showcase magazine march 2013 edition (scmzine publication)

1 SCMzine SHOWCASE Magazine Premiere Edition

SHOWCASE MAGAZINE

LACEY C.CLARK award-winning SPEAKER AUTHOR LIFE COACH FILMMAKER ~~~~~~ MAGAZINE

FOCUS: the PROGRESSIVE BLACK WOMEN

SCMzine 2013 PREMIERE EDITION


6 Stylist & Fashion Designer................ Tawni Haynes

10 Sweet Nature ................................. Eddie Simpson

14 Theophani Style.............................. Tifini Lewis

24 ABH Projects ................................. Akissi Brooks-Hill

27 Healthy Eating................................ Author Sharon Fox

12 WELLNESS: Healthier Happy New Year ...... Delayna Keller-Watkins

22 Poetry Corner: The Crush ..................... Melisha Anderson-Ruiz

29 Relationship Status ............................. Denyce Gartrell

Cover Feature

Sisters' Sanctuary LLC. Lacey C. Clark....18


MAGAZINE FOCUS: Celebrating Progressive Black Women

Featured Women Business Owners

SHOWCASE Magazine will focus solely on these six powerful women with their own individual mis-

sion (fashion, beauty, community, wellness, healthy eating) and much more. I hope you are inspired in

doing the work gifted especially for YOU… Denise Bethune/Publisher

Featured Authors (Inspire & Empower)

[email protected]

18 6 10

14 24 27

mailto:[email protected]


My goal is to restore class and ele-

gance to the fashion industry! Sleek,

straight lines, bold prints, and elegant,

form-fitted designs are just a few

ways to characterize the unique tech-

nique of stylist and fashion designer,

Tawni Haynes. Tawni is well known

around DFW as an up and coming

fashion forward retailer and custom

apparel artist with a vivid sense of

classy sophistication far beyond her 30 years of age. What originally

began as a love for the trendiest ladies shoes, handbags, and accesso-

ries has blossomed almost overnight into a full-scale fashion design

business.

Tawni is joint owner and operator of ICONYQ Apparel Boutique,

located in Cedar Hill, Texas. What appears from the outside as a local,

run of the mill establishment on the historic city square, sets itself apart

as soon as you peer through the front doors as the ever-changing, win-

dow displays featuring her custom creations. Tawni takes pride in

transforming hundreds of clients from ordinary to runway ready for

events ranging from a Sunday church service to national television

appearances. She is especially recognized for her gift of making any

woman look and feel absolutely stunning, regardless of body shape or

size. “My clients are real women with curves and it’s important that every

garment I design and sell make them feel like the most beautiful

woman in the room- whether they are a size 8 or 18.” “The differ-

ence you will find in one of my hand-crafted garments is meticulous

effort and an end product that suits each client’s body type.”

The Fall/Winter line, which debuts this June, is said to display the very

essence of Tawni’s signature style, featuring inimitable concepts and

fabrication. As Tawni continues to advance her career in the Fashion

Design industry, she continues to set the latest in industry trends and

construction methods to guarantee that her product and service offer-

ings are leading edge and remarkably chic.

.

It’s not about supplication, it’s about power. It’s not about asking, it’s

about demanding. It’s not about convincing those who are currently in

power, it’s about changing the very face of power itself. -

Kimberle Williams Crenshaw

Fashion Designer & Owner of Iconyq Apparel Boutique Cedar Hill, Texas


Sisters4Sisters, Inc. a 501© (3) National non-profit, community based organization dedicated to the Em-powerment of Women & Girls in Mind, Body and Spirit through Enlightening Workshops on Personal and Professional development and training along with Engaging community outreach in the areas of Domestic Violence, HIV-AIDS, Homelessness, Women's Health and Mentoring Young Girls and Tweens. We invite you to join our Online Experience Rich with Resources and Tools to Enhance, Enrich & Enlighten your Life Journey. Sisters4Sisters, Inc. is committed to providing a Safe, Sacred Space for Sisters to Share, Suc-ceed & Soar! Carolyn-White Washington Executive Director sisters4sisters.com

“ Her Crown Is Her COVERING ”


From the first, I made my learning, what little it was, useful every way I could. - Mary McLeod Bethune


* Did you know your shampoo and conditioner can literally

make or break your hair, especially if they contain Sodium

Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulphate

(SLES), which can strip the hair, causing it to be dry and

brittle and eventually break-off.

