Huami Magazine Milwaukee May/June 2022 by Terry Watson

M I LWAU K E E

May/June 2022 Volume 1 Issue 8

Taste of Love Catering Company Milwaukee - May/June 2022

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On April 14th, 2022, Lady Vwb Nature was a special guest on Southern Soul Livestream. Calvin Baldwin (host) was very inspired to learn about Vanessa and Varina’s journey to talk about their business and entrepreneurship as new business owners, the lessons learned in small business, and teaching her daughter Vatina ownership at the age of 14 to be transparent, patient and continued education in holistic healing remedies and nutrition. Vanessa has completed workshops, business coaching, marketing classes, and holistic nutrition certification, and her daughter is right by her side, taking notes. Varina is now 15 years old. We are excited about her future endeavors and what’s to come. Lady Vwb Nature has received certification from US Black Chambers. We work three local pop-up shops a Month throughout Ohio. Advice to other business owners and Entrepreneurs Be patient. You can’t please everyone, but know there is someone out there who needs your services! Keep an open mind each day will be different. Hard work never goes unnoticed! Take up workshops and business coaching it will better help you gain capital or your business. Our customers deserve the best! Check out our brand profile and get to know our natural skincare brand.

Did You Know?

In 2021, Lady Vwb Nature LLC was the first small business featured in Huami Magazine, sourced out of Cleveland, Ohio

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We May Wish, But God Has A Plan A Letter From The Editor

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

Modern technology, such as the internet and smart devices, has changed the way consumers shop for everyday necessities. Everything A Letterfrom from groceries the Editor to televisions, tires, medications, and patio furniture can be purchased directly from a smartphone or computer. Foot traffic in stores has been greatly reduced, and the Covid 19 pandemic maydidn’t have arrive? played aAllbig that also. What if tomorrow ofrole yourinplans, hopes Anyhow, many retailers have adjusted how they make their and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if products accessible in order them to survive. everything thatfor you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy Asday, a child, remember the huge department storeofcatalogs andIyou could spare someone the trouble makingthat would come in the mail everylast year, usually around the Christmas promises. What if your opportunity seemingly expired holiday season. I would look at them and prepare my list of items today? What would you do? that I wanted before submitting it to my mama. Sometimes I got most ofI’ve what I wanted, butI not always. Still,I looking through the been told that often seem like do too much. catalog and believing that I would get them wasand veryI’m exciting Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough a firm for me. believer Unfortunately, the catalogs are long gone now and been in knowing that God wouldn’t put anythinghave on me replaced by digital ones. Awwwe, technology. 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 I compare those childhood catalog surfing to some have found that to be very boring. In mymoments opinion, opportunity experiences I have as isn’t an adult. I have tried to out my life is a blessing that afforded to often everyone. A plan challenge by creating a wish list for various stages without the assistance to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen?of a department store Icatalog. plans various things If I do nothing, fail, andIifhave I trymade I don’t, but for instead learn and experiences and made plans on how to acquire and accomplish something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in them. Those plans were return acquire life. submitted to God, and I’m always amazed at what I receive from God in response.

The best advice ever given to me happened when someone See, I have thattomorrow even though I make plans,InGod hasso the told me tolearned make my happen today. doing final Isay. What I think is good for me, God knows what is truly have pressed my way through doors with a key that onlybest for me. Even in my lowest God has already prepared hope provided. I havemoments, also learned the difference betweena pathwhat to higher ground for me. And even when I choose follow God blesses me with and what life can burdentome with my own as way, He Iredirects. well. compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because I strive to live amay better a life someone getlife, it confused that is connected to God through with being arrogant. obedience and grasping a better understanding of what He desires Make you tomorrow for me. I admit that I don’t have all happen today, but most the answers, and sometimes I make importantly make it count. mistakes. It’s good to know that even Life is but a whisper and when I get off track in life, God’s love we must put ourselves in a never changes. position to hear what it is telling us.

www.huamimagazine.com Terry L. Watson

Publisher

www.huamimagazine.com Monica Montgomery Editor In Chief Writer Terry L. Watson Writer Ellen Richardson Allen - Deputy Editor Terry Alana L. Watson Writer Dorjea’ McClammey Writer Writers

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mykelmedia@yahoo.com (336) 340-7844 HUAMI MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the Mykel Media Company. Any reproduction of any portion of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher prior to doing so. Mykel Media doesn’t accept responsibility for statements made by individuals featured or advertisers. Comments concerning this publication Greensboro, NC may be submitted to the editor by 2022 All Rights Reserved E-mail at terrywatson@huamimagazine.com terry.editor@yahoo.com or to Mykel Media Company, LLC P.O. Box 20102 Greensboro, NC 27420 HUAMI MAGAZINE 2014 All Rights Reserved

Terry L. Watson

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

On The Cover

Photo by Shaw Photography Group

CONTENTS

MAY/JUNE 2022

MILWAUKEE

Adorn Medical Spa

Sherri Hull

On The Cover

Taste of Love Catering Shelita Furlow

Who You Whitt?

