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The recent wave of violence in the City of Flint has got some folks talking, some folks fearful, and some folks looking for a solution. We asked Flint’s Mayor Dayne Walling and Dr. Karen Weaver, candidate for Mayor, their thoughts.
We have all been deeply affected by violence in our community and I have suffered many sleepless nights because of the lives cut short. Reducing violence in Flint requires dedication, leadership and passion by public officials, law enforcement, and the community as a whole. Through my experience, I know that Flint needs a comprehensive approach to violence and crime prevention including: creating more opportunities for our youth through community education; eliminating blight and strengthening neighborhoods; building partnerships with community volunteers;
and ensuring tough enforcement of law especially with illegal guns. I have met personally with President Obama in the White House to discuss youth violence prevention and more federal assistance is being provided. We have adopted a detailed plan for Flint’s future and my commitments as your mayor are on my website at www.votewalling.com.
The number one cause of death among African American males between the ages of 15 and 34 is homicide. That is not an indictment, nor is it a glorification. But that reality becomes glaring in light of the rash of violence that has plagued the city of Flint in the last 30 days.
We are working hard every day and night and the more people who join the effort and become my brother’s and sister’s keepers, the sooner we will bring peace to our streets. By Mayor Dayne Walling
Law enforcement certainly plays a prominent role preventing and/or solving crime, but unless law enforcement personnel can somehow get into the heads of every citizen, it’s a stretch to expect law enforcement to prevent crimes of passion, which murder so often is. It’s impossible to station a police officer on every street corner to prevent rival drug gangs
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from destroying each other. The most important thing we can do as a community is to equip our at-risk youth and young adults with the tools that engender self -respect and self-worth, i.e. jobs and more jobs. As a result we can rid individuals of the self-hatred that leads to self-destructive behaviors like violence and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. - By Dr. Karen Weaver
professor and program manager at UM-Flint, her presence exemplifies her faith. Known as “Mama Bailey” on campus, she takes pride in being a leader and providing encouragement to the students. She wants to help kids believe that all things are possible. “I want to be a lid lifter and help kids go higher than they even think they can.” Her own college experience helped develop her level of servant hood and she is constantly reminded of the words her mentor, the late Tendaji Ganges, spoke, “We should leave a Whether she is teaching the Word of God, imparting mark, not a stain.” Pastor Tonya said his words helped to wisdom on the college campus, or sharing her gift of song, shape how she interacts with the youth today and influPastor Tonya Bailey insists she is first and foremost a enced why she adopted three college kids and helped them servant of the Lord. through school.
by Telishia Berry
Raised in a spiritually grounded family, church has always been a part of her life. Growing up, Tonya was a member of New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church where the late Bishop Otis Floyd was the pastor, and also her godfather. “Playing church” as a child was normal playtime with her and her siblings. “We’d have a good time playing church, from praise and worship, to the church announcements, to me baptizing my baby dolls,” she said. What she didn’t know at that time is that it was all part of the woman she would become…part of her ministry…part of her destiny. I had an awesome interview with Pastor Tonya and she shared her heart about her ministry, career, family, and her music.
Education Growing up with limited resources didn’t deter Tonya from following her dreams of going to college. Upon graduating from Northwestern High School, she attended Evansville College in Indianapolis, Indiana. In pursuit of her dreams, she majored in television broadcasting. “I thought I was going to be the next Oprah.” She admits college life was not easy and like most college students, she did whatever was necessary to make extra money to help pay her way through college. “I did hair, nails, and feet to pay for school.” After graduating, she completed her Master’s degree at the University of Michigan-Flint and is now preparing for her doctorate degree. Even as a
Marriage After college, her plans were to continue pursuing a career in broadcasting; however, the moment Le Bailey asked her to marry him, she knew her plans would change. “God sent me an amazing husband, a man that exemplifies grace personified.” Together, they work in ministry and are celebrating 20 years of marriage. Bailey states that marriage is no easy thing. “You have to work on it consistently, keep it fresh, but keep it holy.” She said. She spoke on how important it is to take time to spend with one another. “Thursday is our date night. If you see me and Pastor Bailey out on the town, I might introduce him as my boyfriend,” she laughed.
Ministry In 2011, Pastor Le and Tonya started Hand of God Ministries. She says that Hand of God Ministries (HOGM) is an amazing resource from God to help the "churched" and the " un-churched" develop a relationship with God. HOGM is a multi-cultural international & non-denominational fellowship of individuals. The couple also pastor a college ministry, “Monday Manna” which is housed on three college campuses. Pastor Tonya says she and Pastor Le are honored to lead God’s people.” We know that introducing people to A Real, Relevant and Relational God is key to life success.”
