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Your Gifts, Your Plans, And What God Says A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It! One of the hardest things for me to understand has been
what is my purpose in life. I’m the kind of individual who has seen a lot and experienced a lot. I’ve had my shares of ups and A Letter from the Editor downs, both good and some bad ones. While everything has provided me with an opportunity to learn, it has also made it kind of difficult to understand what my true purpose is. What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if When I was a young child, I had dreams of being a rap artist. everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never This was well before the emergence of Hip Hop. I remember happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy attending rap concerts and mimicking the performers in my day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making attire and posture. My mother purchased a record player for promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired me and my brother, and my dream was fed even more when the today? What would you do? music videos would come on the television on Friday nights. I was sure that was my destiny. I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm As I got older, I began to write raps for myself and soon believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me found myself investing in my dream by recording my songs at a that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would few local recording studios. That was my plan for my life. To be be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I a rapper, but God had something a different in mind for me. have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge As time would pass, the desire to be a rap artist fizzled. I no to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? longer wrote songs, and my walk and attire changed as well. If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn Little did I know that everything I applied to my rapping something new about myself. that Relinquish your pride and in career, were jewels that God had intentionally placed in path return acquire life. to be used in a whole different capacity. Instead of writing rap songs, I used giftever to begin for Huamiwhen Magazine. The bestthat advice givenarticles to me happened someone Instead of mimicking rap artist and attending rap concerts, told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I set my sights on my being a publisher and entrepreneur and I have pressed way through doors with a key that only conducting myself as such. hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with What Iwhen had intomind for my lifeand as a as well. I compare it to knowing be confident child didn’t upquiet, with because what God when line to be did. He shared some things that someone may get it confused I needed to learn, but He didn’t with being arrogant. allow me to get complacent while doing so. In life, must learn Make youwe tomorrow to seek God for confirmation happen today, but moston all ourimportantly hopes and dreams. If it’s make it count. not connected what God has Life is butto a whisper and purposed for us, then it will be we must put ourselves in a short position lived. Wetomust hear always what itseek is God’stelling plan first. us.
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Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
On The Cover
Photo by Shaw Photography Group
CONTENTS
NOV./DEC. 2019
RALEIGH/DURHAM
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M&M Education Tutoring
Maurice & Theressa
On The Cover
Graham Moore & Clark, LLC Dr. Terrence Graham
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She Loves To Writer
LaKesa Cox
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Thandies Catering
Amber Weaver
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby
Aubrie Tate
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Also Featured
Ronnie Rice Author and Entrepreneur Meet the face behind R2 Enterprises, LLC Greenville, SC
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Denise Renee She is offering Writing Tips for aspiring authors. From Atlanta, GA.
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Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
Jay L. Harris Looking for something creative. Look no further. Meet the face of Jay’s Creative Werks from Atlanta, GA. HuamiMagazine.com
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Dr.Terrence Graham Graham Moore & Clark, LLC
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HuamiMagazine.com
Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
