B.O.S.S. Issue 11

B.O.S.S.

E-Magazine of Today’s Young Black Leaders

Be your Own Success Story

ISSU

E 011 1/13

ISSUE 11

gives us an exclusive interview about what it takes to be a B.O.S.S.!

In 2013 Lady BOSSES

are...

Changing the GAMEWendy Raquel Robinson

Also featuring. . . MELINDA EMERSONPATRICE WASHINGTONLATRESA “TREE” CUNNINGHAM & MEGAN PIPHUS

1,000,0000

Articles about;DrugsSexViolence NudityStereotypesNegativity

1,000,000VIEWS about Education and Entrepreneurship

B.O.S.S. E-Magazine

The Evolution of Urban Magazines

Tony Gaskins

Ashthon Jones

ARCHIVEDINTERVIEWS

Melinda Emerson

Derek Anderson

Bianca Knight

Warrick Dunn

Brian Angel

The Evolution of Urban Magazines Lamman Rucker

Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't, we should behave as though we are?cheerful, kind, loving, courte-ous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate

and diligent notes. ~~ Maya AngelouFeaturedInterviews are the backbone of our magazine. The personal testimonies of the successful “Bosses” we speak with are priceless. Every issue will have featured inter-views that you definitely do not want to miss! These interviews are en-lightening, informative, and will, without a doubt, shape your life. What do you want to be when you grow up? Yeah, there’s an interview for that!

InterviewsWENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON

ACTRESSPRODUCERDIRECTOR

ENTREPRENUERAudiences know Wendy Raquel Robinson as the sexy and feisty sports manager ‘Tasha Mack’ on BET’s #1 rated scripted series, The Game. This groundbreaking role has earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series” and three nominations for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.” With another record-breaking premiere and continued rating success, “The Game” has shown its staying power and has viewers eagerly waiting to see what going to hap-pen next.The fresh, funny, upbeat dramedy follows the relationships of professional football players and the women who love them created by producer/writer, Mara Brock Akil. As the #1 sitcom debut in the history of cable TV, The Game continues to leave audiences on the edge of their seats as infidelity; ambition, loyalty and be-trayal collide to make the upcoming sixth season the most com-pelling yet.Robinson’s artistic background in acting, dancing, directing, writing, producing and choreographing displays her passion as she strives for excellence in her career as an artist. A cum laude graduate of Howard University with a BFA in Drama, Robinson en-ticed viewers for six years as the no-nonsense Diva principal, ‘Regina Grier’ on The Steve Harvey Show.Robinson’s feature film credits include Focus Features Something New, directed by Sanaa Hamri; Rebound, opposite Martin Law-rence where she portrayed Lawrence’s love interest; Two Can Play That Game opposite Morris Chestnut, Vivica A. Fox, Monique and Anthony Anderson; Miss Congeniality starring Sandra Bullock; and With Or Without You opposite Cynda Williams and Guy Torry. Robinson also appeared in the zany comedy, Ringmaster starring Jerry Springer, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate opposite Martin Lawrence and The Walking Dead opposite Eddie Griffin.Additional independent film credits include He’s Mine Not Yours opposite Nicole Ari Parker (Soul Food), Tamala Jones, Kevin Hart and Mike Epps; and successful DVD releases, “35 & Ticking”, directed by veteran radio personality Russ Paar and “When the Lights Go Out”, directed by Alvin Moore.Robinson’s television credits include a guest-starring role on ABC’s hit drama, “Grey’s Anatomy”. She received three NAACP Im-age Award Nominations for “Best Actress in a Comedy” for her work on “The Steve Harvey Show”; she landed a recurring role on ABC’s “All of Us”, and appeared as a series regular on Fox’s variety sketch show “Cedric the Entertainer Presents!” and NBC’s

Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't, we should behave as though we are?cheerful, kind, loving, courte-ous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate

and diligent notes. ~~ Maya Angelou

Interviews“Minor Adjustments”. In addition, Robinson has held additional recurring roles on “NYPD Blue”, CBS’s “Yes, Dear”, Fox’s “Getting Person-al”, UPN’s “The Parker’s” and “One on One”, as well as ABC’s hit animated show “The Proud Family”.“Performing in front of a live audience is one of the most unique experiences in the Theatre Arts,” says Robinson. She ignites the silver screen and television with a unique energy and passion that result in authentic performances; Robinson is explosive with solid energy on a theatre stage.Her theatre performances include “Extremi-ties” directed by Brent Jennings where she gave a riveting performance in the story of an intended rape victim; she also co-starred in stage adaptation of Eric Jerome Dickey’s novel, “Cheaters”, opposite recording artist, Brian McKnight. Robinson received rave reviews for her performance and sold out audiences across the country. Additional theatre performances include, “The Vagina Monologues” (V-Day-L.A.), “Black Woman’s Blues”, “Agnes of God”, “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”, “The Colored Museum” and “Vanities” for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Choreographer and Best Actress Nomination.Robinson has received many accolades for her work in the community. When not working on set, Robinson focuses her attention on youth and the performing arts at her conservatory, Amazing Grace Conservatory. She has served as Celebrity Spokesperson for the Los Angeles Black Business Expo & Trade Show; she is the recipient of various honors which include the recipient of the Black Women’s Network (Atlanta), Jenesse Center Silver Rose for her work in nurturing young people in the performing arts; Howard University Distinguished Alumni Award, Disneyland, KJLH 102.3 FM Proven Achiever Award, and is a coveted Woman of Courage honoree. Robinson partnered with Ad Council and was featured in a national educational PSA, encouraging high school students to get their G.E.D.Robinson continues to yet, reveal the many facets of her life, specifically hosting opportunities such as: Co-Host for the 2012 BET Awards Post-Show, 40th Anniversary of the Freedom Awards (Memphis); Co-Host 2012 “Gospel Goes to Hollywood” (Los An-geles); Co-Host on “The Steve Harvey Moring Radio Show”; “All-State Gospel Fest” in Baltimore, just to name a few.Wendy is no doubt, one of Hollywood’s busiest actors in the entertainment industry and the sky is the limit … the boundaries are infinite for Ms. Robinson.Robinson currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two dogs. 7 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

OOur Mission is to provide

minority, and underserved youthwith an outlet to discover their potential through

literary content and accessible role models to evoke the spirit of “believing in one’s self”

while teaching them how to create, pursue and believe in the path of becoming

a professional.

8 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

Mission Mission Statement

Howard J. Clay is available for speaking engagements, clinics/seminars, as well as appearances for organizations, corporate and school events. He may be contacted at [email protected] for booking.

ISSUE #11 Lady BOSSES www.boss-emag.com

It gives me great honor to present to you, the first issue of 2013, Boss Ladies! This issue, by far, may be one of our greatest issues to date. Not only does it feature great, powerful, inspirational, motivating women, but it has actual "real life" content that will motivate anyone to strive for more. This is what B.O.S.S. is all about, becoming your own success story, and that is what each of our Lady Bosses represent.