* These harsh ingredients are detergents used in floor

cleaning products, are found in engines and are used in

laboratories as skin irritants in order to test soothing prod-

ucts. Several studies have underlined the harmful effects

of their use: urinary infections, kidney and bladder infec-

tions, fertility problems, irritation to the eyes, skin and

scalp, allergic reactions, lesions of the scalp and hair loss.

Certain studies have asserted that SLS and SLES are car-

cinogenic.

There are many shampoos on the market that have re-

moved sulfates, but don't provide sufficient moisture to al-

low the hair to feel clean yet hydrated. Sweet Nature by

Eddie's "Inspiration" moisturizing shampoo AND "Love" silk

amino protein and peppermint infused conditioner contains

a mixture of oils and raw honey that leaves the hair feeling

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When your hair starts off moisturized, you don't need to

use as much product on your hair!

* Sweet Nature is made with moisturizing butters, natural

carrier oils, and herbs that have been proven to treat psori-

asis, alopecia, acute dermatitis, and dandruff, as well as

block DHT and nourish the scalp, promoting stronger, long-

er, healthier hair.

GIVING you the hair

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care products are

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Sweet Nature by Eddie Healthy hair care products are made with

the finest African Butters, Natural Oils, and Herbs that will give

your hair the nourishment, moisture, and protein it needs to

flourish beyond your wildest dreams.

Sweet Nature is made with moisturizing butters, natural carrier

oils, and herbs that have been proven to treat psoriasis, alopecia,

acute dermatitis, and dandruff, as well as block DHT and nourish

the scalp, promoting stronger, longer, healthier hair. Giving you

the hair you have always dreamed of!

**For relaxed and natural Hair**

Natural hair care products formulated to aid in growth for Afri-

can American Hair!

Best Shampoo & Conditioner Treatment For Healthier Hair


BEFORE/AFTER RESULTS


Each year people around the world resolve

to take better care of their health. They often

make blanket statements like “this year I

resolve to eat better.” Unfortunately, such

broad resolutions are difficult to keep.

They’re not specific enough to follow

through on. Instead of making resolutions

without a SOLID plan, focus on specific

lifestyle changes that will support the goal.

Here are just 7 changes you could implement

this week:

#1 Stop drinking soda and sugary

drinks

So many people around the world drink their

calories. This sugar is hard on your health. It

adds unnecessary weight and it affects blood

sugar levels. Resolve to eliminate soda and

sugary drinks from your diet. You may elim-

inate several hundred calories a day from

this simple adjustment.

#2 Eat fruits and vegetables with

every meal and snack

If you add a fruit or a vegetable to every

meal and snack, you’re much closer to meet-

ing your daily requirement. It’s not as diffi-

cult as you might think. You can have fruits

or veggies for your snacks. Add an apple or

berries to your breakfast. A smoothie can

have as many as three servings of fruit or

vegetables. Add greens to lunch and dinner

and you’re well on your way to getting the

nutrients your body needs each day.

#3 Try a new fruit or vegetable each month

Scientists have found that people who eat a

variety of fruits and vegetables are healthier.

Many people become stuck in a rut with

their fruits and vegetables. When you add a

new one to your diet each month, you’re

broadening your nutritional horizons.

#4 Switch to whole grain bread

Swap your white bread for whole grain

bread. This is an easy change to make and

it’ll add more healthy whole grains to your

diet. You can amplify this whole grain

change and switch to steel cut oats and

brown rice instead of instant oatmeal and

white rice. Small changes make a big differ-

ence.

#5 Eat fewer sweets

If you’re like many people you probably

have several sugary snacks each day. Re-

solve to cut back. That may begin by track-

ing how many snacks you normally eat each

day. Cut back to one snack each day or one

sugary snack each week.

#6 Drink a glass of green tea each day

Green tea has been shown to provide fantas-

tic health benefits. Add a glass of green tea

to your day. Drink it in the morning or have

a glass in the afternoon. If you’re sensitive to

caffeine then don’t drink it in the evening.

Green tea does have a small amount of caf-

feine.

#7 Stop eating in the evenings

People often make poor eating decisions in

the evening. Drink a glass of water. Find

something interesting to do to distract your-

self. If you must eat due to hunger, then eat

something high in fiber like a banana or

whole grain cereal.