Chelsea Whittington

The Mobile Eyewear

J Franklin

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Marrel Gravely Foushee

Also Featured

Ernest Sanders He is qualified. Learn more about his journey, his experience, and his effort to be elected as Judge. Little Rock, AR

Kwaku Bentil From Ghana to The DMV and around the globe. Learn more about this ambitious fashion designer. The DMV

Leah M. Dale From Omaha, NE to Chicago, IL, learn more about her journey through physical fitness. Chicago, IL

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Milwaukee - May/June 2022

Taste of Love Catering Company By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Shelita Furlow Shelita Furlow of Milwaukee, WI, describes herself as a true creative. Along with being an entrepreneur, she graciously embraces the responsibilities of a wife, mother, and grandmother. At her core, Shelita is a dreamer and someone who loves to encourage others. However, most importantly, she is a child of God. Shelita’s journey in life has seen its share of ups and downs, with a few winding roads along the way. She is a survivor of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. She is also a lifelong learner and leaps at every opportunity to gain knowledge. “I feel like as long as you’re breathing, you can always learn something new,” she says. After graduating from BayView High School, she attended Milwaukee Career College and received her certificate for a Medical Assistant. Today, Shelita is the owner of Taste of Luv LLC, a catering company based in Milwaukee, and Shelita says their primary focus is to serve. “We are not your average catering company. We connect people through food. Everything we do is made from scratch. We also offer a customized menu and meal options such as Italian to Soul, Fusion, and everything in between. Our event catering services can serve one to five hundred people, and we also conduct culinary classes for adults and youth. Additionally, we offer ServSafe classes, intimate dining services, meal prep, family meal plans, and business consultation, assisting other entrepreneurs and sharing food business techniques and more,” she says. Shelita shares that her company represents her obedience to what God told her to do. “I just so happen to love food and know how to create dishes others love,” she says. She started Taste of Love Catering in 2015. She says her dream of owning a catering company began way before then. “I would randomly cook for some of the young adults in my church and my basketball team as a way to make sure they had food to eat during game days. Many of them didn’t

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eat at all, and many went throughout the day eating junk food. I wanted to help them become stronger mentally and physically and show them that I had their best interests at heart,” she says. Shelita officially began working events in 2016, and in 2018, she walked off her job as a culinary instructor and moved into her business full-time. Shelita says she loves feeding people and seeing the joy that great food and service bring. “I realize that there are three things that bridge the gaps between humanity and the differences our cultures may have. Those are God, food, and music. They all cross racial barriers, and it’s a blessing to watch these things happen.” Like most business owners, Shelita has faced a few challenges, such as finding help and finding financial avenues to assist her in growing and staying visible. Though challenged, she has still persevered mainly due to the support of her husband and children. “When I mentioned the thought about starting a business, my husband poured into me immediately, and all of my children have worked for the company willingly.” The simple things are needed to help businesses survive, and A Taste of Love has benefited from these also. These include returning clients who Shelita describes as family. “A lot of my new accounts come from those repeat clients. I love them all. People don’t have to be friendly and supportive, so I take these things seriously, and I’m very grateful,” she says. Shelita says she gives God all the credit and honor for allowing her to run her business and survive. This isn’t something she would have ever thought she’d be doing, let alone good enough to do, but here she is, still standing. Shelita also wants to convey that same confidence to others who may follow in her footsteps. “The vision was given to you to understand. Don’t allow others to dim your light because of their inability to understand the journey that you were meant to walk. If you believe you can, then you can, and you will. Great things happen when you get out of your comfort zone. Change your mind and change your life,” she shares. In the future, Shelita says her goal is to acquire a building where she can have all of her programs running out of one space. “I desire to teach youth to run the business in its entirety and provide them with the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship, good work ethics, self-respect, and how to respect others. I also want to teach responsibility, integrity, and other skills and provide them with a foundation to succeed in whatever they desire to do,” she shares. Please visit their website to learn more about Shelita and A Taste of Love Catering LLC. h

