color. He is a young Black Man that most certainly can! h
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Frankesha Watkins Frankesha Watkins of Dallas, TX is a woman of God. She is also a go-getter and life learner who has chosen a career as an entrepreneur. In so many words, she describes herself as a black woman who is trying to serve in an industry that is not dominated by African Americans, the haircare industry. Frankesha is also a corporate professional with a background in human resources. After taking a leap of faith, she decided to open her very own business. BPolished Beauty Supply Store is in the heart of Arlington, TX. “Our mission is to provide an array of hair care and beauty items, expertise in healthy hair care, and professionalism to each and every customer ensuring a pleasurable, and paramount beauty experience,” she says. This wasn’t Frankesha’s first attempt at entrepreneurship. The name of her first company Polished Careers helped people with resumes, job offers and salary negotiations. That same approach was carried over to BPolished Beauty Supply. “People come to the beauty supply store to be polished. Whatever the occasion, interview, date, or whatever the case,” she says. “I apply the same level of attention to them as I did with Polished Careers.” BPolished opened its doors to the Dallas/ Fort Worth community on January 17, 2019. offers a variety of beauty care products. “We pride ourselves in carrying a lot of niche and black owned haircare brands such as alpha g’s, curls and potions, and tangen. We also have Crotched Hair, Braids, Wigs, Bundles. We carry a lot of the items that most beauty supply stores have, and many items they may not have,” she shares.
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It makes a lot of sense for Frankesha to own a beauty supply store. “I always had a love of hair care, specifically black hair care, and even had an idea to open a beauty supply store but never pursued it. I actually thought that I would have my own brand of hair care products. I started researching and participated in a few seminars before opening my store,” she says. What makes BPolished standout amongst their competitors is their commitment to addressing their client’s needs. “We are very big on providing good customer service and providing solutions to our customers. If a customer has an issue with dry hair, we are going to help you with that. If a customer has an issue with growth, we will offer advice and recommend products that will address that,” she says. Some of the challenges that Frankesha faces are the fact there are not many Black owned beauty supply stores. Another one is pricing. Because she doesn’t typically purchase her products in bulk, that usually impacts our prices. A lot of their clients are usually searching for a specific brand, and BPolished works hard to have them available. She inspired by being a black owned beauty supply store. Many of her clients often share how they are encouraged by seeing an African American owned beauty supply store. She is inspired by those who continue to support her business. “My family and friends, other businesses, and even some individuals have helped me along my journey. I couldn’t have made it here without their support,” she says.
6407 S. Cooper Street - Suite 135 Arlington, TX 76001 www.bpolishedbeautysupply.com 16
Frankesha says her journey has been good. “Everything has happened the way it was supposed to. We are steadily growing and adding inventory. We are trying to be the one stop shop for beauty supplies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I encourage others who may be on a similar journey to not give up. You have to continue to make the plan and work the plan until you reach your end goal,” she says. h
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Marquita Brown Apple For The Day
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Marquita Brown Marquita Brown is a native of Petersburg, VA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies and is also a Licensed Practical Nurse. She is also an entrepreneur, mentor, philanthropist and community advocate who believes in social justice. She also believes in equality in healthcare and educating African Americans about their health and informing them about the importance of making healthy decisions. “It has always been embedded in my DNA to empower those whose voices are not heard. The voice that is least heard are black and brown people. I hope to change this phenomenon,” she says. Marquita is also the owner of Apple for The Day, a health education and health consultation business. It is focused on the health of all but mostly concentrated on African American health. The point of receiving these services is to make sure people have a basic knowledge on their condition. The name came about from the phrase “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. Marquita shares that she wanted to give knowledge on health and instead of having someone retrieve an apple a day, she wanted to give them an apple for the day. “When it is time to go to a healthcare provider, people can hold an informed conversation with their caregiver. Hopefully, people will think more critically about their health and their care and collaborate with their healthcare provider and receive better results because of it,” she says. She shares that God gave her this vision. “Unbeknownst to myself, I began my business as a child. I started out wanting to be a physician. I worked diligently from that time to attain this goal. As a teenager I began as a hospital volunteer formerly known as a Candy Striper. From there, I began volunteering at my pediatrician’s office and could see how the front office worked and the doctor allowed me to come in the room with him while he examined patients from time to time. In high school I was a part of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). I also took my first Black History course there. After graduating high school, I majored in Biology and concentrated in Pre-Medicine and was offered the chance to intern in a private practice. That experience changed my life,” she says.