By Yasmine Regester Photos by Jerry Barbry Some may wonder how one man finds time to run an outpatient counseling clinic five days a week and still manage to write, direct, and produce his own series of films and books, but Dr. Terrence Graham does it. As the co-founder and owner of Graham, Moore & Clark LLC, Addiction, Behavioral and Biblical Counseling, Dr. Graham provides individual and group therapy for adolescents and adults from 12 years old to the elderly. Some of his services include providing clinical supervision at Level III residential homes, opioid treatment, and substance abuse assessments and treatment for the NC Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He started his private practice counseling service in his hometown of Kenansville, NC in 2008. He debuted practice with two other counselors who are based outside of North Carolina, but as the company grew, he decided to move forward on his own. “I started it because I wanted to provide counseling services that included individual and group therapy and substance abuse counseling, to adolescents and adults in the area I grew up in,” says Dr. Graham. Dr. Graham services clients in his office located on 4086 Barrett Drive in Raleigh NC, or in a clinic in Greensboro, Monday through Friday from 9 am-9 pm. Client referrals come from local government and community organizations, as well as public school districts, other therapists in the area, and word of mouth. “I travel between Raleigh and Greensboro a lot, but I see clients every day. We can work around a client’s schedule,” says Dr. Graham, who adds that he likes to be accessible to his patients. Dr. Graham holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Agency Counseling from NC A&T State University, and a doctorate in Biblical Counseling from Andersonville Theology Seminary. He says that psychology was a natural passion for him. “When I was in high school, my friends would talk to me. I was a good listener. I would give words of encouragement and insight. I’ve always been interested in the study of the mind, so when it came time to choose a major in college, I naturally gravitated towards psychology.” He was also a Wake County school-based mental health therapist for 13 years where he provided addiction and behavioral counseling for adolescents. He notes that therapy can also help address conflict resolutions, anger management, anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and more. Dr. Graham is also a licensed clinical addiction specialist, national certified addiction counselor, masters addiction counselor, distance credentialed counselor, substance abuse professional, certified bariatric treatment specialist, and clinical certified sex offender treatment specialist. Dr. Graham shares that he originally wanted to work with children, but soon realized there was adults who also were in
need. “I counsel people dealing with substance abuse disorders. I realize there is a need. One thing about adults and substance abuse treatment is that they firmly believe that if you’ve never been a user, you can’t help them. But that is not true. I’ve never used, but I have all these tools that can help them lead successful lives of recovery,” he says. Dr. Graham explains that the process is simple when a client comes for counseling treatment. He and the client develops a treatment plan. Then they set up attainable goals. Once the client is consistently meeting their goals, he and the client can discuss decreasing the amount of treatment. Dr. Graham is currently working on expanding his biblical counseling services by connecting with churches to be a liaison to promote mental health awareness and be a resource for pastors. Biblical counseling is the process in which the Bible is used to treat addictions, behaviors and mental health.
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“I want to get in these churches and explain that mental health treatment is ok. People in the church sometimes frown on people seeking outside help for problems. You can go to church and have a strong faith, and still benefit from therapy,” he says. “It’s amazing how you can take a bible verse and apply it to a behavioral disorder. Some people really benefit from that balance of faith and practical life skills.” A longtime lover of drawing and creating, Dr. Graham initially dreamt up his film production company, 5Ft Productions as a third grader in Rose-Hill Magnolia Elementary School, in Duplin County, NC. Dr. Graham now uses his established film company to produce movies that can be used as teaching tools in his counseling practice. Each film produced is organized around a behavioral concept that he treats as a counselor. “I was in third grade making comic books for my friends. I would draw all the popular superheroes, whatever was out there, and make a comic book to sell to my peers,” he says. “5Ft productions has really been a journey for me.” 5ft Productions is Dr. Graham’s multi-media production company that produces independent films, publishes books, video, music, and curriculum writing. The company’s body of work currently consists of five movies, three published books, an album and an anti-bullying curriculum manual. Dr. Graham makes what he calls, “docu-films,” as he often draws inspiration from the people around him to address the social and behavioral issues he covers in his movies. His first published book in 2004 was, “In the Mind of Bobbee Bee The Hater,” a story about bullying based on his oldest son’s life. His most recent body of work was “The Cycle,” a 2018 film that details eight generational curses that impact the African American community. Set against the backstory of slavery, Dr. Graham uses the ABC method, a behavioral counseling model, to frame the issue. The mainstream popularity of “The Cycle” has propelled it to secure a streaming deal with Amazon Prime and Google Play.