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Leah Dale

Rhythm N Sweat Dance and Fitness

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By Dorjea’ McClammey Photod Provided by Leah Mayhue-Dale and Macnified Visions Leah Mayhue-Dale of Chicago, IL, is a fitness expert and founder of Rhythm N Sweat Dance and Fitness. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Leah was raised in a household that ventured into the world of athletics. Both of her parents were athletes, and while attending school, Leah participated on the basketball, volleyball, and varsity cheerleading teams. She was also a part of her church’s praise and worship team, the place where her love of dance began. After high school, Leah studied Public Relations and Advertising at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Soon, Leah began teaching and training others about dance and physical fitness. During this time, she also came up with the idea of Rhythm N Sweat. It was 2017, and Leah was only certified in Zumba and Mix Fit, yet she started to choreograph routines with her background in dance. She also mixed weight training with dance to help women lose weight while staying toned. She says that combination appeased women who did not like or were uncomfortable going to the gym. When Leah pitched the idea to the three fitness locations she worked at, only her home location in Butler-Gast YMCA was onboard. For the next three months, the number of participants only grew, so much so that the other areas begged for her to return. Rhythm N Sweat was official. Leah realized that while Omaha was a suitable market, there were opportunities to expand her brand elsewhere. In 2020, she made her big move to Chicago, turned Rhythm N Sweat into a mobile fitness business, and incorporated a wider variety of fitness formats. Leah works with local gyms, including Garza Fat Loss Camps, where she introduced Extreme Hip Hop Fitness. She is also certified to teach seven different fitness formats. The change in location did not stop Leah’s hustle. Since all the gyms were closed because of the Covid 19 pandemic, people liked her mobile fitness concept. She says, “They called me, emailed me, and booked me. Clients would either have me come to their home, meet at a park, or have virtual sessions,” she says.

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While Rhythm N Sweat offers many different classes, her main courses include Dance Fitness, Xtreme Hip Hop Step Aerobics, and Xtreme Burn, a cardio hit class. She also offers Baddies Bootcamp, which incorporates the use of equipment and bodyweight exercises. Rhythm N Sweat also offers a clothing line, including t-shirts and hoodies, sweatbands, and gym bags. Her journey in building her brand, Leah likes to describe it as, “fulfilling.” “Fitness had always been part-time, but the move to Chicago gave me that push to make it full-time,” she says. While fitness has brought a lot of joy to Leah, she has also faced hardship in life. In 2020, Leah lost her beautiful baby girl Naomi. “Naomi was my biggest motivation and the most popular toddler in Nebraska. I would bring Naomi to all of my fitness events and classes. I believe she even tried to take some of my clients. Once, I left the room and walked in on her training one of my clients. When she passed, I was devastated but said it catapulted me into concentrating on what makes me happy,” she shares. Leah used to shy away from speaking about her daughter but realized that sharing her story helps and inspires others. “It humanizes you and makes you relatable. People think that they have to shut down just because they are going through something. I did not shut down. I allowed for my loss to push me.”

“It humanizes you and makes you relatable. People think that they have to shut down just because they are going through something. I did not shut down. I allowed for my loss to push me.” Leah Mayhue-Dale

Rhythm N Sweat Dance and Fitness www.rhythmnsweatfitness.com

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Leah says what she loves most about being a business owner is being able to help others become the best version of themselves. “Whether big or small, I enjoy learning a new move or losing 25 pounds,” she says. One of her students, Leah says, has been training for over six months and was inspired to become a certified trainer herself. Leah says Naomi is still her number one inspiration as she continues to inspire others. “Whatever I do in life, I dedicate it to her,” she shares. Last year, she had two huge events and brought out a master trainer and the creator of the format she teaches. Moving forward, Leah is planning more fitness events. She also plans to acquire her own studio and bring in other instructors to teach various fitness formats. There are also plans to expand her clothing line. Leah offers some advice to those who are considering improving their overall health, whether it be physically or another way. “It is never too late to save your own life. It can be through health and fitness, mental or emotional health, or all of the above. When you save your life in this aspect, it will affect the rest.” To learn more about Leah and Rhythm N Sweat Dance and Fitness, please visit her website. h

