What if? That thought comes to mind when I consider what my life could be. What if I didn’t live in a particular city, or attend a certain high school? What if I had chosen a different career path or traveled a different road in life? What if I had never applied action to my dream? What if God didn’t choose me to be paired with His vision?
A Letter from the Editor
What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?
I will be the first to admit that my life has been anything but simple. For the most part, it has been full of winding roads and quite noisy at times. The love and encouragement of my mother, grandmother, and others surely help to soften me; I surely miss my grandma. Yet, the storms and shortcomings I’ve endured have done their job and toughened me a little.
I have learned that my peace lies in the space between the good times and bad times, and for me to enjoy and experience peace, I must work for it. I have also learned that life will get tough, and when we get knocked down, God doesn’t expect us to stay there. There are lessons in all experiences, and getting up and trying to get it right again is part of God’s lesson.
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 believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.
There was a point in my life when I didn’t know if I was coming or going. With every move I made, it was the wrong one. There were also times when I would move or react to whatever thought came into my mind. Again, that turned out to be the wrong thing to do. My point is everything I had done, I did it without seeking guidance from God beforehand. I was driving my own ship, yet I was going nowhere and fast.
Todd Youngblood Photography
Howard Gaither Photography
While I made a mess of my life, God was there, like He always has been. He allowed me to make those bad decisions and provided grace to ensure I would survive them. During the times when I continued to make the same mistakes over and over again, God continued to cover me because there was a lesson that I needed to learn.
The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.
Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.
Despite everything I have experienced thus far, God has been right there with me. When it appears things aren’t moving fast enough, I know that God is governing the speed at which things are happening. When we get in God’s way, we block Him from blessing us. Get out of God’s way and allow God to drive. You might just learn that life is a lot easier from the passenger seat.
Terry L. Watson
She is known as The KY Real Estate Lady. Besides assisting others with buying and selling homes, Briana Day spends her time loving on her family and serving her community.
Briana’s niche is working with investors and First Time Homebuyers. She’s a full-time real estate agent and asset manager who prioritizes putting her people and their needs first. Briana meets her clients where they are and works continuously to help them get to where they want to be. She accomplishes this by offering various real estate services, including consulting, property management, interior design, and project management.
Briana began working in real estate over a decade ago, around the time when she assisted a real estate investor in establishing his office and managing over 40 single-family homes. Since then, she has managed over 4,000 rental units ranging from single and multi-family homes to collegiate housing. In 2019, Briana sought to make a difference in her local community by increasing homeownership and available inventory. She then decided to obtain her real estate license. Upon entering the real estate realm, she noticed that the biggest hurdle for potential clients was feeling they needed to be financially worthy of owning a home. Briana educated, enlightened, and empowered her clients through her love and passion for people and all things real estate. She met them where they were and helped them get to where they wanted to be.
Getting her clients to where they should consist of many things. She has helped countless clients improve their credit scores and assisted them with budgeting through her homeownership consultations and workshops. She has also helped dozens of investors start their careers in real estate by educating and finding them the right deal and obtaining financing to meet their real estate goals.
Briana’s love for people is clearly on display with each client, whether they are buying or selling. She says, “The thing that I love most about real estate is that no matter your position, you are helping improve someone’s quality of life. I thoroughly enjoy educating and empowering my clients, helping them make the best future decisions, and creating generational wealth.”
Briana’s drive is fueled by her determination to provide the best opportunities in life for her daughter, Drew Valencia, who she describes as her biggest push in life. “Knowing that my daughter doesn’t have to look outside of her home for a role model inspires me to go harder every day and be a better woman than I was the day before. At five years old, she already knows how to fully show a home to a prospective buyer. She also has her own opinion regarding interior design and has a keen interest in real estate,” Briana says.
Briana also credits her late father and military veteran Maurice Day with having a huge impact on her life. She shares, “I’ve always been the biggest Daddy’s girl, since birth. Our birthdays are just days apart, so in many ways we’ve always been twins and could read each other’s’ minds. In 2019, my father passed away from prostate cancer. Before he passed, I promised him that I would obtain my real estate license to provide a better future for my daughter and have a career in a field that I loved and was passionate about. He always pushed me to go further in real estate once he saw my giftedness and talent. My father’s spirit continues to live through me and my accomplishments.”
