STRONG WOMEN TAKE ON TOMORROW: Amie, Beverly, Claudia, Esther, Jasmine, Julie & Michelle Fierce Lioness. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 1 Q ISSUE 10 Q Envision Proven Success Magazine Q We don’t look like what we’ve been through. Q 2023 Q
EnVision Proven Success provides knowledge and resources that empower women to improve their quality of life. LEARN MORE ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM 2 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
PUBLICATION TEAM ISSUE 8: McQUETTA WILLIAMS Founder, CEO / Editor-In-Chief Contents 04 Letter from Our Editor GARTH BISHOP Managing Editor 05 Letter from Our Founder LYDIA STUTZMAN Creative Director & Designer 08 Amie Wright 12 Beverly Robinson JOSHUA TURCIOS Photographer WRITERS Alethea Morris, Tamani Lucy-Thompson, Gerri Collier, Phillis Hand, Julie Burke, Emma Walker, Leah Bashaw, Diana Yates VOLUNTEERS Phillis Hand, Creative Workshop Coordinator Emily Krombach, Bookkeeper Shelly Pomponio, Website Designer Elita Summers 16 Claudia Stephens 20 2022–2023 Memories 26 Esther Flores 30 Jasmine Wooten 34 Q&A with Dr. Anahi Ortiz 36 Michelle Hanna 40 Julie Morrison 44 Featured Resources BOARD Diana Yates, Marketing Robin McGowan Alethea Morris Julie Burkes Beverly Corner Kenya Lucy, Youth Board member ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 3 CELEBRATING 8 YEARS AS A NONPROFIT ADVISORY Tamani Lucy-Thompson Anamaria Perales-Lang Dr. Anahi Ortiz 46 Helplines & Hotlines 47 Lasting Impressions 47 In Memoriam
LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR: A Shield Against Hate Every day, it seems, I’m reminded of yet another group of people who I’m expected to hate. In America in 2023, the opportunities to demonize individuals who fall into one category or another are plentiful. And usually, when I’m told to hate the people who fall into these categories, I’m told to do it for love of my country. Undocumented immigrants. Homeless people. Teachers. Librarians. Transgender people. Scientists. And don’t forget drag queens! We had honest-to-God Nazis here in Columbus in May, goose-stepping on our streets in opposition to drag queens. I’m no fan of that kind of world view, but I admit, the core concept looks pretty appealing on paper. So none of the problems I encounter day to day, from the major to the mundane, are my fault? They’re only happening because of people I’ve never met – people who look or sound different from me? And all I have to do to solve these problems in life is to get rid of those people? I can see how that message might resonate. Maintaining that toxic world view means continuing to see faceless bogeymen everywhere – evil forces that lurk right around every corner, but can never be seen clearly. And when those bogeymen cease to be faceless, they cease to be bogeymen. Some of the featured women in this year’s edition of EnVision Proven Success have, at points in their lives, been part of groups that a lot of people hate by default. One spent years struggling with homelessness and drug addiction. One experienced an unthinkable tragedy while in a relationship with a drug dealer. One got pregnant as a teenager. Several have spent time on public assistance; still others have escaped relationships with physically and/or emotionally abusive men. But they aren’t featured in EnVision because of their personal tragedies. They’re featured because they overcame those personal tragedies to make meaningful contributions to the lives of people around them. Doctors, nurses, social workers, “Fierce Lionesses” who help other women fight back against cancer, human trafficking and a litany of other struggles. Not a single one of these women is faceless. As you read their stories, make mental notes of the most important details. Keep them in mind, and bring them out the next time someone tries to convince you to hate someone who falls into one of the categories our featured women once occupied. Powerful personal stories like these can uplift, but they can also be used as a shield against hate. Each of our featured women has accomplished a great deal, and by telling their stories, they can accomplish even more — with your help. “ As you read their stories, make mental notes of the most important details. Keep them in mind, and bring them out the next time someone tries to convince you to hate someone who falls into one of the categories our featured women once occupied. ” Garth Bishop is editor of the 2023 edition of EnVision Proven Success. A longtime Columbus-area journalist, he is secretary and past president of the Central Ohio Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He also works as a freelance writer, editor and writing coach, and as a content writer for Dublin-based digital marketing agency ForeFront Web. Garth Bishop FREELANCE WRITER, EDITOR & WRITING COACH GARTH.BISHOP@HOTMAIL.COM 4 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
McQUETTA WILLIAMS & EnVision Proven Success Can you imagine disadvantage women never having a hope of living successful lives? As the founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization and publication anchor of the same name, EnVision Proven Success, I became impassioned to create a forum to share their struggles and successes, and to strengthen the resources that help women realize their importance. EnVision Proven Success is excited to announce the 10th edition of our magazine, “Fierce Lioness,” as these women share their stories. I share with you today because right now, at this very moment, there is a young woman trying to land a job and stay sober at the same time. At this very moment, there is a woman who can’t shake the trauma of sexual assault. At this very moment, there is a woman who is looking for inspiration, something that picks her up when life has kicked her down. Please donate to EnVision Proven Success today. Your gift empowers these women to improve their quality of life. Because We Don’t Look Like What We’ve Been Through. EnVision Proven Success is a professionally printed magazine that shares the stories of women who have regained their dignity and moved forward in a way they previously thought impossible. Their candor allows readers to understand the challenges women from adverse circumstances face, and that they have achieved great accomplishments and overcome daunting barriers unimagined by most. Your gift empowers these women to improve their quality of life. Because We Don’t Look Like What We’ve Been Through. Women transitioning into the workforce from a traumatic situation face new challenges each day. They must understand corporate culture. They must handle their personal finances. They must summon a sense of confidence that has often been shattered by earlier life experiences. They must do all of this with little support or guidance. But your gift will change all that. You can build a community of people learning to network, build selfconfidence and develop professional skills. When you donate or sponsor, you empower another woman to rise above her current situation through sharing her story, networking in EPS’ monthly Women’s Empowerment Group, mentoring, EPS events, creative workshops and education. Your gift means a woman can share her story as a healing process for her and others who read her story. She will gain self-awareness and develop a life plan. She will break free from past hurt. She will develop business and entrepreneurial skills. She will focus on both personal development and self-care. Make no mistake about it. EPS women are as resilient as they come. But resilience alone won’t teach them how to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Resilience alone won’t give them the confidence to believe in themselves. Resilience alone won’t provide a community of supporters who are ready to help any way they can. That’s why your gift is so important. Your donation or sponsorship gives these women the wings they need to soar. But the truth is that your gift does so much more. When you donate or sponsor, you support the EnVision Proven Success magazine. Readers from all over the globe will find inspiration from women who have moved forward in a way they thought impossible. They will understand the challenges women from adverse circumstances face, and how these women overcame the adversity in their lives. Donate or sponsor today to empower another woman to rise above her current situation through sharing their stories, mentoring and education. We don’t have a moment to lose. EnVision Proven Success is a tax-exempt public charity. All contributions may be tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donations or sponsorship. Warmly, McQuetta Williams Founder/CEO • 614.344.1188 Please visit our website, EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to sign up on our mailing list so you never miss updates. As the founder and CEO, along with the entire EPS team, we would like to thank you in advance for all your support. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 5
Fierce Lioness
YOU’LL LEARN EACH WOMAN IS A “FIERCE LIONESS” BECAUSE: She is a multifaceted woman who works to empower herself and empower others. She isn’t afraid to acknowledge her fears, her doubts and her insecurities, but she tries so hard to be brave and courageous. She is a multifaceted woman who works to empower herself and empower others. She isn’t afraid to acknowledge her fears, her doubts, and her insecurities. She tries hard to be brave & courageous. She works hard and is unflinching in the belief of her personal values. She is bold and unapologetic in the way she chooses to express herself. Being fierce means she’s doing something that is against her norm.