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#WhoYouWHITT By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Cheslea Whittington Her name is Chelsea Whittington, and her motto is “Who You Whitt?” Chelsea has called Gary, IN, home for her entire life. She is the youngest of four children and describes herself as a late bloomer. Her father was an entrepreneur, and it was fate that she would follow in his footsteps also. Chelsea was formally educated at Gary Westside High School and graduated as the Salutatorian. Next, she attended Howard University, an HBCU, and later received her degree in Broadcast Journalism. She received a second degree in Organizational Communication from Purdue University. Chelsea has established herself in a career in Public Relations. However, she admits this field wasn’t part of her initial plan. “I actually thought I would be a Broadcast Journalist. That was my first degree, and I wanted to be like Oprah Winfrey, but a couple of things happened that changed my mind,” she says. Her career in Public Relations and Communications spans more than 25 years. She has worked for the Peace Corps Recruiting Office in Arlington, VA, the Office of Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), JWA Boys and Girls Club, Lake Area United Way, the Gary Community School Corporation, and Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony and Jet Magazines. In 2009, Chelsea joined the executive team at U.S. Cellular Corporation as Communications Manager. There, she managed 4 of the company’s public relations firms while promoting the brand of the nation’s sixthlargest wireless phone company.

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Chelsea has also served in the administration of Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, the City of Gary’s first female mayor and the State of Indiana’s only female African-American mayor. As Director of Communications, she oversaw media relations, crisis communications, special events, branding, and marketing for her hometown of Gary. On her birthday three years ago, Chelsea launched her business, C Whitt PR. With her company, Chelsea says she is a brand builder. In her capacity, she assists clients with making their brand visible and heard. She develops public relations and social media strategies for clients and presents workshops and training on social media and public speaking. This may involve hands-on, personalized training for TV, radio, print media interviews, and speaking engagements. Chelsea shares that what she loves most about what she does is that no two days are the same. “Today, I was at a meeting at iHeart in Chicago, and tomorrow I will be in Gary teaching kids at the YMCA how to get on a computer,” she says. “It’s about being creative, and I don’t have any boundaries. I don’t have a clock to punch, and I love that,” she says. Chelsea shares that her late mother has made the most significant impact on her life. “I was 29 years old when my mom passed. I had so much I needed to get from her, but I promised myself that I would make her proud. When I got the job at Ebony, I thought about her because she loved Ebony and Jet magazines. Every step I took in my career, I would benchmark it against my mama’s thoughts and how it would make her proud,” she says. She also credits her husband for being her biggest cheerleader and encouraging her to step out on faith and start her own company. When asked if she would change anything about her journey, Chelsea says she would have become an entrepreneur sooner. “Now that I know what I know, I would have done this long ago. We are in the shadow of Chicago, and many of the businesses located in Gart need marketing services, and my company provides these,” she says. Moving forward, Chelsea shares she would love to retire and settle into a life of teaching, lecturing, and traveling. “Even though I love what I do, I don’t want to do it forever. I would like to travel the world with my husband and see what else life has to offer,” she says. In the meantime, her focus is on building up others and creating spaces for them to thrive in her field. To learn more about Chelsea Whittington, please visit her website.

www.cwhitt.biz 16

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Sherri Hull Adorn Women’s Clinic & Medspa

By Ellen Richardson Photos Provided by Sherri Hull

With skin being the largest organ on the human body, it makes perfectly good sense for it to require a lot of care and attention. For many women, having to deal with various skin ailments can be challenging. Ailments and conditions such as hyperpigmentation, rosacea, alopecia, melasma, vitiligo, confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CARP), DPN, and cystic acne. Fortunately, there is someone who has dedicated their career to healing and caring for others’ skin. Sherri Hull is a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), based in Scottsdale, AZ. While she may have begun her medical career in a high-risk Labor/ Delivery unit, her true passion for women’s skincare and beauty concerns led her to the creation of Adorn Women’s Clinic & Medspa, LLC. Adorn Women’s Clinic & Medspa, LLC offers many injectable services. These services are designed to relax moderately to severe wrinkles. She also provides micro-needling that removes the appearance of acne, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. There are facials and peels that lift pigment, remove sun damage, alleviate acne and scarring, and fight fine lines and wrinkles. Along with skincare, Adorn also offers weight loss/health services such as vitamin and fat burner injections, energy-boosting B12 vitamin shots, and immunity-boosting injections.