Tamika Jackson, a family friend of Briana, is also the first Real Estate Broker she knew. “As a starting realtor, she taught me so much, and I could not have gotten this far without her. Many people think being a Realtor is as simple as what they see on HGTV. It is far from that. A lot of working hours, traveling, coursework, and fees come with it. When I began the field, I was a struggling single mother, and Tamika helped me in ways I could never repay her. No amount of money, time, or words could amount to how much she has poured into me. She has been an inspiration and has such a warm, loving spirit. I am forever thankful for her,” Briana says.
Many buyers feel that right now is not a good time to buy with the interest rate increase. Briana says that contrary to popular belief, right now is still a great time to buy! “With the Spring/Summer season approaching, we will have a slight increase in demand for housing units, which may make the market more competitive,” she says. Everyone deserves a realtor that cares about them, and that is Briana “The KY Real Estate Lady”.
Moving forward, Briana plans to continue to educate and inspire future homebuyers, sellers, and agents. Soon, she hopes to open her own real estate brokerage and obtain her real estate license in multiple states. To learn more about Briana Day, KY Real Estate Lady, please visit her website or contact her directly. h
James Lonnie McFadden III of Kansas City, MO, is a second-generation Jazz guy, as his father, James “Smiling Jimmy” McFadden, was a great tap dancer during Kansas City jazz’s heyday (the 1920s and 1930s).
James attended Lincoln High School and Penn Valley Community College; however, his musical, dance and entertainment education mainly came from his father. James says, “My father taught my brother and me a lot about the history of Kansas City jazz. We learned about people like Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Count Basie at an early age. We also learned about Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, “Pops and Louie”, John Bubbles and Baby Laurence.”
James is partnering with The Ambassador Hotel in Kansas City, MO. In 2020, Paul Coury, the owner of the Ambassador Hotel, invited James to partner with him to open a jazz club on the lower level of his hotel. James says things went so well that Paul decided to name this jazz club after him, Lonnie’s Reno Club. “As the world was recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, I was invited to perform in the parking lot of The Ambassador Hotel. Paul was there the second night I performed and invited me to his table. He soon took me inside the hotel and showed me the vacant space on the lower level. He explained that he wanted to open a (1920s, 1930s / Prohibitions style) nightclub. He asked me a few questions about that era and if I could visualize something like it. Paul liked my ideas and enthusiasm as we both imagined the same kind of venue. And the rest, as they say, is history.
At Lonnie’s Reno Club, History Class & Kansas City Jazz is on full display. Lonnie’s Reno Club pays homage to the famous Reno Club of the 1920s & 1930s. James shares that the original Reno Club was located blocks away from their present location, at the corner of 12th and Cherry in Kansas City. Lonnie’s Reno Club is a one-of-a-kind venue. James says, “The experience starts when you drive up to The Ambassador Hotel. You are greeted by a gentleman to valet park your car, and then escorted into The Ambassador Hotel. You are guided to the circled staircase leading to Lonnie’s Reno Club. When you reach the lower level, you are greeted by a host or hostess and given a complimentary glass of champagne, all while being escorted to your table. On each table is a very elegantly stylized menu with fixed dinner prices. The show comes with a three-course meal and dessert.”
James shares how he appreciates the opportunities life has presented him. “I live in a constant state of gratitude. From my teenage years, I have always wanted to play music for a living, and for over 50 years, I am thankful to say that is what I do,” he says. “I’ve been inspired by classy entertainers, musicians, and actors like Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Nat “King” Cole, Marvin Gaye, and of course, my father. Amazingly, I have the opportunity to walk the same path they did. I am truly grateful.”