Dr. Terrence Graham Graham Moore & Clark 4086 Barrett Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 919-710-7332
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The next movie he is working on is called “Dumpster Diving,” which is a film about toxic relationships that uses biblical stories like Cain & Abel and Adam & Eve to connect to the psycho-social issues he is working to examine. Dr. Graham is the 2017 I Have A Dream Award recipient from the MLK, Jr. Commemoration Committee in Kenansville for his film, “The Life of Rudolph Becton,” and was recognized in 2018 as a top counselor by the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare, and was prominently featured in their publication. “I use my movies to help people. It isn’t about me. I help tell peoples’ stories, which can very therapeutic for someone. And counseling works, but it takes time. It’s not a quick fix. It’s about teaching people how to implement these coping skills in their everyday life,” he says. Dr. Graham is a proud father one daughter who attends Howard University, and two sons, both current students at N.C. A&T State University. h
Jametra & Mariama
M & M Tutoring Service (Educational Group)
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By Yasmine Regester Photos by Jerry Barbry
A passion for teaching and a commitment to enhancing student success birthed M&M Educational Group, a tutoring and educational services company in Durham, NC. M&M Educational Group/M&M Tutoring Service is the creation of Jametra Hinton, NBCT, MBA and Mariama Moody, NBCT, MSEd. Both veteran licensed Math teachers, with a combined 30 years of experience in education, M&M was birthed out of a concern about the lack of individualized attention that students received, and the need for more support from educators with concrete experience in the field. M&M Educational Group operates at 3326 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd Suite C 120, but offers their services face-to-face or virtually in Durham, Wake, Orange, and Alamance counties, and surrounding area. Tutors work with teachers and parents to select the best learning environment for a student and are available to travel to various locations for tutoring sessions. “No matter how good of a teacher you are, sometimes it’s hard to give individual students the one on one attention they may need,” says Jametra. As classroom teachers, Jametra and Mariama say they would stay after school and help students who needed it. While they saw great progress in those students, they still felt like they could do more. When they first started in 2014, they only offered math tutoring services because that was their background. As word spread of their tutoring services, they begin getting requests for more subjects and eventually expanded operations to include three more tutors. “We started realizing people wanted more than math tutoring,” Jametra says. Mariama and Jametra each taught in Durham Public Schools for eight years and believe that their close connection to the community is what sets M&M apart from other tutoring services.
Jametra Hinton
“I think parents trust us because they know that teaching is who we are, not just what we do,” says Mariama. “Because of our reputation in the classrooms, I think parents trust us more than a typical tutoring company. I believe people see that we have a direct interest in the success of our community and they trust that. We actually have classroom experience in the same school system that we are tutoring in, so that gives us a different perspective.” Continued on the next page
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M&M offers face-to-face and virtual tutoring in a variety of subjects, such as math, reading, science, foreign languages, and writing. Tutoring services are offered from Kindergarten through college. Students can also participate in ACT and SAT test prep classes, small group, and individual sessions, public speaking courses and math and writing labs that can offer help on specific assignments versus ongoing tutoring. They (Jametra, Mariama, and selected M&M tutors) also work with Families in Transition and non-profit organizations with after school tutoring programs as well as ACT/SAT test prep. In addition to after school tutoring, M&M also works with schools by providing supplemental instruction during the school day. Because they are former teachers of Durham Public Schools (DPS), the ladies say they have a unique understanding of how things work, what needs exist and how they can tweak their services to support each individual school or district. “Any of the programs we offer can be expanded or adjusted to the client. We do our best in catering to the specific needs of each school,” says Jametra. “It’s hard to understand the demands of a teacher until a person is in that position. I believe we have a better understanding of how flexible we need to be to offer additional support to teachers,” says Jametra. While students’ grades and classroom improvement is a good indicator of success, the M&M founders say that the feedback they get from students and parents is the main driver. “Our goal is always that students are seeing their progress in class and in their grades,” says Mariama. “But parents tell us all the time how they appreciate us being here and also being a support for them. Parents have questions and don’t always know who to reach out to for help. Having a tutor they can trust and who genuinely cares about their child and their child’s success is empowering for them.”
Mariama Moody
Mariama notes that M&M tutoring also helps improve test taking and study skills, as well as works on building students’ confidence in the classroom setting. They say teachers have reported that they see students more willing to answer and ask questions in class; and parents say that they see their children actually attempt to do their homework on their own versus just pushing it to the side and giving up. “We have learned over the years that in many cases, students don’t study because they don’t know how to do so properly; not just because they don’t want to improve. Sometimes we assume that students know what to do when we tell them to study, but in reality, they may not know what that process looks like for them,” she says. “Part of us helping students is getting them to understand that they have a stake in their own education.
