RICHMOND
July/August 2021 Vol. 2 Issue 12
Werk It! RVA
®
A sisterhood & support-community of women chasing their dreams in entrepreneurship.
Bhrea Jefferson Founder & Director
Understanding The Power of Your Influence A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
Now that I am many years settled into fatherhood, I sometimes reminisce on those precious moments when my son was only a baby. Though small and quite fragile, I wanted to make him tough and brawn, selfishly hoping A would Letter from the the Editor that he live out hopes and dreams that I had for my life. That is what dads do, or at least I think they do. My son would eventually grow up right before my eyes to be a very grown man, which I am quite tomorrow arrive? Allonofme your hopesfor proud of. What Still, Iifreminded of didn’t his dependence andplans, his mother everything while hewouldn’t was a child andaour responsibility understand and and dreams have street to park on.to What if provide for his needs. everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never
happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy
As aday, babyand andyou not could yet able to form words,the mytrouble son cried made other spare someone ofand making baby sounds when he wanted to let us know he was hungry. When promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expiredhis diapertoday? was wet, he didn’t say [dad, What would you do?I am wet]; instead, he cried. It was my duty to determine his need and translate the information he was trying to share. I’ve Thank Godtold I was able to, and my son cared for. been that I often seem likewas I dofed tooand much. Though I can only imagine how difficult it would have been for him had I Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm ignored his cries or was unable to understand them.
believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would As adults and not babies, our methods of communicating our pains, if Ineeds chosearen’t to sitgenerally idle and accept presented to me. I wants,be and boggledwhat into ait baby’s cry. However, have found that very boring. In my opportunity it doesn’t mean that weto arebenot crying. When we opinion, become prideful and is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge shamed, it can be difficult to express what is truly hurting us, which is an adventure. Whatand is the thatout. can happen? causesto usme to internalize these issues notworst let them If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something newHis about myself. your pride and init When God blesses children to beRelinquish a well or source for others, return with acquire life. often comes some form of influence. With influence, there is power and the ability to impact someone’s life. Not understanding the power of your influence just asever careless asto someone who is driving a car at 100 The bestisadvice given me happened when someone miles per with theirmy eyes closed. happen today. In doing so toldhour me to make tomorrow
I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only
Influence attracts theI have interest oflearned others. the Because influence is often hope provided. also difference between associated with power, it oftentimes attracts weakness. What I am what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with trying as to well. share;IIfcompare someoneitistotreating you wrong you feel like you are knowing when to be confident and being “hated on”, it might mean that person actually crying out and whenisto be quiet, because cannot convey what’s hurting them. As someone may get it confused Christians, we can’t ignore these cries. with being arrogant. We should listen with our hearts and seek God’s instruction on how to respond.
Make you tomorrow happen today, but most If you are in a position of influence, fill importantly make it count. yourself with the love of God on a daily Life able is but whisper and basis. I was toadetermine what my we must a son’s needs were put onlyourselves because I in loved position to hear what it is him. God’s love gives us power and the us. the cries and pains ability totelling understand
www.huamimagazine.com Terry L. Watson
Publisher
www.huamimagazine.com Gamal Williams Editor In Chief Writer Terry L. Watson Writer Jessica Rogers Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Ellen Richardson Writer Dorjae’ McClammey Writer Writers
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of others.
Terry Watson Terry L.L.Watson
Editor/Founder
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November/December 2014
On The Cover
Photo by Shaw Photography Group
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CONTENTS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
RICHMOND
SMS Square, Inc.
Shawn M. Nicholson
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On The Cover
WerkIt! RVA Telia Garry
ChildHoodLost Ent.
Steve & Kaliek
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Crescent Surgical Supply
Rueben Hays
Huami Magazine Cutest Baby
Asher Grady
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Peyton Zora Doctor
Also Featured
Lorria Grant-Eubanks Her love and passion for art has guided her throughout life. Meet the owner of A Different Stroke of Art. Little Rock, AR
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Dr. Trina Pratt She is making super foods, for super kids. She has lauched her own baby foods company. Greensboro, NC
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Werk It! RVA By Teyah Glenn Photos by Lechele Jackson
Entrprenuership, fashion, and perfection. Those are three words that pretty much shapes the life of Richmond, Va resident Telia Garry. In addition to having her own line of sunglasses, Lux Lenz, she coordinates fashion shows for the Werk It! RVA platform, another creation of hers. Amazingly, she still finds time to serve as an Active Duty Recruiter for the Virginia National Guard. With each endeavor, the one constant is Telia’s determination to be a better version of herself than the day before. Originally from Augusta, GA, Telia set her sights on making a mark in the fashion world at a very young age. She launched Lux Lenz as a response to her love for accessories and their role in regard to fashion. It also made sense for Telia because she has often found comfort in wearing stylish specs. She shares, “I’ve always loved how sunglasses made me look. I’ve always been kind of shy and would put on sunglasses to calm my nerves while talking to people.” While there are styles for both men and women, her goal is to expand her brand to include purses, earrings, and more.