While things have been great for James, he shares his career has come with some unbelievable moments. “I think the most profound incident in recent years was when he accepted an offer to perform in the parking lot during the pandemic. That experience ultimately led to me performing in a nightclub named after me,” he says. As a professional entertainer/musician, there have been a few challenges and obstacles that James has encountered also. “There is no cookie-cutter way to make a living as a performing artist. I believe my love for what I do and a relentless desire to do it and a certain level have enabled me to continue my lifestyle.”
If all entertainers and musicians could share a journey like the one James has, who knows where the world of music would be? What began with a conversation has grown into him having his name adorn one of Kansas City’s brightest jazz houses. While some might call it luck, James calls it purpose, as he believes that he is walking in what he purposed to do.
As James looks forward, his goals are very simple. “I desire to be the best that I can be and give the best performance that I can give on any given night. I realized that my ability to play trumpet, tap dance, or sing alone would not make each night’s performance great. It takes more to make each night great,” he says. “Still, my ultimate goal is to create or facilitate a fun evening of live entertainment for everybody every night.”
To learn more about James Lonnie McFadden III, please visit his website.
I desire to be the best that I can be and give the best performance that I can give on any given night. I realize that my ability to play trumpet, tap dance, or sing alone would not make each night’s performance great.”
By Dorjea’ McClammey Photos Provided by Tawana Randall
Tawana Randall will find a way to make it happen. That is for sure. In 2018, the native Floridian moved to Georgia in search of greater opportunities for herself and her family. While living in Miami, Tawana shares she saw generations of other black families loom in a cycle of self-sufficiency that only made others financially stable and secure. She was determined not to let that same cycle be the story of her life.
Tawana is a mom, entrepreneur, and owner of Gold Star Logistics. She has the brains to complement her business acumen, including two degrees and corporate America experience.
With Gold Star Logistics, Tawana offers full-service freight dispatch services. She also helps small carriers move their units daily. “We’re kind of like the travel agents of trucking. We help clients find the best truckloads and handle all the busy work, so drivers don’t have to. Our services help improve our clients’ profits. Most importantly, we aim to help carriers move more freight safely and cost-effectively daily,” she says. Gold Star Logistics also handles compliance. They are a TPA Consortium and provide coaching, mentoring, and business start-up assistance.
Tawana says her company is sort of like a response to a failed earlier attempt. She jumped into the transportation industry by purchasing a truck without industry knowledge. It was a learning and growing experience, and she shares, “Coming back into the industry, I wanted to learn it from the ground up instead of trying to do it backward,” she says. Tawana started with learning the basics of distributing, dispatching trucks, and moving vehicles. Once she clearly understood the transportation industry and learned how to dispatch different types of units, it was much easier for her to re-enter the industry a second time and grow her business.
“We’re kind of like the travel agents of trucking. We help clients find the best truckloads and handle all the busy work, so they don’t have to.”
So why the trucking industry? Tawana says she had always been fascinated with the industry. “We always see truck drivers, but I never really knew it was a space I could get into.” Once she started to learn more and get a glimpse into the industry, she became intrigued. “People don’t realize everything that goes into the industry, such as the back office aspects like dispatcher, broker, and insurance agent, and that is what I want to help others learn through my coaching and mentoring program,” she shares.
Her mentoring and coaching program helps those ready to take the big jump from having to do it alone. “I was in that space where I jumped in the industry with no education and couldn’t even find people to help me,” Tawana says. She aims to teach other women how to get into this space successfully. She made the mistakes so that others would not have to.
Tawana is also determined to take her place as a black woman in a male-dominated industry. “Where are the women in this industry, and how do we gain respect? How do we get into this industry without being frowned upon,” she asks. It was hard to constantly prove to others that she knew just as much as them and deserved to be in the same room. She continued to press and put the correct information out so others would notice her excellent work. “In the transportation industry, 20% of companies don’t make it past a year. I wanted to be on that other side. I did that by maintaining my business and continuing to learn everything I could.”
Despite all the obstacles Tawana has encountered, she remains committed to serving others. She confesses to loving the community she is building and is passionate about creating partnerships with local companies. Through these partnerships, she can provide supplies and sometimes a free course for some mentees who cannot afford it.