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It’s not just about the teacher giving you information that you need to memorize.” Jametra adds, “The feedback we get from students, parents and teachers lets us know we’re moving in the right direction. Yes we are helping them in the classroom, but the skills they improve on can also translate to work life and giving back to the community.” M&M will celebrate their five year anniversary on November 16 with an Access to Progress parent engagement program at Hillside High School. The public forum invites all parents to come ask questions of the different educators that will be speaking. Jametra notes that a common misconception about tutoring is that it’s a last effort to learn a subject. People can also seek tutoring at the start of a class to make sure they are prepared.
Both proud HBCU graduates, Mariama attended Hampton University and Jametra attended Norfolk State University. Both started their teaching careers in the Norfolk Public School System in Virginia, but found their way to teaching in North Carolina. Longtime friends, they both taught at Durham Performing Learning Center and Hillside High School in Durham. Jametra also taught math in Indiana and is a wife, mother of two girls, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Mariama is a mentor, loving friend and daughter, and a member of World Overcomers Christian Church. Although they have both been out of the classroom for the last three to four years, they say the part they miss the most about leaving the classroom is the opportunity to build relationships with groups of students. “We appreciate still being able to work in classrooms and interact with students and teachers, because at the end of the day we ARE teachers...it is what we do,” says Jametra.
“We always remind parents and students that tutoring just means you need some extra help, and we all need help at some point. Also, getting tutoring doesn’t imply paying for a service; you can get help from family or friends. Just know there is nothing wrong with reaching out for help,” says Mariama. “Asking questions doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Asking questions is part of the learning process.” A focus on inclusion and diversity is an aspect the founders and lead tutors of M&M strive to maintain. They now have 25 tutors, some bilingual, and have served almost 500 families and a growing number or schools, school districts, and community organizations. Tutors are available to travel to homes or schools. Outside of tutoring and academic support services, M&M also offers professional development for classroom teachers in the form of seminars and workshops. “We strive to help schools and school districts improve teacher retention because experienced teachers are needed, but are not always supported depending on the experience of those around them,” says Jametra. Both Jametra and Mariama are licensed and National Board Certified teachers and are thankful for the mentorship they received that groomed them to be the educators they are today. They also continue to work on their own professional development by staying current on changing curriculums in the state. “We can serve in different roles because we both have been in the classroom long enough to have a good idea on how to work with teachers, while helping students improve,” says Mariama. “We truly want to see everyone in our community reach their full academic potential!”
M&M Tutoring Service (Educational Group) 3326 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Ste-C120 Durham, NC 27707 984-888-0141 www.mmedugroup.org
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Denise Renee
Write Your Book Tips
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Denise Renee
Denise Renee of Atlanta, Ga is somewhat of a Creative Entrepreneur. Under that umbrella, many things can be listed, but for the most part, she is a writer, musician, and teacher. She is also someone who loves using her God-given talents and time-tested skills to help others accomplish their personal or professional goals, and live their life to the fullest. Denise’s brand name is Write Your Book Tips. “I help urban professionals and entrepreneurs write books that attract clients and opportunities for their business or personal brand. I also help people realize a dream they’ve had for a while, and assist them by putting it into words and in their hands,” she shares. “I developed a love for creative writing when I was around 8-years-old and haven’t stopped.” English Literature was one of Denise’s majors in college. Throughout the course of her career, she’s done journalistic writing, editing, blogging, marketing, copywriting, and book ghostwriting and writing coaching. As a writer, it should be no surprise that Denise is inspired by other authors. “I read a wide variety of books, so I find inspiration in a variety of sources, from fiction, to self-help books, to spiritual and even marketing books,” she says. The person who as impacted her career and business the greatest she says is her ex-husband. “When we were splitting up several years ago, I challenged myself to remember who I was and recall my own personal gifts and strengths. I had to figure out what I wanted to do with my life after the marriage. As a result of the process of healing from the hurt of our split, I founded my company.”