Amie Wright What Have You Been Robbed of? BY EMMA JEANIE WALKER-SUAREZ Amie Wright is a congenial, soft-spoken, woman whose past is a cautionary tale of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coupled with being involved with the wrong people, it can make for tragically traumatic experiences that cannot be forgotten. Brought up in Columbus Ohio, by her mother and her God-fearing grandmother, Amie attended church regularly during her youth. Like many young people, as she entered her teenage years, her interests changed from church to the glitter and glamour of fast money that she saw being made by those living the “street life.” By age 15, she began to smoke marijuana. Amie became an STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant), though it is not the most lucrative career. She also began to date young men who chose the route of making fast and illicit money. After Amie got pregnant at 22, her child’s father was incarcerated. She then became involved with another young man who made a living selling marijuana. Since she had stopped working during her pregnancy and was trying to survive on welfare, she soon allowed him to move in with her. They were engaged to be married the following November, and he was there to witness the birth of her son, Alamar John Will. Shortly after Alamar was born, her fiancé heard word that someone planned to rob him. He made plans for Amie and Alamar to stay at Amie’s mother’s house, though her mother disapproved of his lifestyle until things blew over. Amie’s mom would tell her he wasn’t the type of guy she needed to date: ‘Don’t let him do that at your house.” Amie returned to her Short North apartment on a Tuesday. Two days later — on May 29, 2003 — the would-be robber broke into Amie’s home shot and killed her fiancé. Amie was also shot while she held her baby, Alamar in her arms, as the shooter intended to leave no witnesses. The bullet went through Amie’s hand and 33-day-old Alamar, then into Amie. Amie survived to identify the murderer, but her son, Alamar did not. After a tragic loss and her own near death, Amie became depressed, even despondent. She was angry with God for allowing something so horrific to happen to an innocent baby and her fiancé. At one point, she did not care if she lived or died. She blamed herself for the loss of her only child. She began to smoke marijuana herself, using it to get up in the morning and go to bed at night. She has since been in therapy and has come to realize that she was not to blame for the decisions of the perpetrator. Today, Amie has decided to live and tell her life story so that her son’s short life will not have been in vain. Through Alamar’s life and death, Amie has found the strength to become a motivational speaker, primarily to women and young people. She has also returned to the church, now attending Bethany Baptist Church under Dr. Jonathan Bradford Sr. Amie wants people, mainly young people, to realize that street life can cost you much more than money can buy. Using her life as ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 9
an example, she explains how, prior to Alamar’s birth, she enjoyed dating guys who sold drugs. She has since “done a 180” with her life, she says. Now, she won’t even consider dating a drug dealer. She has also remained childless due to the emotional pain of losing Alamar. Thankfully, Amie can now repeat that popular slogan: “I don’t look like what I’ve been through.” Whenever Amie speaks to a group, the title of her talk is “What Have You Been Robbed Of?” She works to continually motivate herself so she can motivate others. When Amie decided to return to work as an STNA, her spirit was buoyed, as she had an epiphany that helping others was her mission. It gave her joy and she felt needed. She now looks forward to each new day, particularly the opportunity to help others and share her story. Her greatest hope is that she is able to enlighten someone so that they are spared a similar tragedy. Emma Jeanie Walker-Suarez Master of Arts in Education Major in Special Education at Grand Canyon University “ The Lioness must study the prey, and pray not to be a prey during the hunt. ” Your Ad Here! Advertise your business in our next issue. Full, half, quarter, and business card size space available. eps@envisionprovensuccess.org 10 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
A NOTE FROM TAKITA Hello! My Name is Takita I moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio at the start of the pandemic. I was looking for an opportunity to volunteer with an organization and employment. That is when I met Miss McQuetta Williams on Facebook. After learning about the mission/vision of EnVision Proven Success (EPS), i.e. EPS provides knowledge and resources that empower women to improve their quality of life, I became a volunteer on the event planning committee. Also, as a volunteer, I was referred by McQuetta the CEO of EnVision Proven Success to Belle Harbour to begin a new career as a property manager, and thankful to Anamaria Peral -Lang, Director at Belle Harbour Management of Ohio, for hiring me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at EnVision Proven Success and also to be EPS 2022, Masquerade Winner. Yes, it’s because of your support, sponsorship, and donations supporting the mission/vision of EnVision Proven Success that I too am Fierce Loneliness and I Don’t Look Like What I’ve Been Through! At EnVision Proven Success, there is no shortage of ways that you can help us reach our goals. Whether you are looking to donate your time, or efforts, or become a sponsor, funds, goods, or services, we have several opportunities indicated on our website to do so. We welcome all support. Visit our website at EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to donate with one-time funds or your time. SUPPORT EPS As a small grassroots, 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, we rely largely on the kindness of people like you. Your contributions to EnVision Proven Success will help us provide quality programming and much-needed community tangibles for all women requesting and receiving our comprehensive social support services. There is no shortage of ways that you can help us reach our goals. Please visit our website, EnVisionProvenSuccess.com, if you are looking to donate your time, monthly or annual efforts, sponsorship, volunteer, goods or services, or resources, or to sponsor a featured woman. Also, sign up for our mailing list and check out our social media to ensure you never miss updates. We welcome all support. Again, thank you for supporting the mission of EnVision Proven Success to provide knowledge and resources that empower women to improve their quality of life. As women, “We Don’t Look Like What We’ve Been Through.” #EPSMAGLAUNCH ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 11
Beverly Robinson A Style All Her Own BY LEAH BASHAW Looking at Beverly Robinson now, the word that comes to mind is “energetic.” She carries herself with confident energy – not because she has never faced challenges, but because she has faced many that could have easily taken her life. Beverly’s childhood was tumultuous. She is the youngest of five children. Her mother struggled with mental health issues, and vicious cycles of trauma took place in their home. Beverly remembers being removed from the home on multiple occasions, often ending up living with relatives or in foster care. “I wanted to be with my mom,” Beverly says. Both inside and outside the home, Beverly experienced sexual abuse. She remembers not feeling safe as she tried to adjust to living in different homes with different people. The school became an outlet for Beverly. No one at school knew of her troubles at home. She worked hard as a student and to fit in among her peers. Beverly remembers, with particular fondness, her fourth and sixthgrade teachers, as well as the school’s reading club, whose books provided an escape from her stressful home life. One of her favorite characters, Ramona Quimby, was created by a fellow Beverly: Beverly Cleary. While Beverly continued to be an incredible student, she says, she became promiscuous as she got older. In high school, she entered a relationship that mirrored the domestic violence she grew up with. Beverly became pregnant in her junior year, which made her personal life even more unstable. The Domestic violence just seemed normal to her. Throughout her pregnancy, and even after the birth of her son, Beverly stayed in school, for which she credits her mother. Leaving school was “never an option,” Beverly says. She proudly graduated high school on time, wanting a different future for herself and her son. After high school, she entered the workforce, often working in fast food, retail jobs, or jobs with young children. Beverly had a second child, a daughter, at 19 years old. At 23, Beverly moved from Toledo Ohio to Columbus Ohio for a fresh start and began working as an intervention aide for Columbus City Schools. She ran from the pain of her past but was unable to outrun domestic violence. She was 29 years old and in another violent and tumultuous relationship when she gave birth to her second daughter. When her baby girl was 3 months old, her partner nearly strangled her to death. Beverly describes this as a dark time when she lost nearly everything, even her love for fashion. She remained in the cycle of abuse with her partner and gave birth to her youngest son at 31. When he was 4 months old, Beverly started counseling in order to put the pieces of her broken life back together. In 2007, a friend from Beverly’s church was killed in a fight stemming from domestic violence. Beverly was supposed to be with her at the time and realizes she would have been caught in the crossfire. This tragic event fueled Beverly’s conviction that she needed to break the cycles of domestic violence that she and her children experienced. After being terminated from a social services position working with youth, Beverly worked ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 13