While building a reputable company is important, Tawana is focused on leaving a legacy for her family to enjoy. She says that showing her boys that opportunities are available to them and teaching them how to access and obtain financial freedom are some of the most important things to her. “I want my sons to see that their mom built this from the ground up, and they have the same opportunities also,” she says.
Regarding the future of Gold Star Logistics, they recently partnered with Clayton State University to provide a freight dispatching course, the only one that exists in the country. Students can learn everything they need to know and have their certification of completion from the university and Gold Star. Tawana says she plans to open a second location eventually.
When it comes to business, Wanda Childs of Washington, DC, knows something about it. She shares that her desire for independence was evident at a very young age.
Today, Wanda is the owner of several businesses. These are Printing Express & Designs, LLC, Blessed 24:7® Gift Shop, and Blessed 24:7 Foundation, Inc., Mentoring Program. Her printing company was launched in 1995 and still operates with the motto “We help YOU Brand YOUR Brand”. They can accomplish this with custom-printed promotional and marketing products. There are over 300,000 blank products, and Wanda works with over 500 factories.
Her second company was launched in 1996 as a retail business and exclusively online. Fourteen years later, Wanda opened a retail brick-and-mortar location. Thirteen years passed, and she says God told her to move everything from the building and return to an online operation. The Blessed 24:7® brand consists of inspirational and motivational retail merchandise that makes perfect gifts for friends and family. This brand is sold in nine different languages and has reached several other countries.
With her third company, Wanda serves as President and Founder of a Mentoring Program, a (Non-profit 501c3 organization), and mentors youth and adults. She also conducts training seminars on entrepreneurship, titled, How to Start YOUR Business From Ground Zero. She also teaches another seminar on Self-Publishing, titled, How To Write YOUR First Book). She has also published her own book, Pushed Into My Purpose, which is her testimony on how God moved her from a place of fear to victory after being fired from her corporate job with 21 years of service. “I learned that being fired was part of God’s plan for the journey I’m on now,” Wanda says.
“I learned that being fired was part of God’s plan for the journey I’m on now.”
www.wandachilds.com
Wanda’s beginnings are a testament of her fortitude and determination to succeed. She says, “I started my printing company out of the need for additional income. As a single parent and owning a home, the paycheck from my day job was not enough to make ends meet. I started Blessed 24:7® out of passion, and the desire to inspire and motivate others. Starting my mentoring program happened after people in my circle wanted to know what I did to get my business legally set up and registered. I started having training sessions at my home with friends and family. After becoming an official IRS-approved Nonprofit 501c3, I was invited to teach seminars at Colleges, Schools, Corporations, Churches, and more”.
All of Wanda’s companies began from scratch. From scratch, this means that she had minimal resources or startup funding; however, God was there, serving as the source of her inspiration. While being a business owner, author, mentor, and motivational speaker, Wanda says her relationship with God is important. “I’m a faithful believer in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” she says. Wanda is also a mother of one adult son who she describes as incredibly smart, handsome, and independent.
Reading and studying God’s word every single day is something that Wanda says inspires her. “His word keeps me grounded and focused and give me hope for my future and my loved ones. Even more, knowing that my immediate family has my back and they will not allow me to fail and never allow me to give up, is powerful.”
Challenges in business are to be expected, yet Wanda says she feels as if she’s had more challenges than anyone else. “With each challenge I was faced with, God provided a way around, over and through the challenge. It’s like the challenge caused me to rethink or change my direction and helped me see a better way and better opportunities.”
Wanda describes how some friends and family didn’t support her as she thought they would. Life still went on, and she no longer allowed that to bother her. She says, “God sends me total strangers who not only support me, they also become regular customers. Strangers have referred my businesses to their friends and family. I have learned that sometimes God’s blessings are packaged differently. Most importantly, I am grateful for everyone, friends, family, and strangers who support me.”
