2021 #HERoineLegacy Magazine

Tell Publishing, Co. presents... ISSUE 6 | MARCH 2021 The HERoineLegacy MAGAZINE THE DELIVERED This 2021 issue is dedicated FIGHTER to the Olympic record- breaking track and field Read how Crystal embraced love icon WILMA RUDOLPH. and a relationship with God to help break those violent strongholds on who overcame childhood pg. 18. illnesses and a physical disability to become a THE BOLD PERSEVERER three-time Olympic gold medalist. Read how Pametria breaks down Read more on pg.4 why it's taboo to speak with a mental health therapist in the Black community on pg. 21.

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Table of Contents 07 24 Marquita Dorsey Dr. Tina Williams 10 28 Candous Brown Denisha Thomas 14 32 Martice Wright Kimberly Bass 18 36 Crystal Boyce Anaisha Robinson 21 39 Pametria Brown Reflective Prayer MAGAZINE INFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TJ Jefferson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ...and where to take them TJ Jefferson LaKisha Johnson PUBLISHER PHOTOS TELL PUBLISHING, CO. PO BOX 902150 Honorees Own Memphis, TN 38190 www.tell-publishing.com Tell Publishing archive DESIGN & LAYOUT [email protected] TELL PUBLISHING, CO. Check out our list of some of the best trips you will take in your life 03

EDITOR'S NOTE Pivot Right Into Destiny COVID-19 may have caused a slight detour or slowed us down a bit on the road to destiny BUT it hasn't stopped the desire or the overall journey towards it. If I can throw in a small silver-lining about this pandemic is it has given us moments to slow down and regroup or restructure or pivot in a whole other direction if need be. As a person who is a resource of information for my community, I've had to pivot during the pandemic, too. I was able to work with The Equity Alliance, a Nashville-based nonprofit that equips citizens with tools and strategies to engage in the civic process and empower them to take action.. I was blessed to have lead a team of action-driven women and men to create content for Voter Guides for the cities of Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga during three different elections. I got that opportunity at the referral of my friend and a 2016 #HERoineLegacy Honoree, Ashley Northington. The premise of the work, ideally, is the same as this magazine but the process was very different, content was in a whole other industry and it was an overall adjustment for me. Luckily, I wasn't stressed with a million other things going on that would have made it yet another stressful thing. In fact, I did have several other projects going on around the same times but with me working from home and not having to deal with traffic, weather and car issues, I was able to manage my schedule and stress better. I had more time to virtual stalk more honorees, lol. Normally, i have an average of seven honorees. Well, this year, I was able to expand to nine. Due to COVID, we're not having the normal brunch that accompanies the release of this magazine, but we will still safely deliver plaques and gift-bags to all of the honorees. I believed my pivot-game was good already but this pandemic has my pivot-game on deluxe status and I'm OK with that because the destination remains the same: DESTINY. See you all there because I refuse to go and arrive alone! STORY BEHIND THE #HERoineLegacy Magazine In 2016, #theFRESHteam of Fresh Touch Publicity wanted to celebrate Women’s History Month and now Tell Publishing, Co. has taken over this epic responsibility. Instead of just highlighting the amazing women of our past, we wanted to celebrate the amazing women of today who took advantage of opportunities shouldered on our behalf from women like Wilma Rudolph, a Black American sprinter from Clarksville, Tennessee, Wilma Glodean Rudolph As a child, Rudolph overcame pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio, which caused her to lose strength in her left leg and foot. Rudolph June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994 wore a leg brace and an orthopedic shoe until she was 12-years-old. She rode the bus to get weekly treatments at Meharry Medical College in Nashville and her family gave her daily at-home massages. She later played basketball in high school and ran track and made history as a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. Rudolph was acclaimed as the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. Due to the worldwide television coverage of the 1960 Summer Olympics, Rudolph became an international star along with other Olympic athletes such as Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali), These stories are dedicated to Wilma Rudolph. Thank you for your sacrifice. 04

We Love Celebrating & Honoring BLACK Women while Brunching & Smiling!



The Neighborhood Dreamer DR. TINA WILLIAMS Describe who is Dr. Tina Williams. I am woman who is determine to succeed in life personally and professionally. I love helping people enjoy life. I am someone who loves to volunteer in my community. I am energetic, fun to be around, dependable, and working on being a servant for the Lord. What are you the \"first\" in your family or (facebook) amongst your friends to do? I was concerned that I couldn't afford to I am the first to graduate from college and obtain a continue to go to school while waiting to graduate degree. I am also the first to start my own reapply. I took some extra prerequisite classes business - Williams Comprehensive Healthcare. My family to bring my GPA up. I applied the next year and has always been very supportive in whatever I do. I am the got accepted, which meant I was going to be in only girl with four brothers. school an extra year. Once in the program, I worked my butt off to graduate. I knew then I How was it growing up being the only girl in a would finish and one day open up my own house full of boys? practice. It was hard being the only girl. My mom worked two jobs and they did not like combing my hair and getting me to school. Growing up, I used to love to talk all day and it would irk them. They would always say \"be quiet\" or \"go play with your dolls.\" I used to try to make sure they did chores; that's when the bossy role started. What is the best piece of advice that you've Why did you want to start your own ever received and how did you implement it? healthcare practice? Why did you choose to open in the Whitehaven Don't let where you grew up determine who you're going area? to be. I was determined to not let my environment slow me down. I grew up in the projects and it seemed like a lot I always wanted to be a nurse and my mom of people didn't want out. It was so much crime going on - wanted to be a nurse. She had kids and was robbing, killing, drug use, and hanging out all the time. I taking care of her parents so she couldn't watched my mom struggle at times to make ends meet. I pursue her education, not even high school. I was determined to go to school and get an education. I started working as a nurse and I found myself had friends who just wanted to hang out in the projects always teaching and going the extra mile for and not focus on the future. I also had the ones who was my African-American community. I used to see going to school everyday and talking about college. I went how some healthcare workers didn't speak on a to school everyday rain, sleet or snow. I studied hard and level that all could understand. I wanted to be surrounded myself with other like-minded people. able to breakdown care at any level for a variety of patience to be able to understand. I didn't Share a specific story in your life that was want to be just be a pill pusher but a motivator, suppose to take you out or that detoured accountability partner, teacher, healthcare your journey of success but it didn't. provider and more. I grew up in Whitehaven and after graduation I bought a house in I went to college at UT Martin and at that time only a few Whitehaven. I was determine to give back to African-Americans where going to nursing school. I applied the community that helped me. the first time and didn't get into the nursing program. 07