As you’re looking forward to your New

Year and contemplating living a healthier

lifestyle, be specific. Help yourself achieve

success by setting specific goals designed

with a plan to help you lose weight and get

healthier.

Healthier Happy New Year Delayna Keller-Watkins

Registered Nurse/Wellness Educator

Delayna Keller-Watkins is a

global and award winning Reg-

istered Nurse and Certified

Wellness Coach in the areas of

self-care and personal wellness.

For over 2 decades Delayna has

been serving wellness seeking

women and young girls

through her seminars, products

and programs. She is an author,

motivational speaker, and

founder of Delayna Keller Wat-

kins, Inc. and Healthy Soul,

LLC a lifestyle company de-

signed to help women achieve

optimal health and wellness

through the integration of mind,

body and spirit. Since pursuing

her passion, she has been fea-

tured in the Women’s Journal

Magazine and appeared as a

Women’s Self-Care expert on

several Internet Radio Shows

and Local Public Television.

Delayna has provided seminars

or presentations for companies

such as Kinetic Concepts, Inc.

(KCI), Dimensions Healthcare,

Sisters4Sisters, Inc., Prince

Georges County Public Schools,

Kennedy Foundation, Inc., Sis-

ters Network, Akoma Project,

Blue Cross and Blue Shield,

Georgetown University, and

others.


15 yrs ago, my world was shattered in a way that I couldn’t ever image. When something happens to you that causes you to breakdown and cry until you can’t even take another breath….it’s very trau-matizing. It’s seemed like I totally lost myself in an out of body, out on mind kind of experience. I panicked, but quick-ly took action with everything that I had. Franticly, I approached every avenue and available resource that I had, to no avail. Each reply, be it via face to face,

telephone or mailed correspondences were all to me simply ….. REJECTIONS. That was back in 1996. I quickly redi-rected my energies and focused as I’ve always done, on my children any my mini empire. Having to live under the radar was not new to me, just very differ-ent this time. So again, I put back on my happy face and continued to live my life and enjoy. I was loving, educating, work-ing, building and fighting every step of the way. Cruise control was set on auto-matic and high impact and I felt like a force to be reckoned with. Developing systems for me and mine and sticking with it was a piece of cake until October 2010………I can assure you this, the third time around is not always a charm! My story will take not most of you, but ALL of you by surprise……for it surely did me AGAIN

I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it’s half

because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of

people who cared enough to help me.” - Althea Gibson

I AM THE ANCESTOR: BEFORE I DIE..I MUST SHARE MY STORY

Searching for her Legacy..S. Monique Smith

2X WNBA Champion “You Will Win If You Don’t Quit”

Is a step-by-step guide that teaches readers how to map out a plan for achieving their

dreams and empowers them to overcome any obstacle in the

process. This single mother of four shares her powerful story of inspiration and encourage-ment. It is a must read for anyone who has big dreams and even bigger outcomes to

overcome..


Honestly, I really avoid corny and cli-

ché. I don’t like jumping on the fancy

slogan bandwagon that fly around these

times of the seasons. I just want to con-

centrate on truth, and integrity because,

it’s just supposed to be. I am not filling

my social media pages with repeats of

the same thing being said in different

ways. It’s a new year for goodness

sake, so I really want to be new. Nope,

no resolutions, no promises to myself

and others that I will fulfill something

astronomically hard to obtain. I worked

very hard last year on loosing myself

from associations that didn’t add to my

life positively. I actually struggled like a

dog if I may be honest. Working on the

TheophaniStyle brand, maintaining my

home and my family, showing up when

I felt I didn’t have anything to offer to

opportunities that presented themselves.

I dodged bullets of hatred and antago-

nism. Many times I wanted to cower,

and hide. I mean, all I wanted to do was

make a little difference in the world, one

color and one curl at a time. Not sure

why it had to be so hard.

Beauty Expert Fashion Expert Art & Culture Blogger

Goodness It’s a New Year Tifini Lewis


Q: IN LIFE THERE ARE QUOTES AND OR

WRITTEN WISDOM FROM ONE SOURCE OR

AN OTHER., TIFINI HOW ARE YOU IN-

SPIRED?