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“I am overwhelmed with joy when I see a woman regain her confidence after being serviced at my spa. It makes it all worth it.” Sherri shares that she really enjoys what she does. “I have always been interested in helping women feel more confident and beautiful. So much so that I almost did not go into the medical field. Instead, I was going to pursue a career in fashion merchandising. At the time, I had a couple of friends who were pursuing a career in nursing, and as they began to tell me about the benefits of this career, I knew this was the direction that I should take,” she says. Sherri says her goal is to provide an elite experience that promotes health, refines beauty, and renews wellness internally and externally. She laughs at the thought of her medical career not beginning in the aesthetics field. “In 2007, a few years after Botox was FDA approved, I took my first course on Botox, dermal fillers, laser, and chemical peels. I fell in love with this niche and quickly became licensed as an esthetician,” she says. After starting the process, Sherri quickly realized that for her new medical dreams to take shape, it would require taking a leap of faith. “At the start, my husband and I were living in California, but when the Covid 19 pandemic hit, we knew that we needed to make a change to start our small business. We decided to return to Arizona,” she shares. While California is beautiful and full of people looking for beauty regiments, Sherri says state laws make owning a business like hers a bit challenging. “Knowing that we could start a business in a state that my children now live in, and a place that is entrepreneurial friendly made Scottsdale an easy decision for us,” Sherri said. Today, Sherri’s new aesthetic clinic is making a difference in women’s lives throughout Scottsdale. “I am so honored to address the aesthetic and wellness needs of women in this area. I am overwhelmed with joy when I see a woman regain her confidence after being serviced at my spa. It makes it all worth it.” To find out more about Adorn Women’s Clinic & Medspa, please visit their website.

www.sherrihull.com 20

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“I Am Qualified” 22

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By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by Ernest Sanders Jr. People often say that it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters. As true as this statement is, we can’t ignore that it’s the journey that qualifies you in the end. Ernest Sanders Jr. Esq. is running for 5th Division Circuit Court Judge in Pulaski and Perry Counties and wants the voters to know that he is prepared and qualified to serve them. Sanders was born and raised in a small town in Crossett, in South East Arkansas. Raised by a single parent, Mr. Sanders’s beginning is reminiscent of many others. He and his three brothers were raised by his mother, and he credits his village for helping to raise him and his brothers with the love and values that have gotten him to where he is today. “My mom was, for the most part, a single parent. My father lived in the town, but my mother raised us. They say it takes a village, and it did. Between my grandmother and great-grandmother, aunts, uncles, and neighbors, we were well cared for,” Mr. Sanders explains.

Childhood innocence can be blinding, causing us not to perceive our reality. Growing up, Ernest didn’t understand that he was considered poor. “We were poor, but I didn’t realize it until I was in high school. And even then, poor meant I didn’t have all the things that the other kids had. Like the latest clothes and shoes,” Ernest explains. “This generation knows nothing about commodities. We received government food commodities like powdered milk, powdered eggs, rice, and the big block of cheese that didn’t melt. Things like that,” he continues with a laugh. “But, one thing for sure as a child, I can’t say I ever went to bed hungry or had no place to sleep. Sure, we were still buying our sneakers from the grocery store, but I had shoes. I tell my story often because I want young black men who look like me to see that their beginning doesn’t dictate their end.” Crossett, Arkansas, was still a heavily racially divided town when Ernest was a child, and although the schools were integrated, the neighborhoods were not. Black professionals weren’t a regular sighting.