Without a doubt, we all have had a woman in our lives who has influ-enced, impowered, or motivated us to be better than what we are. From a mother, to a sister, to a wife, to a grandmother (or "Nana," as some grandmothers today wish to be called!) to a clergy member, to a doctor, or to a teacher... behind EVERYONE there is a strong woman pushing us.

My strong woman has and will always be my mother. If you look up "strong" in the dictionary, there is a pic-ture of my mother. Of course, my family has gone through a lot in life, but having my mother who grew up in southern Mississippi, accomplishing the things that she has, no matter what obstacle presented itself, she truly is my picture of "strength". It isn't only the recognized and praised things that she is great at, it's the little things that she has done over the countless years of service she has provided to so many. I would be remissed not to mention my mother, in a publication that I publish without mentioning Linda Clay, the lady who has made all of this possible. She pushed me as a young man and she continues to push me to fight against medi-ocrity and achieve greatness.

I remember one time as a child, I told her that I wanted to invent a flying car. She stood there, looked at me, didn't laugh, didn't joke, and said with the most serious face, "ok, let's go." She immediately dropped what she was doing and took me to the library. She made me get every book I could find about cars, engines, and planes, then made me write a book report on each one. I never did invent flying cars, but I did learn what it took to be prepared and the work that was necessary to be the best I could be if I ever did. That is what I am most thankful for.

My dad taught me how to be a man, but my mom taught me how to be a "great" man. She never supported my "excuses," only my plans. There have been so many different "seeds" my mom planted in me which have helped me over the years, but none greater than the importance of loving God, loving yourself, and education.

Each summer, my siblings and I never took a vacation. We read, read, and read some more. I think I read more books as a child than I did in my college years! My mother instilled in all of her children that education is the component that would seperate failure from success. Without that push, I would not be working on this magazine today.

We have compiled a number different women in this issue, but we know there are many more out there who don't receive any recognition at all. We would like to thank those people, especially the teachers, for all they do and no one writes about.So, as we all venture into the new year with great aspirations and great plans, let us take a moment to acknowledge the "push" behind many of our successes, the woman who encouraged us to strive for more. Thank you and may God bless you in 2013.

LETTER TO THE EDITORPlease include your name,

address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for

clarity or space

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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHERHoward J. Clay Jr.

EDITORIALEditor in Chief : Drea Elizabeth

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DRDesha

Jazmyne ByrdDrea ElizabethDerrick Hayes

Jeff Clay

ART JC3 Entertainment

ADVERTISINGMarketing Director :

Jeffrey Royce

Promotions Manager - Linda Tatum

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content “Every man builds his world in his own im-age. He has the pow-er to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~ Ann Rand

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In Every IssueINTERVIEWS

1ST FIRST

HEALTH & FITNESS

COLLEGE DESTINATION

YOUNG BOSS

ARTICLES

BOOK OF THE MONTH

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

50

COVERStory

“If you want to be the best at what you do, you have to be trained in it. “

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B.O.S.S.: What did you want to be when you were younger?

Wendy: I guess the question should be, “What didn’t I want to be?!?” (Laughs.) When I started, I wanted to be a dancer, then I wanted to go into child development, then I wanted to “save the world”. Acting just sort of fell into my lap. It was like a childhood dream, but it was something that I was always exposed to at a young age. There came a point in time for me to go to college and I thought, oh my God, there is noth-ing else I want to do. I wanted to be the best at acting, so I majored in drama.

“If you want to be the best at what you do, you have to be trained in it. “

Changingthe

GAME

When looking for a woman to grace the cover of our first ever womens’ issue, Wendy Raquel Robinson was an EASY choice! Everything she represents is exactly what we believe to be a Lady Boss who is changing the GAME!

B.O.S.S.: What type of student were you in high school?Wendy: HA! Well, academically I was great; my parents stayed on me and made sure I made good grades. But, you know, I was a little ADHD and I had a lot of energy! (Laughs.) I was talkative, I was social, and I was involved in a lot of things, from cheerleading to dance to other clubs. You know how some schools have cliques and crews? I was a floater… I floated around with everyone. I went to school in the ‘hood, so you had to be able to hang a little with everybody and I did just that.

B.O.S.S.: Why did you choose to attend Howard University?Wendy: Why not Howard? There was a recruiter who came to my high school and when he started naming the Alumni that went there like, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad- everything kind of chimed and it all made sense. After I went further and started [researching schools], I learned that each HBCU takes the time out to really invest in you. You can have relationships with all your professors, in terms of sitting down and breaking bread, or really have a conversa-

tion and go further into the topic covered in class. With professors who were in the industry, I could ask them about what their experience was like. More importantly, I got a consciousness of who I am- Not only as a black woman, but as a woman with purpose. I was surrounded by such incredible role models at Howard University that it just really changed the scope of my outlook and I felt like

I had a purpose when I left. That was more than just going to school and getting an education.

B.O.S.S.: You graduated Magna Cum Laude. Why was that important to you?Wendy: You know what’s funny? I wasn’t striving to have that. I was so invested in what happened. When you are doing something that you love and

I was doing that it just came along with the accolades. I wasn’t trying to come are so invested in it, you can’t do anything but excel in it.out with honors… I had such an amazing experience at Howard, it

just affected me as a person and that reflected in my grades as B.O.S.S.: How has your education helped your career?well. If I would have intentionally set out to [get hon- Wendy: If you want to be the best at what you do,

ors], I wouldn’t have graduated Magna you have to be trained at it. A carpenter gets on-Cum Laude. It just kind of the- job training; a doctor has to go to medi-

cal school… The same thing applies to acting or whatever you do. In order to be the best

and have the range between the drama, the comedies, the satires, understand

all their components and how they work together, you need to study

and train and learn so that you can respect the craft and ap-

proach it from that capac-ity. So, in terms of edu-

cation, you have to read and learn the

literature and comprehend

it.

COVERStory

B.O.S.S.: What type of student were you in high school?Wendy: HA! Well, academically I was great; my parents stayed on me and made sure I made good grades. But, you know, I was a little ADHD and I had a lot of energy! (Laughs.) I was talkative, I was social, and I was involved in a lot of things, from cheerleading to dance to other clubs. You know how some schools have cliques and crews? I was a floater… I floated around with everyone. I went to school in the ‘hood, so you had to be able to hang a little with everybody and I did just that.

B.O.S.S.: Why did you choose to attend Howard University?Wendy: Why not Howard? There was a recruiter who came to my high school and when he started naming the Alumni that went there like, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad- everything kind of chimed and it all made sense. After I went further and started [researching schools], I learned that each HBCU takes the time out to really invest in you. You can have relationships with all your professors, in terms of sitting down and breaking bread, or really have a conversa-

tion and go further into the topic covered in class. With professors who were in the industry, I could ask them about what their experience was like. More importantly, I got a consciousness of who I am- Not only as a black woman, but as a woman with purpose. I was surrounded by such incredible role models at Howard University that it just really changed the scope of my outlook and I felt like

I had a purpose when I left. That was more than just going to school and getting an education.