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Photography by Stephanie Grayhek
The couple is also the founders of Pick-A-Place-and-Start (P.A.P.A.S), a community development corporation.
Music Pastor Tonya’s love for God is evident in her music. With the support of her family, Pastor Tonya produced her highly anticipated CD. Entitled Simply Amazing, it is a blend of gospel and jazz that presents a delightful sound of praise. Bailey also has a new book soon to be released, called Change Your Mind, Change Your Moment. It's a daily devotional to inspire, equip and empower people in their daily walk with Christ. In closing, Pastor Tonya expressed that she wants to encourage women to pursue their dreams and believe they are possible. I asked Pastor Tonya what would she say to women who felt a sense of hopelessness, and she responded, “Take your sense of ‘Hope-less’ and make it ‘Hope-ful!’ We all have had situations where our hope began to deplete, right? Times when things are dry, empty, or lifeless. It's in times like these that our minds struggle to focus on the positive and we can even waver in faith. No matter how hopeless we get women, we still have to respond to the question, ‘Can you still SEE HOPE in Hopeless situations?’ This is important because you can never have what your mind cannot conceive! If you have faith (mindset) as small a mustard seed, you can move mountains!” Now, you’ve read her story. The next time you hear the name Pastor Tonya Bailey, you’ll know exactly who she is!
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For booking or more info, contact Tonya Bailey at:
www.tonyabailey.com
Sophia Janell Taylor is a Flintstone to be proud of! A woman of many talents, her debut CD, “Audiobiography”, was released this year, and her Christmas tune, “La La La, It’s Christmas”. She wrote three songs on American Idol ontestant (and fellow Flintstone) LaKisha Jones’ CD, and was a background vocalist on the R. Kelly tour.
As an author, Sophia has recently released the second in a three-part “Oxymoron Series” entitled Honest Deception. The first book, Faithful Liar, was released in 2012, and part three of the saga, Ruthless Saint, is due next year. A trailer for an upcoming movie is available on YouTube!
Sophia’s also the host of the soon to be released late night talk show, “Entertainment Spotlight,” which will air throughout Michigan in mid-fall. On September 12, Taylor will be showcased in the McCree Theater’s “Professional Artist Series.” Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office at G-2240 W. Carpenter Road in Flint. Catch up with Sophia Janell Taylor on the web and social media, and look for her books available online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon and her music on iTunes.
Cover courtesy of www.amazon.com
FaLessia Booker is a writer and editor, and Editor in Chief of Courageous Woman Magazine
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In August, Carriage Town Ministries nd celebrated its 2 Annual Women’s Empowerment and Pampering Conference. Eighty women, many of who are current or former shelter residents, showed up to take advantage of community resources, STD testing and domestic violence information at the free 2-day event. Event planner Trina Carswell, Director of the Family Center for Carriage Town Ministries, is frequently reminded of two sayings: “hurt people hurt people,” and “healed peopled heal people.” Carswell herself is an example of the latter slogan. As a former drug addict and unwed mother of eight, she has turned her life around despite only earning a GED and gives all glory to God for the changes in her life!
Layout Design by YPD 810.820.8848
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Photography by Rachel Anderson
‘So you say “Black Lives Matter?” Well, here at the Impact Pregnancy Crisis Center, we say “All Lives Matter!” However, black lives are quickly becoming an endangered culture. From 1973 to 2015, 71 million babies have been aborted in the United States along. 36% of the aborted babies are Americans of African descent (black lives); when Americans of African descent only comprise 12% of the United States of America’s population. I.M.P.A.C.T. is a crisis pregnancy center strategically located in the inner city of Flint, 2585 Lavelle Road, Flint, MI 48504 (810) 444-7298. Our mission is to impact the women and men of our community, raising a consciousness to value life. We firmly believe that absolutely every child is born to solve some
problem(s) in our world. "This begs the question, how many problems yet exist today because we have aborted the solutions? " It is our objective to help parents develop a life We further believe the vision and purpose for their answerastowesaving babies families; help them is not only a natural discover their God given matter, also a their purposes, andbut embrace divinespiritual destinies,matter. to live productive lives, Therefore, it is our goal strengthening their to I.M.P.A.C.T. communities. IMPACT (Influencing Many pregnancy crisis center People to Accept Christ offers the following Today) to services save ourfree of recourses and babies. test, charge: pregnancy ultra sound, emergency material needs including a brand new car seat and Pac-nplay, video parenting classes, post abortion healing classes, bible classes with an instructor and Royal Diadem Lifestyle Institute – a course designed to empower women to style their life to LIVE ON PURPOSE; transcending a lifestyle of vic-
timization and mere survival, to thrive in a lifestyle of purpose, dominion and yes even pleasure. This is realized through the progression of identity, value and utility (solving the problems they were born to solve).