A: "Being confident of

this very thing, that he

which hath begun a

good work in you will

perform it until the day

of Jesus

Christ:" (Philippians

1:6) Often throughout

my life, when pressed

with hardships, failures and disappointments,

this was the one quote that ALWAYS let me

know that none of those things counted me

out of anything, because a good work not

only has begun in me, but the good work will

come to fruition and be completed. What a

promise, and I daily choose to believe it in

every circumstance:)

"Do it afraid", which is my own quote. My

oldest son used to be afraid to go in the base-

ment of my house. He needed to get some-

thing out of the basement that was important

to him, but he was paralyzed with fear. I told

him that being afraid wasn't the problem, it's

a natural emotion. but letting the fear stop

him from getting what belongs to him. I too,

have experienced fear in the face of the un-

known, and having to obtain something that

was rightfully mine. I chose to pursue my

dreams and passions without having any clue

as to what it entailed. I chose discomfort of

challenging myself towards something new,

rather than staying complacent with the fa-

miliar. You are featuring me know because I

"did it afraid". Look at all the things that

came along with the little gently nudge from

the inside and outside telling me to do it re-

gardless to what I felt:) Tifini Lewis

Q: MESSAGE TO ALL YOUNG LADIES! YOU MAT-

TER! YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE IM-

PORTANT! YOU ARE SOMEBODY! YOU ARE

THE FUTURE!

A: Don't allow

yourself to be lim-

ited by anyone's

labels! Do not

compare your-

selves to the wom-

en on TV, maga-

zines or models on

the runway and

tear yourselves

down. Do not idol-

ize women on

reality TV shows and start believing you lack

beauty because you don't have the television

fame. None of them have perfect lives. Take

Evelyn Lozada from Basketball Wives for

example, very pretty woman. Nice clothes,

shoes and all of the above. Yet, she too expe-

rienced a downfall with love.

Do not think just because you are not attrac-

tive to the “lil Wayne's” of your age group

that you are missing out. Even Lil Wayne got

one of the prettiest girls on TV “Lauryn Lon-

don” pregnant the same time he had R&B

singer “Nivea” pregnant. Lets not forget

about the situation with Chris Brown and

Rhiana, she too another very beautiful and

talented young woman experienced a bad

situation with love. The moral of this mes-

sage is NOT to down talk any of them but to

UPLIFT each of you young ladies, while

helping you realize NO one is exempt from

growing pains! It is all part of experience,

which allows us to make things right when

they are wrong and easy when they are hard!

BE the BEST BEAUTIFUL YOU and love

yourself for who you are! How you look,

what your talents are and what you are capa-

ble of! BE YOU! Get to know who you are!

Get to understand who you are! Accept who

you are and LOVE who you are! Do this and

you will never allow yourself to be limited by

anyones labels because you will know that

you are so much more Akissi Brooks-Hill

Q: What ONE thing would I say should

push a woman out there to launch/start

her own business?

A: PASSION!

When you truly

have a passion for

what you do, that

alone should give

you the faith to

jump out there.

When people "love"

what they do, they

still get nervous about taking it to the next

level. But when there is a true passion for

it...nothing can stop them!! I say find your

true passion and take it from there. Author

Sharon Fox

WOMEN 2 WOMEN: Her Message


"If you be-

lieve with in

your heart

you'll know,

that no one

can change

the path that

you must

go... Believe

in yourself

right from

the start,

you'll have

courage and

you'll have a

heart...."

“Believe in

yourself but

go where you

are celebrat-

ed not just

tolerated.

Find people

who will sup-

port you and

want to see

you succeed

and do well.

Focus on

your celebra-

tors and not

your haters.”


Lacey C. Clark our feature progressive black woman’s bio,

impressive for sure. Her profession career working with some

of the best in the industry at all levels has to be commended. I

choose Lacey as our feature not because of her accolades, but

more so for her commitment in being a leader amongst her

peers. Her ultimate goal inspiration for our young women in

these times of Reality TV, Lacey gives other options for long-

term success.

Speaker, Author and Life Coach is the CEO of Sisters' Sanc-

tuary LLC. She is an award-winning expert in solving the com-

munications challenges that exist between younger and older

generations of women of color. She has created the Self-Love

Day Monthly Observance (13th), The Self-Love Celebration

Series for female youth of the Hip-Hop Generation, The Sisters'

Sanctuary TM Inner Beau-Tea Parties, the workbook/journal

Celebrate HER Now!, and the The Phenomenally U Summits for

young women of Reality TV Era.

