Huam Magazine Mississippi March/April 2022 by Terry Watson

MISSISSIPPI

March/April 2022 Vol. 1 Issue 7

Cabrini Superfoods Mississippi - March/April 2022

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There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It! It Matters Who AreOr AtButs Our Core There Are No If, We Ands, About It! A Letter from the Editor

A Letter From The Editor

A Letter from the Editor

We have finally made it to the arrive? month of What if tomorrow didn’t AllMarch. of your However, plans, hopes living in North Carolina, I learned not to get my hopes forifwarm and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What weather too ifhigh due the inconsistency inyour the weather everything that youtodecided to put off until tomorrow never What tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of plans, hopes patterns. All in the same day, it may feel like it’s Springtime, happened? would beano reason to save a rainy and dreams There wouldn’t have street to park on. for What if andeverything before know it,spare the temperature rise, and it feels day, andyou you could someone themay trouble of making that you decided to put off until tomorrow never like happened? Summer; By the evening, it’s Fall-like, and when midnight promises. What your last Thereif would be opportunity no reason toseemingly save for aexpired rainy arrives, it’s That is just how it isthe in trouble North Carolina. today? What would you do? day, andWinter. you could spare someone of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired I am aI’ve warm-weather kind of guy. If it’s degrees every day, been that I often seem like70 I do too much. today? Whattold would you do? thatHonestly, is fine with me.like Though I’vedoing survived the and Winter, I feel I am not enough I’m aI can firmdo without it. been believer in knowing that God seem wouldn’t on me I’ve told that I often like put I do anything too much. that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm be if I chose to sitmother idle and accept whatmy it presented to me. Asbeliever a young my would dress brother and inkid, knowing that God wouldn’t put anything onme me I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity in thick winter coats before allowing us to go outside and play that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would is acold. that afforded to everyone. A challenge in the Underneath we wore sweaters, two be ifblessing I chose to sitisn’t idlethe andcoats, accept what it presented to me. I to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? t-shirts, thermals, and sometimes more t-shirts. She wanted to have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity If aI do I fail, I try to I don’t, but instead learn ensure wenothing, would not getand tooifcold while out playing. We didn’t, is blessing that isn’t afforded everyone. A challenge something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and me isit an adventure. What is the worst thatwould can happen? andto when was time to come back inside, mom peel in return acquire life. I do nothing, I fail, and down if I try to I don’t, but instead learn our If layers of clothing away, one shirt. Our inner core something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and body temperature remained warm beneath everything, andin our The best advice ever given me happened when return acquire life. wellbeing remained intact. That to experience reminds mesomeone of how me tome make tomorrow today. In doing so Godtold protects for my all seasons andhappen situations. I have pressed myever way given through doors with a key thatsomeone only The best advice to me happened when hope provided. I have also learned the difference between told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so Through prayer, fasting, reading God’s word, and application, blesses with and what life cana burden with Iwhat have pressed myisme way through doors with key thatme only a layer of God protection placed over my life. When I keep God at as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and hope provided. I have also learned the difference between my core, He reveals Himself when the layers are peeled away. whenlife tocan be quiet, because what Godcan blesses me shame, with anddepression, what burden me with These layers be fear, guilt, or anything someone may get it confused as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and the enemy may try to use to discourage me into believing I am with being when to bearrogant. quiet, because less than what God created me to be. someone may get it confused Make youarrogant. with being I start each day with prayer and reading, and I tomorrow seek God happen today, most first; that is the first layer applied. When my faith isbut tested importantly make it Make throughout the you day,tomorrow I speak count. life Life is but a whisper and happen today, but most into my situation and rest on God’s weBymust put ourselves in a make it count. promise.importantly doing this, another position toa hear it is Life is but whisper and layer is applied, and I amwhat warmed telling us. must put ourselves a by whatwe I expect to happen by in faith. position to hear what it is Before my day ends, I can only thank us. yet once again for God for telling His grace Terry L. Watson keeping me. We must keep God at the core of who we are. Editor/Founder