She would become even more eager and interested in helping others. “There were so many African American patients who had surgery because the doctor said they needed it but did not understand why the procedure was necessary. I knew this because of their facial expressions. I started going into the room after the doctor finished speaking and asked if the patient understood what was being said. The patient replied ‘yes’ repeatedly but when I asked them to explain it to me, they could not. After seeing this for about the third time, my view on healthcare changed drastically” she says. Soon she would obtain an Associates in Science and went on to another tract, nursing. Simultaneously, she had switched her major to African American Studies, minored in psychology, and concentrated in African American Health. Marquita says she knew African Americans were being neglected in the healthcare system and did not know why. She also knew African Americans did not trust the healthcare system. Continued on the next page
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During her last semester in college, she volunteered for a public health organization and participated in an internship educating African Americans in the community about their health. Once she graduated, she was able to work for that public health organization and realized this is what she wanted to do with her life. The grant had ended in that position and she was no longer in that line of work. “I had to work in clinics/doctors’ offices where people were treated like numbers instead of people. Yet, again, I noticed where African Americans were not receiving the proper education they needed and deserved,” she says. She tried looking for positions in the non-profit sector and they were not available. So, in January of 2019, she stepped out on faith and created Apple for the Day. Marquita has a genuine love for the African American community. She is aware of the need to bring about a change to a group of people without a voice. “I will be fully satisfied with my business once African Americans are on par and/or surpass the majority in this country in all areas of health,” she says. “As a society it would be substantial if we could remove social constructs such as racism, discrimination, low paying jobs, jobs without health benefits, lack of transportation, and food deserts. These social barriers affect health on levels that most people are not even aware of.” She is also inspired by her parents. “My mother had no idea how much she was feeding my quest for knowledge. She groomed me for the healthcare field as a child. My father was a businessman. I watched him run a business and he gave me vision of not only being an African American businessman in the early 90s, but also a successful businessman. He also helped me while I was brainstorming for Apple for the Day. He was confident in my ability,” she shares. Marquita is also on a mission to eradicate racism from the healthcare practice. “Without racism, health disparities would not exist. African Americans receive the least amount of healthcare and tend to only go to the hospital or doctor when it effects their work. By that time, it may already be too late. Even if African Americans do not wait until the last minute to receive care, the best care is not always given while being seen in a medical office or hospital; regardless of income or education status,” she says. To learn more about what Marquita Brown and Apple for The Day is doing, please visit their website or contact her directly. h
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Tanika Dean is as humble as they come and her ultimate goal is to help others as often as she can. She is a visionary who understands the everyday struggles of juggling multiple responsibilities. For years she has managed to operate two child care facilities, serve as co-auxiliary instructor of Golden Delight for NC A&T marching band, serve her local community in various ways, mentor emerging entrepreneurs, and pose a role model for young girls learning dance through her performing arts studio, Twirling Divas. Twirling Divas allows its students to take a variety of movement classes, including tumbling, liturgical dance, hip hop, flag/ribbon/baton twirling and a host of other skills and activities for one price. Over the years, her dance company has accumulated an enormous number of items left over from the countless shows she has produced since her studio doors opened almost a decade ago. Soon, they’ll be utilized in wonderful ways.