B.O.S.S.: You graduated Magna Cum Laude. Why was that important to you?Wendy: You know what’s funny? I wasn’t striving to have that. I was so invested in what happened. When you are doing something that you love and

I was doing that it just came along with the accolades. I wasn’t trying to come are so invested in it, you can’t do anything but excel in it.out with honors… I had such an amazing experience at Howard, it

just affected me as a person and that reflected in my grades as B.O.S.S.: How has your education helped your career?well. If I would have intentionally set out to [get hon- Wendy: If you want to be the best at what you do,

ors], I wouldn’t have graduated Magna you have to be trained at it. A carpenter gets on-Cum Laude. It just kind of the- job training; a doctor has to go to medi-

cal school… The same thing applies to acting or whatever you do. In order to be the best

and have the range between the drama, the comedies, the satires, understand

all their components and how they work together, you need to study

and train and learn so that you can respect the craft and ap-

proach it from that capac-ity. So, in terms of edu-

cation, you have to read and learn the

literature and comprehend

it.

Our professors [at Howard]would always say, “there is no such thing as a dumb actor.” If you can’t read, then analyze and pick up on the persona of what the character is. It’s very, very critical [to train]. With a lot of young people seeing the way reality shows are going and say-ing, “Oh, I can do that,” yes, you can, but at the same time, you want longevity. You don’t want to come [into the industry] and then after the lifespan of your show have people asking, “what happened to such-and-such?” You want to be able to have a sustaining career. I think the more you know about this busi-ness and the more you know about your craft and your art, the longer and further it will take you.

B.O.S.S.: What do you think is the state of urban education right now? Wendy: I think it’s at a critical point right now, only because I’m working with so many young people and I see such a vast learning curve. I think it is time that we become proactive and


invest in our children’s lives, in terms of what’s going on in the school and whether they are complet-ing assignments at home. A lot of our young people are not being challenged academically… At least a lot of the ones I’ve seen. They are learning history, but not learning about the people in the history. We were doing a black history piece [at Amazing Grace Conservatory] dealing with Angela Davis and the whole Black Panther movement and many of my students were like, “Who? What?” We are talking about the 70s… Not something so far off. We need to pass on our history to our students and instill in them a sense of pride. They don’t know

where they come from or why it is important. They don’t know that it is important to get up and do something proactive simply because they don’t realize the struggle.

We are at that point in our society where I am really very concerned. I believe teachers are un-derrated and underpaid, and in that, I’ve had chil-dren voice to me that it wasn’t until they went to this charter school that they actually felt like the teacher cared about them and their learning. Some of our teachers are over-whelmed- 40 students in a classroom is crazy! …with no [teaching assistant], 6 classes, taking work home they can never catch up

on, while being underpaid… It’s unfair. I think our urban schools are definitely not where they should be in order to prepare our children. Maybe not all, but many of them are not at the place we need to be. Those children are going to lose interest and fall through the cracks. And guess what? They are going to end up in jail, gangs or pregnant. I hate to say it, but it’s true. Statistics show us that. We are not engag-ing our young people enough to try and help them continue. And, the dropout rate is at its worst in history. This shows that somewhere there is a huge disconnect, so we all have to do our part. It’s a critical time right now.

B.O.S.S.: You’ve done a lot of great things on-screen, but a lot of people don’t know much about you off-screen. It’s motivating to see that you are able to run a school and interact positively, while mak-ing a difference daily in the lives of young people. Can you tell us more about your Amazing Grace Conservatory? Wendy: Amazing Grace Conservatory is something very near and dear to my heart. For the past 15 years, I and my staff have been on a mission, not only to educate young people in performing arts and math, but to provide them with a home away from home. We give them a platform where they can express themselves freely without being judged. We give them self-esteem, self-pride and an opportu-nity to just be themselves. They also learn how to read music, they sing, they dance… They get a variety of everything so they are able to do anything. In our program, we hold annual shows. We give students everything they need, from acting to scene and character development. We even let them write their own scripts and music. I have a lot of young people who want to graduate and be in the busi-ness and some who want to do other things. I have doctors, social workers, and teachers who have applied and graduated and use the arts in their job area. So, it’s not just for young people who want to be actors, singers, or dancers, but it is for those who want to have more self-confidence and self-esteem and build lifelong friendships. A lot of my students are grown and have their own families and they bring their children to the Conservatory.

To describe AGC would be a whole other interview, but in a nutshell, I have found my purpose and it has sustained my passion in an in-dustry where you can become irate very quickly and it has allowed me to not only share my gift, but to receive the gift of young people. It’s magical, it’s amazing.

B.O.S.S.: We are looking forward to seeing you on the screen again with the new upcoming season of “The Game”. Wendy: I’m excited as well, can’t wait!

“I have found my purpose and it has sustained my passion... It’s magical, it’s AMAZING.”

“I have found my purpose and it has sustained my passion... It’s magical, it’s AMAZING.”


YOURAD

[email protected]


small biz lady is doing BIG things in 2013!

Entrepreneur

is doing BIG things in 2013!

B.O.S.S.: One of your missions is to end business failure. How do you get businesses that have failed into the state of mind that success is an option?

Melinda: I think that by helping people look at failure differently it changes their mindset. There is no such thing as failure. You only win or learn in business. Not succeeding the first time is a part of paying your dues. You should never spend time licking your wounds. You have to be able to move past the scars and get focused to succeed in business.

B.O.S.S.: Have you ever ran into men who didn’t take you seriously because you are a woman in business? If so, how did you handle that?

Melinda: Absolutely. When I first started my company, Quintessence Multimedia, at the age of 26, I would find that people would walk up to my cameramen as if they were in charge of the business instead of me. I had to dress very professionally to be seen as a professional. When you are young and in business in a male dominated industry, you have to be on your game in order to remove all of the prejudices and misconceptions that people may have about you. When I was in college, I knew that I wanted to start my own company. I was inspired by Oprah, so I examined her production company and all her business ventures so I could be like her. I worked in broadcast production to make sure I knew about the components of running a production business very well.

B.O.S.S.: As a role model for women in business, how do you stay focused and keep away from negativity?

Melinda: Surround yourself with people who are “business-minded.” Keep the naysayers and dream snatch-ers away from your business. You definitely don’t need negativity when you are building a new business. Don’t share your ideas with everyone. Do not keep unsupportive family members or friends around you. Pull to-gether a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors who are invested in your success. By doing this, you will have the right people in your life.

Melinda Emerson


Surround yourself with people who are “business- minded.”

B.O.S.S.: What would be your top piece of business advice for women who are seeking to start their own com-panies in 2013?

Melinda: My top advice for women who want to start a business is to develop a life plan before you ever write a business plan in order to build a business that aligns with your personal and professional goals. Find out how much money you need to make to be happy. Start with that first and then build a smart business.