There are studies showing the disparity in What advice would you give to healthcare, especially with Black women, other women with fibroid issues how are you combating that so Black who want to be mothers? women feel heard and seen? I would advised women to get second Black women are more likely to die from childbirth or opinions about managing fibroids and look breast cancer than other races. Black women are at into non-surgical procedures. Also, know that it higher risk of various heart disease. Current healthcare is possible to conceive and deliver a healthy working environment has more white and men doctors. baby via c-section or vaginal delivery We as African-Americans are viewed as lazy, drug depending on fibroid location. seekers, and lacking knowledge about healthcare issues. So we as AA providers have to help closed the gap by How did you meet your fiancé and educating our community, providing them with all when is the wedding? resources available, joining our local organizations to help fight the disparity in healthcare. I ensure in my We meet through a mutual friend, Kenya. She practice I educate all, regardless of color, but I make called one day and said I got this guy you sure I educate on a level that all parties understand. I should meet. We both loved to travel and go encourage the Black youth to focus on themselves and out to eat and we still love to do. We've been consider healthcare as a career whether it's public together since 2017. We are planning for a Fall health, nursing, clinical research, etc. 2021 wedding. COVID has us thinking of a safe way to invite our immediate family and friends, You're a Nurse Practitioner, what are the whether it's zoom or a few members in our services your business offers? Are there a lot living room. We would love to do a destination of NP's with their own practices? wedding and it's still an option. As a Nurse Practitioner. we are able to assess, evaluate, What is next for Dr. Williams? diagnose, and treat. I manage acute and chronic diseases such as Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension, Cold, I am looking to start a consulting business on Sinus, Rash and more for those 10 and older. There are a how to help NPs start their own practice. I lot of NPs in TN but Memphis does not have a lot of NP- would like to add new services to the practice owned clinics. It's a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I that would benefit my community. I would work seven days a week to ensure my practice runs love to go back to school to get my business smoothly. I do see more NPs branching out to start degree. I want to help develop new youth practices but not primary care, more like IV hydration, programs with Beautiful Spirited Women. * aesthetic, weight loss, and concierge services. Dr.Williams' son Jace (facebook) How do you take care of your mental health or do you? I pray daily and I spend time with my family and friends. I have made myself a promise that in 2022, I will not work seven days a week. I will delegate other tasks to others. I will continue to watch my son grow up and enjoy my family and friends. What is your biggest fear in life and why? My biggest fear in life use to be that I wouldn't have any kids. I had and still have multiple, large fibroids that can hinder conceiving and carrying a child to full-term. I was blessed to have a nine pound, ten ounce little boy, Jace, on November 1, 2019. 08

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The Box-Breaking Educator CANDOUS BROWN After the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic hit, many people’s side businesses became their primary business. Educator Candous Brown was a traditional teacher in the classroom for 13-years, from legacy Memphis City Schools to the transition to Shelby County Schools; she taught in middle and high schools. She resigned from the district in November 2020 and began full-time in her very own business named CB Educational Consulting and Tutoring. Candous conducts parent consultations, assists parents with navigating this new virtual space, offers homework help, and conducts customized private tutoring. “I never thought I would be outside of the classroom,” Candous said, “but the best part is I can be the teacher that I need to be for these babies. I’m being given the opportunity to truly individualize materials so that I can really help children learn and grow. I’m still teaching; I’m just doing it for myself now.” Feelings of inadequacy in her professional career took a toll on her confidence. She felt she was being looked over for promotions, and her ideas were not being considered. Candous eventually had to take a deep internal evaluation of herself and figure out what she wanted and how she was going to get there. As a result of leaving a stressful job, she’s been able to spend more time with her son, Triston and help more people in her flourishing business. Candous has been able to be a leader and be seen as the “expert” that she’s always known herself to be. “If I’m stressed now it’s because I didn’t do something that I know that I needed to do,” Candous said, “and not because somebody has put something else on my plate that was already full to begin and totally unnecessary. I am growing and actually becoming the teacher that I’ve always wanted to be, and it’s because I’m now outside of the box. I’m teaching students but I’m also learning from students.” (facebook) “The Memphis born, Millington raised educator is the eldest of her siblings- a brother and a sister. She has two pit-bulls - King Henry and Duchess Marie - and her 13-year-old son, whom she homeschools. She calls him a “stakeholder” in their household running smoothly so he has responsibilities like cooking breakfast, cleaning, and washing his clothes. She said Triston is very protective of her, loves music- especially Michael Jackson- and is an artist who likes to draw and paint. She balances everything by a to-do-list and a schedule that she sticks to for her business; anything after that she considers her personal time. She gets up at 5:30 AM to stretch, do yoga, pray, meditate and journal. She’s refreshed and ready for the day by 6:30 AM. She actually puts her phone on “do not disturb” after a certain time of the day. “You not gone interrupt my peace- I just got it back,” Candous declared. “Balancing this side of things looks more like relinquishing some of my control. I don’t have to do everything. I can delegate some of this responsibility to my son because he’s old enough now. What he can’t do, I can show him one time and he’s good. That gives me more time to myself.” Candous homeschooling her son Triston (facebook) 10

Candous named Mrs. Rachel Jones as a woman she admires who has coached and mentored her in many ways, including showing her healthier ways to cope with the struggles of motherhood. For example, she admitted, in the past, she’s taken her work frustrations out on her son and she’s had to have heart-to-heart conversations with him to work through that. “She’s given me new perspectives on my role as a mother and my role as a woman in my son’s life,” Candous shared. “Teaching him how to treat me as a woman and me showing him how a woman should treat him as a man when he gets older.” Triston’s father isn’t around to help with co-parenting. Because of this, she’s had nights of tears and feelings of not being good enough even though her son is doing just fine. “My biggest fear is that I will leave my son ill-equipped to be successful in life,” Candous shared. “Of course, success is relative, but I always fear that I'm not giving him enough or exposing him to enough. I just want him to be better than I was/am.”   “Candous is the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college; she went to Christian Brothers University for undergrad and graduate school. She is the daughter of a teen mom, who not only grew up with her, but grew up for her so that she could have the best she could offer. She has authored a book entitled My Life as an Educator: What my Teacher Education Program Didn’t Teach Me; you can order it from Amazon. The legacy Candous wants to leave is one of strength and empowerment. “I want people to know that just because things didn't work out the way they Her published book (facebook) perceived they would doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't working out the way they should,” she said. “There is something that we can learn and apply in our lives in every situation - good or bad - that we experience. We just have to be wise enough to put it to use.”  The pandemic is inherently a bad situation but it has afforded Candous the ability to sit still and think and work on bettering herself. “I was able to get my house in order,” Candous stated. “If you do nothing else you better sweep up around your own doorsteps. Those months we were out were probably some of the best I’d had in my career just because I was just focused on me.” People often associate the word “intimidation” to Candous but she finds that humorous because she knows she’s a softy. At times, she is guarded but she admitted to not wanting people to be able to read her. Although she is an educator, she wants people to see her for more than that. “Women are more well-rounded,” Candous stated. “We mommy and son selfie (facebook) are not our careers. Our careers are a part of the thing that makes us who we are. It’s not our all being. I’m a mother first. I’m an educator always. I’m a sister, a cousin. I’m all of those things. Do not put me in that little bitty box because I’m going to break it.”* 11