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The only thing Denise says she would change about her journey is that she wish she would have started sooner. “It is also not a good practice to stay stuck in hurtful situations for more than one day,” she says. Currently, Denise is putting the finishing touches on a e-book that she plans to release in 2020. The focus will be to encourage more people to release their inner writer. She is also working on a 2020 launch of a self-study course that gives people a step-by-step outline of how to write their own book. “My hope is that I have the opportunity to hear everyone’s amazing testimonials as a result of working with me,” she says.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram @WriteYourBookTips You can learn more about my story at http://WriteYourBook.tips/DeniseRenee
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Aubrie Tate MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
The daughter of Aleta Tate and Darrell Tate Photo by Stacey Gardin
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
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Amber Weaver Thandie Catering
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Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
By Terry L. Watson Photos by J. Bella Photography Good food and good time. Those are two things that are promised by Thandie Catering, LLC of Richmond, Va. Amber Weaver is a go getter and what she puts her mind to she accomplishes. She is also a young woman that has traveled a lot and learned different languages. She has took college courses and even excelled in school as a child but was still found herself lost with no idea of what she wanted to do with her life. She has a huge heart and is the kind of person that would give someone the shoes off her very own feet if they needed them. Despite the struggles and pain she dealt with growing up, she still managed to remain humble and keep a smile. The passing of her parents made her stronger, and she regained her confidence and purpose after realizing who was really there for her during those difficult times. Amber always had a passion for cooking and putting a smile on others faces. She has allowed her passion to evolve into a food service business, Thandie Catering LLC. Amber had been catering for friends and family for over six years until people kept asking her “Why are you doing this for free?” In October 2017, Thandie Catering officially was born. Thandie Catering LLC Amber says is not your typical catering company. It focuses on eating healthy, but not by cutting out foods you love. “We focus on creating a diet to fight high cholesterol, diabetes and kidney issues. We also teach you that food can be healthy and tasteful,” she shares. “We sell all freshly homemade products with produce that is locally grown and picked. We use fresh, never frozen meats and an array of low sodium herbs and spices, including non-GMO seasoning and foods along with homemade dips and sauces. The name Thandie means “Loving One” which originally came from Thandie Incorporated, which was created by the Amber’s mother. It was a women’s self help organization for single moms but after the passing of Mrs. Weaver, the business sat dormant until it rebranded into what is now Thandie Catering LLC. Amber shares that her business has been mostly impacted by her late mother, who was known as the “Neighborhood Mom.” “All the children came to our house. She fed everyone, every child and parent. They looked up to her. She was well respected in the community and a teacher herself. She passed away in 2009 and people still remember the good times with her,” Amber says. Though there have been challenges with running her business, Amber still finds enjoyment. “I love to see the smiles on people’s faces when they are pleased and happy with the service they receive. I also love being able to work for myself, set my own pace and have that one on one time with customers. I am a people person and I love meeting with people. Building this business has been a long and tedious process. A lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into this but I would not have it any other way,” she says. h
Richmond, VA 804-309-8799 www.thandiecateringllc.com 17
Ronnie Rice R2 Enterprises, LLC By Terry L. Watson Photos by Apollo Wonex Greenville, SC resident Ronnie Rice wears many hats. He is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and Human Resource Professional. He holds a M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. Additionally he is a published author, and his work ‘When Phoenix Rise: Life lessons for effective leadership®’ is available Amazon and Barnes and Noble for purchase. Ronnie’s book was largely inspired by a cousin who asked him, “How did you get out of the Southside of Waukegan, Illinois when so many others you grew up with did not? How did you make it with so much adversity and negative distractions all around you? In essence, his cousin wanted to know what made Ronnie different. “I attempted to answer his questions by sharing my life’s journey, the good, bad, and otherwise choices that helped shape me as a person as well as how it all helped me meander my way through corporate America to a level of success that I am proud of today,” he says. Ronnie is also the founder of R2 Enterprises, LLC. Pronounced “R squared” his company specializes in offering Motivational Speaking services. He is also a developer of an after-school program entitled, ‘The Raising Corne® Program Seminars,’ which is recognized as one of the longest running programs in the state of South Carolina’s Low-country. Ronnie is also the designer of his own t-shirt apparel brand named R.I.S.E. ® (Reach In-Side for Excellence) Motivational Wear that currently offers two designs available for purchase on Amazon. Rice expects four more designs to be available by the approach of the new year.