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

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CONTENTS

MARCH/APRIL 2022

MISSISSIPPI

thee_situation LLC

Monique Elam Joseph

On The Cover

Carbrini Superfoods Jabaz Reeves

Rejuvenated Soul Spa

Aja Cavin

FancythatGlo Beauty

Fenise Yancy

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Wynter Rose

Also Featured

Lenita Campbell Are you in need of Notary services. Meet the face and founder of Nita Norary LLC. Gary, IN

Santia Pace It has been said that she has magic in her fingers. Learn more about the face and founder of Creative Styles Salon. Pensacola, FL

Lakisha and Terrence Two is always better than one. Learn how this power couple is balancing life and business, while sustaining their happiness. Durham, NC

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

Cabrini Superfoods By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Jabaz Reeves Whatever we put into our bodies will surely show up on the outside, in some form or another. While the consumption of processed foods has seemingly increased over past years, the benefits aren’t clearly defined. According to information shared on the website www. healthguidance.org, “Processed foods are foods that are prepared through physical or chemical treatments, which result in the food being significantly different from its original state.” Though opinions vary, when trying to sustain a healthy lifestyle, it may be wise to choose other food options. This is where Jabaz Reeves comes into play. The Chicago, IL native and Mississippi resident has built his company from a homeostasis perspective, which means: the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. (Mariam Webster Dictionary). Now residing in Jackson, MS, Jabaz owns Cabrini Superfoods. His company offers 440 herbs from different Co-ops located within and outside of the United States. He uses these herbs to encapsulate and combat various ailments in the body such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cancer, Libido, Crohn’s, and Epilepsy. There is also a metaphysical section that includes crystals, sage, palo santo, resin, and Florida water. He also stocks a wide variety of herbal teas, fluoride-free toothpaste, elixirs, tonics, raw black soap, and sea moss. Jabaz graduated from Morgan Park High School in 2002. Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Army and later deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. That was in 2003. He returned home in 2004 and completed his 1500-hour barber course to become a professional barber. He also attended Virginia College and obtained an associate degree in business. Jabaz says he started his journey of healing his body with herbs and a plant-based diet in 2017. “My health was poor, and I weighed 306 lbs. I had many ailments like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Thyroid issues. Traditional medicine was not helping me, but things changed when I learned about veganism while researching remedies to treat my ailments,” he says. Now living a healthier life, Jabaz is committed to helping obtain the same benefits. “I love to hear the results when customers’ health issues are being resolved

by utilizing a holistic approach,” he shares. Additionally, he says his inspiration comes from seeing so much growth within himself spiritually, mentally, and physically. Jabaz says he truly believes that he is walking in his purpose. He admits that it hasn’t been easy, but he appreciates the tough moments he’s faced. The only thing he says he would change about his journey is allowing someone to make him feel as if he was doing something wrong by venturing off and creating his own business instead of working to build them up. His advice to others who may follow in his footsteps is to create your own lane. “You must be original and never let anyone downplay your dreams,” he shares. In the future, he plans to open a smoothie bar and offer nutrition and health wellness classes for people who are beginning their health journey. To learn more about Cabrini Superfoods, please visit their website. h