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Werk It RVA is a boutique fashion collective that introduces new fashion designers, videographers, photographers, and models to the city of Richmond. Along with providing talents a platform to showcase their brands, it also offers valuable exposure, which helps them gain some notoriety. “I know Richmond has RVA Fashion Week, but not everyone can be a part of that, especially when you are just starting,” Telia explains. “I know models, fashion designers, videographers, and photographers who are all good at what they do and believe their work should have the chance to be shown in front of a bigger crowd. So I decided to create an event on a smaller scale for those same people to get their brand out and build up clientele. A lot of times with RVA Fashion Week, you have to be a little well-known in order to be a part of it. I knew how it felt to run a business and meet the requirements for something and still be denied for one reason or another. That is why I pushed so hard for WerkIt! RVA. If this was a way to give people eyes and opportunities to look at other upcoming brands, then great.” Consistency will carry you to places and open doors that money can’t. And Telia has been consistent. With the introduction in 2018, the same year that she moved to Richmond, Telia has followed up each year with a show, with her third one recently completed this year. As time goes on and business continues to bloom, she wants to make it to where she can take Werk It RVA on the road, forming a “Werk It D.C.” or “Werk It 757” in the near future. “I know that there are other designers in other cities too that would like to get the same opportunity to get their work out there,” she says. She also hopes to expand down south to areas such as North Carolina and Georgia.
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“
I never got a manual on how to run a business, so that means I’m always learning along the way. I had an idea, and I just did it. I stepped out on faith and just did it.
“
For now, much of the workload involved with producing her fashion shows fall on her. Due to COVIDn 19, strategizing how she wanted things to play out was a little difficult at times. “I never got a manual on how to run a business, so that means I’m always learning along the way. I had an idea, and I just did it. I stepped out on faith and just did it. I am doing most of the work all by myself, such as reaching out via email or direct messaging on social media to local designers and business owners. Once I get a solid team in place, I’m hoping to involve more people with Werk It RVA,” she says. Telia is looking forward to holding another event in October 2021. She also hopes to collaborate with more college students and allow them to get their brands out in the community.
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While entrepreneurship isn’t an ideal path to take for everyone, Telia shares that you can be successful with proper planning and having a sound vision. Some advice that she offers to people interested in running their own businesses and building their brands would be never to give up. “Everybody will not believe in your vision. Some might even question you, but if it’s something that you want to do, then go for it, and remember to set your standards high,” she says. “I didn’t have any formal training on operating businesses, I just had an idea and ran with it because this was something that I’ve always wanted to do.” As life moves forward for Telia, her focus is transitioning on her retirement from the military. She is more experienced with the [in’s and outs] of running a business and is happy to take on her dream full-time. Check out her sunglasses business on IG @luxlenz and visit her website for more information. h
Telia Garry www.werkitrva.com werkitrva@gmail.com 816-806-9570
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Nicholson SMN Square, Inc. By Arielle Kilgore Photos by Shawn Nicholson
A company is only as good as its leader. Without a great guide, the company or business can experience stagnant or depleted growth. Shawn M. Nicholson, a business leadership coach, helps other companies, small businesses, and individuals obtain the successful leadership they wish for. Ultimately, his coaching can provide inevitable prosperity for all who work with him. Shawn is the founder of SMN Square Inc., located in Richmond, VA. It is a consulting/coaching business that helps the executives of small companies, organizations, or non-profits find sustainability in their corporation by learning how to communicate effectively, self-awareness of employees and directors, and have sustainable habits that can grow their staff. As a result, the seven-month program gives the company a chance to rise within themselves and be better clients for their customers. “I’m a third-generation entrepreneur on both sides of my family, my maternal and paternal. I often tell people that I knew exactly what I wanted to do, even at the age of eight. I wanted to be a business owner.” Shawn grew up watching his father and his father’s brother manage a business in construction. In that time, he watched as they led other employees and gave instructions that helped build the company. Although he did not choose his father’s business, he learned that you must care and provide great leadership among your peers to receive wealth and successive victory. “We provide the building blocks for success, and I model that off of literally building a house. In building a house, there is a lot of underground work that has to be done to have a good solid footing to pour the foundation on,” Shawn says. Shawn provides different pathways for individuals to take, like one-on-one coaching or team leadership activities. He also provides an assessment and stakeholder interviews that help determine the kind of leader you are and what needs to be worked on for the corporation at hand to stay above water. In light of this, the time and effort put into the transformation is not his only reason to help, but it’s Shawns’ drive to change institutions that keep him going.