Looking ahead, Wanda says she plans to keep thriving and build a legacy that her family will be proud of and will also create generational wealth. Her advice to others thinking about starting a business is to be open-minded to what your customer base might look like and not be surprised or disappointed if the people you think should be supporting you are not. “Know that God will send you blessings packaged differently than you expected. Love what you do and do what you love. Also, have the passion and drive to see your dreams all the way through, and do it with a spirit of excellence,” she says.
To learn more about Wanda Childs, please visit her website. h
Duriya Caldwell is the face and founder of The Black Pearl Nail Academy. Based in Memphis, TN, her company offers full-service manicures and education to individuals seeking to learn the discipline of manicuring. Duriya says it doesn’t matter if you are male or female, young or old; if you are looking to gain your manicuring license, The Black Pearl Nail Academy is the place to come.
Duriya is a current resident of Memphis. She is a proud HBCU graduate and has a masters in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Duriya’s love for nails began when she was only twelve years of age. “I started doing nails using the fake nails that were included in my easter basket. They were the stick on nails, but that is how I started. I played with my mom and sister’s polish, and it grew from there,” she says.
Early on, Duriya says she wanted to open her own school, but the process to own one wasn’t available, mainly due to the way the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology classified manicuring. The board required anyone who wanted to own a nail school would have to do it combined with a barber school or cosmetology school. Those two professions didn’t interest Duriya. Fortunately, in 2013, the laws and landscape changed, and the disciplines were able to be split. In 2018, she opened the doors to her school.
“I started doing nails using the fake nails that were included in my easter basket. They were the stick on nails, but that is how I started. I played with my mom and sister’s polish, and it grew from there.”
Duriya says she loves being a nail technician as well as being a business owner. “I love creating ten works of art on the hands of my clients,” she says. “None of the work I do will ever be the same. Each experience is unique. I don’t repeat things. I don’t allow walk-ins, I only offer appointments. They have to set a date, and they have to decide what they want. Am I getting acrylic, gel, polish, or designs? When my clients sit in my chair, they hold my hand. We are on a date. When they get ready to leave, they have to book their next appointment. It’s like setting a second date. It’s a nailationship.” At the school of business, Duriya says she loves the ah-hah moments her students have once they grasp and understand the manicuring profession. “It’s a beautiful moment and everybody has it,” she says.
Duriya credits her mother with inspiring her to become the savvy businesswoman she is today. Her mother, who is also a licensed cosmetologist, didn’t want Duriya to become a cosmetologist. She pushed her to attend college and follow a different path than she did. Well, things have a way of working out. Today, her mother is the current dean of The Black Pearl Nail Academy. Duriya also credits her godmother with having a positive impact on her life. “My godmother is a cosmetologist and owned a hair salon. While I was getting ready for my sixth-grade graduation, I went to the salon with my mom for the first time. When I walked in, my world brightened up. So many things were happening there, but the nail tech was in the front. I was intrigued and my godmother knew it. She asked the nail tech to teach me how to do nails. I would eventually work at the salon while learning, and soon I would get my license, and the rest is history,” Duriya says.
Duriya shares that she is an introvert at heart, something one might find quite interesting, as her chosen profession requires her to interact with people regularly. “Interacting with people is challenging. Learning to be more social has been a challenge for me. I need to get out and share more information about what I do, but talking with others about it is challenging. Not being able to talk to others in some ways holds my business hostage, and I don’t want to do that,” she says.
Looking ahead, Duriya has plans to expand her current operation. Their current location is only 1200 square feet; however, she has set her eyes on a 12,000 square feet facility. There will be a school on-site, as well as office space for students. There will be salon suites for nail techs, laundry and towel cleaning services for the students, and open floor space for events. “Our new facility will be for the community. I am designing this new location for those who have given so much to me,” she says.
To learn more about The Black Pearl Nail Academy, please visit their website.
Gene Blackmon and CJ Brinson are two individuals working to make a difference in their community. Each has chosen to use their experiences, gifts, and talents to influence those around them. Their paths have taken them on different journeys but have brought them to a common place where their goals align.