www.cabrinigreensuperfoods.com 7

Santia Creative Styles Salon

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Cazualtee Santia describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister-friend, and of course, a hairstylist. “I’m a woman who wears many hats, and I look good while doing it,” she says. Originally a native and resident of Washington, D.C., Santia moved to Pensacola eight years ago after her husband, Jonathan, job placed them there. Natural Hair Care and making others feel beautiful about themselves is her expertise. “I truly care about the health of my clients’ scalp and hair. I listen to their concerns and offer solutions and treatments that will work best for them,” she says. While enjoying the success of Creative Styles Salon Spa, Santia decided to change the dynamics of her business model. In 2017, she stepped out on faith and launched her own natural hair care product line that includes shampoos, conditioners, tonics, and lemongrass butter. The reviews have been stunning. One client shared, “I’ve always used hair tonic while sporting a short hairstyle. I decided in September 2019 to use Santia’s products because I wanted to let my hair grow. The results have been amazing, and some people are doing head turns, not thinking it’s me. My hair smells good, and it’s so soft. People often ask to touch it. I am so pleased with my hair growth.” Santia’s products are available online and in various stores in Washington, D.C., Miami, Atlanta, and Pensacola. What Santia loves most about styling hair she shares is connecting with new people and providing confidence and encouragement. She also credits her aunt, who recently passed away for impacting her life and career. Like most business owners, Creative Styles Salon Spa has been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Santia says when the virus arrived in Pensacola, she had to close her salon. However, being the wise businesswoman that she is, she was able to offset her losses with the online sales of her hair products. She survived, proving that her brand is her to stay. In the future, Santia says she plans to distribute her products to more stores and open other hair salons throughout the region. Her advice to others who may follow the same path she has is never to give up. “Obstacles will come, but you have to keep pushing,” she shares.

www.creativestylessalon.com

To learn more about Santia and Creative Styles Salon Spa, please visit either of their locations in Pensacola, Fl, or visit their website. h

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thee_situation By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Moe Elam-Joseph Just as the effect icing has on a cake, a good hat often completes the deal of an outfit or arrangement. Monique Elam-Joseph of Houston, TX, is a self-described creative who loves art and fashion equally. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and free spirit. Monique has been married to her husband, Marlon, for 21 years, of which they share two daughters, Asia and Taylor, and a one-year-old grandson, Zayd. Monique is a proud graduate of Grambling State University and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. This talented creative loves spending time with her family, attending church, and watching the latest Netflix series. She also has a passion for travel and has identified herself as a solo international traveler. “Traveling is peaceful and it brings me great joy. I also love sharing my traveling experiences with others,” she says. As stated, Monique has a natural love for art, and one day, she decided to paint a couple of her Fedora hats because she wanted to look different. She sent one of her designs to her mother, and the reviews were great. People soon inquired about where they could get Monique’s custom-designed Fedoras. During this same time, Monique had posted pictures of herself wearing her hats on her social media page. That action resulted in even more inquiries. Having those results on hand, Monique decided it was time to turn her craft into a business, and thee_situation LLC was born.

Mississippi - March/April 2022

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Monique designs and customizes Fedora hats, blazers, and earrings. She shares she never dreamed of going into business. When the decision was made to do so, she shared that she did not want to have the word, “hat” in the business’s name. “I knew I was more than hats,” she says. Instead she settled on “thee_situation”. “I am a part of a brunch group that produces themed brunches once a quarter. If one of our members is wearing a popping, dramatic outfit, we say, “What’s this situation you got going on? In December 2019, it came to me. I’m a whole situation by myself,” she says. Monique’s entrepreneurial path was set into place early in life. She says, “Growing up, I saw my parents involved in different business ventures, so entrepreneurship has always been instilled in me. My mom left a six-figure job in 2011 to pursue her balloon business and has never looked back. Her decision inspired me to become an entrepreneur also,” she says. Because she didn’t have any prior experience running a business, Monique says she faced several challenges with getting her company started. “I began by ordering hats from China. It would take 3-4 weeks and sometimes longer for shipping. This was very inconvenient for me, yet fortunately, I was able to find a wholesaler in the United States,” she says. While it may have been challenging to launch and grow her business, Monique says she wouldn’t have changed a thing. She is a visionary and is always looking ahead and planning for thee_situation LLC. Moving forward, she says she plans to incorporate more custom products and create a team to keep moving the business forward. For those contemplating jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, Monique offers some tips and advice. “Purpose fuels passion, so whatever you love to do, it will put you in the right position. Don’t worry about business cards, a website, or even a name. Start by putting your work, ideas, and content out there and get a mentor. Going into business sounds nice, but having a knowledgeable mentor will help with addressing the many aspects of the business,” she says. To learn more about thee_situation LLC, please visit their website. h

www.theesituation.com 12

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Rejuvenated Soul Massage and Wellness 14