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Dean has lived a life of giving; finding it more rewarding to give than to receive. She has worked to help many individuals overcome struggles in a quest to reach their full potential. She believes that meeting a need is more than just giving or doing; it’s about serving others with compassion, dignity, and doing so with reasonable rates so that the majority can participate. These principles are the basis for which each organization Dean owns operates. Affordable, high quality services with compassion at every level. This year, Trendy Dancewear, a new business venture of Dean’s will carry out her business philosophy. “I make a lot of the students’ costumes and I purchase extra material, extra shoes, tights, leotards, and everything they need. So, I have a whole stockroom full of items,” Dean explains. In years past, she would either donate the items to another studio or sell them at an extremely low price so that parents weren’t forced to spend so much out of pocket. With the abundance of items and her innovative mind, it makes perfect sense to put them all to good use. Beginning in January, Dean will open the doors to her motion-wear boutique, Trendy Dancewear, serving those who participate in dance, cheer, and gymnastics and would like to purchase costumes at a lower cost. She will also offer studios the opportunity to order brand new costumes, leotards, tights, dance shoes, and hair accessories at wholesale, with little mark-up, a much different practice than many other retail stores. Sometimes the cost of these items alone have left students unable to participate. Dean doesn’t want that to be the issues for any students in the performing arts. In the past, Dean has assisted parents when they want to trade costumes with each other since they tend to get minimal use out of them. Now, Trendy Dancewear will host an official ‘Swap Meet’ where parents can trade items of different sizes and styles for what they currently need. “It’s about giving back and helping the community,” says Dean. “My goal isn’t to make a huge profit off of this. And what money I do make will be invested right back into the students,” she says. As a parent, herself, she knows how important it is to find quality and affordable goods and services. Her daughter, a third-year college student majoring in history and political science and minoring in leadership, grew up in the dance studio, and her son, who started at the Educational Playtime Too Inc. as in infant, is so familiar with it that he can operate it just about as smoothly as his mother can. Don’t be surprised if you find him taking orders when the store opens or sorting merchandise when it’s delivered. Trendy Dancewear will also offer onsite custom printing and design and custom embroidery services. Because Dean is such an advocate of entrepreneurship and a mentor to so many, this is another path she’s helping pave for a business owner to offer their clients a service that can be difficult to find. These two services will not only be offered to her customers but will be available to anyone who needs it. YOUnique Designs and Deans Custom Apparel will be available within Trendy Dancewear also. To prepare for her grand opening, Dean and her team have been feverishly reconstructing the workroom and designing the boutique from floor to ceiling. She has proudly obtained all necessary licensing and is putting the finishing touches on her website and social media site for online ordering.
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Her parents have volunteered to run the store during its Saturday-only hours. When asked about her passion for helping others find their happy, the former dancer doesn’t hesitate in explaining who her main influences were. “As a kid, there was a man who resided on the eastside of Greensboro named Mr. Bright. He ran a program called AYD where he offered dance, step team, baton twirling, dirt bike racing, and all types of things. It kept the kids together and out of trouble. And then my passion for children, I learned over the years, came from my greatgrandmother who had an in-home daycare on Benbow Road. She used to keep the children of professors who worked at A&T.” So, Dean has impressively filled the shoes of those who unknowingly mentored her through the years and continues to blaze a trail that others can follow. The pages would be endless if this story mentioned all that Tanika Dean does for her friends, family, and even strangers who are referred to her. From the weddings to the baby showers that she lends her time, resources, and talent to, God notices. And when you’re blessed by the most high, you take pride in quietly blessing others. h
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Da Reggae Cafe