at Macy’s as an Estee Lauder beauty advisor. At first, she wanted to go back to a full-time position in social services so she could help people who were struggling. But she soon found ways to do that as a beauty advisor. As Beverly applied and blended her clients’ makeup, they would open up to her about their struggles and insecurities. Even as she sold makeup and skin care, Beverly knew she was helping these women feel more confident about themselves. At the same time, Beverly’s daughter was being bullied at school, and Beverly noticed the insecurities that she, too, had faced. With women and girls reaching out to her for help, she began mentoring women in the community and girls at her daughter’s school. In 2013, she founded the Good Girl Project, Inc., and within five years, it became a multifaceted social enterprise that helps women find their personal style and curate their closet and helps young girls and women navigate trauma, set goals and, ultimately, realize that, regardless of what they have faced in their lives, there is a good girl within. The Good Girl Project’s goal is to inspire women and girls to use their talents and skills to follow their dreams. As she styled women for special events, Beverly often got to witness their “aha” moments, when they recognized their own beauty and gained confidence. Beverly’s own style focuses on dressing as an expression of her feelings. “I think people would describe me as energetic and full of life,” she says. “I want people to know that we are resilient.” Beverly has also worked to pass on her resiliency to her children. As teenagers, three of her children lost their fathers in tragic events, and they had to get through those times as best they could, she says. She remembers the guidance counselor at her son’s school consistently reaching out and giving a gift card to the family over the holidays when his father passed away. Beverly’s church family and prayer group were also a source of support, praying for her and her family as they adjusted to life. Beverly’s organization now pays it forward by honoring women who exemplify resilience and community impact. 14 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
Despite the cycles of violence and trauma, Beverly says, “She never lost hope. Even as a young child, she always believed and hoped that she would be reunited with her mom when they were separated.” She encourages women who are experiencing domestic violence, as she once did, to find their own resiliency, knowing that it’s seldom as simple as just deciding to leave. “There is still hope and a way out,” she says. “Take every step to be safe.” She encourages these girls and women to create healthy support systems, set goals, and know that they can start over and have a better future. Beverly is a fierce example of the power of breaking free. Beverly’s life exemplifies resilience. She has overcome experiences that could have destroyed her. She says that we all have a choice of who we become. It is important that we do not allow other’s opinions of us to hold us captive. More than anything else, she wants women to know that “we all have a ‘Good Girl’ snuggled deep down inside of us.” Pastor Caska Thompson 165 Fairway Blvd, Columbus, OH 43213 614-397-1860 | Trailblazers Ministries on Facebook trailblazersministries@yahoo.com Leah Bashaw Leah was raised in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in English. Leah is passionate about writing and strives to be active in the Columbus community, exploring the sights and volunteering. Joshua Turcios PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY jturcios98@gmail.com Carpe Diem Studios @carpediemstudios_ | @thelife0fjosh ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 15
Claudia Stephens Captivating BY PHILLIS HAND Young Claudia Imagine that you can hear the echo of success bouncing off of a garage door in the back of a house. That is one of the beauties of Claudia Stephen’s story. It brings forth the inspiration and hopes that Claudia has experienced. Claudia came from living in a garage to owning a home with a garage. Claudia says “I think in acronyms a lot. ‘I say that regardless of what we have been through, there is hope.’ Healing Overcoming and Purpose and Empowerment… there is HOPE.” Claudia is the youngest of seven children in her family. She relocated to Ohio from California 20plus years ago. Claudia came from a challenging childhood that included abuse among the traumas that she experienced. Counselors would ask her how she got herself out of bad situations and her answer is that she just wanted to be loved and that is the mindset that helped free her. Claudia was young and married the guy that showed her attention and she thought loved her. She accepted living in sub par conditions for many years. Claudia never had her own address for twelve years while she was on her journey. As a national advocate, she learned that if you do not have an address, you are considered homeless. That was a really big pill to swallow when she realized that she and her family technically were homeless. “ I say that regardless of what we have been through, there is hope. ” ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 17 Claudia was born a citizen of the United States and her family was born in Mexico. She always knew that she was able to endure hardships because of the God in her. Her ex-husband had a best friend here in Ohio and that is why they moved here. Her ex-husband got them an apartment and she told him that if he acts out, she was going to leave him. It wasn’t just him holding her down; it was that mindset and the culture and the people around her. Because of her culture and unspoken family values, the psychological manipulation that she grew up with and endured was ingrained in her behaviors and influenced the choices that she made when she was going through dark times. Claudia stated, “I started to believe that I had the problem of wanting things to change. I was made to feel that you should support your husband and be that submissive wife. You stick by him.” But when her mindset changed, “I became like ‘She-Ra’ the warrior” she says. “Like with the lady at the well, God has traveled miles and miles to meet her, because I am worthy.” A year passed after she left her exhusband and she started to get promoted at her job, and started to get better opportunities and became a supervisor. She had a friend here who helped and inspired her. “God just placed me with the right people to be able to do this,” she says. She remembers a moment, when she was at a low point, when a woman told her, “With that smile, there has to be more to you.” It helped her to understand that the abuse she had endured throughout her life was not normal.
She had been on her healing journey for a while when she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease in 2016. So, she gained a lot of weight and in the process, an artery abnormality was discovered. God has spared her life, but her coping mechanism was food. She’s glad that people are now realizing that eating disorders are signs and symptoms of trauma. Tears are flowing from Claudia’s face as she describes knowing that there are others who need to know that there is help for past trauma and hurts. They need to know that there is hope and there is a purpose and that God brings healing internally so that people can become who God intended them to be. She says, “You know, it’s like that butterfly that you are wearing. I like butterflies too. They represent transformation and change” relating to her writer, Ms. Phillis. Claudia says, “I’m really blessed, and my tears and sensitivity are because I have been through so much and I know what God has done for me. I don’t want to minimize or take away from people who are born into the faith, but there is a pureness in having gone through so much and now being able to help others who are going through.” The reason why she is sharing her story is because she wants people to see her experience of transformation and know that it could be them too. Now she is a Pastor’s wife. God called them forward. She shared that to say that people have told her that she disarms them, and they are able to share with her their hurts and pains. She prays for God to break her heart for what breaks His. She asks him to help her see people the way that He sees them. She shares the emotions because if it matters to God then it matters to her. Claudia has learned how to love. She didn’t know what that was in her previous relationship, with love, there was always a question, there was always a condition, and there was always an “if”. She wants to share about coming from a garage as my home, to having a home with a garage. Real change happened for her when she looked at her first-born son and realized that she has an unconditional love for him and realized that her children needed more, they deserved more. That was the turning point. When she thinks of it, for her, what changed was her seeing 18 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE her kids with lack. Her kids gave her motivation to change and make things better. When you are in a domestic situation, you are used to two incomes, and when you leave the relationship, you lose one income. So, when you are trying to change and heal and keep everything afloat, you need resources. You need that extra help. It is not that there aren’t resources. Most people can access resources, but you are able to get the help in your hand and have someone walk alongside to get you that job and get you connected and empower your confidence. That is what we offer for the people we serve at our support group called “H.O.P.E.” She started the H.O.P.E. support group in 2018. That is when she met Ms. McQuetta Williams. Since then, God has continued to help her peel back those layers. She finds that being vulnerable is so hard. It is really hard. We have people who come to our peer support group in order to “Healing Our Past Experiences”. The support group has now branched off into ‘Steps of HOPE”. The mission of Steps of HOPE is all about peer empowerment. It is like a hand-up. When you come and you experience healing in the group setting, you can get mentoring in order to further your personal growth. Then from there if there are other needs that someone has, we help. If you need a job, we help you. The theme of Claudia’s life is one of empowerment and resilience. Despite experiencing childhood abuse and domestic abuse, she has been able to overcome adversity and create a space for others to heal. Her life is a testament to the human capacity for strength courage and compassion when you believe in God, or someone greater than us. Her experience has given her a unique perspective on the world, and she has been able to use this to help others who may be going through a similar struggle. She’s able to help by creating a space of healing in a supportive environment, where individuals can work through their trauma and begin to rebuild their lives. Her story is a powerful example of how it is possible to turn hardship into something positive. Through her own perspective and determination, she has been able to transform her experience into a force of good by helping others who may be struggling to find hope and healing. Her theme of resilience and empowerment serves as an inspiration. It demonstrates to others that