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Aja Gavin Aja describes herself as a hardworking, dedicated, and devoted mother and entrepreneur. “I am a healer of the community and a child of God,” she says. Professionally, she is the lead Massage Therapist and Owner of Rejuvenated Soul Massage and Wellness. Their motto is “We Care About Self Care”. Aja says they strive to provide an amazing service while also educating their clients on various healthy self-care practices. Located in Alsip, IL, Aja and her team provides relaxation, therapeutic, and clinical massage. “We cater to clients who need to escape and get a piece of mind through relaxation massage. We also cater to clients who need therapeutic work, which addresses the deeper muscles to help relieve pain. Additionally, our services help clients fix or correct their muscle deviation or range of motion,” she says. The idea of Rejuvenated Soul appears to have happened on purpose. In 2017, Aja quit her corporate job as a Personal Banker for Chase Bank. She shares she wanted to pursue her dreams of becoming one of the best massage therapists in the world. In October of the same year, she enrolled in The Soma Institute in downtown Chicago and studied Clinical Massage. There she received in-depth studies on Pathology, Kinesiology, Anatomy, and Physiology. After the 11-month program concluded, Aja took her state licensing exam (MBLEX) and passed on her first try. “Once I received my license, I began taking individual clients and provided services at their homes or other locations. I showed them how to properly relax and helped them with their aches and pains. As time went on, my business grew to the point where I had needed help to meet the demand,” she says. In July 2021, Aja opened her very own practice and hasn’t looked back. Aja’s toughness can be traced back to her upbringing. She grew up in a family of six and is the third sibling of four. “I was the rebel of the family. I always marched to the beat of my own drum and did things my way. I have a “can’t stop, won’t stop” mindset regarding achieving goals and getting things done. This mindset keeps me grounded and focused,” Aja says. Rejuvenated Soul Massage and Wellness happened because of Aja’s love for helping people with aches and pains and as a means to create a safe space and job opportunity for other therapists. Her team now consists of three amazing therapists and a network of other independent massage therapists, including mobile therapists who can serve clients all over the Chicagoland area.

In Aja’s line of work, there is never a dull moment. She often has the opportunity to meet and help many different people from all walks of life. She shares that is something she loves most about her business. “I love helping others get more in tune with their body while educating them on a variety of useful self-care practices. I also love building business relationships with my clients. That is so important because they trust me with the most important part of them; their body.” Along the way, there have been some challenges that Aja has faced. She says, “Before going to massage school, I would massage people just because I had the skill to do it. I didn’t necessarily have the knowledge of the body. My mom then encouraged me to attend school to become more professional and knowledgeable about bodywork. That was very valuable advice because I learned that working with someone’s body can be very dangerous, especially if you don’t know if they are suffering from a certain condition.” Gaining clientele and marketing was also a challenge Aja faced. She started working primarily with family and friends but realized she couldn’t grow her practice by those means alone. She had to think of strategic ways to get other clients, and one was (word of mouth) and building rapport with clients. She also promoted her services via social media and surrounded herself with other experienced therapists and business owners with the intention to learn how to be a better businesswoman and massage therapist. That strategy paid off.

www.rejuvenatedsoulllc.com 872-903-3873

Aja says she is inspired by her late grandmother Alma Jones. “She was my biggest supporter and influencer who kept me grounded to continue pursuing massage. Growing up and watching her as an entrepreneur (hairstylist) drove me to follow in her footsteps. While I took steps to pursue my dreams, my grandmother passed before seeing my business grow. I wanted to continue in her honor and show her that her little “A” will use the gift she always knew I had for helping others,” she shared. As Aja continues her entrepreneurial journey, she promises to reach back and help anyone who may follow in her footsteps. Her advice to such individuals is to never give up and see things all the way through. “If you have a dream that keeps tugging on you to start, it’s tugging on you for a reason. It’s your purpose and God will keep drawing you near and aligning people until you take the steps. Understand that things will get tough but persevere and keep going. Her future goals are to expand Rejuvenated Soul to other cities outside of Chicago and create more job opportunities for upcoming therapists. “I look forward to adding more modalities outside of massage and giving my community a variety of wellness options that will help them live a happier and healthier life,” she says. To learn more about Rejuvenated Soul Massage and Wellness, please visit their website. h