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The Consistent Pivoter MARTICE WRIGHT daytime job, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. She amped up her daily promotion of it on social media by posting more pictures of her own hair growth and pictures of her mother’s hair growth. Martice’s Hair Oil was gaining traction through word-of- mouth from her co-workers, friends, her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters, etc. She began adding more products to the inventory: a bigger bottle of the hair oil, skin oil, eyelash growth oil and a shampoo and conditioner, etc. With the expansion of products outside of just hair growth and a bigger vision for the future, Martice decided it was time to rebrand and remove her name directly off the product. (facebook) “I never thought it would blow up like it did,” Martice shared. “Everything has worked out and has been a big A number of businesses begin simply because the blessing. Since it’s been like 15 months in business, I owner needed a product or service that they was like ‘let me go ahead and change my name.’ I said couldn’t find on the market or it wasn’t within their now is the time because, for my business, I can really reach. A number of these business owners were in see it growing into something amazing. It’s really doing other fields not directly correlated with their numbers. So I made it into a beauty brand. I didn’t newfound business. Memphis native Martice Wright want my name attached because I would love to brand created the newly rebranded MHO Beauty, myself for something else.” formerly Martice Hair Oil, because after her first pregnancy, she experienced postpartum hair website shedding. She started researching natural hair growth oils and scalp stimulations and came up On paper, you wouldn’t see the correlation between with her own organic formula that quickly grew her psychology and a beauty brand but Martice’s clients are hair back. During that time, she was utilizing her struggling with hair loss due to childbirth, illness, trauma degrees in Psychology (undergrad) and Counseling to the scalp, alopecia, etc. and she has been able to create (master’s) by working in her career as a Mental that safe space of comfort through her products to help Health Therapist. them. “I had been using my hair oil for awhile and people “God is still using me in that role,” Martice said. “He’s still had noticed my hair growth,” Martice said, “but, of using me to counsel people because with hair loss, it’s course, I just wasn’t telling them what I was using. emotional. A lot of people want to know how your After God told me to sell my hair oil, I made a post products can help and making them feel comfortable. I on Facebook of some before and after pictures of have five star reviews and you can’t read any bad reviews my braids and people were like ‘oh, well, let me try anywhere and I think it’s because of my customer service. it.’ So I said let me throw a name together- Martice My counseling background helps me to know what to say Hair Oil- and it’s $10, you can cashapp me and I’ll ship it to you or we can meet.” Not shortly afterwards, Martice noticed she was making more money from the hair oil than her 14

GOD IS STILL USING ME IN THAT prayer life and using small groups and having that group of women that you can just talk to. My faith ROLE. HE’S STILL USING ME TO has been restored and renewed and really has helped my business. I know what God has COUNSEL PEOPLE BECAUSE WITH promised me for my business so I’m just able to stay focused on that.” HAIR LOSS, IT’S EMOTIONAL. When Martice was a therapist, she said about 90% to the people and be encouraging so people want to of her in-home clients had been molested or raped shop with me and want to come back. So I’m still by their father, grandfather, step-father or mom’s using my gifts in my business.” boyfriend. She’s seen mothers turn against their daughters after the violation due to jealousy or On the days Martice feels discouraged or the days placing the blame on the child. That left she has low sales, instead of allowing it to keep her traumatizing thoughts that affect how she and her down, she pivots her focus to promoting other husband, Darrell, of six years, raise their two people’s businesses or helping others. Being daughters, ages seven and three. remembered as someone that inspired others to push forward and be encouraged on the tough days “If we are somewhere and there are men around, I are part of the legacy she wants to leave. am so paranoid,” Martice admitted. “It has been so traumatic but I pride myself in giving them lots of Her sister circle consists of diverse groups of women love equally and giving them a life they don’t have who are Team Martice: some are prayer warriors, to recover from. I’m making sure there is no some she can just joke with; some she’s gone trauma on my end. I know I won’t be able to through growing pains with; some she’s met through control their whole lives. When you experience business; some she talks to regularly and some she trauma as a child, it can carry over into adulthood. I doesn’t talk to regularly but they never miss a beat want them to have a stress free, trauma free life as when they do talk. These women hold her much as possible.” accountable. Martice has definitely cemented her own lane in “My biggest fear is not living up to my full potential, the beauty industry and never hesitates to help not living my best life because I didn’t give my all,” others when they have business inquiries. I think Martice shared. “When I think about my highest self it’s safe to say she lives by her original quote: “Show and what she looks like and what she wants, I try to people the God in you. When people meet me, I show up as her everyday. I don’t want to die or be on want them to feel God’s goodness.” * my deathbed living with all of these shoulda woulda couldas. I don’t want to have any regrets and I want Martice's daughters (facebook) to do everything I am called to do.” Faith plays a huge part in Martice’s life. She grew up in church but went because it was the traditional thing to do. She credits being a member of the Church at the Well under Apostle Kia Moore as a real game changer in her life. She’s been able to lead one of the church’s small group classes. Additionally, Apostle Kia Moore is a woman who Martice admires because she is thriving in a male-dominate pastoral space. “When she first opened the doors, I became a member,” Martice said. “With her, I’ve learned so much about trusting God and learning the bible. I’ve been using that to do positive affirmations with bible verses and that has changed my life. I've gained a 15





The Delivered Fighter CRYSTAL BOYCE As the saying goes “hurt people, hurt people” and Crystal is married to Pastor Dr. Reginald S. Boyce, the those hurt people end up lashing out and, most Senior Pastor at Riverside Missionary Baptist Church in times, they are unaware of the reason why. First Memphis and they recently just celebrated their 11th Lady Crystal Boyce grew up fighting anyone for year anniversary. They have four daughters -Trinity, 15; anything and earned the nickname “Bad Chandler” Carrington, 10; Reagan 7; and Raelynn, 2; Crystal came from teachers. (Chandler is her maiden name.) into the relationship as a package deal with Trinity, who Additionally, she damaged things and cursed was one-years-old. people out, too. She said anger was embedded in her. “A lot of people don’t know that we are actually a blended family,” Crystal shared. “I’ll never forget him “The enemy had control over my mind,” Crystal going to build-a-bear and making it talk saying ‘I love shared. “I fought with a box cutter. I fought the you, you are so beautiful, you are my princess.’ She was wrong way. That anger came from the absence of not his but he loved her before he even loved me. That my real father after my parents got a divorce. Back was so amazing to me. They have the best relationship. then, counseling wasn’t the first thing on their They joke and check each other.” mind but what everyone would Crystal never expected to have a say is ‘they’ll be fine’ and that just blended family considering she didn’t wasn’t true. I was young so I don’t have a good experience of it when remember the process of the her mother remarried. Her mother divorce but I do know what it had her and her two brothers and her feels like to have that void.” stepfather came with his two sons and a daughter, too. In one particular fight, Crystal fought another young lady over a “We went through struggles because boy and they both cut each other with a box cutter. Crystal’s cut was we did not know how to operate as a in her head, inches away from her blended family,” Crystal said. “His left temple and her left eye, which children were his children and her could have caused some severe permanent damages. She had to children were her children and that get stitches on her face and head wouldn’t gel. It made me mad that I and has a permanent scar as a reminder of what happened. (facebook) couldn’t have just my two parents in a traditional setup that I saw all of my “A horrible mindset almost took me out,” Crystal admitted. “This is a scar that can't be hidden. It has friends have. Now that we’re older, we love each other. My left a lasting reminder of God's grace. My mindset didn't change until I met my husband, Dr. Boyce. On step-father has apologized to all of his kids and even our second or third date, he threw away every box cutter I had and spoke into my life. Since that day, I apologized to my mother for not always doing what was learned how to talk instead of fight. Has everyday right.” been peachy? Nope. Have I slipped up? Yup. But now I have learned how to cope with my cup. God left me Being slow to anger and quick to listen and a soft answer here for a reason. It is my prayer that through my life turns away wrath are not just parts of bible verses but experiences, I can empower and speak to the guidance that is the premise of one of the best pieces of mindset of ALL women, no matter age, race, or social advice she’s received from her husband. status.” “When a person is hurt, at that moment, you don't matter,” Crystal recalled. “Fix the hurt, then talk. Fixing the hurt can be a simple ‘I'm sorry’ for whatever offense or problem. When I met my husband, he was so different. He was so nice. He just showed me a compassion that I hadn’t 18