“I look forward to the day when I will see a stranger donning one of my tees. Even better, seeing a star athlete or entertainer wearing my apparel providing me with great free marketing would be a huge plus.”
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Ronnie initially started R2 Enterprises LLC in 2002 after leaving a 17 year career in corporate America at Abbott Labs. His first project was the after-school program, and then motivational speaking. He served as a member the NCAA Speakers Registry for a few years and spoke to students and student-athletes at various colleges and universities. “For a long time, I envisioned having my own apparel brand similar to a Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, versus making t-shirts for others. Of course, it’s much more difficult to penetrate the apparel industry the way that I am trying to do it, but I really wanted to have my own brand with my motivational slogans,” he says. “I look forward to the day when I will see a stranger donning one of my tees. Even better, seeing a star athlete or entertainer wearing my apparel providing me with great free marketing would be a huge plus.”
Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
What Ronnie says he loves most about what he does is the ability to influence others to move from Point A to Point B in their lives, or in their careers. “I am often overwhelmed from the feedback many give to me on how I made a difference in their career trajectory, or their decision to avoid negative pitfalls of life by making better-informed choices from something I may have said. I have a passion for assessing challenges and for motivating change in order to improve the process, whether in business or in society,” he says. Ronnie says he is inspired by his wife, his family, Altruism, and people. He is also moved by the actions of individuals such as Robert E. Smith who recently donated millions of dollars to pay off the school debt of many young men attending Morehouse College Atlanta. “In spite of all the evil that takes place in the world, I am still encouraged by and believe the human spirit of most people will prevail over evil. I find inspirations in individuals who change our world including Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Reginald F. Lewis, OPRAH, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Bezos, Alex Zuckerberg, Muhammad Ali, and Colin Kapernick. These are the risk takers who provide an intoxicating approach to not being afraid to “think-outside-the-box’ in order to move the needle forward,” says Ronnie. He also finds inspiration in millennials. “They are revolutionary in their thinking and what is occurring in society and in business across the country today is a phenomenon. They offer a refreshing approach to business because they are not afraid to challenge the status-quo and they are making sure their voices will be heard. They all inspire me daily and confirm there is still reason to believe in the progression forward of the human race,” he says. Some of the challenges that Ronnie has faced in business are the struggles of maintaining a small business during the 2008 recession. With real-estate and having one of my properties being located in Atlanta, GA. I did not have a mentor to help navigate me through the areas of business and for unforeseen challenges,” he says.
Ronnie’s book, “When Phoenix Rise” is available online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble for purchase.
Ronnie Rice R2 Enterprises, LLC 864-561-0233 www.r2entreprises.com
When asked if he would change anything about his journey, Ronnie shares a few points. “I would like to have a judicial system that lived up to and honored the image of what “Lady Justice” represents, where justice is truly blind to power, corruption, and negative influence. We need more effective internal controls in government and big business as well as measurable external ‘checks and balances’ to ensure we do not repeat another Enron, economic meltdown or Bernie Madoff-type situation in this country,” he says.. In the future, Ronnie shares that he would like to occupy a position in leadership that would allow him to have more autonomy to use his work experience, education, and creativity to better influence an organizations’ culture. This is something Ronnie describes similar to what Matthew McConaughey did for his alma mater, the University of Texas by offering an acting class in an effort to bridge the gap between education and the workforce to help ease the transition from school to the real world. “I would like to propose a life-skills class using my book to interested colleges to be incorporated into its curriculum as an elective. One day when I retire, my ultimate goal is to make my money work h while I sleep,” he says.