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I am

Lenita Campbell By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Lenita Campbell Lenita Campbell is a pastor’s wife, mother of two beautiful girls, and one son, Lenita was born and raised in Southern California but now resides in the midwestern town of Gary, IN. Lenita is also a savvy businesswoman and leads a notary public company called Nita Notary, LLC. While serving the Greater Northwest Indiana area, Lenita offers Loan Signing Service, Mobile Notary Service, Remote Online Notary Service, I-9, and Photo Inspections, and office support to various businesses. “I am professional and friendly while working with everyone involved. Furthermore, I understand the demands and pressure associated with being a notary, and I promise to return every document signed as soon as possible,” she says. Lenita provides services to title companies, law offices, and more with her Loan Signing Service. Her main focus is to ensure her clients receive closing documents signed without any missing signatures, initials, or dates. Her Remote Online Notarization (RON) component is a notarial act performed electronically via audiovisual by a notary and does not require a physical appearance in front of the notary. Lenita says Remote Online Notarizations are convenient and secure. “Your document can be notarized in the safety and privacy of your own home. All you need is some form of identification (a government-issued ID with a photo), the document(s) you need notarized, an email address, a device such as a tablet, smartphone, or computer,” she shares.

“I am professional and friendly while working with everyone

involved. Furthermore, I understand the demands and pressure associated with being a notary, and I promise to return every document signed as soon as possible.”

Lenita earned a bachelor’s degree in Business at Liberty University in 2018, and she has ten years of experience in mortgage service. She has obtained both NNA and LSS certifications and a Title Producer’s License, and her services are bonded and insured. Nita Notary LLC was formed through the encouragement of one of Lenita’s former coworkers. She says they would always encourage her to become a notary so that she would be able to complete real estate closings. “We both worked in Mortgage Servicing for over ten years. I was familiar with all of the loan documents, and she pushed me to go for it. After two years of her trying to get me to do it, I finally applied for my commission and got all the necessary training, certifications, and licensing to become a Loan Signing Agent(LSA)/Notary Signing Agent(NSA),” she says. Lenita has been operating as a commissioned notary since December 2020 and an LSA/NSA since January 2021. Lenita says most people do not realize the importance of a notary’s job until they need one. Still, she loves helping people and seeing her clients’ relief once they finally get their documents signed and notarized to finalize their transactions. Lenita says she is inspired by the love and support of her family. On the other hand, she admits that finding a family-work balance is a huge challenge. “I must be present with my family,” she says. As the demand for her services grows, Lenita plans to diversify her business by adding Mobile Ink Fingerprinting and Apostilles. One thing is for sure, there will always be a need for notary services, and Lenita will be prepared to meet those needs.

Nita Notary LLC www.Nita-Notary.com 219-801-4887

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To learn more about Nita Notary Services LLC, please visit their website. h

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FANCYthatGlo By Terry L. Watson Photos Martin Lowenthal of ML Visions Hair by Candy Currie of Queenz of PHX The days of traditional dental care have changed. There are new players in the game, and they are offering bright and brilliant alternatives. Fenise Yancy of Phoenix, AZ has launched a business that offers teeth whitening and tooth gems. Her company is called FANCYthatGlo Beauty Beauty. Fenise opened shop in the Summer of 2021. She has always whitened her teeth, ever since she was a child, using the proven method of baking soda and peroxide. Her desire to have white teeth would carry on throughout her life and eventually led to her business. This is how it began. She says, “I purchased a whitening light and posted pictures on my Instagram stories. I received several replies from friends asking if it worked and if I provided the service. They also wanted to know how much is the cost of the product. So I decided to research the teeth whitening business. For four to five months, I randomly purchased products and began to offer my services, and the rest is history.” Fenise best describes herself as a child of God who loves life. She is a mother of two, Dalen, a 19-year-old student-athlete at the University of Arizona) and Olivia, a six-year-old kindergarten dancer, athlete, and an inspiring entertainer. Fenise is a native of Fresno, CA, and later moved to Phoenix, AZ, in 1999 to follow her dad, who had returned to Arizona in 1998. In addition to owning FANCYthatGlo Beauty Beauty, she is a self-help influencer for Domestic Violence, a compulsive Yogi, and an inspiring Fashion Influencer. She holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration; and has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field.