The whole family (facebook) “She stands with so much confidence and she doesn’t put on a show because of what the stigma of what a first ever seen before. He helped me find God for myself. lady should look like,” Crystal said. “She loves her family So when we started doing devotions and he started and, here is the best part, like myself, she shares in the praying for me, I went nuts. After the first couple of craft of sewing. She is a seamstress. How dope is that?” times, I wasn’t fully into it, but then after a while, I enjoyed it. It seemed like every time he loved me, Crystal’s business is CSBoyce Designs, where she sews despite my foolishness, that a burden would be and designs various things like t-shirts, jeans, skirts, prom lifted up off me. I would cry. I questioned why I dresses, masks, drawstring bags, bonnets and she is would cry and he would tell me I was releasing my newly into upholstery and blinging out furniture. She hardened heart.” had to put her business on a temporary hold because she caught COVID for 28 consecutive days. Accepting correct love was difficult for Crystal. Her husband helped her out of really dark places. She “I thought I was going to die,” Crystal shared. “I was admitted to having thoughts of suicide and she confined to one room. I was seeing my kids through the allowed Pastor to minister to those dark places. Now window and my little one-year-old, at the time, was you’ll catch her shouting up and down pews in crying out for me because she didn’t understand. It was church because she knows what God has been able hard for Pastor because he still had the church and he to do through her husband and directly within her had to take on all of the responsibilities of the house but own relationship with God. he did it and did it well. We had to sleep separately and being away from him like that was absolutely horrible. “I’ve been through too much not to give God all of Afterwards, I still had complications.” me,\" Crystal said. “I want to leave a legacy based on godly love and fun. I want to empower the “Balancing everything has been extremely difficult. She’s generations to come to be yourself and not what been having to manage the kids in virtual school and someone else wants you to be.” maintaining a peaceful home as her husband is navigating pastoring in the midst of this pandemic. Being in ministry sometimes requires them to be Finding her own personal time has been even more guarded and protective over the things they’re going difficult. They’ve discussed nannies but she battles with through or experiencing and Crystal has her former that because she doesn’t believe they can take care of first Lady Georgia Ann Wiley, Lady Joy Parks and her everything like she does. mother-in-love, Lady Sonja K. Dowell, as outlets she trusts to understand her position and to give great “Until COVID is over, it’s about family and ministry,” sound advice or just a listening ear. Another woman Crystal shared. “My goal is to help women, empower she admires is First Lady Sheretta West because of women, speak to the dark place in women. So we’ll start how she stands with her husband in ministry. a support group for women in church and the unchurched and the people with broken hearts. We can really truly overcome anything. I can’t move forward and leave people behind.”* One of Crystal's designs (facebook) 19



The Bold Perseverer PAMETRIA BROWN Describe who is Pametria. What is the best piece of advice that you've ever received and how did you I am a multifaceted person, so my presence may confuse implement it? some. I can go from psychoeducation to twerking in two seconds and I absolutely love that about myself. I have Don't Stop get it, get it!!! Lol, I legit live my life this been exposed to many religions, cultures, and social way. One of my greatest skills is my ability to economic backgrounds. I am able to relate in many persevere towards my goals. When I get tired or different environments and I am passionate about many overwhelmed, I pause and reset but I never stop. different things. Unlike many entrepreneurs, I am actually That's my super power, I don't stop! not a money-driven person but a passion-driven person. However, it has to make sense and dollars! I don't think I Share a specific story in your life that can fully describe my being in one sitting, so I'll give you was suppose to take you out or that three words: Dope. Black. Woman. detoured your journey of success but it didn't. Where did you get this bold characteristic about yourself from or how was it I was laid off from my job in 2016. I was a therapist developed? at a psychiatric hospital and they had to cut back due to funding. It was the first time I had been Some things are just in you and can't be duplicated or without a job and I was so unsure of myself and my explained. path. I was low and although I was laid off, I felt as if I had been fired due to my performance. I was not What was your childhood experience? confident in my abilities and begin doubting who I (Siblings? Both parents?) was. Instead of rushing back into the workforce, I took some time learning myself and tapping in to I was raised by my mother and step-father. My sister and I the Universe. are what I like to call 2nd generation \"woke\" because my mother exposed us to many cultural experiences and instilled the importance of loving and learning about being culturally, spiritually, and health conscious. I'm also a 2nd generation entrepreneur. My mother set an example of perseverance, hardwork, and community service that was instilled in me at a young age. Name an everyday woman (NOT a family (instagram) member and NOT someone famous) that you admire, even from a distance and explain What advice would you give to others why. who are having doubts about themselves due to a job change/shift? Shahidah Jones is someone I admire. Her willingness to help others even in the midst of her own obstacles is Don't view it as a set back but a set up for admirable. I have witnessed her sacrifice so much in her something better. personal life in order to be an advocate for her community countless times. [side bar: Shahidah is a 2019 #HERoine Legacy Honoree] In ONE sentence, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? I want to be known for the way I encouraged and empowered others towards accomplishing their goals. 21