B.O.S.S.: What is the biggest lesson you have learned in becoming a business savvy woman?


Melinda: The biggest lesson I have learned is that you have to have a niche for your business to be successful. You need to focus on a specific target customer to build a sustainable business. Who makes more money- a [primary care physi-cian] or a cardiologist? The cardiologist makes more money because they have a specialty niche. Your business must spe-cialize in serving your target customer.

B.O.S.S.: Are you a Pittsburgh Steelers Fan?

Melinda: Absolutely! Hardcore! (Laughs.) I bleed black and gold as a Pittsburgh native.

“...I never lose. I either win or learn, but I never lose.”

@SmallBizLady

ENTREPRENEUR

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is Ameri-ca’s #1 small business expert. She is an author, speaker and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media mar-keting. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda develops audio, video and written content to help her Fortune 500 clients en-gage small business customers. She is a week-ly columnist for the You’re The Boss blog for the New York Times. She publishes a resource blog, www.succeedasyourownboss.com which is syndicated by the Huffington Post and hosts a weekly talk show on Twitter called #SmallBi-zChat for today’s entrepreneurs. She reaches 1.5 million small business owners weekly on the internet. Forbes Magazine named Melin-da Emerson #1 Woman for Entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Melinda has been featured on MSNBC, Fox News, NBC Nightly News and in The Washington Post, Fortune, Essence and Black Enterprise. She is also the author of the bestselling book “Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.” Melinda is a graduate of Virginia Tech.

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Michelle O.

BOSS

LADY

PBook of theMonth

Patrice Washington

PPatrice Washington

Patrice Washington

Teaching Financial Responsibility

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about yourself and the passions you developed early in life.

Patrice: I grew up in Leimert Park in Los Angeles in a single parent home. My mom traveled a lot and I was your typical latch key kid. Compared to most of the kids I grew up with and walked home with- well, it’s just amazing that I made it out okay. You see a lot of gang violence, prostitu-tion, and not many people went on to do anything outside of the Leimert Park. I knew at a really early age, about eight or nine years old that I wasn’t going to live here forever. I was very focused on what I needed to do so that I could have better and do more. I was serious about school and get-ting to college. I was accepted into a program for the gifted and talented in the fifth grade and went to Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES), that’s what saved my life. I had a passion for math until I had to learn geometry. I had great grades. I loved writing and I hated science. If I couldn’t understand how I was going to make money from something, then I didn’t understand it. English was one of my best subjects. I never thought that I would become an author or anything, it just was natural.

I had straight A’s while growing up. Then, I went to the University of Southern California. In col-lege, I got my first C and thought it was the end of the world. When I was in LACES, I was so involved in everything because I lived in the ‘hood and did not want to go back to my reality. I wanted to go to USC ever since I was ten years old. I remember my aunt lived a few blocks away from the school. One day, when I was younger, my cousin and I rode past the school on our bikes and I asked, “what is this place?” My cousin said, “this is a college.” It was right there and then that I made up my mind. We went into the bookstore and I had five or six dollars that I was supposed to use for food, but I used it to buy stickers. I went home and made this little “vision board” with my new USC bumper stickers and wrote, “I’m going to this college when I grow up.” When it was time to apply for colleges, USC was my first choice- really, my only choice.

Fast forward to freshman year… I really wanted to go to business school and it was so hard to get into. That was my first time getting a ‘C’ and it was graded on a curve! I used to call my mom to tell her that I didn’t belong here and that I wasn’t smart enough, but she reminded me that it was where I belonged and that when I put my mind to something it’s over and done. She told me to not


look at everyone else and fo-cus on what I do best. So, I went back and did something I did in high school- I would look at my schedule at the be-ginning of the semester and predict the grade that I would get in each class. I ended up being on the Dean’s List 5 out of the 8 semesters there, while working full-time.

Going to college really helped me push myself. I did get into the business school and majored in Entrepreneurial Studies. I moonlighted in a real estate office and received my real estate license at nine-teen. As a senior, I worked on this business plan, that I had a whole semester to complete on SoCal Realty. I really al-ways wanted to be self-em-ployed. I am just not a great employee. I ended up getting a C+ on the business plan and my professor’s comments on the assignment were that I was “overzealous,” and that I needed more time because having my real estate license for only two years was not enough education to be able to open my own office.

My best friend, who later be-came my husband, and I got together because he was re-ally good at marketing and wanted to help me open my real estate office. We became partners and started before we even graduated. I pur-

“Going to college really helped me push myself.”

chased a condo where we worked out of the dining room, and after a year and a half, I had two full-time staff, two part-time staff, and an office of sixteen independent contracted real estate agents, by the time I was twenty-four.

In 2009, the market changed, I had gotten married, and had a child, all at the same time. I took that time to step back and establish what I really liked about my job and I liked the fact that I helped people who never thought that they would own a home. I helped them change their mindset, helped them get out of debt, and helped them build a practical plan to better their credit. I developed this passion to help people with their financial situations because when I got out of college, I had $18,000 in credit card debt. I would keep my money and swipe a credit card in a second! I went to church and met George Thompson, who was speaking to people about getting out of debt. So, while I was getting out of debt, I was teaching my clients to do the same. I gathered more clients by word of mouth about my services.

In 2005, I became certified as a personal financial coach. I took all of that with me when I shut down my busi-ness in 2009, moved across the country, and began blogging about things that interested me in personal fi-nance. I continued blogging, which turned into my writing for Hello Beautiful, then Upscale Magazine, Black Enterprise, and few other things. Last year, I was speaking at college engagements, but felt like I wasn’t leaving the audiences with something they could remember. That’s when I wrote Real Money Answers: College Life and Beyond. I had an editor and design team, I marketed and did everything on my own and sold over 4,000 copies. From that, I had more speaking arrangements and writing opportunities. I am an entrepreneur.

B.O.S.S.: Who were your mentors and role models?Patrice: My mom made me work at a really early age. I would go to work with her on the weekends and she would farm me out to the Director of Human Resources or the general manager and they would put me to work. I’d file papers, organize things, stuff packets, and set up for presentations. They became my support sys-tem. So, when I’d get awards or become president of this or that, it was great hearing those people say, “You’ve always had a strong work ethic.” I think that after you tell a kid that or have enough people tell you something like that, you want to live up to their expectations. People can still be steered and guided to be the best they can be. But, overall, my mom has always been my number one source for information. She helped me develop my so what now? mentality. My mom always said that this is your experience now- what are we going to do about it?

Also, George Thompson, who I met at my church, was a self-made millionaire at 35. He was definitely a mentor to me.

B.O.S.S.: What are some things you are currently working on?Patrice: My next book, which should be available in March, will be titled, Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man. 75% of my clients were women... majority, black women. I think that we, as black women, experience more challenges. There may not be a man in the household, so the burden (most people see the responsibility of finances as a burden) is left to the woman. More women have to take off work to deal with children or elderly family members. It is so important that we learn about money and time management. The majority of us will earn less than our colleagues and we don’t have time to mismanage. We won’t have the same time or ability to recoup any losses. Just because you went to college, does not mean you are going to be great with your finances or time.