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A small business in stature, SMN Square, Inc. provides connections from corporate friends and other business stakeholders for individuals who need more guidance. His philanthropy draws more customers every day because his prerogative is not self-derived. It is to provide the best help most efficiently and sufficiently possible. “To see them flourish and be successful and sustainable, that’s the greatest joy there. It’s truly a blessing to be able to see my vision come to pass,” he shares. As SMN Square, Inc. grew in time and clients, their only challenge was not the pandemic but a previous event in U.S.history--the Recession. It was then that Nicholson had to liquidate most of his assets due to a slowing economy. It was his building blocks and firm foundation, he explains, that carried him through this rough time. He eventually acquired back what he lost but would still like to grow in capital and connections. His goals go beyond the vocational schools he has established in Richmond and Hampton, VA. There are plans soon to have another vocational leadership school internationally in Cape Town, South Africa. He hopes to expand himself way past the borders of America so other people may have the same opportunities for advancement. “I’m trying to expand with [vocational schools] and create more trades there. I’m trying to create more entrepreneurs and establish more business,” he says. SMN Square, Inc. extends their generosity outside of their clients. Shawn offers his expertise to colleges in his area like Stratford University and Virginia State University Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. VSU, a local historically black college, partners with Shawn to help bring the next generation of black entrepreneurs and great business leaders. “I love working with those young people there. It’s a variety of affluent, self-driven students that are excited about the world of business,” Shawn explains. His guest appearances consist of him teaching the theories of business and practical knowledge of the world today. His other contributions are to the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College board in dual enrollment and the workforce. Soft skill training and participating in hiring events in like manner are other ways Shawn and his company give back to those who sow into him.
Shawn M. Nicholson 877-367-4359 www.smnsquare.com
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Additionally, strategy, innovation, and vision are core pillars for SMN Square, Inc. to push their clients to be better. “My goal is to be able to duplicate and replicate myself across the country, across the globe, if you will. Regardless of where they are in their respective places, that other person can have the same success and the same sustainability. The same outcome as what I’ve been able to have through my experiences and my failures,” Shawn says. To learn more about SMN Square Inc., please visit their website. h
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Lorria Grant-Eubanks A Different Stroke of Art
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By Arielle Kilgore Photos by Lorria Grant-Eubanks
Everyone has a passion, but a few people get to turn it into a career. For Little Rock, AR resident Lorria Grant-Eubanks, the magic happened for her. She is the owner of A Different Stroke of Art located in JFK North Little Rock, AR. Her studio arranges different art sessions for people who are seeking to find a passion within themselves. A Different Stroke of Art offers silk scarf painting, summer camps for children, sip-n-paints, and art kits on the go. Other classes include pottery, private lessons, and handmade decorated face masks. Their products and services are available throughout the United States and even internationally. During Lorria’s summer camps, she would host art classes and allow students to explore on field trips. Her groups would take the city bus and travel to museums or other historical places, searching to find the meaning of art. When Covid-19 shut down some of the exhibits, she provided yoga or social circles to help young adults express and educate themselves. How did it all begin for Lorria? “I remember drawing and sketching as early as age two. I was really blessed with the opportunity of having parents who allowed me to follow my passion for art,” she shares. In college, she majored in Speech Pathology and Ideology with a minor in studio art. “The bug hit me and I thought, “Oh my God,” I can do poetry. I can do this, and I can do that,” Grant-Eubanks exclaimed as she relived her college epiphany. However, she chose only the journey of speech pathology and continued her work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science. Ironically, art would resurface and play an exciting role in her field of study. “While working with patients with severe brain damage, the only way to get patients to remember certain things was to draw,” she says.