What are some of the things that stand out How has COVID-19 affected you - about working in a psychiatric hospital? professionally and personally? What stood out the most for working in the child and During the pandemic, I made the decision to go 100% adolescent units, was that we were not talking of being virtual. Although, I love in-person engagement with my proactive about mental health treatment especially in the therapy clients, I did not want to risk my comfortability Black community. or health. Overall, the immense grief, in addition to the increased anxiety and social isolation has had a global impact on the mental health field. My client population shifted so much that I created a guided anxiety journal to better serve my target audience. From a personal perspective, it has not had as much of a primary impact but it has affected the level of care I am able to get for my mother. She suffered a massive stroke in March 2020 and my transition to being a full- time care-giver has been more challenging due to lack of access and delays caused by COVID -19. (instagram) Make up an ORIGINAL quote that you live by or want to live by. (no clichés) How did you get into Mental Health work? Visit your feelings but don't live there. Stop by and So I started off in Social Work and actually had no intention check in with them but don't stay overstay your of doing clinical work. My goal was to impact communities welcome. on a macro level, however, after working for the foster care system for six years, my energy began to shift. There was a What does your tag \"The Empowerment series of events including one of my teenage clients Expert\" mean? intentionally ending his life. I no longer wanted to be a part of that system, so I shifted into mental health and begin I wear many hats and have many roles but I realized working with teens battling emotional and mental illnesses. that empowerment was the foundation for everything Mental health was never my dream but my journey and my that I offered. It was an essential component to my choices have been led by spirit. Always listen to spirit. brand, so I developed a title that covered everything. Why do you think it was so taboo to Black What is your biggest fear in life and why? people about talking to a therapist and why has it been more acceptable today? Being trapped in an elevator, because I am claustrophobic. Metaphorically, I guess it could mean I You have to look at the historical context of our people's have a fear of not growing and moving forward. relationship with the medical field. You also have to consider the role of the Church and how much we enforced Are you dating or in a relationship? laying all our burdens at the altar. So speaking to a therapist or even considering it was almost blasphemous in our I'm a Scorpio so you know we are very private but I will community because you were assumed to be saying that say that I am not married so you know.......slide into my Jesus can not handle your problems. Which is ironic DM, lol! considering the trauma embedded in our DNA from decades of trauma we have experienced as a people. As we What's next for Pametria? have evolved and more Black people have done their own research and gotten involved in the industry, we are slowly I'm focused on perfecting my now, so just marketing starting to trust the idea. The media and celebrities utilizing my current products and services. So many people out their platforms has also played a major role. The more we there who don't own my books yet or who are in need speak and acknowledge our struggles, the more we can of a great therapist or coach. So my goal is being break the stigma. Black Therapists Matter. consistent in my marketing so I can continue to grow. I am definitely taking new therapy clients as well as ghostwriting clients for children's books. Continuing my mental health blog and collaborating with other Black women to increase my reach. * 22



The Discerning Healer MARQUITA DORSEY Tapping into your spiritual gifts is something was wrong when she God because I thought he set me tough for some people to fully went through a trying time during up. I tried to walk back through embrace. We get these “feelings” a brief move to Nashville and the plan like ‘I know I messed up and, sometimes, we internally likewise, her mom knew each that one time but dang, no grace, acknowledge them but then time Marquita was pregnant. She no nothing?’ I was depressed and decide against moving on them. had her first son at 18-years-old, it was dark.” Not Marquita Dorsey. She gets she suffered a miscarriage on the these feelings or guidance from second pregnancy and she had an Through the support of her friends the Holy Spirit and, most times, abortion during her third and listening to gospel music, she she moves swiftly. pregnancy. pulled herself out of the darkness and decided to pack up and move Back in August 2010, Marquita left “I made a choice that I never ever back to Memphis for a fresh start. Memphis and moved back to her thought I’d have to make,” hometown of Shaw, Mississipp Marquita shared. “An abortion was (facebook) (about a two-hour drive) after never a choice for me. I’ve been talking on the phone with her the one to say to others ‘give it up At that time, her 12-year-old niece mother and having a feeling that for adoption.’ Honey, I didn’t have from Dallas had come to something wasn’t right. She a second thought, or a third Mississippi because she had some immediately contacted an aunt to thought; I was like ‘nope, I’m not behavior issues due to her check on her mother and her having this baby.’ My first son’s mother passing away of cancer aunt reported back that she was father is around but the way we’ve and her not taking it well. She taking her to the hospital because had to co-parent, I don’t ever want told Marquita she was moving to she had a stroke only to find out to have to do that again. I need Memphis with her and she later, it had been multiple strokes. my child’s father in the house so agreed. we can do this together. Children (facebook) deserve that.” “I brought my niece out of the trenches,” Marquita said. “That “It’s a gift that I am grateful to Although, she went to a legitimate baby was a wreck when she got have,” Marquita said. “My daddy doctor’s office - Planned here. She was very aggressive, likes to say I make a life out of Parenthood, she compared her very broken, very emotionally knowing people. I’ve picked up abortion experience to the illegal unhealthy and mean. Because of on knowing people and knowing abortion scene from the Tyler how life was, I understood it all. when something is right or Perry movie, “For Colored Girls,” Ultimately, she graduated top of wrong.” saying the doctor was rough, cold her eighth grade class and she and mean to her. The aftermath of also graduated top 20 in her high Apparently, this gift runs in the the abortion took a toll on her family as her father suspected spiritually, mentally and emotionally. “No woman should ever have to experience that,” Marquita said. “No judgment at all but mentally it was tough and, spiritually, it was even tougher. Emotionally, I lost a lot of me in that moment, and it took me years to get me back to the place I’m in now. I was mad at 24

school class. She got baptized and but it allowed her uterus to remain joined New Direction Church; I’m preserved and she retained her proud of that. She became a very reproductive potential. In November different person. I was able to get 2019, right before the COVID-19 her connected to Alliance Health pandemic, she found out the fibroids to help with the behavior and returned. She got sick while on a trip mental health issues. She’s at Lane to Houston and she started praying College now. She thinks I’m a over herself and she felt better superhero.” enough to jump on the plane to get back to Memphis. When she arrived A misconception about Marquita is Marquita and her son (facebook) back, she was admitted to the because she speaks boldly about hospital. She was so weak and had God, that people view her life as She has been intentional on being to have a blood transfusion and an perfect. She doesn’t hesitate to a healthy individual which has iron infusion. In hopes to find relief, admit that she’s done wrong. spilled over into parenting. she did research and the Uterine Marquita grew up in church from Marquita describes her 19-year-old Fibroid Embolization (UFE) the “car seat to driving the car.” son, Taraje, as very smart and procedure from the Memphis Religion makes up her foundation athletic and expressed being Vascular Center popped up on and she said she still holds some of proud of who he is on the inside. Facebook. She got her an those principles such as giving Also, she wants to have another appointment and followed through your tithes to the “storehouse” child but her doctor’s on the UFE procedure. The results (church) as a part of her life. But recommendation for a have been worth it. religion had her thinking she hysterectomy in 2017, after finding would be condemned to hell for growing fibroids attached to her The best piece of advice she’s things, such as not tithing, so she uterus, almost derailed that received came from her father. understands the mentality of dream. people thinking perfection is the “Nothing is as bad as it seems and way. “My doctor came in and said ‘I’m nothing lasts forever,” Marquita 99 percent sure that you’re going recalled. “My father, Daniel But in reality, Marquita has had to to lose your whole womb,’” Shepherd, told me this in my 20s question God about why she’s had Marquita shared. “The look on his and I still use it as a balancing tool to go through hardships. Through face was heartbreaking. I thought when life gets overwhelming.” those moments is when she it had something to do with the uncovered a true relationship with abortion and he assured me one Marquita has an Associate’s Degree God. thing has nothing to do with the in Psychology, Bachelor’s Degree in other. I thought the Lord was Social Justice and Criminology and “I had to take the time to sit down punishing me and I wouldn’t be she serves as a Workplace with God and get back to the able to have any babies. I cried Development Professional. place where we were on good and I was in devastation. My family Marquita’s biggest fear is leaving this terms because I had questions,” has a history of hysterectomies earth without allowing God to show Marquita laughed. “I said ‘you saw from fibroids. I’m still in my child- her full purpose and potential. what was happening to me, why bearing age and I just feel like I’m didn’t you help me? Why did you not giving that up.” “Fear has ruled over half my life,” leave me out there like that? You Marquita admitted. “To think of embarrassed me. You punked me.’ She ended up having a procedure shrinking back in fear and not God allowed me to say what I called a myomectomy, which allowing God to do what was needed to say to Him.” required a full abdominal incision destined for my life would be disrespectful, disappointing and The single mother has been wicked! I want all the smoke. I have talking to God about her desire to survived much so I better see what's be in a strong, healthy relationship. next.”* 25