Claudia Stephens Survivor of the Year Claudia’s Survivor of the Year Certificate “Freedom” no matter how big the challenge or how difficult the road may be, it is possible to rise above the challenges and create a better future for yourself and your family. Her main message is that true freedom comes from Jesus Christ. She’s not trying to push her faith on anyone, but that’s her story. She believes that no one can take away what she has lived and what God has done for her. Claudia never walked for graduation until she received her license in nursing. She did one class at a time. She received her associate in psychology in December 2022. She also applying for her Bachelor’s in social work. It isn’t about how fast you get there; it’s about getting there. As a family, we are moving the success needle up. When it comes to education and degrees for Hispanics, the statistics are low. Her boys have all moved the needle up in education. They have achieved their associates, bachelors and one has a trade. In this life, we are like a cloud, and we can minister to people who are going through physical elements, doubting that God is there, depression, mental health, and a variety of stuff. There is no one shoe that fits everyone’s pain. Everyone is so individual and there are so many pathways to healing, but what we do have in common is that we are human, and it is okay not to be OK. She’s all about being real with yourself. You don’t have to lie to “kick it” with her. Claudia has remarried and when she first started dating her second husband, he invited her to church. Then she knew that he was her husband right next to her. She shied away from telling her story for a long time, but she feels that now is the time. She has journeyed from pain to promise. The promises that God gives at the end of the pain in your life are manifested in your journey. She does what she does so that others can experience freedom. Freedom has the capacity to shine a light at the end of a tunnel and show someone the way. Freedom is so precious. Sometimes people have trouble describing freedom. We are so bogged down by so many weights. The weight of others, the weight of our past, and the lies we are told are all things that keep us in chains. Freedom is so invaluable. Claudia has been married now for 13 years and says, “I came with boxes of clothes and my two boys” is how Claudia described the transition into a new and better life. Her ex-husband would leave her and her children numerous times. His family would help her. She was a charismatic catholic and she heard God say, “Move to Ohio”. Claudia became overwhelmed with her change. She looks back and says “Wow, look at what God has done”. Today, her joy has come from seeing that transformation before her eyes. It is so beautiful to watch. Now she’s living a life worth telling. Remember that even when it is darkest, the light never turns off. Phillis Hand Phillis is a volunteer and a 2023 writer for EnVision Proven Success ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 19
2022–2023 MEMORIES 20 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
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2022–2023 MEMORIES 22 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
Visit our website at EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to see upcoming events and workshops or donate with your time or funds. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 23
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We don’t look like what we’ve been through. Can you imagine disadvantaged women never having a hope of living successful lives? We can and became impassioned to create EnVision Proven Success a forum to share our struggles, and successes, and to strengthen the resources that help women realize their importance. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 25
Esther Flores Breaking the Cycle of Trafficking BY TAMANI LUCY-THOMPSON Esther Flores’ story began in her Puerto Rican home in the Bronx River Projects, located in the South Bronx of New York. Her Spanish-speaking mother strived to provide for both her and her brother in a poverty-stricken and crime-infested neighborhood. Esther recalls eating a limitless supply of cornflakes, often in place of full meals. Speaking Spanish with her mother kept her connected to her roots and an appreciation of her heritage. Young Esther was exposed to various forms of abuse while growing up and attempted to find refuge by participating in after-school and church activities. After graduating high school and obtaining her Bachelor of Science in forensic medicine degree from Lehman College, part of the City University of New York, she applied to and was accepted at The Ohio State University College of Nursing. She soon began working at a nearby hospital and began working full-time. Esther married someone she thought would always be her everything, but she quickly began to recognize the signs of emotional abuse as his hurtful words and actions damaged her self-esteem and caused her to question her self-worth. She worried the abuse would escalate to physical violence, as it had with her father. After several unsuccessful attempts at marriage counseling, she filed a divorce. Feelings of hopelessness invaded her thoughts, and she wanted to end it all. She binge-drank on weekends and got involved in toxic relationships. One weekend, she had laid out a plan to end her life. She was on the bedroom floor in the fetal position and cried out, “If there is a God, please take away this pain.” Miraculously, she says, “I was instantly relieved from the pain.” With a moment of clarity, she decided to seek counseling for her mental health. Through that counseling, she learned the importance of facing emotional pain and surrounding herself with people who would help her through the healing process. Developing healthy coping mechanisms, rather than detaching from reality, is crucial, and this knowledge prompted her to begin working with human trafficking victims. They are vulnerable with her, and she is transparent with them. Esther originally chose to numb her pain with alcohol, but the pain would return when she sobered up. This is one of the reasons she believes in the importance of havens such as drop-in centers in red light districts: To show people the need to replace self-destructive behaviors with healing ones and good influences such as peer supporters, nurses, and different forms of therapy. This type of “love tribe” is nonjudgmental and protects the most vulnerable – women, youth, and transgender people – whose brains have been hijacked by opiates, stimulants, or other substances. The more the human trafficking victim comes to the drop-in center, the more they recognize their self-worth. Esther’s nine months of counseling helped her discover a lot about herself. It pushed her to form a healthy core support team to inspire and empower her. She also knew she had to nurture her spirit, which led her to find her divine purpose as a global and urban missionary at Rhema Christian Center led by Bishop Lafayette Scales. Her life experiences have shown her the injustices in the world: mistreatment of the poor, economic development overpowering human development, homeless families living in cars ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 27
the places people shy away from. She is inspired to create a sanctuary for youth, women, and transgender individuals stuck in human trafficking in the red-light districts of Columbus. and minivans, trap houses becoming “affordable housing” while multi-billion-dollar condos are built elsewhere. Media outlets overlook the disturbing numbers of women who are missing, trafficked and killed. Esther shares from her knowledge/resource, that Ohio leads the nation in opiate overdoses and has one of the highest rates of human trafficking. People suffering from mental health and substance abuse disorders are imprisoned rather than rehabilitated, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Compassionate settings such as drop-in centers, with caring volunteers and professionals, are lacking in poorer communities, Esther says, but healing broken people helps to heal communities. As a nurse, Esther has always felt compelled to help others, and today, she has embarked on a journey to assist communities in stopping generational hurts through the power of love. She attributes her triumphs to her faith in God and following the teachings of Jesus. It takes compassionate messengers to bring healing to the mind, body, and soul, she says, especially in In 2021, 1DivineLine2Health Drop-In Center was founded in the Hilltop. The organization behind it has been offering hospitable care to struggling people since 2015. Esther gives glory to God for the 6,000-plus women who have been helped by the Love Drop-in Center. It provides for more than just their basic needs, such as hygiene kits, clothes, Narcan, and food. It also offers human trafficking victims the chance to work with people who genuinely care for them. They all know Esther will put her life on the line for them, and her advocacy has helped the center procure funds from the city to build a multi-purpose room. In her time with 1DivineLine2Health, Esther has cleaned up and applied gauze and bandages to physical wounds, escorting as many visitors as possible to recover and medical sites. The Drop-In Center is open late at night when the population it serves needs it most and services are lacking elsewhere. Esther and her crew of committed supporters return to the trenches daily to reach people in need. “I try to love the hell out of them,” she says. Esther has devoted her life to serving women, choosing not to stay quiet and allow them to be enslaved, addicted, abused, misused, and disregarded as animals. She sees herself as a human advocate because she is fighting for the basic needs of the homeless and hurting in a country that is so rich. It galls her when legislators, law enforcement, and other political leaders downplay the need for her work or the seriousness of human trafficking and addiction. Esther believes in a vision of community engagement; community policing organizations and independent-thinking grassroots movements can work together to keep our communities safe. While law enforcement continues to recycle ineffective strategies for human and drug trafficking is on the rise, she is actively working with West Side community groups engaged in taking back the streets. 28 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