Blackmon & Brinson are both fathers raising their children in a world not designed for their success. With the rise of gun violence, they have decided not just to take a stand but to help facilitate a change. Establishing Safe Cultures Coalition is the collaboration built to shift the culture from the escalating violence we see daily to a healthy community ready to educate and equip its people to inherit the world they live in.
Gene Blackmon is a newly single father of two who is using his platform as a Master Barber and business owner to mentor and elevate the people in his community. Like most black men, he has layers that make him an influential voice in the community. “I am a father, mentor, teacher, businessman, and community activist,” Blackmon said, describing the different facets that come together to make him the man he is.
Raised on the Northeast side of Greensboro, North Carolina, by a single mother, Blackmon’s start in life was as a statistic. “We lived in a lowerincome area, and my mom was a single mother of three. My aunt was also a single mother of three. They brought us all to my grandmother’s house and raised us there. That’s how they made it work,” Blackmon explained. “This was also during the era when your neighbors weren’t just the people you lived next to. They were like family. And family looked out for each other.”
As with most lower-income communities, there are little or no opportunities for advancement or mobility. Children from these areas are considered to be “at risk.” Being labeled “at risk” puts a target on the back of many young black males, and Blackmon was no different. When he was sixteen, he got into some trouble with the law. “I was charged for a crime I didn’t commit, but I was young and trusted my public defender. I pleaded guilty, which gave me a reduced sentence but left me with a permanent record,” Blackmon explained.
After the smoke cleared, Blackmon was seventeen and needed to make a plan for the future. “I left high school because I felt like they weren’t teaching me things useful to me and my future. I got my GED and went straight to barber college.” Having a criminal record made life difficult for Blackmon at first, but he persevered, and now he owns his own barber college and works to help young people from his demographic avoid the pitfalls that tried to trap him. “I am a barber by trade, but my calling is to help elevate and educate the culture,” Blackmon shared.
CJ Brinson is also a native of Greensboro. Although his journey slightly differs from Blackmon’s, he also sees himself as being called to make a difference in the urban community. “I am a minister, a husband, and a father. My wife DraShonta, and I have three children and a fur-baby,” Brinson shares. “I wanted to become an R&B singer but was called into ministry and community activism.”
Brinson earned an undergraduate degree in political science, a minor in social justice from North Carolina A&T State University, and a master’s of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary. “Greensboro is a city rooted in social justice and community activism,” Brinson explains. “Many people don’t know this, but Greensboro has played a part in just about every move of social justice that has taken place in America. There’s the Revolutionary war, the Civil War, the A&T Four, who were instrumental in the desegregation of the Woolworth lunch counter, and the 1974 Greensboro Massacre, to name a few.”
Living around and being influenced by a rich history of social justice in the Greensboro community, Brinson felt it was a natural inevitability that he be part of the social justice movement of his generation. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Brinson earned his Master of Divinity. “It was while I was in seminary that my political thought met my religious thought, and that’s what inspired me to mobilize my community towards social justice,” Brinson explained. “After seminary, I returned to Greensboro and connected with an organization called Beloved Community Centers. It’s a faith-based group that trains community leaders. I’ve been moving forward ever since.”
As activists individually, Blackmon and Brinson worked to effect change in their community. However, they realized they could become more significant if they joined their voices with others ready to address the major issues facing today’s culture. The primary issue the duo is targeting is the rise in violent crimes in their community.
“Today’s culture has been conditioned to see violence as the answer to every situation. They are being inundated with this way of thinking from every outlet. They have constant exposure through music, movies, social media, video games, and their homes. We want to change the culture by reconditioning people, specifically young people, to see that violence isn’t the answer. Especially when we are attaching each other,” Blackmon explained.
The violence Blackmon and Brinson are discussing results from years of systemic racism, disenfranchisement, and a social media campaign to push the idea that to be seen as powerful or in control; you have to be willing to fight for it physically. And the one who can be the most ruthlessly violent will survive. Thankfully Blackmon and Brinson have a plan to turn the tide of inter-communal violence in their community.