This March, I will be in a documentary called, Generation One. It is about why in the African-American community every generation has to start fresh. What happened to this idea of leav-ing a legacy and wealth? Why are we having barbecues, bake sales, and car washes to bury our grandparents instead of our grandparents having enough money to bury themselves and leave the next generation a piece of their wealth?

B.O.S.S.: Can you share some final financial tips with our readers?Patrice: I am very big on the mindset. There are a lot of financial “experts” tell people to use a budget and that it will solve their problems. Or would tell someone “these are the five steps to clean up your credit” and walk away. All of those things are great skillsets, but my mantra is that it takes a personal mindset and skillset to create personal financial success. Until you recognize where you got your money mindset from you won’t be able to change things. You can’t figure out where you are going unless you know where you came from. You need to un-derstand how you came to deal with money in the first place.

I would encourage women to not making this year about resolutions, but about results we de-sire… That means proper goal setting. If you are going to make a financial goal, you need to be specific. You need to have numbers, use percentages; you have to use something that is truly measurable. For example, I’ll ask people to tell me two financial goals they want to achieve in 90 days. I always hear the same things- “save more” and “get out of debt.” In turn, I tell them, “that’s nice. But what does that mean?” Those are not goals… those are wishes, prayers, hopes, and dreams. Goals have measures and when you come up with an actual goal you can take steps to obtain it. Do you desire to save $2,000 this year in an emergency fund? Great! What does that plan look like? From there we can set up benchmarks to take you closer to achieving that goal.

Lastly, it is okay to say NO. That’s a big part of our finances. If you are doing great, earning your own money, running your own business, managing the best that you can, but you don’t learn how to say “no” to the moochers and takers, no matter how hard you work, you will not reach your goal. Some of us have a tendency to want to nurture, take care of, and make sure others are okay. That’s great. But, you have to make sure you are taken care of before you try to take care of others. We think that we are helping our family and friends by giving them some of what we have to our own deprivation, but in reality, we are hurting them. When you are helping someone continuously you are not helping them seek out what they need to be self-sufficient. I have met more women who have ruined their credit because they co-signed on something for someone else. 70% of people who co-sign, end up paying for the debt. If oth-ers aren’t worried about protecting their credit, why would they be worried about protecting yours? There is a difference between helping people and helping those who act like rent caught them by surprise every month. It’s not about who likes you, it’s about you working hard, set-ting your goals and you being focused on you. It is not a bad thing, you’re not being selfish- it’s about taking care of yourself.

My next book, which should be available in March, will be titled, Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man.

My next book, which should be available in March, will be titled, Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man.



ORDER TODAY!

Book of theMonth

A salute to 100 years of Excellence.At midnight, Washington, D.C. was painted Crimson and Cream. On January 13, 2013 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated 100 years of Service and Sisterhood throughout the world. Many came and gathered at their founding institution, Howard University (home of DST’s Alpha Chapter), where 100 years ago, 22 young women formed an organi-zation based on service that now has over 250,000 members worldwide. The Sorority has been at the forefront of many great causes including the Wom-en’s Suffrage March of 1913 and the Civil Rights Movement. Being a strong advocate for education, Delta Sigma Theta has supported and founded vari-ous educational programs for youth, including initiating “School America” in 1989, The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and Delta GEMS. Many notable Deltas, including, Shirley Chisholm, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, and Dorothy Height, have all left their mark on this country and the world. Ms. Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress and run for the office of President of the United States of America, Bishop McKenzie was the first female to be elected 117th Bishop of the AME church, and Ms. Height has been one of the leading ladies of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s and the longest serv-ing national President in the Sorority’s history. Congratulations, Delta Sigma Theta, on 100 years of Excellence and here’s to 100 years more!

~Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd 1st First


Young BOSS

The Next thing!!BIG

The Next thing!!BIG BOSS sits down with Megan Piphus, The Lady Behind the Puppets, to see what really makes her do what she does. See what she has to “say”...

“I had the power to put messages into all of my scripts. That’s when I began to put deeper messages into the skits...”

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about your-self.Megan: I am currently a student at Vanderbilt University. I attended Princeton High School in Cincinna-ti, Ohio. While I attended Princeton, I took all advanced classes and was in the International Baccalaureate program. Being in those advanced classes really prepared me for col-lege… it gave me an opportunity to go to a school like Vanderbilt. I end-ed up graduating from high school Valedictorian. I was really involved in music and musical theater. Outside of school, I am classically trained in piano and guitar. I did a little bit of singing in church as well. I started performing with ventriloquism in middle school around the state of Ohio and in a couple of cases, I traveled nationally. B.O.S.S.: What did you have a pas-sion for?Megan: [The passion for ventrilo-quism] came to me from a lady I knew who was involved in the chil-dren’s ministry. She got a group of young kids together when I was about ten years old, and she orga-nized a trip for us to go to a puppet conference to learn about ministry through puppetry. At the conference, they also had these evening ceremo-nies that had different performances from puppeteers and ventriloquists. By the end of the conference, we loved it so much that we wanted to come back the next year. When my teacher asked us what kind of classes we would be interested in taking next year, I told her I wanted the ventrilo-quism classes. She told me that she didn’t think I could do that, and that it seemed really hard. I went home

and told my mom that I really wanted to know how to do it (ven-triloquism) because I was joining the puppet team and everything. We found videos from the library on how to do ventriloquism… most of them were really old and from the 70s. I learned pretty fast and in about a week, I was able to talk without moving my lips with a puppet. I then started writing skits and scripts. To me, that was the hardest part, being able to write a full dialogue and put the different characters into your skit. My first performance was at my elemen-tary school. Then after that, I per-formed at my church and it grew from there. I love ventriloquism and definite-ly think it is fun. I loved theatrics and stage performances as a child, so that interest got me into the arts. Being able to put music in my performances was a huge draw for me. I didn’t recog-nize the power of it until I was in high school. Wherever I go, adults, children, and babies are really drawn into my per-formances and are engaged. Whatever I am doing with kids, it doesn’t matter if I am singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” they would still be involved with the character. I realized I had the power to put messages into all of my scripts. That’s when I began to put deeper messages into the skits. I have a character named, Baby Junebug who is a rapping baby and children love him, espe-cially kindergarten classes because he looks like them. I remember when I performed with him at an

elementary school that was hav-ing a talent show and I did a skit about perseverance. It was very in-teractive and the students would sing along. They really got into it. I decided to test out the same per-formance with preschoolers. They were laughing and they loved the skit. Their teacher afterwards, ex-plained what a ventriloquist was and asked if they knew what perse-verance was, and they knew it. It’s amazing what you can learn with ventriloquism. B.O.S.S.: Who were your role mod-els and mentors? How important were they for you?Megan: When it comes to ventrilo-quism, it is a man by the name of Mark Thompson. He’s a musical

ventriloquist. He travels a lot doing ventriloquism and one time, I got a chance to speak to him at a confer-ence. He took the time to talk to me and to keep in touch even though he travelled so much so that he could always give me advice. He was really nice about keeping in contact with me and whenever he was in Ohio, he would stop by to see how I was improving. It’s always good to meet

If I want to do it in the future, I have to sacrifice other things that I may not be as passionate about.”