“ The Lioness must study the prey, and pray not to be a prey during the hunt. CONTRIBUTE ” Esther has sought the support of community organizations that believe in her mission. Her knowledge of her purpose makes an easy transition to the theme of this year’s magazine: “What does a fierce lioness mean to you?” A lioness’ obligations are protecting her young, earning and giving respect, making provisions, and studying prey. The lioness is fast, wise, and listened to. She cares for vulnerable cubs and develops strategies that empower and protect them from predators. “The Lioness must study the prey, and pray not to be a prey during the hunt,” she says. Tamani Lucy-Thompson Tamani is a writer for EnVision Proven Success who has contributed since the first publication. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has committed to serving women focused on recovery from drug and alcohol. NOV. 28: GIVING TUESDAY We are incredibly proud to be a Top-Rated nonprofit and a part of the #GivingTuesday movement. Help us make November 30, 2021 a day to remember, please visit our website EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to donate. KROGER REWARDS It’s easy and free to support EnVision Proven Success when you shop with your Shopper’s Card! The Kroger community rewards program can provide financial support to EnVision Proven Success workshops and services based on the money spent at Kroger stores by members enrolled in the program. By linking your Kroger plus card and shopping at Kroger, you help raise funds for EnVision Proven Success, while continuing to earn your own Kroger plus points and rewards! Register your Kroger plus card online at the Kroger community rewards website: kroger. com/communityrewards click on “enroll”. Follow the steps to create an account and link it to your Kroger plus card number. Enter our NPO number: TR744, or EnVision Proven Success and click on confirm. Visit our website at EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to donate with one-time funds or your time. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 29
Jasmine Wooten Conquering It All to Reclaim Her Power BY DIANA YATES Jasmine Wooten’s journey is only beginning. She is a mother, a Master of Social Work, a prolific artist, and a community advocate. She has a heart for uplifting and empowering women, social and economic justice, and highlighting disparities so positive change can be enacted. Her life revolves around the intersection of those things. Though her road has been riddled with challenges, trauma, and various forms of abuse, Jasmine is a survivor who is paving the path for herself and for many other women. Jasmine is many things, but her most treasured title is mother. She is proud to parent an 11-yearold daughter and 8-year-old son who are the light of her life. They have been one another’s support system and inspiration during the darkest of times. Jasmine is a survivor of domestic violence, as well as emotional abuse, physical abuse, and the additional trauma that domestic violence brings. During this time, she worked in various positions as a caregiver, taking on 12-plus hour shifts to support her children. Jasmine was a daycare teacher and a direct support professional in a nursing home and worked with individuals with disabilities. However, despite her hard work and determination, these positions were not enough to make financial ends meet for her family. Jasmine wanted a better, more meaningful, more fulfilling life for her and her children. With courage and strength, she was able to leave the abusive relationship. However – and she continually stresses this important fact – the trauma and abuse did not immediately stop even after she walked away. Post-separation abuse navigating the family court system has been even more traumatizing. Throughout the process, she felt her advocacy on behalf of her children’s safety and best interests went unheard, leaving her and her children unprotected. The systems that are supposed to protect the disadvantaged fall short all too often. And that’s not all: Jasmine realized those systems built to serve often unintentionally end up perpetuating harm. Through her subsequent education and living firsthand the incongruence between what is taught and what is reality, it is her ambition to make a change and better help others in need. Jasmine is a conqueror. She never gives up. She began to engage with community organizations and support groups to help rebuild her confidence and regain her sense of power as a woman, mother, and professional. One of the first programs she enrolled in after leaving the abusive relationship was with the Center for Family and Safety and Healing, which offered comprehensive therapy for her and her children as they navigated healing from abuse through therapy, a parenting program, and a support group. Jasmine also became with New Directions Career Center’s E3 program, which prepares and helps women pursue collegiate degrees and achieve their higher education goals, and Dress for Success Columbus, which helped her with interviews and employment preparation and offered professional women’s networking groups. She supported her children’s healthy ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 31
Jasmine’s journey has only just begun. She has exciting job prospects at her fingertips that align with her mission to make a positive impact in others’ lives through development and education by enrolling them in every community support group she could find, including HelpMeGrow, Spark, Babies and Me, and Ready.Set.Grow. She particularly appreciated HelpMeGrow, through which her children received amazing support for five years. It was this program that launched Jasmine’s dream of a career in social work. These programs and supports were key to the skill development and goal achievements that led her to enroll at Columbus State Community College in 2016. “While getting accepted and starting at Columbus State was an accomplishment for me, the true test of my ability to achieve came in persevering through to the finish line,” Jasmine says. Jasmine is proud to say that she graduated from Columbus State in 2019 with an Associate of Arts degree, all while healing through her trauma, being a full-time parent, and supporting her children through their healing as well. At Columbus State, she also joined programs such as Victims Advocacy, Women’s Connection, TRiO program, Disability Services, and Student Advocacy, all of which supported her higher education. Jasmine didn’t stop there. She went on to apply for and earn acceptance into, The Ohio State University’s College of Social Work. Once again, she found herself navigating full-time schooling and full-time parenting as a single mother –this time, during a pandemic. Leaning into her strengths, practicing self-care, and receiving support from her community networks were paramount during this time. In 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and in 2022, she graduated with her Master’s degree in social work through a one-year accelerated program. This is the accomplishment she is most proud of. 32 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE her education and her lived experiences. She is growing her art business and creating pieces focused on authenticity, Black beauty, experiences with imposter syndrome, and more. Jasmine is focused not on reliving the details of her harmful past, but on acknowledging the lessons learned from her experiences and healing and elevating her life and the lives of her children. “Even though those things have happened to me, that is not who I am,” Jasmine says. Looking ahead, Jasmine is determined to successfully transition from student to professional and achieve full financial stability for herself and her family. She envisions one day soon holding a leadership position here in Columbus where she can make even more of an impact. She sees herself continuing to engage with other women in the community in healthy and empowering ways, always setting the example to step above the comparison trap. “ Don’t give somebody else your power. ” Jasmine closes with her most powerful advice: “Don’t give somebody else your power. Don’t let somebody else question your worth or make you feel less than others. Trust your intuition, trust your journey, and trust your capabilities.” Diana Yates Diana currently serves as a marketing strategist to increase exposure and enrollments for The Ohio State University’s online programs. She is also the owner and founder of tangibles. She is passionate about community, faith, equity and inclusion, her lovable pit bull, and champion/best friend/husband.