Fenise appreciates being in a position to motivate others. Expounding on her mantra, “THINK GOODKarma!” she shares that she loves to smile. “When I smile, it makes me happy and energizes others. Why wouldn’t I want to share that with others? To be happy about your smile brings confidence, and confidence is self-love. You gain a little pep in your step, and it motivates you throughout your daily routine. More than anything, it simply makes you feel good,” she says. Though FANCYthatGlo Beauty Beauty is a fairly new business, Fenise has faced some challenges. One she says is social media, and another one is time management. Social media, she says, is today’s biggest platform for marketing, and she struggles with the constant need to be on it. “There’s a difference between posting about my life and posting for business purposes; that can help or harm you. Posting for requires agile research to become affective,” she says. Being a single mother poses its own share of challenges as well. Between traveling for her son’s games, daily meetings with prospective agents, assisting him with his business, and being present to meet her daughter’s needs, Fenise says things can get a little tricky. In the future, Fenise plans to succeed by being consistent and disciplined. Within the next few months, she plans to launch new products such as home whitening kits, other home whitening products, and lip gloss. She also plans to hire a social media manager. That may be difficult because she is such a do-it-myself type of person. “My end goal is to have a Wellness Spa with teeth whitening, yoga and meditation classes, juice bar, and weekly counseling sessions,” she says. Her advice to others who may follow in her footsteps is to be patient, trust the process, and only run your own race. Never look at others in your field as competition; instead, utilize them as motivation and learn from the experience. h

FancythatGlo 16160 South 50th St Phoenix, AZ 85048 602-710-8644

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& Together, Anything is Possible By Monica Montgomery Photos Provided by Still Shots Photography As power couples go, Terrence Williams and Lakisha Hoskins shine bright. This dynamic duo is united in faith, love, and business, and their united front is helping them create a legacy not just for their two sons but for their community and everyone they come in contact with. Both Terrence and Lakisha were born and raised in North Carolina but confessed to having completely different childhoods. Terrence is from the small town of Whiteville, where he was raised with traditional southern values. After graduating high school, Terrence continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and ECPI College. Terrence works as an IBM field engineer, but his head for business makes him an essential part of this power couple. “Growing up, we were taught not to meddle in grown folk business. Which included the household finances.” Terrence knew he wanted to do more and explore more opportunities and income streams, but first, he had to learn how to handle money and navigate the business world. “I had to learn a lot of it on my own, but I share it with anyone who will listen. This is something that everyone, especially people of color, should want to know and understand. We, as black people, have a lot of buying power. It’s time we understand how to make it work for us.” Lakisha is from Durham, North Carolina, and considers herself “A beautiful city full of dark roads.” With little family support, Lakisha learned to navigate life on her own. Although education wasn’t stressed in her home, Lakisha possessed an intrinsic drive that pushed her to pursue her dreams.