She has shared stages and platforms with Grammy© award-

winning artist/actress and humanitarian Jill Scott; actor/author

Hill Harper, poet/activist/author Dr. Sonia Sanchez; motivational

speaker/author Les Brown; and psychologist Dr. Robin Smith of

the Oprah Show just to name a Lacey C. Clark! is a contributing

writer to the Philadelphia Weekly and monthly columnist for

rolling out. She is the author of the forthcoming book series, The

Phenomenal Philes.

Lacey! is dedicated to inspiring young women to live

healthy lifestyles in the Reality TV era. With mantra's like

"Because I am sacred", "Celebrate HER Now!" and Cr8 Ur Own

Reality," Lacey C. Clark! is an award-winning Speaker, Author,

Life Coach and expert in solving the communications challenges

between younger and older women of color. She is the CEO and

Visionary behind Sisters’ Sanctuary, a holistic empowerment

company for women and teen girls that was inspired by the harm-

ful effects of media. Her insights heal wounds and bridge the gap created by our

changing culture. She has shared stages and platforms with, Jill

Scott, Hill Harper, Dr. Sonia Sanchez, Les Brown, and Dr. Robin

Smith of the Oprah Winfrey show. Lacey! has over 16 years of

experience in empowering youth and adults. A graduate of the

prestigious New York University, Lacey holds a B.F.A. in film

and television. In addition, she is an NYU Founder’s Scholar and

recipient of the William H. Cosby Future Filmmakers Award. Lacey’s professional career includes working in the Devel-

opment Department of Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule and

teaching abroad in Ghana, West Africa at the National Film and

Television Institute. With over 300 successful keynotes and

presentations delivered since 2002, Lacey C. Clark's message of

self-love has reached millions of women, young and old. She was

invited to present Sisters’ Sanctuary™ at the World Federation of

Mental Health Biennial Conference in Melbourne, Australia in

February 2003. Lacey C. Clark! has created various signature events such as

the, The Phenomenally U Summit for Mothers and teen daughters

and fathers and teen daughters, The Sisters’ Sanctuary Inner

BeauTea Party™, The Worldwide Self-Love Holiday (13th Day of

every month), The Annual Community Celebration- The 13 Days

of Self–love (February 1-13) and The Sisters’ Sanctuary Summer

Self-love Celebration. She has authored, The workbook/journal,

Celebrate HER Now!,The Sisters’ Sanctuary Self-love 101 Curric-

ulum, The 5 Disc Collection, Healing the Gap, The Phenomenal

Philes and the forthcoming Documentary, “..And in Search of My

Phenomenal.” Sisters' Sanctuary™ has also partnered with Jill

Scott's Blues Babe Foundation and has consulted with such agen-

cies as, The United Way, The Philadelphia School District, Job

Corps., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Temple University, Key-

stone Mercy Health Plan and The American Cancer Society just to

name a few.

Her message has been seen in Heart and Soul Magazine, The

New York Amsterdam News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and BET.

She has been heard on Radio One and Clear Channel Radio. Cur-

rently, she is a contributing writer to such publications such as The

Philadelphia Weekly, Afro Elle Magazine and a national columnist

at Rolling Out. Lacey C. Clark! has won numerous awards and has

been celebrated by local and state politicians from Philadelphia to

California for her powerful leadership abilities. In the winter of

2007, Clear Channel Radio recognized her as an Unsung Shero.

Her hobbies include people watching, spa going, and dancing to

inspirational house music. She resides in Philadelphia, PA.

feature Lacey C. Clark.. Opening dialogue between women not REALITY TV


oetry Corner Melisha Anderson-Ruiz The Crush About an age of outlandish flights of fancy Rag dolls and

building blocks Sweet tea and blackberry jam Unkempt hair

and denim overalls Indian summer nostalgia quickly pul-

sates through my mind I remember your smell as clear as

crackling embers and burning oak wood

Here I, a childish schoolgirl in love with a man’s man, some

wife’s man, Hiding deep in reed grasses watching you cool

your body in the still pond I imagined things never before

seen by my virgin eyes, yet I craved you While holding

tightly to my redheaded pale-faced doll

It seemed your glittering eyes urged me to leave these child-

ish things behind It seemed as if your lips moved to utter my

name As I drew closer to you I clearly heard your breath in

sync with pond tapping mosquitoes Drawn to submerge my

adolescent body into the water Sending small waves

………………………….