“Establishing Safe Cultures Coalition was born out of a deep desire to resolve intercommunal violence here in Greensboro,” Brinson explains. “Homicides were increasing here in Greensboro, and I knew something needed to be done. So I called a community meeting at my barber school,” Blackmon explained. “We had a major turnout, but we didn’t have a solid resolution to our problem. CJ Brinson was in attendance and started researching national programs that addressed our community’s problems. These programs would help minimize violence from a communal perspective that didn’t involve overpolicing. From that point on, we were on a joint mission to shift the culture of our community away from the rising violent crimes.”
“We call it intercommunal crime instead of “black on black” crime because this kind of violence isn’t just happening in black neighborhoods. It’s happening in communities around the country,” Blackmon points out. “We want to get away from the idea that poor black communities are the only ones dealing with this issue.”
Blackmon clarifies that the Coalition is not activism but the community coming together to work toward a common goal. “Activism and Establishing Safe Cultures are two different things,” he explains. “Establishing Safe Cultures is the community coming together to shift the culture from one plagued with violence to a peaceful one that opens the door for more opportunities.”
The Coalition plans to shift the culture through education, mentorship, social and emotional development, and career readiness. “These workshops are designed to arm the community’s youth differently,” Blackmon shares. “We will show them and teach them that there is a better way to handle conflict. They need to know that everything doesn’t have to escalate to violence, especially when the escalation stems from something deeper.”
On February 26th, 2023, Establishing Safe Cultures Coalition held its first set of Culture Shift Workshops. One hundred girls and boys ages seven to twelve were invited to participate in this monumental experience. “The kids are going to have instruction and mentorship in personal development, financial literacy, and conflict resolution,” Blackmon explained. “There will also be group exercises for the body, mind, and spirit.”
The Coalition has been working on getting state funding to make the program sustainable. The desire is to have students meet twice weekly for instruction, training, and social-emotional development. But until that happens, the Culture Shift Workshops will be held quarterly. “Ideally, we want to have regular contact and training for the students, but without funding, that’s not possible. But we had to do something. We couldn’t allow things to remain as they are.”
Because of the efforts of Gene Blackmon, CJ Brinson, and the other members of the Establishing Safe Culture Coalition, the community of Greensboro doesn’t just have a plan of action; they have action. Working to combat years of cultural violence and disconnect won’t be easy. Still, Blackmon and Brinson exude a contagious confidence that will propel this culture shift well into a restored and unified community.
“We call it intercommunal crime instead of -black on black crime -because this kind of violence isn’t just happening in black neighborhoods. It’s happening in communities around the country.”
MAGAZINE Zoelle Alaiya Scott
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
The daughter of Charita Jackson
By Monica Montgomery
Corrie Wilson is The W Agency’s founding owner and operator, a one-stop shopping experience for entrepreneurs looking to take their businesses to the next level. Whether it be a start-up or an existing business looking to rebrand, The W Agency has what you need.
Based in Conway, Arkansas, Corrie has always been a small-town boy with big-time dreams. Originally from Helena, Arkansas, a lower-income area, Corrie focused on the world beyond his own. “I was always a dreamer. I was from Helena, but I knew even as a kid that the world was so much bigger,” Corrie explains.
Like most kids from the early 90s, Corrie lived vicariously through entertainment magazines and music videos, not for the reasons you’d think.
“I was that kid that paid attention to the details and techniques most people didn’t notice. I would record music videos on VHS and watch them over and over again. I would analyze and scrutinize the video frame by frame. I collected black entertainment magazines like Right On, Ebony, Jet, and Vibe Magazine,” Corrie explained. “But it wasn’t for the articles or to learn about the latest superstar. I was captivated by the artwork. I spent hours pouring over the photography, the lighting, and all the elements that came together to create that one living shot.”
Without role models in arts and culture, Corrie couldn’t explain his fixation with the visual aspects of art and entertainment. He was sure it would somehow become a large part of his identity.
After high school, Corrie gravitated towards the music entertainment industry, but it wasn’t long before he found it wasn’t for him. “Music came naturally to me. I am creative, and it seemed like the right thing at first, but I found that a career out front was restricting,” Corrie shared. “After a while, I lost my taste for the industry but found something I appreciated a lot more.”