“When I was in 3rd grade, my teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. I wanted to say something nobody else did. When she got to me, I said I wanted to be an Attorney. I can’t say where I got the idea from. It must have been something I saw on television, but at the time, it was different,” Ernest explained. This desire to be set apart planted a seed in young Ernest that is still bearing fruit today. Once in high school, Ernest excelled in academia, sports, and other extracurricular activities. “I worked hard to do my best no matter what it was. I was that kid who gave it everything I had no matter what.” In high school, Ernest started to see the world, his world, for what it was. As a young black male, he became aware of the racial injustices facing him and people like him. “I remember thinking, ‘That’s not right!’ and wanting to do something about it. That’s when becoming an attorney changed from being a childhood fantasy to a passionate desire. As a lawyer, I could make a difference.” Ernest attended the University of Central Arkansas, earning a B.A. in English and minoring in accounting. “My family didn’t have money for school, so I had to be practical about my education. I studied English because I was told Attorneys had to be good writers, but I minored in accounting just in case I didn’t get into law school,” he explained. Growing up, Ernest says the closest thing to a role model was Thurgood Marshall. Ernest was the first person in his family to go to college. He chose UCA because it wasn’t far from home, and he had friends there he could catch a ride home with on holidays. He participated in track and field at UCA, which helped cover room and board, and continued to work hard at realizing the dream set by his eight-year-old self. Ernest was never under any illusion of who he could trust in a small southern town like Crossett. He went to college with that same understanding. This was challenged when he met Dr. Maurice Webb and Dr. Norb Schedler. “Growing up in a racially divided town, there are some things you don’t do. Sure, we went to school together, but when we went home if you were black, you went to “Black Town.” If you were white, you went to “White Town.” In college, those boundaries, although not physical, impacted my thinking,” Ernest said. “Dr. Webb and Dr. Norb Schedler were the two most influential people in my life during undergrad. Dr. Webb helped me by finding additional scholarships my academics qualified me for. He also got me into the honors college, where I met Dr. Scheduler, the director. Dr. Schedler took me under his wing, and although I was grateful, I was suspicious at first. These two white men were doing all this to help me, and I wasn’t used to it. But they turned out to be great guys and amazing mentors.” With Dr. Schedler’s support, Ernest became the first black graduate of the UCA’s Honors College. In 1988, Ernest applied and was accepted to law school at The University of Virginia, Charlottesville. “When I told Dr. Schedler I was accepted into the UVA, he started jumping up and down with excitement. He

went on and on about how great it was that I’d gotten in and how proud of me he was. ‘I said, well, yeah, but all of these schools have affirmative action programs. They probably let me in because I was black.’ Dr. Schedler stopped and looked me in the eye…. Thinking about what he said to me still gets me emotional after so many years,” Ernest says, taking a breath. “He looked me in the eye and said, ‘Ernest, you earned this. You are qualified, and don’t let anybody tell you anything different!’ It wasn’t until that moment that I understood how important it was that I saw myself as worthy. I wasn’t qualified because Dr. Schedler said I was. I was qualified because I had put in the work. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Schedler for helping me see that.” Ernest’s former mentor, Dr. Schedler’s words, have remained with him throughout his career. In each office and position Sanders held, he worked hard because he understood what being qualified really meant. It was vital that he proved himself and kept a good reputation. Not because he wanted to impress anyone but because he believed in what he was doing. As a result, Sanders was blessed to have many doors opened to him. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1991, Ernest returned to Arkansas to work for the Little Rock City Attorney’s office. Next, he became a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Sixth Judicial District in Pulaski County. Ernest was the first African American Division Chief for the 6th Judicial District when he was appointed Division Chief over the Youth Crimes Division. This was something Sanders was passionate about. “It dealt with young people, mostly young people of color who were underrepresented. My predecessor had just started the juvenile diversion program, and I was excited to oversee it because it presented a better option for teens arrested on non-violent offenses.” According to Youth.gov, the purpose of diversion programs is to redirect youthful offenders from the justice system through programming, supervision, and support.

“What I loved about the program is that it gave alternatives for young people who probably shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place. It keeps them from the trauma of being booked and detained. It gave them a chance to make better choices and not have a criminal record follow them for the rest of their lives,” Ernest explained. From there, Ernest became an administrative law judge for the Arkansas State Parole Board. In February of 2010, Ernest was appointed Circuit Judge of the 5th Division Circuit Court in Pulaski and Perry Counties. Sanders presided over both civil and criminal cases as a circuit court judge. His appointment lasted one year. At the end of 2010, Sanders went into private practice. “I never set out to become a judge. Like anything else in my life, I wanted to do my best at whatever I set my hands to,” Ernest explains. “If I’m honest, my biggest motivation at the beginning for becoming an attorney was to escape poverty. I wanted to change my life, and in my pursuit, I learned that mine wasn’t the only life that mattered.” When he heard his friend and colleague was about to retire from the 5th Division Circuit Court position. His first reaction wasn’t to campaign for the position. “I love helping people, and my private practice allows me to do that. So, when several people, including my wife, suggested I run for election, I had to think about it. I knew it would be a large undertaking, and I wasn’t sure if this was the direction I wanted to take. But I kept hearing people say, you are qualified, and we really need someone of your quality and integrity in that position. After much prayer and consultations with family and friends, I decided that I was ready to take on the challenge. I was experienced, and having done the job before, felt I was prepared and qualified to serve as the circuit court judge.” As a man of faith, Ernest says he continued to seek God’s counsel concerning his choice to run. Then he says he received confirmation that he was heading in the right direction. “I was doing a firm walkthrough, and I shared somethings with one of the firm’s partners. He is well known in the legal community, and his endorsement carries a lot of weight. After the seated judge announced his retirement, that partner called and said, ‘I appeared before you during your appointment as a circuit judge, and you did such a great job that should you be elected, I have no doubt you would be a great judge.’ That was the confirmation I needed to know I was on the right path.” Running a campaign is expensive and exhausting, but Ernest believes that his hard work, experience, commitment to fairness, and belief that everyone deserves to be treated justly qualifies him to sit as the Circuit Court Judge of the 5th Division. He hopes that on election day, the people will agree and give him the opportunity to serve them. h