Frances M. Brown Director
Susaye L. Mitchell Assistant Director
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Walethia Aquil's Grace & Charm:
Modern Manners for Today
Thank you for thinking of us! We would love always respond with a written response, to attend your 25th wedding anniversary, but even if you are declining. If there is a re- unfortunately Kennet h planned a sponse card included with the invitation, fill it weekend getaway for the same weekend. We would love to get together when we get back; out and return it. maybe we can meet for dinner.
Grace and Charm dictates that the note be written on premium stationery. Sending a How to Decline Gracefully thank you card will make a memorable imYou have been invited to the party of the pression. This time, instead of thanking the year! Unfortunately you can’t attend. How do host for a great time you had at the party, thank her for thinking of you and express you decline gracefully? your regrets. Declining an invitation gracefully is almost as good as making a memorable appear- The note may look something like this: ance. Done right, you’ll remain on the guest list for the next event. According to Wiktionary, RSVP (plural RSVPs) means “reply please,” written on an invitation to request that the invited person reply to confirm whether or not they will be attending.’
“There is Whenever you receive a written invitation of power in the any kind, whether formal or not, word NO.” Walethia Aquil
Tonya,
Regretfully, Walethia and Kenneth Remember to keep your note brief and sweet. The response should fit the invitation and your relationship with the hostess. About the author: Walethia helps you build a new kind of wealth, “Social Capital” by equipping professionals and other service providers with training in proper business decorum and protocols. Now you can position yourself to never miss an opportunity due to fear, indecision, doubt, or lack of confidence. Learn how you can move from ‘Invisible to Impeccable’, visit Grace and Charm today. Have an etiquette/image question? E-mail Walethia at: info@graceandcharm.com, or 866-610-3746.
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ance on the Oprah Winfrey Show and had dreams of bein part of the cast of ‘ALL THAT,’ a comedy sketch show on Nickelodeon. Kendre’ spoke a mantly that one day he would be on that show.”
A few years later, Nickelodeon had a search for the “Funn by Thadine Quick Kid in America” contest. She
remembered pulling out all the stops for him, even solicit the support of his sisters to help create a submission ta She told me how she and the kids piled in the car a headed to the post office. They prayed over the tape bef sending out. A few weeks passed before their prayers w answered. In fact, out of 10,000 kids, Kendre’ made it to top fifty—then the top 5!
Ms. Telishia Berry,aCourageous Woman Magazine publisher, Nothing can stop woman with a dream. Whether is an author, mother, radiomedia host, empire, or leaving a she's launching her own playwright, and speaker who isTelishia showing Berry no signs slowing 23-year-old-marriage behind, is of proof down. As her resume increases, so does her ambition. that anything can happen…it all starts with a dream. When I sat down with her for this interview, I asked her what title she was most proud of. She said, unflinchingly, “mother.”
A proud mother of four, Ms. Berry admits that her life has had its share of ups and downs; however, lately there are more far ups than downs. A girl with big dreams, unapologetic ambition, and a “make-ithappen” attitude, Ms. Berry is an entrepreneur carving out her own lanes. Her strong faith in God keeps her sound. She admits that as a young girl she did not always make the right decisions. At 22, she was traveling around the county performing in Gospel plays, enjoying life, and preparing to move to California to pursue an acting career when her dreams took a different route…She ended up on the road to unplanned pregnancy. She recalls a million thoughts running through her head, but
In the end, Kendre’ did not win the award for funniest however, he was invited back for a second appearance wh ended up opening other doors for him. His Godfath Terence Green, was working with a sports and entertainment company in California and was helpful in c necting Kendre’ with his first manager Erik Kritzer. Kendre’ ended up signing with CE agency in California. After Kendre’ became dissatisfied w video auditions,
Ms. Berry and her then husband Ken, decided to pack their four kids, the dog, and move to California.