www.DestinyHouseMemphis.org

The Ambitious Traveler DENISHA THOMAS True to form as an avid traveler, News Director Denisha Thomas has left her professional mark in Arkansas, Ohio, and New York and now has come full circle back to her hometown of Memphis at Local 24 News, where she once applied right after college and never received a call back. Even though Denisha graduated from one of the top journalism programs - University of Missouri- Columbia - she got her first job in Jonesboro, Arkansas making $19,000 a year producing the 6PM and 10PM news cast. She had supportive parents who continued helping her financially as she gained real world experience. After leaving there, she came back to Memphis and worked as a producer at WMC Channel 5 News. “My boss at the time thought I didn’t have enough experience to be in this market,” Denisha said. “She thought that I needed at least a couple of more years and she was taking a chance on bringing me here. By the time I left Memphis, I had the most watched newscast in the market. I never got the accolades, the praise, the affection that I thought I would have gotten from my news director.” (facebook) Denisha desired feedback and acknowledgement and when she didn’t get it, she questioned if she should remain in the news industry. In college, she already had a desire to be a Marriage Counselor and thought about going to graduate school to get her Masters in it but her parents helped nudge her to stay focused on journalism. Denisha continued to produce great work but was made to believe that the legacy of the show was why she was successful. During a speaking engagement at her high school alma mater, Overton High, God began speaking to her. \"He said the reason why I’m taking you through this journey is because you are opening doors for people who look just like you,” Denisha recalled. “Remember when you were growing up and you didn’t see anybody who looked like you in those positions. Heck, you didn’t even know people who looked like you even existed behind the scenes. I’m doing something in you. Trust the process.” She got recruited by a station in Cleveland and was there for under two years and then left to be an executive producer at a news station in Buffalo, New York and then moved back to Cleveland to be near her boyfriend, Scott Penny, who has been supportive of her career aspirations even if it meant their relationship switching to long- distance. During this time, one of Denisha’s mentors inquired about her future plans. She shared that she wanted to get married, have children and had a desire to live within six hours of her family in Memphis. A week later, her mentor called back with the information about the open news director position in Memphis and advised her to apply. With doubt lingering in the back of her mind, Denisha reluctantly applied. “From the first conversation that I had with my general manager, it was like magic that we were supposed to be working together,” Denisha said. “I remember telling him, ‘look I don’t say this to a lot of people but even if this doesn’t work out, I still want you in my life.’ There is just something about him. He’s the kind of leader that I want to be because he seemed to be really vested in the development and the growth of his team. And that is the desires of my heart when it comes to being a leader of a newsroom. When I left Memphis five years ago, I said that I was not coming back unless I was a news director.” 28

Within three weeks, Denisha was offered the position as the first Black woman News Director for Local 24 News. She rocks her natural hair and loves how the parent company, Tegna Inc., who owns her station is making efforts into looking at if these preset standards of beauty actually reflect the diverse audience they serve. Denisha’s leadership style is collaborative. She credits her high school AP history teacher Ms. Connie Covington with this quote “I know enough to know that I know nothing at all” which reminds her that she doesn’t know everything. “I don’t have all of the ideas,” Denisha stated. “Yes, I will make the ultimate call when it needs to be made but I’m not a dictator by any means. I believe that everything is an evolution. So like right now I’m rolling out some new processes but I’m always asking my team for feedback. I don’t believe that just because I said it means that’s the only way we can ever do it. I try to be as upfront and honest as possible and try to include my team in the decision process.” With the heckiness of a news station, Denisha said she is usually calm in the middle of the chaos. A co-worker gifted her with a cross that she keeps on her work desk that she grabs when she feels her stress level increasing. She goes to therapy to have that safe space to release and to remind her that she works in television as a messenger and that she isn’t in the business of hurting anyone. “I think people assume that when I don't get riled up when all heck is breaking loose that I'm not invested in the process,” Denisha said. “It's honestly because I know that I won't be able to think straight and really assess the situation if I let my emotions get the best of me.” An everyday woman whom she admires is the executive vice-president of news for CBS News, Kim Godwin- Manning because she has been able to garner success in executive roles that are dominated by white men and, seemingly, has balanced having a career and a family. HECK, YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW (facebook) PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE YOU EVEN Denisha takes Buffalo, New York (facebook) EXISTED BEHIND THE SCENES. I’M DOING SOMETHING IN YOU. TRUST THE PROCESS.” Denisha finds remnants of balance during her stateside travels to places like Atlanta, Las Vegas, DC, Baltimore, Chicago and her international travels to Mexico, the Dominican Republican, and Toronto. COVID has halted traveling for everyone but Denisha can’t wait to plan her next trip. Denisha wants her legacy to show that she gave her all and was able to help others along the way, all while giving God the glory. Her biggest fear is not fulfilling her God- given purpose. “It's my biggest fear because of my strong belief that God has put me on this Earth for a reason,” Denisha shared. “I don't want to disappoint Him and keep others from receiving what He has for them through me.” * 29