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Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by JLG Photogaphy John and Antonate Horn are partners in life, business and more. As they soon will celebrate 13 years of marriage, the couple has also built Da Reggae Cafe into one of the Triad’s best food and dining experiences. They became business partners in 2009, and both bring something different to the table. John is the chef and has his own kind of flavor, while Antonate is firm and sturdy, and helps to ensure that business happens as usual, every day. Antonate and John met in Jamaica. John shares that when he first laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one for him. Antonate is a natural businesswoman. She has a background in hair styling and cosmetology. Together they share a blended family, all with love as the center. It was nearly 13 years ago when John Horn decided to share his idea of authentic and delicious Jamaican food with the Triad. In 1996, the Jamaican native was a resident of a small town in Pennsylvania when he came up with the idea, along with a friend, to open a restaurant. It was called “Best of Times”. The town was small and business was pretty slow, and as a result the business didn’t last too long. However, the experience taught the savvy businessman a few lessons; one being having a good location to open a restaurant. It wasn’t too long after that when John decided to make the trek to North Carolina. He had a family member who had ties to the area and when the opportunity came for him to visit, he did. “I was taken back a little of how friendly the people were here,” John says after his first visit. He came back a second time and the result were the same. The idea to move from Pennsylvania was weighing on John and he contemplated on moving to several areas, including Texas and Florida. He decided to settle somewhere in the middle and North Carolina was the answer. In 2005, he became a resident of the city of High Point. Opening and owning a successful restaurant didn’t happen by mistake. John was purposed for this. John comes from a large family in Portland Jamaica. Raised by a single mother, he has 11 siblings, seven boys and five girls. Most of his siblings are a lot older than John, with him being the second to the youngest. “My mom was a smart woman. She was the farmer, carpenter, and businesswoman. She could do everything. This is how she managed to take care of us,” he says. “She was a Christian woman and was very dedicated to everything she did.” His mother was very instrumental in his life and is the source of where he got many of his disciplines from. Like many other residents of Portland, John and his family were poor. He shares that he was forced to learn how to fend for himself. “Unemployment was very high. I often asked myself what was I going to do? I am poor,” he says. Inspite of the obstacles he faced, John perserved. Continued on the next page Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
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John says that as a child, he was taught various chores such as washing his own clothes, cleaning, and cooking. “There weren’t a lot of restaurants in my city and so if you wanted to eat, you got to cook,” John says. While most other kids would be playing or doing other kid stuff, John and his friends would be cooking. “We would cook by the riverside and in the bushes. We cook our own food that we brought from the market. We set up the stones and would light the wood, and put the pots on, and make our dumplings and rice, and curry chicken. We would race to the water, and take a swim before we ate. It was fun,” he says in his rich and genuine Jamaican accent. While living in Jamaica, John would attend a resort school, Runaway Bay HEART Academy (Human Employment And Resort Training). There he received his formal culinary training, including everything that has to deal with food and beverages. “We were taught to study the behaviors of tourist who came to Jamaica. I had to be up on the current affairs of any tourist. I realized that when you talk to somebody and you immerse yourself and have knowledge of where they are from, you have a whole different feeling. If I meet someone from China, I go back and research something about China so that I can talk to him,” he says.
“We would cook by the riverside and in the bushes. We cook our own food that we brought from the market. We set up the stones and would light the wood, and put the pots on, and make our dumplings and rice, and curry chicken. We would race to the water, and take a swim before we ate. It was fun!”
The young John Horn was often recognized for being articulate. His first passion was to be a lawyer, mainly due to the encouragement of his friends. While in school he would defend some of his friends and argue on their behalf with the principal. “I would often get them off,” he says. He would even develop an interest in the Jamaican judicial system. “Every Wednesday, you know where you could find me, on the courthouse window listening to all the cases. The courthouse has long windows and I would stand there and listen,” he says. He would eventually get involved in politics. At the age of 17 he was nominated to serve the Assistant Secretary for his small community political affiliation. h