“If I’m honest, my biggest motivation at the beginning for becoming an attorney was to escape poverty. I wanted to change my life, and in my pursuit, I learned that mine wasn’t the only life that mattered.”

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Certified Trainer, Speaker, Coach with the John Maxwell International Best Selling Amazon Author Certified Professional Career Coach Certified Virtual Presenter www.facebook.com/groups/NobleSuccessGroup Email: noblesuccessgroupdbbiz@gmail.com Milwaukee - May/June 2022

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The Mobile Eyewear Experience Lady E Specs & Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by The Mobile Eyewear Experience

The fashion industry is constantly changing, and entrepreneurs like Erika Hendrix and James Smith are always looking for new and better ways to give customers what they want. Erika Hendrix wore glasses for years, but she could no longer wear contacts after a stroke in her left eye. Erika discovered that wearing glasses was an outlet for her creative side. “My glasses are the one fashion accessory that I’m very unreserved about. I wear a lot of bold colors and unique styles. My choice of eyewear allows me to be one hundred percent me!” Like most of us who have become accustomed to online shopping, Erika was a consumer looking for something special when she found Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin. Erika became a repeat customer and came to the attention of owner, designer, and entrepreneur James Smith. “I started this business, Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin, five years ago and never thought it would grow to where it is now,” James shared. “I got into this industry because I’ve always been a fashion-forward kind of guy. People would see me and how I dressed and carried myself and say, ‘Hey, where did you find that?’ When I started posting pictures of the glasses, people all over noticed, including Christian comedian Jonathan Slocomb. He reached out and became my brand ambassador, and things just took off from there,” James explained. James is also someone who mentors other entrepreneurs, specifically in designer eyewear. “I’ve helped several people start their own designer eyewear line, and everyone has enjoyed their individual level of success.”

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Erika was surprised when James reached out to her in 2019 about launching her designer eyewear line. “James sent me a DM and asked had I ever thought about launching my own line of designer frames. I had never thought about it before he suggested it. I never saw myself as a fashion designer, but I know what I like. This was an opportunity for me to share the creative side of myself with the world.” Erika has been the executive pastor at her local church for twenty-six years, and she has worked in the mental health field for nineteen years. These two careers require a great deal of self-sacrifice with little room for self-expression or individual creativity. Launching Lady E. Specs allowed Erika to show a side of her that very few people get to see. So, she decided to go for it. After talking to James and mapping out the Lady E. Specs Eyewear line, she and James went full speed ahead with launching the virtual marketplace for Lady E. Specs. James has helped several other people launch designer eyewear lines, but none with the exuberance and tenacity that he found in Erika. “Erika was excited about the new venture, and it showed in her focus. She took the information and guidance I gave her and put everything she had into making Lady E. Specs a success,” James explains. Erika is a bi-vocational Marketplace Influncer, and James works in full-time ministry. After working together, they found they share a lot of the same ideas about where the industry was and where it could go. Both Erika and James agreed although they were in two different states, they worked well together. It was no surprise that when James was looking for a partner for his next big venture, he called on Erika. “You wouldn’t have known that we didn’t live in the same state. I live in North Carolina, and James lives in Florida. In fact, we didn’t meet in person until we launched The Mobile Eyewear Experience in March of this year,” Erika shared.

www.ladyespecs.com 336-303-9814

Although online shopping isn’t new, the pandemic pushed business owners like Erika and James. Brick and mortar businesses were once the standard, but now virtual markets have taken over. Consumers have become accustomed to the luxury of shopping for their favorite items from anywhere. This was the inspiration behind The Mobile Eyewear Experience.