WHY SPONSOR ENVISION? Right now, at this very moment, there is a young woman trying to land a job and stay sober at the same time. With one click, you can introduce her to a mentor who will guide her in times of celebration and of trial. At this very moment, there is a woman who can’t shake the trauma of sexual assault. With one click, you can welcome her into a leadership program that helps her be as generous with herself as she is with others. At this very moment, there is a woman who is looking for inspiration, something that picks her up when life has kicked her down. With one click, you can show her a community of women who have overcome the most daunting of obstacles. Please donate to EnVision Proven Success today. Your gift empowers women to improve their quality of life. Because We Don’t Look Like What We’ve Been Through. You see, women transitioning into the workforce face new challenges each day. They have to understand corporate culture. They have to handle their personal finances. They must summon a sense of confidence that has often been shattered by earlier life experiences. They must do all of this with little support or guidance. But your gift will change all that. You can build a community of people learning to network and develop professional skills. When you donate, you empower another woman to rise above her current situation through mentoring and education. Your gift means she will meet a mentor. She will gain self-awareness and develop a life plan. She will break free from past hurt. She will develop business and entrepreneurial skills. She will focus on both personal development and self-care. All free of charge. All because of you. Make no mistake about it. EPS women are as resilient as they come. But resilience alone won’t teach them how to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Resilience alone won’t give them the confidence to believe in themselves. When you donate, you support the EnVision Proven Success Magazine. Readers from all over the globe will find inspiration from women who have moved forward in a way they thought impossible. They will understand the challenges women from adverse circumstances face. And how these women overcame the adversity in their lives. All this, with a click of the donate button. Please open your heart and donate today. We don’t have a moment to lose. EnVision Proven Success is a nonprofit, 501 (c ) (3), recognized by the IRS, and your donations may be tax-deductible. Visit our website at EnvisionProvenSuccess.com to donate with one-time, monthly, or annually with your funds or time. Lydia Stutzman GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING Lydiary.com | @TheLydiary | Columbus, OH Lydia Stutzman (left), magazine designer; McQuetta Williams (right), Founder ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 33
Anahi Ortiz, MD A Champion for Prevention BY GERRI R. COLLIER Anahi Ortiz, MD retired from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office in November 2022. Since then, she has taken the opportunity to vacation, hike, see the mountains, study astronomy, practice yoga, enjoy the weather, and enjoy southern cooking, along with Indian, Chinese, French and Italian meals. She has time to relax in Arizona’s Mission Garden, historical living gardens that include Mexican, Spanish, and Native Tribe plants. Dr. Ortiz started her career as a pediatrician in New York. She had originally planned to pursue psychiatry but, during the course of her studies, she had a change of heart, deciding she could make more of a difference in helping children grow. After 10 years in New York, she worked for another five in community neighborhoods. She moved to Ohio for a career change that lasted 25 years. Even today, many of the protocols she implemented to protect her pediatric patients are still in practice. Over time, she became disappointed with the treatment of patients, evolving from patients to clients. She was offered the opportunity to be a consultant for Social Security Administration (SSA)while volunteering at free clinics. While consulting for the Social Security Administration, she met the Franklin County Coroner, who was also consulting for the SSA. When the coroner announced plans to retire, she asked Dr. Ortiz to apply for the position, feeling that Franklin County needed a community-minded physician in charge. 34 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE “ Dr. Ortiz applied for the position and was appointed. When her term ended two years later, she successfully ran for a full term. EPS: What is your greatest strength? Dr. Anahi Ortiz: Being resilient. Being able to forge through and do the work I have done in the past using creativity that is needed for leadership. Being able to think outside of the box. Being able to forge through and do the work I have done in the past using creativity that is needed for leadership. ” Gerri: Tell me about being a pediatrician in Columbus. Dr. Ortiz: You try out every area and choose where you want to go at the end of four years. Pediatrics was my last rotation. I wanted to be where I could make a difference. I practiced a lot of prevention to help children to grow up into healthy adults. Gerri: How did you transition from pediatrics to other areas of expertise? Dr. Ortiz: The environment changed. Primary centers close to home opened, and the patients were no longer called patients. The new term was “clients.” After working 25 years as a pediatrician, it was time to make a change. Gerri: What were some of the challenges that you faced? Dr. Ortiz: Before taking the coroner’s position, I was focused on improving and preventing disease with my patients. My patient’s entire life was ahead of them. The big hurdle of the coroner was that I was working with death daily.
I was working with life after death. Children died from diseases like cancer, accidents, and abuse. In medicine, one deal with genetic diseases, cancer, accidents, etc. The coroner only deals with deaths that are homicides, suicides, overdoses, and accidents at work or in a car. There is a huge learning curve working with staff daily and not allowing it to impact you. It was challenging working with death daily and having the strength to keep it from impacting me internally. Gerri: What are the occupations of the coroner’s staff? What do they do? Dr. Ortiz: The pathologists do autopsies. The coroner certifies the death by agreeing or disagreeing with the pathology. Pathologists are trained for this. A pathologist is a medical professional, usually a doctor, who examines and analyzes tissues to identify changes and anything unusual in the body. As a medical doctor, I was able to certify death on a medical basis. Gerri: What other challenges did you face? Dr. Ortiz: My medical background challenged me to ask myself questions. How could I continue to be a coroner and practice prevention? How could I bring prevention to the office? We were dealing with so many overdoses. I worked to build collaboration with different departments to discuss the addiction crisis. I wanted to know how we could prevent the deaths from occurring. I worked with suicide groups in the county and in the state. It was my desire to bring people to the table to discuss and find ways to prevent these events from continuing to occur. Gerri: What were some things that you were working to find solutions for before leaving the coroner’s office? Dr. Ortiz: Shortly before I left the coroner’s office, homicides were becoming a major crisis. I was looking for community-based solutions to resolve them. Gerri: Does the coroner’s office certify unnatural deaths? Dr. Ortiz: Yes, they do. Normal deaths like cancer, no. Gerri: McQuetta Williams has given us her definition of a “Fierce Lioness:” Energetic and strong, lions respect strength in others and have no time for subtlety. An extremely independent, ambitious, driven woman who is fierce, backs up her shit, and takes care of her own, friends and family. You had to have some fierceness about yourself to be successful as the coroner. How did you demonstrate fierceness and be professional at the same time? Dr. Ortiz: I encountered a need to be neutral to other parties. Information comes from other sources. Working with law enforcement was challenging. When I would push back, they would go to the media. They were not always happy with me. I remained respectful to everyone while still doing the mission of the coroner’s office. It took diplomacy and tact. We helped others to understand that we were going to administer and perform the mission of the coroner’s office. Gerri: Were there operational obstacles that limited your ability to carry out the duties of the office? Dr. Ortiz: I discovered that the coroner’s office was not budgeted the same as other county offices. Whenever I pushed for a higher budget, I received negative feedback through the media. I continued to explain the jobs of the professional staff in the coroner’s office, their daily tasks, and the need for higher salaries. Although the coroner’s staff members were professional medical personnel, the coroner’s office budget was one-third of some of the other budgets in the county. I kept pushing for higher salaries for my staff because suicides and overdoses were very high. There was a need for a higher budget. We finally got most of what we asked for, but by then, the job had begun to impact my health. I decided it was time to make a change for the improvement of my health. Gerri: What would you like to share? Dr. Ortiz: I wish to recognize McQuetta Williams for all the work that she has done all these years. I support her. It means a great deal to me and to those to whom she has helped. Gerri R. Collier Gerri is a member of the Professional Women’s Group of Dress for Success Columbus. She has earned degrees in Accounting, Business Management, Human Resource Management and Organizational Leadership, and Metaphysics. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 35