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

Lakisha’s love for beauty and cosmetology goes back to her childhood. Although she had a relationship with her parents, her grandfather raised Lakisha primarily. “At nine years old, I knew I wanted to be in the beauty industry. Being raised by my grandfather, I learned how to do my own hair. I didn’t want to look crazy, so I knew I needed to figure it out and quick!” Beauty became a passion for Lakisha, and it has served her well. Terrence recognizing his wife’s passion for beauty and her calling to help others has committed himself to ensure the business side of things is taken care of. When Terrence and Lakisha met, she was already an entrepreneurs, each owning a business of her own. She had a salon, Ultimate Creations, which opened in 2002. The name was changed in 2012 to Elegant Divaz. They have since purchased the franchise Trendy Nailz Institute, a school for nail technicians. Additionally, they’ve created a photography together. “When I met my husband, he came with a lot of business knowledge. I didn’t appreciate it at the time because I thought he was being too cautious, but now I understand the importance of making a solid business plan.” Lakisha isn’t the only person Terrence freely shares his business knowledge with. Terrence believes that the lack of financial education and business holds people of color back. “I’m willing to share what I’ve learned with anyone who will listen. In high school, they taught us how to write checks, but they said nothing about getting the money in the checking account. We need to learn how to generate and maintain wealth within our communities.” This desire to educate his community on how to build a thriving business, create wealth, and secure capital is what drives Terrence and why he and Lakisha work so well together. Before meeting Terrence, Lakisha started her first business using her own money. Determined to live her dream and destiny, she invested in herself 100%. “I’m the type of person who goes after what I want. I am not a planner like my husband. I believe that what God has for me is for me, so why not just go get it?”

Lakisha and Terrence are also unified in their definition of each other and their relationship. “We complement each other,” Lakisha explained. Terrence calls his wife fearless, and Lakisha calls her husband a little conservative when it comes to business ventures. Understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses has been a key component to the success of Terrence and Lakisha’s partnership in business and life. As they discussed their life and business, it was clear that he is the Ying to her Yang. The couple admits that with everything, there are obstacles to be overcome. They say two things come with the territory: securing financial support and sound partnerships. “Let’s be honest. It has never been easy for blacks to find funding for business ventures. Part of that is systemic and a lack of financial literacy. We as a people were raised and conditioned to fear discussing money because, most of the time, we didn’t have any. Being financially embarrassed is something we have passed down generation after generation. I have decided that won’t be the case with my children,” Terrence explained. “My goal is to teach and be a resource for financial literacy for my sons and my community.” Although they own a school for nail technicians, the couple helps with business advice as much as possible. As a salon owner, Lakisha rents booths to stylists. “I often find myself giving business advice to stylists on how to start their own businesses. I don’t offer it as much as my husband. I’m a little reserved in that respect, but I will give them what I know if asked. I don’t worry about the people I help taking anything from me because I believe what’s mine is mine, and what God has for them is for them. So, if I can do anything to help the next person reach their goals, I’ll do it.”

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

“Take more risk. I wish I hadn’t been so cautious at times. You hear horror stories about people starting businesses only to have them fold shortly after. I was afraid to fail, but Lakisha has helped me see that you have to take risks in life and business.” Terrence

The blessings Terrence and Lakisha say they enjoy come from God. They freely admit that they have been blessed beyond measure by putting God at the center of their marriage, family, and business. They agree that finding each other was the best thing that could have happened to either of them, and they wouldn’t change a thing about their lives together. As for the business side of things, Terrence would like to offer this advice. “Take more risk. I wish I hadn’t been so cautious at times. You hear horror stories about people starting businesses only to have them fold shortly after. I was afraid to fail, but Lakisha has helped me see that you have to take risks in life and business. If I use what I’ve learned about business and entrepreneurship then add faith in God, I can’t go wrong. I won’t say that I won’t fail, but if I do, God is there to help me rebuild.” The future for Terrence and Lakisha looks bright. Their next stage includes real estate, purchasing a strip mall to give the black dollar the respect it deserves, and opening a full-service cosmetology school. The couple’s goal is to be the best while giving their community the tools needed to build financial stability.