Instead of being the performer with the flashing gold chains and latest kicks, Corrie began to look into the man behind the scenes wearing an expensive blue suit. “The real money and power were in marketing. I had gotten into photography and videography and loved it,” he says.
Corrie went the non-traditional route to learn about digital designing, creating web content, photography, and videography. “I started out producing music, but once I got a good look behind the curtain and saw who was really in control, I lost my love for working in the music industry. That’s when I redirected my energy into photography and graphic design to help other artists take their brand to the next level.”
Using the skills he honed as a kid, Corrie’s goal is to give the world a new yet classic perspective. He is not only making a name for himself but giving his clients a unique product that gets them noticed. “There are a lot of marketing firms out there, but what sets The W Agency apart is that we strive to show the heart and soul of the culture. I don’t just take pictures or make a label. Anyone can put on a suit and smile. That’s not advertising. You want to connect with your audience through your marketing. The best way to do that is to let them see the real you,” Corrie shared. By ignoring the mass-produced and over-produced media samples, Corrie is able to draw on the “vibe” that sparked his love for visual art.
“There was something authentic and organic about the visual style of the early 90s,” Corrie explained. “There was something tangible about it that made you feel like you were part of it. That’s what I try to deliver for my clients,” he says.
As Corrie started his career as a designer in 2007, in 2019, he started The W Agency. “It just made sense. I was taking the photos, doing the graphics, producing the videos, and everything else. I had all the components, so I just put them all in one place,” Corrie explained. “It benefits the clients and me when I can provide everything they need in-house.”
Because Corrie works independently, he has to be selective of the clients he takes on, but this allows him to deliver the quality he believes every client needs and deserves. “I can’t take on every project or client. I wish I could, but it would lead to mistakes and someone getting short-changed. Having a good reputation in this business is everything. So if I can’t handle something, I am part of a network of companies I can refer customers to.”
“I don’t just take pictures or make a label. Anyone can put on a suit and smile.
That’s not advertising.”
As The W Agency grows and evolves, one of the issues Corrie faces is navigating the cultural divide in marketing and advertising. As a black male from his demographic, Corrie focuses on elevating the culture but wants to ensure he doesn’t ignore it. “It’s a balancing act. We have been made to believe that professionalism looks one way. Anything else is unprofessional or hood. I find myself working toward that sweet spot—that space where quality and culture co-exist. My clients need a company that markets them as culturally relevant with a professional finish. That’s what The W Agency provides,” Corrie says.
As an entrepreneur whose business is to help others launch their businesses, Corrie knows the importance of image and branding. The W Agency takes on corporate clients as well as small businesses, but Corrie says he currently focuses on start-ups. “Being part of a company’s growth from conception to execution is the most fulfilling part of this job. Not only witnessing someone’s vision and dream come to life but knowing I was an intricate part of it makes it all worthwhile,” Corrie shares. “I understand that how a business is presented, how the visionary is perceived can make or break them. It’s all about mass appeal.”
Corrie is the sole proprietor of The W Agency, but just like his clients, he’s building a brand that will last for generations. “The time and effort I put into this aren’t just to make money. As I explained, I want to give the people who trust me with their vision the quality they deserve. Another thing that motivates me is the reputation I’m building for my children.”
Corrie is a father of three and leaving them a legacy that will outlive him is crucial. “My children have seen me work a “job” where I worked from someone else. Now they see me building a business, and even as children, they see the difference in the energy I put out. My youngest son is already asking if he can take over the business one day. I’m happy that my kids can see the benefit of entrepreneurship while they’re young. You can work a job and make good money. The thing about money is that it will come, and with it will go, but you can’t put a price on fulfillment. That’s the difference my children see in me and what I hope will inspire them to follow their dreams.”
Corrie’s belief about what excellence in branding looks like runs deep, which motivates him to give his clients the best possible experience. “You are your brand. If you want people to trust you and believe in what you put out there, you must be willing to show them who you are and stand behind your name,” Corrie explained.