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LSheaK esa Cox Writes With Love 20
HuamiMagazine.com
Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Lakesa Cox
LaKesa Cox of Richmond, Va is a wife of 26 years, mother of three, daughter, sister and a self-proclaimed “superwoman”. She is also fond of long summer days and Caribbean vacations. She graduated from Strayer University with an Associate’s Degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In September 2019, While utilizing the gifts that God has blessed her with, LaKesa is serves an author, screenwriter, and content creator. She recently retired from her career that spanned 22 years in corporate America, to pursue writing full-time. “I love writing dramatic and true to life stories filled with realistic and interesting characters,” she says. “I am definitely a drama queen when it comes to writing. I’m a multigenre writer. I write adult, young adult, and children’s books. I write something for everyone!” The journey for LaKesa as a writer hasn’t always been smooth. In 2018, she was at a crossroads. I was working a corporate job that paid well but she was no longer happy. “My passion had always been writing and when given the opportunity to take a buy-out, I prayed about it. I wanted to make the right decision for me and my family. I could’ve stayed at my corporate job for eight more years or I could take the buy-out and follow my dreams. Then, out of the blue, I received a random email titled ‘Take The Leap’. I felt like God was telling me to step out on faith to follow my dreams, and that’s what I did,” she says. As a child, LaKesa says she was one of those kids who loved reading, so much so that her family members would give her books as gifts for birthdays and holidays. As a teen, her taste in reading grew as she became interested in books by Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel. “When I discovered authors Terry McMillan and Eric Jerome Dickey, I was fascinated. Mainly because they wrote stories about characters who looked like me. It was then I realized it was time for me to put my pen to paper and start creating my own stories,” she says. LaKesa started writing her first book in 1993, right around the time she got married. However, she put the book down for a while because life got in the way. She was working full-time and had two small children, in addition to taking college courses. “I watched as the African-American literary world exploded. In 2002, I finally published my first novel, After the Storm. A year later, I followed up with my sophomore title, Water in My Eyes,” she says.
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also selected for the 2017 Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. LaKesa’s second feature screenplay, social drama Black and Blue (title change pending) was recently selected for the Beautiful Soul Film Festival screenwriting competition, and was selected as a semifinalist in the 2019 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices screenwriting competition. It was selected as one of the top 50 finalist for the 2019 Your Script Produced screenplay competition. She recently completed her third and fourth feature- length screenplays, a romantic comedy titled, Christmas Hiatus and a drama titled, Purple Roses. She has completed another 30-minute comedy TV pilot titled, Oh Brother! She was named one of the top 100 African-American authors of 2017 by UBAWA.org. LaKesa shares her love for writing in rooted in her ability to bring characters to life. “As a writer, I battle with the characters who take up space in my head. Often times, it keeps me up at night. I have a vivid imagination and one word or thought could spark a story idea,” she shares. She also loves talking to her readers and discussing her books with them. “It’s humbling when a person who’s never met you reaches out to you on social media to tell you how much they enjoyed your work. My readers give me the motivation to keep writing.” As an author, LaKesa shares that she faces various challenges. “Writing a book is the easy part for me. The hardest part is marketing. Getting my books into the hands of my targeted audience is the biggest challenge. I have learned to remain committed by pushing my work on every social media platform, relying solely on the impact of word of mouth. I also and attend book festivals as a means to assist with marketing,” she says. Another challenge is writers block. However, she understands that writing is a self-motivating job, therefore she sets writing goals weekly, and works diligently to meeting these goals.