“In August, I will be com-peting for the Miss Black USA title...”

people who see something in you, who are willing to keep in contact with you, and would monitor your growth. Also, my parents are great mentors. My father is a musician and pastor. He was always there to listen to me whenever I had a recital, letting me know if I was doing the right things and if my technique was right. B.O.S.S.: How did you pick the themes behind your skits?Megan: When making the scripts, I think about what would be the most beneficial for whomever I am talking to, it’s not about what I want to do or what I think is the best. Usually, when I go into high schools, I go into topics like confidence, peer pressure, or other things that would be affecting the students most. I also pray about [what message to include] because you don’t really know what can benefit others. B.O.S.S.: Was it easy to balance between school and your passion?Megan: I’ve balanced them pretty well these past two years. Last semester, I was performing just about every weekend. So, I had to really sit down and make decisions and sacrifices about what I was involved in around campus. It took me a while to realize that I was working three jobs. I was interning at Warner Brothers Music for eighteen hours a week, then I was a Residential Assistant on campus, and I was performing and traveling. One thing I didn’t do was say “no” to performances because my passion is ventriloquism and music. If I want to do it in the future, I have to sacrifice other things that I may not be as passionate about. When I was on the Tonight Show on December 11th, it was during my exam week. I had to push some exams up, some back. I re-ally had to decide how I was going to manage my time. I was studying the entire time I was in LA, on the plane, in the car and everywhere I could. B.O.S.S.: What advice would you give to students and young women especially?Megan: I would give advice around continuing their education. I started a program called Color My Dreams. It promotes dreaming big and goal setting so that you are able to get to your dreams. I also recognize that your dreams may not have you go to any particular schools or that you may have to take different steps. Education is really important in your being able to reach your dreams. To young girls, I would say the same. I realize we are taking big strides with our education. There are higher ratios of women in college and we need to continue to grow stronger in the workforce and to not be discouraged by what people tell us we can or can’t do. Take that discouragement as motivation for their dreams. A lot of people think it is kind of funny that I am a ventriloquist because I am a minority, not only in the world, but in ventriloquism. Most ventriloquists that I know are older, white men. Being a twenty year old, black girl sets me apart and I use it to my advantage. Likewise, young girls can use that to their advantage as well, especially in the workforce. B.O.S.S.: What are future projects you are working on?Megan: My next big thing is the Gospel SuperFest in Atlanta, produced by Dr. Bobby Cartwright on March 9th. I’ll be performing and I’ll be hosting, as well. I will be back stage interviewing performers with my characters. Until then, I will be performing around Nashville, Tennessee doing fundraisers, and hope-fully, some comedy clubs as well. I am currently Miss Black Tennessee of 2013, so I will also be making appearances with that as well this year. In August, I will be competing for the Miss Black USA title. Long term, I hope to end up on TV with my own puppet show and later down the road, being behind the scenes in the music industry. I want to continue my education and go into graduate school either doing business or entertainment law to help me with that endeavor. @megpiphus


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“It's about accomplishing the things you set out to do in life, and I feel like when you do the things you love to do the money will come”

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about what you are currently involved in. LaTresa: I am currently coaching basketball and volleyball. I’m an assistant varsity basketball coach at Riverwood High School and a head coach for A5 Volleyball, coaching a 17s team. A lot of people do not know this, but I used to play basketball. I was fortunate to have been coached by one of the greatest coaches to coach the game, Dave Mann. We won the state championship my sophomore, junior and senior year at Bishop Borgess High School. It was a lot of hard work, but worth every second of it. Volleyball has been my life since the end of high school, and playing and coaching it brings me great joy. A5 is one of the best clubs around and I am fortunate to work with a great group of coaches and players. I also work with Samuel Hines and his program, Up With Kids Sports, where we teach children the fundamentals of basketball and discipline on and off the court. We have private trainings, group trainings, camps and after school en-richment programs, so we stay busy throughout the year. Then there is personal training. What can I say? There is never a dull moment in personal training. My clients keep me laughing. I enjoy helping others achieve

their personal goals of either starting or maintaining a healthy life style. It’s tough getting through a hard work-out, but when you do, you feel so much better. You feel better physically and mentally knowing that you pushed through and didn’t give up. I like being their motivation, pushing [clients] through workouts when they feel like stopping- Giving them that extra burst that is needed. You have to push through the pain, but the rewards are priceless. No pain, no gain in the workout world. My motto is, “When you feel good, you look good, and when you look good you are happy.” I’m trying to help more people be happy.

B.O.S.S.: How are you being a “B.O.S.S.”?LaTresa: I am a “B.O.S.S.” because I follow my dreams and pursue my passions. I do things for happiness, not

“It's about accomplishing the things you set out to do in life, and I feel like when you do the things you love to do the money will come”

for money. It’s about accomplishing the things you set out to do in life, and I feel like when you do the things you love to do then the money will come. I have my own business, Divàshun Productions, LLC that consists of my production company and my clothing line, Divàshun, with more divisions coming in the future. I got the idea of starting a clothing line because I got tired of not being able to go into a store and buy pants and long sleeve shirts that were long enough for me. I am 6’2” with very long legs. I have been this height since I was 13- when I was a freshman in high school! In high school, we had to wear business casual clothes as our uniform until my senior year. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where we got a lot of snow and at least one blizzard a year. I was such a girly girl… I only wanted to wear skirts and dresses, but sometimes my mom would make me wear pants because of the snow. This was always a task! When I was in college, the Lord gave me the idea to start my clothing line and my production company along with the name... I used to model in fashion shows and was asked to direct and choreograph a show for another organization. […] Since then, I have produced and co-produced many fashion shows and beauty pageants. My company also conducts classes to teach [aspiring models] how to walk on the runway, “modeling 101,” along with different self-esteem classes. Ultimately, you have to love who you see when you look in the mirror and I enjoy helping boost people’s self-esteem.