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The Community Coach KIMBERLY BASS When we say representation matters, it matters. important things and sits aside everything else as she Super Mompreneur Kimberly Bass’ life has been goes along. However, she doesn’t know what to do with heavily influenced by the life of Ms. Betty Williams, herself if she isn’t busy. her former baton twirling coach from the Whitehaven Community Center. She found refuge One thing that she has made time for is engaging in in the community center from five-years-old until delicate, yet serious conversations with her 10-year-old around 16-years-old and even spilled over into her son about how to act around the police and how society getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management views Black boys and men by role playing and sharing with a focus in Park & Recreation. Kim observed the real life news stories with him. His father, her fiance many hats Mrs. Betty Williams wore outside of her Darius, has those same discussions with him about it, day job as a history teacher and that fueled her. too. “She practically helped raise me,” Kim said. “I stayed “I do everything necessary to make sure that I give the in the community center every day of the week. I experience to my children that I’m a big superhero,” Kim always looked up to her. I watched the way she declared. “I’m not saving the world, but I’m saving their moved. She taught us facts about life. She taught us world. I’m preventing them from the problems that I’ve how to be a graceful young lady. I just saw seen out in the world. I try to show them, tell them and something different with her. She just always stood prepare them so when they see that same pattern, out in the back of my head as I go on this journey of guess what, they know their mama already told them being an impactful entrepreneur that loves to teach about it.” people.” Kim lived in Atlanta for seven years but moved back to Memphis with her oldest son and had to live with her parents for a stint. When she made the decision to get a house, the realtor pulled her credit and realized she had a decent credit score with no credit; the realtor told her that was pretty much the same thing as having bad credit. Kim had to go back to the drawing board of saving money and researching how to fix her credit. Then an opportunity came up for her to do financial consulting and she accepted it. Now as the CEO of Bass Financial Suite, Kim desires to help people build their credit and build generational wealth. “I’ll teach you the game, you just got to be ready to Kim receive it and stick with it,” Kim stated. “You’re going to get results but that’s only if your mindset is right. I DO EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO I’m really really big on mindset. If your mindset ain’t MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE THE right, anything that you wanna do ain’t going to be done. Everything after that is easy; your mind is the EXPERIENCE TO MY CHILDREN THAT most difficult thing to change.” I’M A BIG SUPERHERO. I’M NOT The mother of two sons - Jaylon, age 10 and Amare, SAVING THE WORLD, BUT I’M SAVING age 3 - admitted she doesn’t balance all that she THEIR WORLD. has going on, if anything she prioritizes the 32

One thing Kim didn’t know about in high The self-proclaimed Marvelous Mom found her tribe school was how to fully play basketball but of mothers who are extraordinary and who, what once she got over the heartbreak of not she calls, “do the most” and who lean on each other making her high school’s majorette squad, she for support. decided to join Hillcrest High’s basketball The Marvelous Mom Lounge is a private group for team and track team. As the only girl in her mothers who come together to express themselves family growing up amongst her boy cousins, while creating financial freedom for themselves and they taught her how to shoot the basketball. their children. The group discusses credit and So that and her height gave her some money management, children savings challenges, advantages in being embraced on the creating a money mindset, creating quarterly vision basketball team. The basketball coach had to boards and more. teach her all of the other basics and fundamentals of basketball. She was (facebook) successful enough to play college basketball at West Georgia University. “We are the glue to every puzzle in life,” Kim stated. “You gotta have a real support group and that real “We always fall back into not thinking we can’t accountability partner that says ‘you’re two steps from do something,” Kim said. “I just believe you getting it done and you want to stop now? No, let’s get have to defeat your fears in your mind first. it done.’ You need that accountability partner to push When I feel that I doubt myself, I write down you and not agree with you.” what the problem is. I overcome the fear when The best piece of advice Kim has received was no I write it down because when it’s time to matter what you do in life make sure you're happy actually face my fear, I’ve already looked at it with your choices and do it with love and hard work. over and over again. I solve the problem on Kim is working toward her vision of opening a paper. This is something I practice everyday community center and opening some luxury and I instill into my oldest son and speak it to apartments and townhomes. Also, she desires for the my youngest son.” Marvelous Mom Group to branch off into different cities across the United States. From baton twirling to playing high school Kim’s motto is: Passion, love and hardwork will always and college basketball to coaching middle win!* school track, Kim gives the best of both worlds in being a tomboy mom and being girly mom whenever the moment calls for it. Kim and her sons (facebook) 33





The Hilarious Showstopper ANAISHA ROBINSON Wanting to be physically seen in her glitz and glam and performing standup, she won the $25 prize. She receiving energy back from the audience as she shares started getting booked for shows locally and out of her jokes are very important to comedienne Anaisha town. She partnered up with two comedy friends, “Tootie2Times” Robinson. She started off in radio as the Basial Basial and Azizah Bashirah, and headed to co-host of a morning show which helped build up her the West Coast to expand her audience and confidence when she made the switch to comedy. But network. her desire to be in front of an audience kept growing. When she got the chance, she wanted to help eliminate “I made a vow to myself that anything I made from reasons, such as a need for a babysitter, for family and comedy, I’m saving this shit up and I’m going to LA.,” friends to not attend. Anaisha is the first person in her Anaisha said. “Now, I ain’t saying that I made it to LA family to get into comedy and she wrote and recorded from the lil money I made from comedy because I her sold out LIVE comedy special “Pepper Tree Tea.” She started paying bills with that shit but I went to LA even secured professional daycare services for the and it was beautiful. I met a lot of people. We went children of her friends and family. to the J Spot and we rocked it; we “I always had dreams as a killed it. After that day, everybody kid to be on a stage in a wanted to sit by us; we were the pretty dress sparkling and cool people from Memphis.” shining like how I be, but I thought I was going to (facebook) One of the things that Anaisha said be Whitney Houston,” she is misunderstood about is her Anaisha shared. “I use to intentions. She said her upbringing sing when I was little. I has a huge influence on how she didn’t know that dream views life so subjects or situations that I was having when I other people think are off-limits; she was sleep as a kid was me may take an aspect of it and speak being Tootie2Times.” on it and people have been offended. She’s been in Facebook Tootie was already a (facebook) jail several times for things she has nickname her family posted about and even had to just called her but one of her create a whole new page after so long. cousins decided to add “TwoTimes” like the rapper Gucci Mane’s song “Gucci Two Times.” Anaisha, being Her most infamous skit was playing Sherra Wright, the her naturally funny self, started getting attention from ex-wife and convicted killer of hometown beloved and local comics on social media suggesting that she do NBA player Lorenzen Wright, in a courtroom scene in comedy. Her LIVE Facebook videos and daily statuses a wheelchair and she had to do nonverbal comedy. always made people laugh. She said she reached out Everyone watched the trials so there were already lots to local comedienne Beverly Hoover, who put her in of social media commentary on Sherra’s facial touch with comedienne LaToya Tennille (a 2017 expressions and body language in the courtroom. I #HERoineLegacy honoree, too), the creator of the LOL saw this show firsthand and the entire building was in Memphis Comedy Troupe, which she joined. tears laughing at the reenactment. She started off in Improv but she really wanted to get Anaisha’s mother moved her and her two older into standup so she accepted an invite from comedian brothers to Memphis from Little Rock, Arkansas when Rob Love to his weekly open mic event at Mugshots. she was about eight-years-old. Anaisha has publicly She came out and, although, it was her first time documented on social media about the rocky 36