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John’s move to North Carolina would change his life in a lot of ways. When he arrived in the Tarheel state, opening a restaurant was not in John’s immediate plans. He initially attempted to land a job through a staffing agency, but it didn’t go so well. “They assumed that because I was Jamaican I was not a United States citizen. However I was a citizen. This ordeal made me so mad that I decided to open my own restaurant, and Da Reggae Cafe was born,” he says. Initially the plan was to open an upscale restaurant, however due to the previous location, he was unable to and decided to sell street food. As a result of the success of their business, in 2018 John and Antonate were able to purchase a building, which now houses their new location on West Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro. Da Reggae Cafe currently employees ten full-time employees. All the recipes of Da Reggae Cafe have been created by John. He says the most popular dishes are Jerk Chicken and Ox Tails, however the entire menu is quite tasty and delicious. On any given day the restaurant is patronized by customers, both new and existing ones. John shares that his mother taught him that one important characteristic is gratitude. He also shares that he is very happy with how his life has played out. “God has given me everything that I have asked for and dreamed of. Every prayer that I ask for, God gives it to me. I wouldn’t change anything about my life because my life has been good to me,” he says. Today, John says that getting older is something that he thinks more about. With aging, he is also planning for his future and the future of Da Reggae Cafe. He hopes to bring in live bands to play. He believes this will help to make the customers experience more of what Jamaica is like. “My plan is to take Da Reggae Cafe brand to other areas, including Charlotte and more.” In the future, John hopes to live his life in such a way that it makes a make a difference in the lives of other men. “I believe we really need strong and focused men in today’s society. If I can help encourage men to do the things that God has asked them to do, I will. With all of the things that God has blessed me and my family with, I want to do my part and share the same love with others” he says. h
Da Reggae Cafe 2528 W. Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27403 www.dareggaecafe.com 336-333-3788 30
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Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
Kaison Priest MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
The son of Natosha Priest Photo by Natosha Priest
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
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By Terry L. Watson Photos by M.A.D.E. Autumn Page Prather understands that motherhood is the hardest job on the planet, yet is the most rewarding. Moreover, this mother knows that leaving a legacy to her children is the single most important thing she can do to ensure that her pedigree continues to thrive and survive. She is the co-founder and CEO of (M.A.D.E.) The Mother & Daughter Experience , a 501 (c) 3 organization that promotes the sacred bonds between mothers and daughters, so that relationships are enhanced now and for generations to come. M.A.D.E sponsors, hosts and/or participates in events and activities that help foster the sacred bond between mothers and daughters. The program offers tailored workshops, seminars, summits and retreats on a variety of themes including but not limited to self-worth, leadership and team-building skills. M.A.D.E is available to professional keynote speakers for formal and informal events centered around women and girl’s empowerment. M.A.D.E hosts an annual Mother/Daughter Breakfast to celebrate mothers, grandmothers, god-mothers, step-mothers and the village who all play important roles in the rearing of our daughters. The Mother & Daughter Experience was founded in response to a 10 year journey of my wanting to do something to honor Autumn’s late mother, Mrs. Linda Marie Everett who passed away April 24, 2009. “In January 2019, as I was lying in bed recovering from a difficult surgery, and I had an epiphany. I wanted an opportunity to share how my daughter and I created a unique bond through love, wisdom, and understanding. I wanted a chance to showcase that kind of bond with her because my mother and I shared that uniqueness as well. I declared that generational curses and dysfunction would stop with us and we would encourage others to look for their unique bond and create their own mantra for a better future. I called my daughter, who was 19 years old at that time, and told her about my idea and titled her the Executive Director,” she says. A passionate leader with over 24 years of professional experience in the financial and insurance sectors, Autumn is a 1997 Cum Laude graduate of Tennessee State University and brandishes a degree in Business Administration. She was initiated into the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, in 1995 and is a 1998 charter member of Upsilon Psi Omega6 Chapter. She has been employed at UBS Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years and is currently a Senior Business Analyst in the Investment Bank division. Autumn’s daughter, Sydnei Page Everett is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Mother & Daughter Experience. She is currently enrolled at Tennessee State University an is majoring in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in the Honors College, a member of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success and apart of the Student Government Association, Student Union Board of Governors. Sydnei is the former President of the Top Teens of America, Nashville chapter. She is also involved with The Positivity Board and Undergraduate Students National Dental Association (USNDA).