crashing around your naval, I waded…...Waiting for you

to say how you’ve longed for me so or how you’ve

dreamed of the Moment when you could touch me and I

could touch you

But that hour seemed never to come That hour seemed so

very long while you stared into my wanting heart careful

not to Reveal your disappointment with my plain face,

unkempt hair, flat chest and narrow Behind Embarrassed, I

wished I could call for my innocence to rescue me But she

lay silent and dead next to my redheaded pale-faced doll in

the reedgrasses

The sun no longer in my eyes and yours having lost that

wonderful glitter Somehow I knew tomorrow’s tea tasted

bitter, momma’s blackberry jam spoiled Building blocks

would tumble and my fancy would no longer be thoughts

of you nor Would I need the hand of that damn rag doll

P

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the

human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for

greatness lives within each of us. Wilma Rudolph

NEW ARTIST: Brittanie Thomas

Brittanie’s debut single, “I Need You” was released in

October 2012. Expect a new single release on January

31, 2013 entitled "Better." Her debut album entitled

“Two Chords and a Pen” is set to be released in the win-

ter of 2013. You will be sure to hear music infused with

the sounds of neo-soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, and

many other popular genres. While it may not always be

an easy task to frame the artist to one particular genre, what does remain

consistent through each melody is the honesty, passion, and love for

world music, and people alike.


This book is designed to

encourage and motivate any-

one who has gone through

stressful times in life and

found that inner strength to

endure. This book will give

you a glimpse of my person-

al struggles, the enormous

amount of stress I was under,

and the techniques I used to

effectively manage my

stress. This book will assist

you in effectively identifying

signs of stress as well as the

effects stress can have on

your body. This book will

teach you how to effectively

manage your stress by giving

you warning signs, practical

suggestions, self-assessment/

quizzes, and relaxation tech-

niques to perform in an effort

to reduce, relieve, and/or

eliminate harmful stress that

can lead to serious health

problems. After reading this

book you will be able to

identify 10 ways to add 10

years to your life through

effective stress management.

You will be able to journal

how you are able to imple-

ment each step into your

personal life and/or docu-

ment ways you can improve

in each area.

The Crash Chere Cofield

CREDIT SENSE Q: Does my budget make sense?

A: If your budget does not make sense, your credit issue is be-

ing impacted by your financial loss. You must deal with this first

before effective credit counseling can begin.

Tara Colquitt, The Credit Woman. I will assist you

in learning to manage your credit, money and debt to

create opportunities in real estate, job creation/

retention and overall financial health. I have actively

assisted clients in credit counseling, money manage-

ment, debt elimination and negotiations. In other cases,

I have assisted small business owners who have

“mixed credit scores” that interfere with their ability to

secure business contracts. I have a proven

track record of helping others improve

their credit scores and I educate and men-

tor clients with diverse circumstances

about using credit properly to gain access

to wealth.


Akissi Brooks-Hill is an ambi-

tious 24 year old young woman who

loves to motivate and encourage youth

to strive for excellence. She has a pas-

sion for giving back to the community

through public service and loves en-

couraging and assisting the young ladies

of today become successful women of

tomorrow! By interacting with young

ladies, her goal is to Inspire them to

become leaders who will inspire others.

Akissi and her two younger brothers

were raised by her mother, a single par-

ent who instilled in them the importance

of education at an early age; leading

Akissi, a first generation college gradu-

ate, to become the first on both sides of

her family to attend graduate school.

Fall of 2007; Akissi graduated

Cum Laude from Philander Smith Col-

lege, with a Bachelors degree in Busi-

ness Administration, concentrating in

Accounting. Before graduating, she was

initiated into the Gamma Gamma Chap-

ter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Summer 2009; Akissi received her Mas-

ters degree from the University of Phoe-

nix and is employed with the Arkansas

State Government. As for her communi-

ty involvement and passion for commu-

nity service, Akissi started a Non-

Profit organization-ABH Projects,

where she promotes her "BE Smart! BE

Safe! BE Responsible!" platform offer-

ing scholarships for high school seniors,

Annual Teen Conferences for young

ladies. May 1, 2010 was proclaimed as

"BE Smart! BE Safe! BE Responsible!"