Michelle Hanna Warrior Uprising: From Trials to Triumph BY JULIE BURKE Neither marriage nor having children is ever easy — but both can be made more challenging when role models are short supply, and when drugs come into play. That was the reality faced by Michelle Hanna, whose parents divorced when she was young, leaving her to be raised solely by her mother. After growing up in Ohio with her single mother, Michelle got married, had two children and moved to California with her family. After her marriage ended and she became a mother again at 40, Michelle moved back to Ohio. That’s when drug addiction took over. Though the drugs cost her much of her memory during those, she remembers she started with pain pills. When she got hooked but couldn’t afford more, she turned to heroin. When that stopped doing the trick, she was so desperate for a high that she tried bath salts. She didn’t know what effect the drug would have but, she says, it was cheaper than meth. At this time, Michelle had medical insurance, food stamps and child support, and was renting a decent home for herself and her 12-year-old son . her other children being grown. Though she can’t imagine what her addiction put him through, Michelle says, she remains close with her son, and is grateful to God for keeping him safe and protecting him from the worst experiences of her life. They were evicted from their home because Michelle was spending the rent money on drugs, forcing the two of them to stay with friends and home school to cover her son’s poor attendance in school. This period also marked their first trip to a family shelter, which they had to leave every morning and return no earlier than 4 p.m. Michelle would walk to the South Side to get high, then head back to the shelter at night. She hated it, but she was still addicted to heroin, and staying in the shelter for free left money to feed her addiction. The shelter eventually found them an affordable place to live, but they only lived there for about six months before she stopped paying the rent. After being evicted, they moved in with a neighbor who, Michelle says, was no better than the streets. Still, she needed to keep a roof over her son and her mother’s heads. Her son had been out of school, and children protective services was looking for them. Someone eventually got them into a motel in her old neighborhood, leaving her in the same situation as before. The family walked to the train tracks, and Michelle left them there while she walked to the woods to look for her daughter, who was staying in a tent with her boyfriend. After she found them, she moved the three of them into their own tent. After three months, CPS came with the police and took away her son, who was then 14. Though they knew his living conditions were unsafe, they never investigated why, leaving Michelle to her addiction. When others gave her items to help her survive, they would tell her things like “God put this in my heart to give to you.” Gradually, this opened her eyes and compelled her to give thanks to the Lord for the gifts, keeping her mother safe and watching her son in the foster ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 37
home. She was not sure if God heard her give thanks, but she wanted to have faith. By this time, Michelle was down to 85 pounds, and her health was failing. In addition to her addiction, she had developed asthma and COPD, and had “no idea … how close to death (she) was getting,” she says. There were days when she contemplated suicide, but her mother stayed by her side in the tent with her. She prayed for Michelle to return home safely every day. Michelle’s addiction soon landed her in Maryhaven for rehab. She was near the end of her rope she was admitted to The Ohio State University Hospital, where she was diagnosed with AIDS. She would spend much of her time going back and forth between Maryhaven and the hospital to treat her drug addiction and AIDS. She recalls feeling like a zombie during group meetings, wondering if she had lost her spirituality. On two occasions, she went to stay at her brother’s house with her mother. She thought family would be good for her after what she had been through, but being out of the hospital and the program was just as hard as the stay at Maryhaven, she says, due to the uncertainty and lack of medication. The family visit lasted only one week. This led Michelle and her mother to a motel, paying by the week. While there, she recalled the feelings she got from the Christian groups that helped her when she lived on the streets. She soon connected with a new friend, Gail, who started taking Michelle to church with her on Sunday. This is when her life began to turn around. She has now been drug-free for seven years, and will mark four years without cigarettes in October. Michelle is excited to explain how the Lord restored her life, and how her church, Faith Life, gave her a place that felt like home. The small groups that met to talk about the Bible shared stories with her and brought her close enough to God to become baptized. Her favorite book of the Nible is the book of Isaiah. As she continued to grow in the church, living with her mother and son, her daughter followed in her footsteps to become a member of the church, get clean and get baptized. Remembering how people from the church prayed for her and her family, Michelle has invited women from the homeless shelter, as well as a coworker to attend her church. She says her story and her love for others will bring them “to the live by the way of the Lord.” Her favorite Bible verse to share with others is John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can go to the father except through me.” More recently, Michelle has survived bouts with depression, COVID-19 and double pneumonia, the latter landing her in the hospital for a week. In addition, recent doctor visits have confirmed that her AIDS is down to an undetectable level. She does her best to try to stay on track, seeing doctors regularly, owning her own car and working parttime. She may “forget from time to time that God is good,” she says, but she wants other women to know that she has been able to overcome many obstacles in life, and so can they. Julie Burke Julie is a single mother who takes pride in her work ethic. Assistant teacher at Columbus Urban League, EnVision Proven Success board member secretary, writer, and marketing assistant. 38 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
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Julie Morrison Warrior Uprising: From Trials to Triumph ALETHEA MORRIS Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, and Denver, Colorado, Julie Morrison may have never realized that her sandy brown hair color or the piercing hue of her beautiful brown eyes would invite the comparison to a “Fierce Lioness.” A self-described champion of women’s causes, Julie can trace her life from a time when it was full of trauma and despair to today when it is full of confidence, tenacity, and resolve. Having earned the stripes to prove that she is a fierce fighter and survivor of the pain she endured, she has pressed forward while reaching back to pull others up. As her mother’s only child, Julie watched her mother struggle with addiction, and with her father and other siblings living elsewhere, she had little parental support early on. She experienced abandonment, fear, anxiety, anger, and issues with trust and entitlement. Her mother “had her own issues, and every woman has their own story,” Julie says. She developed certain character flaws in order to maintain her sanity. “I recognized some issues, and I wanted to understand why, so I had to get educated on how to fix them,” she says. “Later, I wanted to share this knowledge and information with other women, to empower others to make a change.” Julie’s biggest accomplishment so far, she says, has been founding an organization for women that has been in operation for eight years. She was inspired by her aunt – Minister Diamond Preston of Dallas, Texas – a mentor who encouraged her to take that big leap of faith and launch her foundation, as well as by others such as Pastor T.D. Jakes and Brene Brown. Julie realized she had a purpose to serve others by sharing her healing journey. After coaching women through their own healing journeys, Julie soon found herself in need of her own healing following a diagnosis of breast cancer. She is now on the winning side in that fight, she says. “Yes, I am excited about my recovery, but I want people to understand the importance of early detection, that the treatments I went through were very harsh physically and emotionally, and that the mental anguish is real,” Julie says. Julie emphasizes the importance of early detection, regular mammograms, and asking family members about any history of breast cancer. “When you first hear the word cancer, the first thing you think is you are going to die,” she says. “I want women to know there is technology out there, as long as you have found it early.” She also believes women should learn how to perform self-examinations, as that is how she initially noticed her cancer. “Little did I know that I have what is called dense breast,” she says. The mammogram would come back clear, but I could feel the knots in my breast.” Julie recommends that women who get a diagnosis join a support group. “There are some dynamic women out there that have been dealing with this for years and have an education that you could never imagine,” she says. In addition, she suggests researching doctors and different treatment options to figure out what might work for the individual patient and creating a support team. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 41