“I remember drawing and sketching as early as age two. I was really blessed with the opportunity of having parents who allowed me to follow my passion for art.”
Lorria eventually went back to school to get her Master’s in Art and taught students for over a decade. From her in-home art studio with 20-25 children, to her space on JFK North Little Rock of 60 people, Lorria
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has found a way to teach kids and adults to express themselves through art. Her reason for teaching, she shares its her natural love of people. “People inspire me. Just to be able to talk to an individual, find out who they are, and where they came from really motivates me. Seeing people enjoy art inspires me.” Her students and clients come back for her inviting presence as a free spirit and loving person, not just to draw. Lorria passion goes beyond her business. She says that art is something that everyone can do, engaging the community to come together. It also provides a form of therapy. She desires to teach art to young adults or seniors with mental disabilities. In her previous line of work, art helped patients express or communicate. All in all, A Different Stroke of Art serves as a safe space and open service for Lorria’s customers. Nevertheless, she wants everyone to know that her space is for those who need it. Her logo, an African American painter in overalls, and a paintbrush behind her back are just that. In light of this, she sees the challenge and misconception that it may bring to have a wider audience. The studios’ goal is for people to love and for every person to experience the joy of painting no matter who you are. “The paintbrush doesn’t decide who gets to create the picture. It just wants an artist to use them.”
Lorria Grant-Eubanks
A Different Stroke of Art 3702 JFK North Little Rock North Little Rock, AR 72116 501-744-3684 www.adifferentstrokeofart.com
As for her plans for the next year, Lorria hopes to expand her business. Expansion is not only her goal, but a dream she shared with a friend. “My friend suffered from mental illness, and was not able to carry out the dream with me. However, I’m going to do it for the both of us,” she says. Once approved of a government grant, she would be able to place different services in bigger, better rooms. She could also move her program, “Artistically Speaking,” in a space by itself to cater to more kids. Just like “Artistically Speaking,” there are other community services that Lorria participates in. Pulaski County youth services partake in an afterschool art program taught by her. She transferred to online classes during the pandemic and eventually made free kits to-go for the whole county. She also works with URL Children’s International afterschool art program. As a collaborative piece with her husband, they would have a night of music and painting. As her students served the guest, the public could listen to jazz and paint their art kit provided to them. The following year, she created Valentine’s Day baskets for couples in the pandemic. “It just brings me joy to see how the Lord has opened up so many doors for me, allowing me to share what I love with the world.”
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MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
Asher Grady The son of Jessica and Justyn Grady
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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Dr. By Ayana Bryant By Santana B Photography
A woman of many talents and titles, Dr. Trina Pratt wears them all well. She is addressed as professor and also CEO. However, the most essential title she has is that of mom. For nearly ten years, Pratt dabbled with the idea of launching her very own line of organic baby food. Last year that small idea became a big reality. Little Chéngers LLC was launched in December 2020 as a subscription service for organic baby food. The company’s motto is “Super Foods for Super Kids”. The line includes eight different flavors options: blueberry spinach, banana strawberry, mango, sweet potato, sweet potato with apple ginger, sweet potato apple and ginger, applesauce, and applesauce with ginger and cinnamon. The subscription offers plans of two or three meals per day by weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly packages. Meals can be purchased individually as well. The premium food selection that Little Chéngers offers is explicitly tailored to enhance a baby’s developmental milestones. Pratt is a proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Temple University, and most recently, The University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology, concentrating in Community Youth Sports Development 2019. After becoming a new mom in 2010 to Ché, Pratt’s life changed forever. With her son as the main focus of her life, she became very conscious of his needs, mainly growing and developing. Continued on the next page
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As the time came for Che’ to start eating solid foods, Pratt says that she headed to the grocery store and purchased a very popular line of baby food like any other new mother. “When I returned home and tried to feed it to Ché, he rejected it. My son normally had a healthy appetite, but I had never seen him do this before, pushing away a spoon full of food,” she says. Initially, she continued to take the advice of others and kept trying to feed it to Che’, hoping that he would eventually begin to like it; but that didn’t go so well.