Within two weeks he had two jobs. He was the voice Marvin on “Adventures in Odyssey.” He played that role u his voice changed around age 17. He also had a role in first 3 seasons Nickelodeons “Ned’s Declassified School S vival Guide.” Next, Kendre’ played Winston in the movie “Searching for David’s Heart” and had numerous guest appearances and voice-overs in movies and on TV shows including “ER,” “One-on-One,” and then landed a role on HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” as well as “Jabari” from the hit television show “Girlfriends.” On the music side, Sean Puff Diddy Comb’s son Quincy, and Kendre’ made a hit song together. This lead to guest appearances on “BET’s 106 & Park” music show and more.
even back then her relationship with God was strong. She admits she was scared and mad at herself. So when God showed up in the form of her conscious, she listened intently. “I heard God tell me to walk out the waiting room,” she said. Weeping profusely, she recalls standing in the clinic parking lot, brokering a deal with Him and then obeying His commands. The deal was simple: In exchange for the life she was carrying, every ambition and every dream she was pursing would manifest in her child. “Not only did I keep my baby,” she said with heartfelt sincerity, “but God also kept his end of I had a chance to speak with Kendre’. I asked him how his mother the deal!” influenced is career and what upcoming “Kendre’ was so gifted and talented,” she recalled. “At two, he began exhibiting his music abilities so projects he was we bought him a set of drums, and by six he was performing working on. In his around the house with his ventriloquist. He made an appear- deep, grown man voice, he told me that his mom influenc
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g a his career by instilling belief in him to always find and rely on the man upstairs. Kendre’ admits music is his first love, da- and his current upcoming projects include his musical debut, and an upcoming role on the second season of Amazon original series iest “Hand of God.” Starring “Sons of Anarchy,” actor Ron Perlman and actress Dana Delany,. “Hand of God” preting mieres September 4, 2015 on Amazon Prime. ape. and The bloodline is strong in this family, and together they have ore brokered a dynamic deal with God! Like Kendre’, his sisters ere Tisha Brenee’ and Toya Dove’ are very talented and rethe cently graduated from the Los Angeles Film School. Both are pursing acting careers but also enjoying directing and growing as producers. Tisha Brenee’ recently worked kid; with Chris Brown on his music video. Kennedy, the hich youngest sister, is a talented dancer but focusing now on her her, first year of high school. In parting, Ms. Berry’s advice to any woman looking to walk into an abortion clinic is to turn around con- and walk away, to trust God and try brokering a deal with Him first. With Him, she promises, you can’t LOSE! ESD with Thadine Quick, is a writer for CW Magazine and author of Addicted To You. Photography by Rickey D. Brown up
e of until the Sur-
For help with a crisis pregnancy, please Call I.M.P.A.C.T., 2585 Lavelle Road, Flint, MI 48504 (810) 444-7298
Left to Right: Telishia Berry, son Kendre’ and daughter, Tisha Brenee’
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healthy glowing skin, right? Of course we do! beautiful day! Intentional, Throughout the course of life, women find well-maintained skin looks great, feels great, Kesha Norman is the CEO and founder of Teach 2 Reach School of Cosmetology. She is out what things matter most to them. Top- and attracts more attention. a licensed cosmetologist and instructor ping that list is skincare. Skincare is one of those things that we tend to neglect Proper nutrition and a regular facial skincare residing in Flint, MI with her only son, when we’re younger, but gradually pay more regimen play a big role in youthful and radi- Trevor. She has been practicing the art of attention to in our later years. Since time ant beauty that lasts over time. Even prior to cosmetology for more than 20 years and is waits for no one, it is important that we as makeup, healthy face and skin looks and feels passionately devoted to providing quality women begin attending to our face and skin- great. According to a recent New York Daily education and skilled training within her care needs much sooner rather than later. News article, women are more pressured community. The longer a person waits to begin a skincare than men to look younger. Even with alternaregimen, that more difficult it is to reverse tive the natural effects of aging skin, specifically in options such as plastic surgery, many beauty the face and neck. That’s why preventative professionals still lean more measures used over a longer period of time towards a more natural approach. are more effective! Here are some tips for skincare: Schedule an appointment for a facial As we all continue to work, live, and furat your local cosmetology school, ther develop in life, the value of maintainsalon, or spa. ing a healthy face and skin becomes increasingly important to us. This stems from Stay hydrated with at least eight our desire to look and feel young. In our glasses of water a day. quest for youthful Keep your skin clean and moisturized on a regular basis. looking skin, most women have seen the ef Protect your skin from direct fects of both unhealthy skin and healthy skin. exposure to the sun. Of the two, most women commonly prefer the latter, and why not--everyone wants Stay healthy, stay stress-free and have a
by Kesha Norman
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