In her spare time, she enjoys being a middle school cheer coach, motivational speaking, traveling, service to the community and mentoring young girls. The recipients of the services that (M.A.D.E.) offers are women and girls of all ages, races and ethnicity. “If you are a woman who is a mother-figure to a young girl and/or you had a hand in helping to raise her, our services are for you. If you are a teacher, coach, sponsor or administrator who wants to improve mother and daughter relationships, so that the quality of life for girls in your care is enhanced, our services are for you. If you are an organization that wants to partner together to bring awareness to the community for greater impact, our services are for you,” says Autumn. Autumn shares she absolutely loves tapping into an area that a lot of people tend to shy away from. The mother/daughter relationship is extremely complex and it’s not easy to navigate. “Our relationship is not perfect at all. But, we are intentional about making sure that love is in action, that wisdom is heard and respected and that understanding is felt. I love that we are impacting generations of women and girls, mothers and future mothers and are encouraging mothers to be the role model for their daughters. Healthy relationships are so very important and we believe that the mother/daughter bond sets the stage for every subsequent relationship in a girl’s life - whether romantic or platonic. My mother and her grandmother is the catalyst behind our non-profit and I love that most of all,” she says. As with any nonprofit organization, they rely heavily on donations from the general public. Along with their services, they have also established The Mrs. Linda M. Everett Arts Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund awards monies to those who desire to obtain a degree in the Fine Arts, as Autumn’s mother was an avid proponent for the arts as a dance instructor and sound engineer. They also look to help with any arts related activities for children. Having their 501(c)(3) designation is certainly a plus, however funding has been a big challenge. Autumn shares her mother has definitely impacted her life the most. “She instilled an impeccable work ethic in me, to be graceful and authentic at all times and to simply live life on my own terms,” she says. Moving forward, their plan is to continue to get the word out about The Mother & Daughter Experience, its mission and purpose. “We hope to seek out opportunities to share space with other mother and daughter duos to ignite those sacred bonds. We also plan to promote our 2nd Annual Mother/ Daughter Breakfast Affair coming up in June 2020. It will be titled ‘Generational Gemstones’. We are actively seeking sponsorship at this time. Additionally, we endeavor to endow the memorial scholarship so that we can begin awarding funds to deserving students,” she says. h
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Purchase With a Purpose By Terry L. Watson Photos by Still Shots Photography
The KinderMission Foundation, which is led by Betsy Rodriguez has set its sights on enhancing the quality of lives of others in within its community. Of the various projects, KinderMission Foundation expects its newest addition, PropertyMission, to be in full swing by 2020 and is seeking Participants and Supporters. The motto for the program is “Purchase with a Purpose�. Its goal is to allow each person who is involved to play a role in giving back to KinderMission Foundation. The mission statement for KinderMission Foundation is to foster a safe and empowering environment for children and their families to excel through quality childcare. Programs offered by the Foundation are the Bridging the Gap Scholarship, a scholarship program that provides child care scholarships for families that cannot afford the full price of childcare. In order to receive the scholarship, parents agree to go through The MoneyMission Program and learn how to manage finances to eventually outgrow the program. The MoneyMission Program provides financial literacy classes to families and teachers and the mission is to break the strongholds of poverty and the benefit dependent mentality. The financial literacy classes will equip families and teachers with resources on how to budget, maintain and or repair credit through a credit repair service that is offered, and how to achieve the goal of homeownership, and most importantly how to sustain once they reach their goals and not become dependent on the social services benefit system. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare them for the PropertyMission Program.
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The PropertyMission is a program that is will assist families find a property that will provide stability and wealth for the families. It is also a fundraising mechanism because 30% of the commission will be donated to The Bridging the Gap Scholarship Program. Betsy says her goal is to bring awareness to the PropertyMission Program. “The program will be the main fundraising component for the KinderMission Foundation. “My goal is to reach out to the Real Estate Community and have agents nationwide partner with me to raise funds by donating 30% of commissions to the KinderMission Foundation. KinderMission Foundation will be working with families and refer them to the agents. The buyers are “Purchasing with a Purpose”, and that is to give back to Early Childhood Education through the KinderMission Foundation,” she shared. Under the KinderMission Foundation, Betsy hopes to provide affordable housing opportunities to others, and also help families build generational wealth. She also hopes to provide them with financial literacy, which will assist them with making better financial decisions. Additionally, she has partnered with Realty One Group Results- Real Estate Firm. According to Betsy, this is how she envisioned the PropertyMission program to work. Once an applicant is determined, they will be paired with a partnering realtor who will then assist them with selecting and purchasing their property. KinderMission Foundation is seeking realtors to partner with who will be listed as one of their preferred realtors and are open to the idea of providing a 30% commission back to KinderMission Foundation from the sale of the home. With a soon approaching launch date of January 2020, some work has already began. Betsy has started working with families and assisting them with building their credit so they will qualify for a home loan. She is equipping these same individuals with financial planning skills and teaching them how to sustain their home after purchase. “To qualify for the Property Mission program it is not income based.” she says. “We are seeking working families who are currently renting and interested in purchasing a home, but need a little help getting there.”
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Betsy Rodriguez KinderMission Foundation 4065 Premier Drive High Point, NC 27265 336-886-0121
Hampton Roads - Jan./Feb. 2020
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