Mango
Pratt became concerned about her sons’ reaction to the newly introduced baby food. She shares he would eat other things like baby cereal and drink his milk just fine, but he wasn’t a fan of the baby food. Next, she decided to taste the baby food for herself, and after one spoonful, she knew why Che’ didn’t want to eat it. “It was horrible. The food tasted terrible, and I, too, had a difficult time eating it. I knew I had to do something about this,” she says. Pratt then decided to do some research of her own and began discussing food options with some other moms. She wasn’t able to find many mothers who made their children’s food at home, as she knew for busy single mothers like herself, it was easier to pick some up from the grocery store.
Apple Sauce with Ginger and Cinnamon
Running out of resources, she turned to her family for help, consulting with her grandmother, mother, and aunts for some sound advice. “As a child, it was my greatgrandmother who fed me mostly and showed my mother how to take different foods and cut them up very fine, making it suitable for me to eat as a baby. It made sense for me to come back to those who fed me,” she says. It proved to be the right decision for Pratt.
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Sweet Potato, Apple & Cinnamon
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Along with the help of her family and the research she conducted, Pratt became better equipped to cater to her son’s needs. She learned about different additives and ingredients that could assist with things like brain development and overall health. From there, Pratt developed a routine. “Every Friday, after work, I would purchase fresh groceries. On Saturdays, I would go into the kitchen, sit Ché in his stroller, turn on some music, and begin experimenting with new recipes for him to taste, all while learning the things he liked and disliked,” she says. Pratt’s version of research and development was pretty successful, and her son’s eating habits improved as he developed a surprising liking for baby food, his mothers’ batch of baby food. As she got better at creating new foods for Ché, Pratt came up with the great idea of Little Chéngers. That was in 2010, and Pratt’s life, career, and schoolwork wouldn’t allow time for it, so she put the idea on hold. However, ten years later, as fate would have it, a phone conversation with her mother changed everything. “Ché was about to turn ten, and I remember being on the phone with my mother and she said to me “You’ve been talking about this baby food business for over ten years, when are you going to do it?” That was all I needed to get started,” says Pratt.
Pratt says that her son is one of her biggest inspirations. She also credits the work that she has done serving the youth has also impacted her tremendously. From her college students to the children she helped while working as the Executive Director for The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Gastonia, she truly enjoys seeing their development and growth throughout her time with them. Pratt’s hope is for Little Chéngers to continue growing and thrive toward success. Despite some of the challenges she has faced, her goal is to expand and market her products nationally and globally, connecting with consumers that may not necessarily look like her. The Little Chéngers brand is for all baby’s, and she hopes to ensure that parents have access to it. “Moving forward, I have no plans of slowing down. I want to be the change I see in the world,” she says. h Continued on page 28
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“As a child, it was my great-grandmother who fed me mostly and showed my mother how to take different foods and cut them up very fine, making it suitable for me to eat as a baby. It made sense for me to come back to those who fed me.”
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Crescent Surgical Supply
By Gamal Williams Photos by Rueben Hays
The comedian Milton Berle once said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” Rueben Hays built that door, and the company it led to, Crescent Surgical Supply. The Los Angelos native, and seven-year Navy veteran where he served as a surgical technician, started his journey when he took a chance. After separating from the Navy, In 2003 Rueben briefly worked as a sales representative for a major surgical device manufacturer. The field was very competetive and severely underrepresented by African-Americans. One day, he learned surplus surgical supplies were being sold on eBay. “I asked myself ‘What is this equipment doing being sold online? It was a different time back then,” Rueben recalls. “You can’t do that anymore. That limitation is how I was able to get into the industry, get buyers and connect with vendors.” As Louis Pasteur said, “chance favors the prepared mind.” Formerly kown as RomeMed Inc. which was founded in 2003, Crescent Surgical LLC was birthed in Greenville, S.C. in August 2019. This represented more than a name change, it represented a new chapter in life and business. A painful divorce set the stage for Rueben’s renewed focus and limitless vision. CSS currently employs eight employees and forty contractors that work throughout the country.