A few years passed before LaKesa met and befriended author Nikki Turner. She offered LaKesa an opportunity to collaborate with some amazing authors for an anthology titled, Street Chronicles: Girls in the Game. It became a New York Times Best seller and was featured in Essence magazine. Throughout the years, she wrote another short story in another anthology under the Nikki Turner Presents banner and completed her third full-length novel, Fetish for a Blue Skyy. She became an award winning author as a result of a short story she wrote in an anthology, The Ex Chronicles, was published by Brown Girls Publishing. It would receive the 2016 African American Literary Award for best anthology. LaKesa’s highly acclaimed young adult/teen novel, Mulatto Girl Aggie, 13: Name on the Ledger, was released in 2017 and her children’s picture book, Shirleen and the Shoes, was released in the spring of 2019. She hopes to release her next adult novel titled, Is Love Enough very soon. In 2015, LaKesa decided to expand her creativity by crossing over into screenwriting. Her first feature film, I Love You to Pieces was selected for several screenwriting festivals including the 2017 Urban Mediamakers Film Festival and the 2017 International Houston Black Film Festival. Her comedy TV pilot script, Wait a Minute Mr. Postman won 1st place in the Best Spec/TV Script at the 2017 Urban Mediamakers Festival, and was selected as a quarter-finalist in the 2017 WeScreenplay TV Pilot Screenplay competition and was
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LaKesa says she inspired mostly by her family and a small circle of close friends, of which are her biggest cheerleaders and supporters. She is also inspired by other writers. “I love the art of storytelling and I know that as long as people are still buying books, there’s still room for more of my stories,” she says. LaKesa advises others to don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. “Being comfortable won’t get you anywhere. Ever since I decided to step out on faith and become a full-time writer, so many doors have started to open for me and I’ve met some amazing people. As an extreme introvert, it’s a struggle talking to strangers and meeting new people but the Lord has put me in rooms with people who had the power to change my life. The one thing I can’t stress enough is you have to get uncomfortable to make progress. I’ve done a lot of that this year and it has paid off tremendously,” LaKesa shares. Going forward, LaKesa plans to write the movie scripts for her current books while continuing to release new material. Along with being an author, she has written several feature-length movie scripts. She is in the process of pitching them to networks and streaming platforms while also searching for funding to produce and direct one of the movies herself. Her goal is to see all of her books on the big screen while continuing to create more content. In her spare time, she serves a mentor to 4th and 5th grade. The mentorship program she shares provides a variety of activities that promote healthy physical, social, and emotional development to young girls. h
www.LaKesaCox.com
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Jay L Harris Jay L Harris of Atlanta, GA is an author, blogger, and shepreneur. Her works include the highly successful romance novel, Unlikely Love. She is the owner of the global brand, Jay L Harris Creative Werks, a digital branding firm that specializes in graphic design and social media management.
Jays shares that she is inspired by many things, but mostly her family. “I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who are very supportive and love me,” she says. Additionally, she admits that everything that has happened along her journey has provided her with an opportunity to learn. “If we don’t make mistakes, how can we ever expect to grow,” she said. In the future, her plans are to eventually assemble a small staff that will allow her to help more people. She would also like to live abroad and work with entrepreneurs globally. h
Coming from a family of educators, spiritual leaders and entrepreneurs, Jay is ready to inspire others through teaching and creating workshops. She has created a series of workshops to help aspiring writers, bloggers and entrepreneurs get started on their journey as well as speak on topics such as Expanding the Bandwidth of Your Imagination, Beyond Writing, Social Media Content Writing, Personal Branding, and I Can Do That! Jay L Harris Creative Werks started in March 2017. “It started as a fluke. I began blogging in 2013 to not much success. I felt as if people loved my social media posts and blog designs more than the enjoyed reading my blog. After a year of people asking me to manage their social media, I finally agreed to give it a go. I booked three clients in one month. However, it took me another year to feel confident enough to offer graphic design services to others,” she says. Some of the services offered by Jay L Harris Creative Werks include Graphic Designs (Stationery, Websites, Lead Magnets) Social Media Branding/Management/Strategy, Email Marketing, and Recruitment Marketing (specializing in Non-Profit recruiting). “I typically work with restaurants, hair salons, coaches, comedians, consultants, solopreneurs, authors and creative entrepreneurs,” she says. Jay said she loves everything about her career and business. “I love getting the opportunity to use my imagination to create beautiful things as well as help others see their vision come to life. It is nothing like seeing my clients post their new logo on social media, share their branded social media posts, or see my work in magazines.” Most new entrepreneurs struggle with how to price their services. When Jay first started, she wasn’t very confident in herself. As a result, she underpriced her services. “I was afraid to charge too much for fear of losing my clients. I was beyond frustrated and often contemplated quitting my business. After doing some research and becoming more confident in my skills, I unapologetically raised my rates,” she says. “My advice to others may be in a similar situation is to research your industry for the current going rates and do a proper evaluation of the time it takes to perform each service. Most importantly, don’t undervalue your skills and knowledge. Don’t rush the process. Success doesn’t happen overnight and there will be plenty of times when you will not do the right thing. Don’t be discouraged but keep going. Through much failure comes much success.”
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Raleigh/Durham - Nov./Dec. 2019