B.O.S.S.: Do you consider yourself a mentor to youth?LaTresa: I am a mentor to youth in many ways. Through coaching, I have the opportunity to interact with ath-letes and help give them a positive look at situations and life. Our words are powerful so I use my words to help uplift the young people and to build them up. I lead by example and show them that things happen in life, but it’s how you deal with those things that matter. I am a strict coach who believes in discipline. I feel that through sports, young athletes learn so much about life, and when we apply the skills we learn on the court to real world situations, we will become better people. As a motivational speaker, I enjoy the rewarding interactions and feedback I receive. You never know what someone is going through in their life. I love speaking and telling my story about how I got through certain situations. I speak on following your dreams and never giving up. When speaking to a group of girls, my message is all about GIRL POWER! Young girls have so many issues to deal with, and I am happy that I can use my words to help encourage, motivate and inspire them. The feedback I receive after I speak is such a blessing to me. Schools and groups always want me to speak again and the comments students leave after I speak are really touching. I pray before every speech and ask God to give me the words he wants me to say and I know from the comments that I get that God answered my prayer. Another way I mentor is by giving back. I live my life knowing that I am blessed to be a blessing to others. Through giving back, I am able to plant positive seeds and I know that they will grow. There are so many or-ganizations out there that need volunteers and mentors. I encourage everyone to find one that is dear to their heart and give back to it. Spend some time volunteering and see how much of a blessing it will be to your life!

B.O.S.S.: What are some of the different organizations and things you participate in to give back to your com-munity? LaTresa: I am one of the Women With NO Excuses with Chanita Foster’s foundation, Beyond The Game. We are a group of positive, beautiful, and caring women who come together and work hard to give back. We all have busy schedules and different things that we do, but that does not stop us from working together and helping those in need. We have fundraisers often and raise money for the orphans in Swaziland and Africa. I help out many

professional athletes with their youth camps. Some include Alonzo Mourning, Allan Hous-ton, Dwight Howard, Eric Matthews, Samuel Hines, Ivory Latta, and others. I love helping out at the camps because my goal is to come into contact with as many youth as possible, and hopefully I will make a positive difference in a few of their lives. If so, then I have done my job. One of the most powerful hashtags on Twitter is #WHYiGIVE by Michael Chatman on Tuesdays at 8pm EST. I enjoy participating in this with other philanthropists and positive people who all tweet about why we give to oth-ers. It is very inspiring and I have met some wonderful people through this network.

B.O.S.S.: What do you plan on working on in the future? LaTresa: I am working on my nonprofit orga-nization, Making A Better Me. My nonprofit is here to reach youth through sports and to encourage them to be the best person that they can be. Making A Bet-ter Me has a mentoring program, as well as “a shining star” program in place to encourage youth to follow their dreams. Another project that I am excited about is pre-paring to shoot the pilot for my television show. My show is a positive show that parents will want their children to watch. This is a long process, and I’m enjoy-ing the journey. I am learning a lot of valuable things and meeting many wonderful people on the way. I am also still designing for my clothing line and working on my two books. The first book is almost finished. It is about dating, but not a guide to tell ladies what to do. It is a guide though. It’s going to be a great read. My second book is a motivational book for young people. This one is personal and I know that it will help many youth deal with situations. In closing, I want to encourage everyone to follow their dreams. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. Keep your head up and stay positive, for there is a positive to every situation. “Shoot for the galaxies and you will at least touch the planets.” I came up with this because I don’t think the stars are far enough.Twitter: @PurpleDiva13Instagram: @PurpleDiva13Email: [email protected]

“It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.”

A Dayto Remember

A Dayto Remember

January 21, 2013

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More BOSSES

in 2013! Felicisa Evans, MSCEOCardinal Learning Center, LLC7710 Reading Road Suite 100(Telephone) 513-300-0503(Email) [email protected](Website) www.Cardinal-Learning-Center.org

Cardinal Learning Center, LLC a privately minority owned certified agency through the Ohio Department of Develop-mental Disabilities. Cardinal was founded in 2009 to work and serve individuals with dis-abilities.

Cardinal offers a very unique twist of services for individu-als. Cardinal operates seven days a week working with individuals on social skills, recreational activities, and community living. Cardinal provides families the opportunity for each member to maintain their individual-ism. We offer services to low-income families whose family member is developmentally disabled. Please visit Cardinal's website for further detail, monthly Calendars, and Contact Infor-mation!

Tonda Peterson-Bry-ant passing out tur-key dinners in her hometown of Flint, Michigan during the Thanksgiving holi-days for her brother's foundation (Morris Peterson Jr. Foun-dation). This was an event she orga-nized in conjunction with the Flint Urban League.


Tonda Peterson-Bryant


ARTICLE

@TheWriteModel


I'm Bossy!Boss [baws, bos]: A person who makes decisions, ex-ercises authority, dominates, etc.

Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” In order for a woman to be at boss status, she must know her responsibili-ties and be prepared to put her best foot forward at all times. Now, when I say “boss status” I don't mean boss as in supervisor, I mean boss as in a woman who makes major moves! A boss woman is confident in herself and the decisions she makes. She is intention-al and always thinks things through. She's a provider and a nurturer. She's highly respected and admired by all. A boss woman can be a mother, an executive, a friend, a mogul... she can be you.

When I think of a boss woman, one person who comes to mind is Ms. Tyra Banks. Tyra has made the most of her life and career and she continues to take it to another level. She took what made her successful, modeling, and paid it forward by turning it into an opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring models all over the world. She has built a pretty impressive empire too. Now, that's what I call bossy!

Not all of the women I call a boss are well-known or famous. I've had the pleasure of being in the company of several boss women and heroines throughout my life. These women are a part of my bloodline. When I think of strength, poise and grace, I see the faces of

the beautiful women in my family. I think of my great-aunt who was a young bride and adopted three children before she finally had one of her own. Even while raising her four children, her home was always open to her nieces, nephews and grandchil-dren. She has selflessly helped raise fifteen children but only gave birth to one! Now you'd think some-one like that would never have bad luck, but even when life reared it's ugly head (death, betrayal by her natural child, starting over at 70) she handled it all gracefully. That's what I call a boss.

I see my mother's face when I think of a boss wom-an. After giving birth to me she, was devastated to learn the doctor's accidentally gave her a hys-terectomy and at age 19 she could no longer have children, literally killing her dreams of giving me a brother or sister. Over the years I've watched her go through many phases, the ups and the downs... she's quite complex, but her strength is amazing. The delicate flower I call mom is truly the biggest boss that I've seen thus far.

The list of boss women in my family goes long. From a cousin who raised her younger brothers while their mom was on drugs to a lady cop who chased thieves, successfully ran a side business, at-tended film school, and picked up the pieces to her grandmother's perfect puzzle. They were the glue that helped stick their families together. Only a woman of boss status can manage all of that.

To be a boss woman, you must be willing to smile and stand tall even in the midst of pain and trou-ble. You must be willing to make power moves whether the world is watching or no one is watch-ing, whether everyone knows your name or no one knows your name. A boss is a leader and she's pre-pared to take on ANY task that is put before her. She's all about accomplishing and has no time for things of a petty nature. A boss does what she has to do but she doesn't rob Peter to pay Paul, she holds her own at all costs. She's creative and inven-tive, always thinking ahead. A boss is proud but she is not prideful, she's secure enough to ask for and accept help from others when it's needed. She's honest with both herself and everyone else, there's no room for lies. Before she'll use you to help her, she'll use herself to help you. A boss woman is an authentic woman.