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Rueben and his CSS team focuses on the medical equipment set to expire and be disposed of if left unused. This is the leverage point CSS uses to acquire said equipment from wholesalers, distributors, and vendors at a lower price point, then resells them at a mark-up but much lower than the retail price. “We sell mostly specialized, one-time use devices: electro-cardio devices, mesh, implants used in hernia surgeries, staples for different types of resections, sutures, and harmonic wound sealing devices, for example,” explains Rueben. “If we don’t buy and resell short dated surplus from hospitals, most often they are thrown away. We also donate all the products that we can’t move,” he shares. According to Allied Market Research, in 2019 the global surgical equipment market was valued at $33.72 billion. By 2027, it is estimated to grow in value by 33% to $44.48 billion. Grand View Research estimates the disposable surgical equipment market will be valued at $5.5 billion this year. Yet even with the high value of these products, in the U.S. alone, its estimated that hospitals spend almost $10 billion per year in disposal fees for supplies, equipment and trash.** Rueben has ensured CSS is seizing a piece of that market, with half of the CSS buyers being international. One can understand how Rueben’s medical training, initiative and business acumen have positioned Crescent Surgical Supply to be a key player and large stakeholder in the disposable surgical equipment market, but it was not without obstacles.
“Fear is not from God. Fear is of the devil. God did not give us the spirit of fear. For me, if ever I get afraid of journeying down a path, whether it be in business or in myself, I know that is the devil trying to push me away from what it is that God really has for me.” 32
“There is not another me (African-American person) out there doing what I do. In seventeen years in this business, I have never seen another me.” When asked if entering a market with no African-American representation was difficult, Rueben let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course!” he exclaimed. “It took a while. Luckily, I was able to find a niche market. I don’t have to deal with the end users, like hospitals or clinics. I deal with the distributors. But it was challenging to break in, to get people to trust me. We just ensure that we conduct sound business practices and are trustworthy. That is what has built us into what we are today.” And should a product expire before it can be resold, Rueben has a plan for that as well. “We donate a lot of products, products we cannot move. In the United States, there must be time left on a product in order to resell it. When the expiration date is too close for resale or has expired, we donate it to Partners For World Health.” Partners For World Health, a Portland, ME based charity, has donated over 236 tons of medical supplies worldwide. Rueben ensures CSS donates money and resources to charities in the Greensville area as well. “The biggest thing for me is giving back, philanthropy,” states Rueben. “Most of my donations are focused on the Greenville community.” Some of those charities include Lisa’s Schoolhouse Rocks, which provides camps to teach civics lessons; Vernon Veteran’s Services who help military personnel transition from the military lifestyle to civilian beginnings; Upstate GEMS (Going the Extra Mile for Success) that promotes positive qualities in young ladies; and the “Spread the Love” initiative, a food drive sponsored by Harvest Hope, amongst others.
Rueben offers this advice to any young woman or man that recognizes a potential opportunity but is unsure if they should take the chance: “Fear is not from God. Fear is of the devil. God did not give us the spirit of fear. For me, if ever I get afraid of journeying down a path, whether it be in business or in myself, I know that is the devil trying to push me away from what it is that God really has for me,” he said. “I’d tell them to lean into it, even if you fail, failure is not final. You learn some of your best lessons from failing. This wasn’t just a linear track for me. There were ups, there were down. I had many obstacles, much to learn and I didn’t have the privilege of partners or even people that looked like me that really wanted to empower me or educate me. I had to go into places I didn’t know or what to expect. I got ran out of a few places. But I learned from it. So, I would tell them you have to go for it.” h
1327 Miller Rd – Suite B Greenville, SC 29607 1-888-481-1086 www.crescentsurg.com 33
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“Fear is not from God. Fear is of the devil. God did not give us the spirit of fear. For me, if ever I get afraid of journeying down a path, whether it be in business or in myself, I know that is the devil trying to push me away from what it is that God really has for me.”
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1327 Miller Rd – Suite B Greenville, SC 29607 1-888-481-1086 www.crescentsurg.com 35
Steve Gardner & Kaleik Hayes
ChildHoodLost Entertainment Group By Gamal Williams - Photos by ChildhoodLost Entertainment Group
Steve Gardner was one of the lucky ones growing up in South Philadelphia. At age six, his mother fell ill, yet Steve wasn’t swept up into the foster care system, another Black child endlessly waiting for a rescue that rarely comes. Family members, including the mother of his half-brother, Kaliek Hayes, stepped in and raised him. Kaliek’s mother, Regina, offered a safe environment to a child that wasn’t her own. Again, Steve was lucky. Though young, the kindness bestowed upon him instilled a protective, nurturing spirit in Steve. “Growing up, I always tried to look out for my younger brothers and siblings. Be that caretaker. I always tried to put myself in their position, whether it was forced upon me or willingly, I always felt it was important to be that rock for my brothers and sisters.” Kaliek looked up to his big brother. “Steve was always just…” he pauses, trying to gather the words to adequately express his heart, “…he was just that rock. He always looked after me. I remember he would take me with him to his job. I was like 10 and he was 15. It didn’t matter, he always looked out for me.” Steve explains he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t on the streets. So, I kept him with me pretty much everywhere I went.” All of that changed when Steve was 17, Kaliek was 12. A boy from the neighborhood brought a gun to the basketball court they were playing on.