awareness day by Governor Beebe and

started the "First Annual Arkansas Sin-

gle Parent Proclamation Luncheon"

which Governor Beebe proclaimed as

March 20, 2010. Akissi is also a partici-

pant in the Arkansas AIDS Foundation,

Women on the Move for Prevention

program as a Certified Basic HIV Edu-

cator and has served as a panelist for a

few events such as the African Wom-

en’s Health Project International "Youth

Walk for Africa Press Conference" and

the Simones Home Inc: "Girls Circle in

the Rock! Empowerment Conference

2010"

Akissi lives in Little Rock, Ar-

kansas with her husband Tony and their

three year old son T.J! She is very fami-

ly oriented and loves spending time

with all of her family.

Akissi's words of wisdom are

"Sometimes you have to go through

things in life to make things RIGHT

when they are WRONG and EASY

when they are HARD." She lives by

this faithfully because no matter what

she has been through, there has always

been a “Blessing in every Lesson!”

Akissi was named Mrs. Arkansas

U.S 2010 and is using her crown to em-

brace and encourage all young ladies

within her reach to BE Smart! BE Safe!

BE Responsible

Sometimes you have to go through things in

life to make things RIGHT when they are

WRONG and EASY when they are HARD! I

live by this quote faithfully because no mat-

ter what I have been through there has al-

ways been a blessing in every lesson!!

Akissi Brooks-Hill Mrs. Arkansas U.S. 2010 Using her crown to embrace and encourage young ladies ABH Projects

Dream House Boutique specialize in

celebrity fashions for less offering a

variety of apparel, jewelry, footwear

and accessories. DHB's goal is to be

the fashion destination to women of

all demographics who wish to be in

tuned with the hottest trends at an

affordable cost. I take pride in high

quality products and superior cus-

tomer satisfaction.


Q: You are inspired by someone special I can tell, who may this be?

A: I think the thing that inspires me most is my chil-

dren. They genuinely believe that they can accomplish

anything. When I listen to them confidently speaking

about all the things they are going to do when they grow

up, it reminds me that I can do anything I want as well. Their dreams are so huge and their belief is so strong that

I am totally convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that

they will far exceed their wildest dreams, and that in-

spires me to always follow mine! My advice: Get to

know yourself; have clarity of who you truly are. Be very

clear of your core values and beliefs. Know what’s im-

portant to you, what you can tolerate,

what drives you, what moves you,

your passions. People that know them-

selves tend to have confidence in their

decisions; they trust their instincts.

Confident people understand their

strengths and know how to handle

their weaknesses in a positive way.

Only after you know your true self can

you accept who you are and then begin to love and take

pride in who you are. When you have confidence, your

faith is strengthened, your attitude is positive, and doubt

is generally banished from your psyche.

Eddie Simpson

WOMEN 2 WOMEN: Her Message

“Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way. ” – Nikki Giovanni


Mind, Body & Soul Author Sharon Fox under

stands the importance of feeding the spirit from the

inside. Her love for flavor is more than a culinary

experience, it’s apart of new lifestyle experience.

How does a cookbook fit into my purpose? Well,

everyone has to eat. Everyone has to eventually

COOK! God has blessed me with this passion for food

and cooking. Food is something that can destroy all

barriers...race, creed, sex, age, etc. It is the one thing

we all have in common, so my gift for cooking is an

International gift! It's a way to break the ice and get

into the hearts of people. It's my way of inviting you

all to the table for dinner and conversation!

In my lifetime, I've endured many painful events.

I can relate to the pain of domestic violence, drug and

alcohol abuse by family members, child molestation

and rape, emotional abuse, death of the only people I

ever trusted, divorce, being stripped of my dreams and

goals, living as a single parent, living on disability,

having nothing and no one to turn to… But through it

all, I had... (and still have) my faith in God. I had to

inspire MYSELF and never gave up on the dreams I

have.

I have worked diligently everyday to write these

cookbooks which also contains many testimonies and

inspirational words to help others find their inner

strength. We all have something inside to help us get

over the pain and obstacles in our lives. Sometimes

we just need a little push or inspiration to get us to

recognize it...and use it. That's my reason for living.

My purpose in this life is to encourage and inspire

God's precious people to keep their faith. If I never

had to cry, I'd never appreciate the joy of laughter. If I

was never hurt, I could never open myself to comfort

others.