moments in her relationship with her mother but Anaisha recalled talking to herself. “I said ‘who the fuck is they’re currently working on bettering it. we? Don’t put that crackhead ass shit on me.’ I was just walking around on autopilot. By the grace of God, I was 29 “My mama has an alcohol problem,” Anaisha and I said I’m not finna go into 30 with all of this bullshit. admitted. “She’s a functioning alcoholic. She’s been My birthday is October 7, and I stopped on October 1. I drinking for all of my life and listening to her tell stopped drinking Budweisers and I left them damn stories, shit, sounds like she’s been drinking all her crackhead ass pills alone. I ain’t want no Tylenol, no Advil, life. And to be honest, me personally, I’ve been no BC, no nothing. I got into natural medicines.” drinking damn near all of my life. I started at five; we stayed in Arkansas and the water was cut off. Wasn’t While Anaisha was in Cosmetology school, she went to a nothing in the refrigerator but beers and Crown strip club and realized this was a way for her to make Royal. You’re thirsty, what are you going to do?” quick money for her kids if she needed. She said she wasn’t afraid to strip and she mostly booked private parties because she didn’t agree with the industry standard of giving the club owners a portion of your earnings each night. She sold drugs before, too. She’s had a brief stint in jail for disorderly conduct - cursing out the police, in which she creatively used her mug shot on t- shirts that says “book me” like the police booked her. (facebook) Anaisha used her mugshot for marketing (facebook) Anaisha has four kids (three sons and one daughter) \"I have hit rock bottom several times,” Anaisha said. “From of her own ages 15, 13, 10, and 7; she would have had student loans taking my taxes twice. From losing three an 18-year-old but she lost that baby in high school cars in car accidents that weren’t my fault. Each time I due to stress. A woman she admires from a distance remained humbled and got back up, secured my bag and is Ashley Taylor, who is a mother of seven and has a kept moving forward for the sake of my kids and my lot of confidence much like her. Performing comedy sanity.” and working at a hotel has ensured that her kids don’t have to experience water being turned off. She Anaisha is working on a new comedy special and still has a saying that she’s penned “ThisForTheBabyHoe,” booking comedy shows - virtual and in-person. She’s which signifies what she does is for her kids but she gotten into holistic healing and wants to open a holistic said the “baby” could be anyone for you - a parent, a healing center. When the COVID-19 pandemic first caused significant other, your pet, or what or whomever you the cancellation of some of her comedy shows, Anaisha take care of. She admitted these days her new “baby” received a certification in Life Coaching and is a level one is her mother and getting her the help she needs for Reiki practitioner, which is a form of alternative therapy her alcoholism. commonly referred to as energy healing. As of January 2021, Anaisha stopped smoking “I want to be remembered for everything I do,” Anaisha marijuana. From her junior year of high school up declared about the legacy she wants to leave, “and I will!”* until she was 29-years-old, Anaisha said she was an habitual pill popper; she’s now 34-years-old. Her last experience with ecstasy pills scared her because she said she felt high for a week straight. “I seen my soul come up out of my body and went to the corner like ‘damn, we high as hell, ain’t it?’” 37



REFLECTIVE PRAYER By: Pastor LaKisha Johnson preacher - author - blogger Dear God, As I petition your throne of grace and mercy, asking you to incline your ears to the prayer of your daughter, I Thank You. Thank You for the vision of the HERoine Legacy and the visionary, TJ Jefferson. Father, I ask You to continually bless it and her with the provisions, people and protection she needs to continue the assignment. Then Father, Thank You for the woman reading this prayer. Thank You for the woman who is destined to be a HERoine, but society, situations, sufferings, scars, scares and self keeps her stagnant. Thank you for allowing her to open this magazine because today shall be the day she takes back her power and her name. Through this magazine and the determination of TJ, I came to declare by the power and authority of a living God, freedom to every woman who just landed on this page. The bold woman, even though she may not feel like it. The strong woman even though she’s faced some struggles this year. The thinker woman who sometimes thinks herself out of purpose. The builder woman who gets tired but keeps swinging the hammer. The crafting woman whose creativity hasn’t even begin to peak. The odds stacked against her woman who continually shows up, minute after minute, defying the odds. The I’ve failed woman, but she tries again. The loud mouth woman whose voice God is about to use to shift what others thought was normal. The sickness and disease fighting woman who does so with grace and a smile. The grieving woman who’s still being strong for everybody else. The entrepreneur woman who is tired but presses on to leave a legacy for her family. The ministry woman who is unapologetic about her anointing and no longer explaining to folk with limited capacity to see her worth. The determined woman who has affirmations posted throughout her house yet there’s a still a small part that doubts. The I-may-be-down-right-now-woman who shall find her place again. The abused woman who hasn’t forgiven herself yet. The childless woman who doesn’t think her womb will be open. The homeless, car-less and hopeless woman who’s questioned whether society will be better off without her. The single woman whose been praying for a husband. The woman whose marriage needs refreshing. Father, I even pray for the woman whose life is good and golden. The woman who’s exceeding every goal. The woman who broke barriers and destroyed walls. The history-making woman. The life of the party woman. The go-getter woman. The woman in whatever space you’re currently in, I’m praying for you. 39

REFLECTIVE PRAYER By: Pastor LaKisha Johnson preacher - author - blogger Father, I pray for this woman asking you to regulate her mind, renew her spirit, increase her joy, restore to her whatever has been taken or lost, redeem her, provide for her, protect her and heal her. I pray you give her strength to stand in the midst of difficulty. I pray you’ll remove every distraction, detour, demonic force and disastrous relationship that keeps her from getting to destiny. Father, I pray against premature birth of physical and spiritual. I pray against low self-esteem, fear and anxiety. I pray against jumping on the bandwagon of comfortability and instead, she’ll find her place of individuality, purpose and place even if it means walking alone. I pray against fighting for a seat at an unwelcoming table and ask you to provide the woods, nails and instructions to build her own. Father God, I pray for this woman peace. I pray she’ll find happiness again. I pray she’ll love again. I pray she’ll try again. I pray she’ll get up again. Father, I pray for wombs to be opened, addictions to be broken, dreams manifested, abuse to end, love found, and sickness healed, businesses to flourish and fear abolished, doors of destiny to be opened and yokes destroyed. Father, I pray your will is done in this woman’s life so that she glorifies you. May she see miracles and testimonies, this year. May she meet and/or exceed every goal. May the favor of Heaven hit her house immediately. May she walk in alignment with who you’ve ordained. I pray Father, by your might, this woman will find her voice to declare: I am a HERoine! A woman who is admired, one who is idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Father, may this woman no longer know what lack feels like because she began to drink from the cup of her Father's whose resources never end. Father, may this woman hear your voice. Father, may this woman’s eyes be opened to see clear the direction you have for her life and if she has to change directions, guide her. Father, close the mouth of complaining and give new vocabulary. Father, for this woman I pray her language changes to decreeing and believing. May the work of this HERoine be etched into history. May this woman be blessed because she believes the promises of you. From this moment on, may she be called HERoine, bold, strong, willing and encouraged. Father, this I pray. Amen. Pastor LaKisha is one of our inaugural 2016 #HERoineLegacy Honorees. 40



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