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“None of us thought the gun was real, it looked fake,” recalls Kaliek. “We thought it was a starter pistol,” continues Steve. “So, I asked to see the gun, another kid had it, and he fired the gun.” The bullet struck a dear friend of Steve and Kaliek’s, entering the back of his skull and exiting his cheek. The boys watched in horror as their friend died in front of them. “All I could think was ‘I don’t ever want to be in that position again.’ I don’t own a gun, haven’t touched a gun, and this was over thirty something years ago.” Steve says somberly. “It still affects us to this day, it changed us. We went on different paths; me the straight and narrow; Kaliek a more seedy one.” For Kaliek, the trauma, and the inability to express how he felt, started a cycle of self-destruction. “He was a good friend of mine, like, he was someone I could just talk to, ya’ know? After that, and everything that happened after, I just didn’t respect anyone. I was a good kid up until then. I went from doing good in school, making sure the house was clean before my mother got home, to carrying a gun and running the streets. Something just snapped for me.” Kaliek became one of the many children swept up into the trappings of the streets, his childhood lost due to unaddressed trauma. At age 16, his mother put him out when she discovered drugs in their home. By age 18, he was a father of three and in federal prison on drug related charges. Prison is supposed to provide rehabilitation, yet Kaliek found something different; an unexpected mentor presented itself. “I met man in prison. He had a lot of time, but he was so positive. He humbled me, made see things differently. I would write Steve and tell him that when I came home, we needed to do something ‘cause I didn’t want to come back to prison.” Kaliek began writing, telling not only his experiences, but those of friends and acquaintances, humanizing children that looked and sounded and lived like he did. He presented his collection of writings to Steve, who became inspired and began contributing to the stories. When it was done, the brothers released their literary work, a book titled “ChildHood Lost.” “We had no way to advertise it though. We took the book to a brother we knew, Bilal Islam. He was writing and directing plays and he loved it,” states Steve. With Bilal’s help, ChildHood Lost the book, became ChildHood Lost the play. “We write plays about kids, for kids, and talk to the real things they go through,” Kaliek states. According to www.childhoodlostentgroup.com, the ChildHoodLost Entertainment Group has a simple mission, “to passionately using theater to showcase art with a purpose as both an intervention and preventative tool.” ChildHoodLost takes a different approach to the medium of theater. Violence, promiscuity, substance abuse, trauma, and crime are just some of the topics their 14 plays have addressed since debuting in 2012. The play “LEGACY: A Story of Boys that Moved Men” took a unique approach
www.childhoodslostentgroup.com 484-300-5468 on Black History, telling the tale of a man that falls asleep only to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Marcus Garvey, and Malcolm X as teenagers. “After the Eulogy” depicts a support group for parents, trying to cope with the loss of their children after gun violence. “The -N- Word” fostered constructive dialogue about racism. Theater isn’t the only way ChildHoodLost engages with Philadelphia’s youth. Chess Chat, a program where children meet with mentors at the Urban Art Gallery in West Philadelphia (as well as online) to play chess. Chess Chat’s motto? In life, as in chess, forethought wins. “It’s more than just chess. We actually talk with the kids while we play. Talk to them about whatever is on their minds,” Steve proudly explains. It’s a simple, yet powerful concept, harkening to a saying often used in the Black community; Each one, teach one. Steve and Kaliek have used theater and chess as a vehicle to not only reach and teach children, but to set the example for adults as well. As a January 16th, 2020 ChildHoodLost Foundation Facebook post states “If you want to change our city, start with grabbing up ONE youngin’ and teach them All You Know!” Steve and Kaliek don’t need the lights or the cameras. They have taken action! h Richmond - July/August 2021
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