“Since the pandemic, my eyes have been opened to the benefit of giving people the flexibility to choose how they shop,” Erika explained. “My business was launched during the pandemic, and I didn’t think twice about whether I wanted a physical store or a virtual one. I can deliver a quality shopping experience without the overhead and hassle of a brick-and-mortar business. The Mobile Eyewear Experience takes this idea of mobility and flexibility to another level.” Erika and James’s vision is to revolutionize how people shop for glasses. The Mobile Eyewear Experience is a mobile showroom that goes where the customer is. Customers book their custom experience online, and everything comes to you. Most people who wear glasses are used to going to the optometrist and selecting from rows of frames. You look for ones you like that might fit your personality, try them on, and purchase if they fit. “The vision is to bring a customizable luxury experience to you. Customers are free to select from Lady E. Specs designs or Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin, but they also have the option to design their frames. They can choose the style, shape, and materials the frames are made from. Consumers can put their names on their glasses. They can put logos and names of organizations. James explains that there is no limit on the design, and the customer is in control. With The Mobile Eyewear Experience, you will have all your local optometrist’s options. They work with a trusted optometrist who can fill any prescription. Customers can get all the additions to their lenses they would as if they walked into a store. “Some places won’t put lenses in frames they don’t sell because they are worried about damaging them. If the customer sends us the prescription, we will take care of everything. It’s all about convenience. Our goal is to be a one-stop-shop for all their eyewear needs,” James says confidently. There is only one mobile eyewear experience like Lady E and Wood You? Specs by J. Franklin located in Jacksonville, FL, and plans are in the works to launch a second mobile eyewear experience in North Carolina. For now, if you are not located in Florida, you can still have a customizable experience online. New things are hitting the market every day. Vision, planning, and perseverance separate the fly-by-night ideas from those that stand the test of time. With the formula and foundation that Erika Hendrix and James Smith have laid, I have no doubt we will see The Mobile Eyewear Experience all across the country. h

www.jfranklinwoodyouspecs.com 904-595-7351

MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

Marrel Gravely Foushee The son Sunny Gravely Foushee and Marrel Foushee

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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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Kwaku Bentil DYHYT LLC By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by DYHYT LLC While Kwaku Bentil proudly professes he is a Ghanaian, with roots in the African West Coast country of Ghana, the 32-year-old loves everyone, regardless of where they are from. He is the owner of DYHYT LLC, a company that produces urban streetwear and loungewear. Their two main goals are to make sure their clients are comfortable in what they wear and be responsible for their own happiness. Kwaku says his merch is designed for any and everyone. He has stuff for infants, toddlers, and adults, including t-shirts, hoodies, and crewnecks. Kwaku is a native and current resident of the DMV. He attended Frostburg State University, and while there, he received his bachelor’s degree. He later acquired his master’s in Cyber Security from the University of Maryland University College. Kwaku shares that he is a Senior Compliance Specialist by day, and Deejay and CEO of DYHYT LLC at night and on weekends. So how did things begin for DYHYT LLC. Kwaku says he had been saying the phrase “happy yourself” over the course of some years. “The term “happy yourself” is African slang to pretty much say do what makes you happy. I’ve always wanted to get into the merchandise business but I had no idea or real concept. I would be doing research here and there, and then one day in 2019, while I was in Ghana, I decided to take a risk, get some samples made and try my hand. It’s been a great journey ever since.”

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Being a business owner has its perks, and Kwaku says he enjoys the opportunity he has to express his creativity through his current merch, and is equally excited about what is coming in the future. “This experience has made me a better businessman and taught me how to handle my business thoroughly,” he shares “I am inspired by the success of my peers and others, and I truly love a good success story. I love seeing people run and go after their dreams. That motivates me even more because naturally, I am selfmotivated.” Kwaku says he wouldn’t be where he is in life without the love and support of family and friends. “I know a lot of people, but the ones closest to me have been thorough with me and honest. I trust them and they trust me, and it’s a never-ending building process.” Kwaku has put some great plans in place for the future. One, he would like to own either an NFL or an NBA team. He would also like to build a major state of the art hospital in every major region in Ghana. He also has film and documentary ideas he would like to make happen. His immediate plans are to make DYHYT LLC flourish as much as possible and hopefully partner with a major retail store. Finally, he also plans to get into real estate and build up a good stock portfolio. To learn more about DYHYT LLC, please visit their website.

Kwaku Bentil DYHYT LLC www.dyhyt.com

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