I know there are so many people who have gone

through worse events in their lives than I have. I just

feel that MY purpose is to use my story to touch as

many people as I can, and to let them know that their

faith can bring them out of any situation.

Comfort Food for the Mind, Body & Soul

Author Sharon Fox

Food Editor for P.E.A.S Magazine,

Tru Magazine and Latino Connection

Magazine, also named The Official

Culinary Artist of the Social Networks


Recently, I did a radio show entitled, “Are You Ready to be a Wife”?

Since then, many of you sent emails to me, asking how to know if

you are ready to be a wife, or are ready for love. Here’s my list of

Top 12 questions you should ask yourself to determine if you're

ready for a relationship. And, may I add, these points apply to men

also. So, grab a pen and paper, find a quiet spot, and answer them

as honestly as you can. Remember, you’re the only person reading

your responses, and your first answer is usually the most accurate.

Therefore, don’t try to convince yourself otherwise. Being honest

with yourself is the only way to know if you’re ready; or, to improve

some things, if you’re not.

1. Are you still emotionally attached, or in love with your ex?

2. Are you still carrying feelings of bitterness or anger against

an ex?

3. Are you looking for the next person to help you forget

about the last person?

4. Do you dislike who YOU are as a person?

5. Do you feel empty, lonely, desperate and totally miserable

because you don’t have someone else in your life?

6. Do you feel that you don’t deserve to have a good mate in

your life?

7. Do you feel that no one would want to be in a relationship

with you?

8. Do you shy away from relationships or meeting people

because you don’t feel that you would be of value to anyone

right now?

9. Do you find it almost impossible to feel any emotion, or

feel that relationships only lead to hurt and pain?

10. Do you see all members of the opposite sex in a negative

light?

11. Do you have ANY addictions that need to be dealt with?

12. Does it seem as if there is a neon light on your forehead

that keeps attracting the wrong types of dates? If you answered “YES” to even one of these questions, you’re not

ready to become a mate, or to be in an intimate relationship with

anyone. Either you haven’t recovered sufficiently from a previous

relationship, or your self-esteem is so low that you can’t possibly love

another person because you have yet to learn how to love yourself.

Many people go from relationship to relationship, looking for another

person to cover up, or fill the emptiness and/or pain that is inside

their heart. And, because they are not emotionally healthy or availa-

ble, this is exactly the WRONG time to go into a relationship. Howev-

er, just because you're not ready, doesn't mean that you can't be-

come ready with the proper tools.

There are times in our lives when we are ready to be with someone

else, and times when we need to be with someone else, and times

when we need to be alone. You may need to take a “Relationship

Fast” and take the time to heal, to evaluate, to find your mistakes, to

improve yourself, and to devise a new plan and outlook on relation-

ships. This is critical, so that you won’t feel so dependent on some-

one else to BRING you happiness, but can already BE happy when

the right person arrives. REPAIR & PREPARE...and you’ll be less likely

to repeat the same choices or mistakes. Keep in mind that, "fasting"

requires discipline, but in the end, the results are greater than the

sacrifice. You'll realize that what you thought was important, really

wasn't essential to your survival. You just gave it more value than it

deserved, that's all. Conversely, for those of you that answered “NO”

to every question, it sounds as if there’s a strong possibility that

you’re ready for love! However, be cautious and make sure that the

person you meet also exemplifies similar qualities as those stated

above.

In other words, can they also answer, “NO” to the same questions?

You don’t have to interrogate someone like an FBI agent, as soon as

you meet them, but do pay attention to red flags, and don't be afraid

to ask some questions about their past experiences, and their future

goals. (Perhaps, I'll write about appropriate questions in another

blog). And certainly, if you find that they may be someone of interest

for the long haul, then you’ll want to observe, ask deeper questions,

and listen closely to their responses. AND, DON’T IGNORE THE AN-

SWERS, ORBRUSH THEM OVER JUST BECAUSE YOU DESIRE TO BE

LOVED! Again, that would be trying to fill an empty space & you

answered, “NO” to that one, right?

Denyce Gartrell is a both a national and interna-tionally known Relationship Strategist, Leadership Consultant, Speaker and Radio Personality. For more information on her services or to become "Relationship Ready" contact her at: www.facebook.com/GLCCS"

Questions to Determine If You're Ready for a Relationship Denyce Gartrell, Life Empowerment & Relationship Strategist

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