Being a boss is about more than making millions of dollars or dictating rules, it's about leadership and humility. Anyone can call themselves a boss, but do they display boss-like qualities? That's what a real woman of boss status does, she talks the talk and she walks the walk! “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” Are you ready to be a boss?

“Being a boss is about more than making millions of dollars or dictating

rules, it's about leade

rship and humility.”

EVOLVE

The #1 Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives a DERRICK Interview by asking 7 questions through each letter of his first name to give you an insightful perspective from other experts, entrepre-neurs, celebrities, and up and coming super stars.

NEW FEATURE

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D.E.R.R.I.C.K.INTERVIEW

Today’s DERRICK Interview is with Mechelle Tucker, p/k/a “The Networker’s Networker” is a creative authority in power networking because of who she knows, and has become a sought af-ter business leader in the marketplace. Mechelle is an effective networker and has been practic-ing the art of networking for over 7 years. Power Networking is a SKILLED ART, not an activity for Mechelle.

D is for Dream. What is your dream, goals or what have you achieved?

My Dream is to collaborate and work with Oprah, Beyonce and Michelle Obama, 3 women I passionately admire. My goal is to business network with 1 million people.

E is for Encourage. What encourages you?

People who make the impossible possible always keep me encouraged.

R is for Resource. What resources do you bring to the table that makes you unique or stand out?

I have numerous affiliations with working with mover’s and shaker’s of the economy and com-munity based organizations as a power business broker who has represented size-able incomes for all clients.


Derrick Hayes is the author of 1 WORD Is All It Takes, Creator of Derricknyms, Developer of the app Motivation To Your Mobile, Nominator of Today’s Honoree, and blogs at the Encouragement Speaker and can be reached at

[email protected] or (706) 615-1662.

R is for Ready. When did you realize you were ready for what you are doing now?

When my 3rd party relationships started to benefit and/or profit off of my labor of introduction, connections and advice.

I is for Individual. Name at least one person that you know that you feel others should learn about and why?

Dr. Will Moreland, Author and America’s #1 Leadership Life Trainer. In 2012 I was mentioned in Dr. Will’s newest book “Genius Potential”, where he lays out the keys to lasting fulfillment in life, it’s discovering your special gift, your Genius Potential

C is for Continue. When you fail, things look bleak or are not optimistic what makes you want to continue?

My Faith is everything. My family is my biggest inspiration. My passion for networking is why I can’t stop, I won’t stop until I am over the top.

K is for Key. What keys to success can you leave for upcoming entrepreneurs and leaders?

The 7 Keys to Sail to Success: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Re-lationship, Championship, Partnership, Mentorship and Mem-bership.

Is there anything that we did not touch on that you would like to inspire others with?

I want all entrepreneurs to know that it’s possible to have your heart desires. Never allow your actions to get desperate because only inspired actions make a positive difference.

Visit Mechelle Tucker at http://www.1stclassconsultant.com for more information.

How far would you go in order to stand for a cause? What would you do to show the world you are passionate about something? In what ways could you do all of these and serve your community at the same time?

All of these questions were answered by someone I went to school with and am now inspired by. Enter, 25-year old, Turquoise Johnson, founder and owner of Hairless 4 Her Awareness, Incorporated. Balancing be-ing a mom to her 6-year old, autistic son, a student currently earning her BA in business administration and management with future plans of earning not only her MBA, but PhD, a volunteer, an aspiring author, and be-ing a business owner, she is on a mission to strive for excellence. A woman with a passion and vision to change the way we view the idea and image of breast cancer. Turquoise not only founded a non-profit organization through her home state of New Jersey, but be-came a true representative for breast cancer awareness spreading her word everywhere she goes. Turquoise has dubbed the month of October “30 Days of Pink” in which she will do exactly that: wear pink everyday for thirty days for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Along with this, she has shaved off all her hair! Now, readers, com-ing from East Orange, New Jersey, neither myself, nor Turquoise, is a stranger to appreciating our hair. Because of this, I applaud her for moving past the vanity that I know surrounded us through our friends and strangers alike, in order to share her message and prove a point with others. This may not be something I would be able to pull off with the confidence and sureness Turquoise displays, but it’s definitely an action/ lifestyle I commend and admire. So, she’s wearing pink and she cut her hair... What makes her different from other advocates? She has funded H4HA solely out of her own pocket, as well as been hands on with everything. Anything that needs money, it comes from Turquoise, personally. Imagine starting a company on a “hunch” and running said com-pany for a year using your own money, time, and energy. That shows dedication and faith in what she believes in. Hairless 4 Her Awareness was started in July 2011 after years of witnessing through her jobs as a certified medical assistant working with various doctors, the way women with low income were treated when it came to healthcare as well as a personal loss of one of our favorite teachers- a drama teacher, choir director, a mother figure- to this disease. When she is not working directly on H4HA, Turquoise volunteers at the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center in Newark, NJ. As a volunteer and former medical assistant, she has become friends with the women she has come in contact with. From patient advocacy to personal friendships, Turquoise has heard

Article

Turquoise Johnson

Hairless 4 Her

By: Drea Elizabeth

Awareness

A

H4HA is a non-profit organization that was put in place to promote the awareness of cancer, particularly, breast cancer. H4HA will strive to promote awareness with visual campaigns to show the world many different faces of this disease. The inspiration behind this organization came from the stories of women who have died or are in remission from this disease. Cancer is an international prob-

lem that needs to be solved. Please help H4HA fight for a cure.

Visit Hairless for Her Awareness, Inc. on the web at www.Hairless4HerAwarenessInc.org for more information.


Article

their pains, their joys, and their prayers. I can think of no one better to represent these women than someone who may be considered an “out-sider looking in” yet understands deep in her core what it is these women are struggling with. The one thing Turquoise says is making her happy is the fact that “people are getting it. They understand what it is we do and who we are. They are learning about breast cancer and their options. They get it.” At the end of 2012, H4HA hosted a benefit function where a por-tion of the proceeds were donated to the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center in Newark. In a way, this was Turquoise’s way of giving back to the place that had motivated her to become a part of the solution. Also, she plans on securing a mammo-gram van to travel throughout the state to provide preliminary screenings for women aged 35 and older with low- income and/ or no health insurance.“Did you know that a mammo-gram is $250, ONE vial of che-motherapy costs $1500, and a pill-- ONE pill is $2000?!” In one way or another, she wants to help offset the costs associated with this disease in order to provide more women with an opportu-nity to survive. Turquoise insists that she is not “fighting for a cure” per se, but more or less, she is fighting for awareness. “All the campaigns for breast cancer speak on saving the ‘boobies.’ No,” she says. “Let’s save the women, not the boobies.” To conclude, Hairless 4 Her Awareness, Incorporated is more than a non-profit organization. It is a product of the countless women liv-ing with breast cancer, women who have survived breast cancer, women who have lost their lives to breast cancer, women affected indirectly by breast cancer, and one woman who wants to change the way we view the image of breast cancer.

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