Elegant DivaZ Hair Salon, LLC 3708 Wake Forest Rd Durham, NC 27703

919-957-4507

Trendy Nailz Institute 4004 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27407

919-241-3193

Hair & Stuff 216 34

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Mississippi - March/April 2022

By Dorjae’ McClammey Phtos by Remona Taylor Like most urban communities around the country, African American ownership of beauty supply stores was once nonexistent. Historically, the percentage in the consumption and purchases of beauty supplies greatly leans towards African Americans when compared to other races, rarely do they reap or benefit from their spending choices. Now, the landscape is changing, and a new color of ownership is emerging. Cleveland, OH native Remona Taylor is the CEO of Hair & Stuff 216 Beauty Supply. Located in the heart of Cleveland, OH, the growing supply chain offers popular, trending, and reputable products such as Black Panther, Curls, Mielle, The Mane Choice, and The Doux. They also have natural beauty and hair care products inspired and handmade by small business owners like LaJAshley, Blossom Beauty Co, and Premier Ponytail Band. “Hair & Stuff 216 works with local and out-of-state small business owners to exclusively carry the unique trending products in our store,” Remona says. For quite some time, Remona always wanted to be a business owner. While in Graduate school, she would constantly ask her husband, Raymell, if they could start a business. His reply was always, “when you finish school, we can talk about it.” So that’s what she did; she completed everything, and things began to move.

Pictured with Remona and Raymell are their children Malessa Raymell Jr.

At first, her husband wanted her to think outside of the box. She gave him ideas for all types of businesses like daycares, home healthcare agencies, and more. Then one day, while traveling to the closest beauty supply store, which was 45 minutes away, Remona and her husband realized an opportunity to fill a void in their community. She said to her husband, “I have an idea; what about a beauty supply store?” Being the smarty pants he is, Remona says he responded, “I have a better idea, what about a beauty supply store?” This (make it happen, duo) hit the ground running from that conversation. This was 2017. Even though Remona and Raymell both were working full-time jobs, they weren’t deterred. They contacted a friend who helped them get started by selling all types of hair bundles. It began with them selling bundles, purchasing business cards, and registering their business name. Remona and Raymell continued to work hard until they secured their lease for their initial brick and mortar retail location. During this time it took 4 months to create the store and open the doors January 13th, 2018. “Our shelves were bare, and we purchased the small amount Mississippi - March/April 2022

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of product we had with our own money. We were a little hesitant at first, but just like a kid on Christmas Day, I ripped the paper off and opened the doors, and Hair & Stuff 216 came to life,” she says. At first, due to staffing issues, they could only have the store open for part-time hours. After one year, they hired their first employee, which helped them grow from their original 900-foot store into a 2400 square foot space. Remona has built her business to serve the needs of her community and is fully committed to giving back to it. She accomplishes this by working with other entrepreneurs in Cleveland, such as the owner of Events on Ridge, Alisha Norris! Together they created Westside W.R.A.P (working relationships and positivity), a group for entrepreneurs who learn and help each others’ businesses grow.

Malessa & Raymell Jr.

Remona says what she loves most about her business is the relationships developed with her customers. She refers to them as Kings and Queens and knowing that she can give them a comfortable experience while shopping is essential to her. As for what inspires her, Remona stated, “Knowing that I’m doing the right thing at the right time and doing right by God, my family, myself, and aligning with my purpose. That inspires me more than anything else. My mom alway makes the statement to me “reach for the stars”; well I am now reaching beyond those stars and it’s time to touch the universe.” While the journey has been challenging as an entrepreneur, Remona says it has been worth it. “God has made it, so it’s not an issue. Through it all, the long nights and hard times, my lights are on, the gas bill is paid, I’m able to manage and grow the inventory and pay my employees. Most of all, I’m still winning.”

6277 Pearl Road Suite D Parma Heights Ohio 44130 440-345-5595 www.hairandstuff216.com

In the future, Remona plans to bring more jobs to her community by hiring more employees and ultimately opening another store. She is a determined businesswoman who has changed how African Americans purchase beauty products. Her final message for those who may follow a path similar to her is, “Let your faith be bigger than your fears; trust it and stand on it.” Please visit their website to learn more about Remona Taylor and Hair & Stuff 216. h

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Cutest Baby

Wynter Rose The daughter of Christopher and Latisha

Mississippi - March/April 2022

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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