Julie’s friends and family rallied around her and cooked for her family when she could not. Different organizations, such as the Pink Ribbon Girls, stepped in, sending cleaning supplies and food, and offering to take her to appointments. “When you are going through chemo, it wears you down and takes your strength and agility away, so my family and friends came in and cleaned,” she says. “They took my son to school for me and more.” It’s also important to understand that not everyone gets the same type of chemotherapy treatment, she says. Her stage 2 invasive carcinoma – it was almost stage 3, she says – prompted her to go with a double mastectomy, based on her research and family history. Her grandmother and mother both had breast cancer. “I am the first-generation grandchild to have cancer, and right after me, I had a cousin that was diagnosed,” Julie says. “So I did what I believe was best, realizing every treatment needs to be specific.” She says she wanted to survive because she still had things she wanted to finish. Julie joined a support group for breast cancer patients so she could learn more. She refused to let depression or mental anguish prevail. The surgery and chemotherapy hurt, she says, but she prayed every day for the Lord to help her manage any pain she had, which He did. Without the lessons learned from her challenges and trials, Julie says, she wouldn’t have been able to manifest the life she has. “Today, at 50 years of age, I have no fear or qualms,” she says. “But when I was younger, I tried to just fit into the box that was presented to me. I did not realize that, even at a young age, I could have definitely created the life I wanted and not followed the pack.” “ I want to see all women have access to tools and skill sets to help them mentally and physically. ” Her next goal is for her organization to expand and go global. “I want to see all women have access to tools and skill sets to help them mentally and physically. It is about healing her mind, healing her body, and healing her soul,” she says. “Healing her mind is the continuous education that I think all women should stay involved in. Healing her body, for me, is part of my journey with having breast cancer: getting your check-ups, going to the doctor, 42 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE and making sure you are eating well. Healing your soul involves finding your purpose in life.” As a breast cancer survivor, community leader, and coach, Julie says that, in leadership, we are to be forever students – even those who are already leaders or pillars of the community. “In leadership, one needs to create healthy boundaries and understand why it is important to have those boundaries,” she says. “Another thing that I have learned is understanding different people have different personality traits and skill sets. So, in leadership, I mainly focus on the gifts since this is what I have learned to help people grow.” Julie emphasizes the importance of networking with other women as an opportunity to learn something new. Though she has been through a lot, Julie is always caring for other women, because “Healing Her” heals others, too. Alethea Morris Alethea is a volunteer and a 2023 writer for EnVision Proven Success. She was also featured in the 2019 edition of EnVision Proven Success magazine.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR ROBIN MCGOWAN & MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Robin says, “When a lifetime of debilitating symptoms was finally identified as an incurable disease, Robin saw it as one of the best days of her life rather than one of the worst. She continues to stay positive and not let the disease define her or the way she lives her life. Robin’s daughter, Ebony Eiland-Ebony Eiland says, “ The MS WALK OF COLUMBUS Despite the rain! It’s about the cause! The love for my mother is undying and this fight is relentless! I am forever grateful for the love and support and for everyone that fights this disease! You are not alone!” Thank you to all of our volunteers for everything they do for our organization! Over the past year at EnVision Proven Success, our volunteers have donated many hours. These volunteers do incredibly valuable work in our community and help individuals experiencing domestic violence, recovery, re-entry, suicide prevention, human trafficking and disabilities, helping the women we serve to regain their dignity and move forward in ways they previously thought impossible. CREATIVE WORKSHOPS HOW TO BE CREATIVE Ms. Phillis, our Creative Craft Coordinator, invites you to join us to Learn How To Be Creative. WHEN: 3rd Saturday of the Month TIME: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. WHERE: Improving Inc. 1 Easton Oval Columbus, Ohio 43219 Creative crafting is creating something from nothing, it is a process of discovering, connecting, exploring, transforming, and therapeutic. COMPUTER WORKSHOP EnVision Proven Success is excited to have partnered with Glorified Fitness Incorporation! Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word training with computer instructor, Sherry Mitchell from Glorified Fitness Incorporated (GFI) is a way to REACH THE UNREACHABLE We are so excited to invite you to our Monthly Women’s Empowerment Group for 12 years and up! WHEN: 2nd Saturday of the month TIME: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. WHERE: Improving Inc. 1 Easton Oval Columbus, Ohio 43219 HOW IT WORKS: Participants attend monthly workshops or seminars on an array of topics. Each meeting consists of the key elements: keynote speakers who lead informational discussions on financial literacy, life skills, health/ wellness, coping with grief, networking groups, opportunities for career coaching, mentoring, referrals, and resources. Visit our website at EnVisionProvenSuccess.com to register or volunteer. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 43 EPS WOMENS’ EMPOWERMENT GROUP
EPS FEATURED RESOURCES Each of the women in EnVision Proven Success Magazine has sought assistance from nonprofit organizations. The following are some of the Central Ohio organizations that continuously make it their mission to give women a helping hand. To add your resource on our website, we ask for at least a $20 donation and to add to our annual publication/website we ask for a $50 donation, please click on the link donate.kindest.com/ envision-proven-success or CashApp $envisonprovensuccess, to make your donation and email us your resource at eps@envisionprovensuccess.org. We appreciate your support! COMMUNITY SUPPORT & CAREER RESOURCES Dress for Success Columbus 1204 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201 (614) 291-5420 | dfscmh.org MCS-T.O.U.C.H. : Resources for At-Risk populations in Franklin County. 614-338-8733 | mcstouch.org Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC) (614) 377-4874 | coaacc.org New Directions Career Center: Career Guidance for Women 199E Rich St, Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 849-0028 | www.newdirectionscc.org The Salvation Army: Combatting Human Trafficking AHTVolunteer.SalvationArmy@gmail.com Greyhound Bus Main number: 614-228-2266 Greyhound customer service: 614-221-4242 Columbus TWLOHA “You Are Not Alone” twloha.com/local-resources/ohio/columbus/ Action Ohio Coalition Advocating for battered women & their families. 5900 Roche Drive 43229 1-888-622-9315 or 614-825-0551 actionohio.org The HEAL HER FOUNDATION Our mission reflects the organization’s areas of concentration to educate and increase awareness to issues specific to women’s needs, including but not limited to, economic security, freedom from violence, addiction and enhancing access to health services and information. Julie Morrison, Founder | info@healher.org | healher.org Lifetime Wellness Associates Mary Bowser | Time2Bwell@gmail.com 540-409-6143 | LifetimeWellnessAssociates.com 20% of proceeds are donated to EnVision Proven Success The Career Strategist, Diane Wingerter, CTA Speaker. Author. Consultant. Author of the book Hunting2Hired. The Unprecedented Career Guide—Encompassing Strategy & Faith | 20% of proceeds are donated to EnVision Proven Success | diane@ thecareerstrategist.net | thecareerstrategist.net Call or Text: 614.390.4227 Making A Difference – “Every Step Makes a Difference” Character Development, Health & Wellness, Education, Public Speaking Al Edmondson Cell- 614-253-1880 www.madinc.net | Aledmondson@gmail.com 356 N. 20th Street Columbus, Ohio 43203 A Cut Above The Rest — Barber Shop Home of the Tigers Al Edmondson, Owner 614-253-8820 | aledmondson@gmail.com 346 N. 20th Street Columbus, Ohio 43203 Monday–Friday—9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Saturday—8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 44 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
Rising Phoenix Life Strategies Jennifer Clarke-Kinsey, Transition Coach, Certified Hypnotherapist, and Master NLP Practitioner JUVENILE/FAMILIAL CARE RESOURCES jen@risingphoenixlife.com | RisingPhoenixLife.com 269-275-0490 Sherry Mitchell, CEO/Owner of Glorified Fitness glorifiedfitness.com sherry.mitchell@glorifiedfitness.com Office: (614) 942-6014 | Mobile: (614) 441-6611 Feeding Me While Serving You Project 2469 E. Dublin Granville Road Ste 29532 Columbus, Ohio 43229 220-219-2596 Millisa Williams, Founder/CEO fmwsyp@yahoo.com Belle Harbour Management of Ohio Affordable Women’s Housing Columbus Ohio 43229 (614) 890-1479 Top-Rated Costa Mesa Treatment Center - Safe Harbor safeharborhouse.com Safe Harbor House Guide and Dating Violence Statistics for 2019. (937) 717-5908 Recovery.org & Rehabs.com for Drug and Alcohol Addiction recovery.org/browse/milwaukeewi/ and rehabs.com/local/milwaukee-wi/ Tra’Bian Enterprises Information Technology Solutions “Solutions That Empower Innovation” Certified: MBE-NMSDC * MBE/EDGE *DBE * SBE * WBE * LEDE * SDB * EDWOSB * GSA TJ@TrabianEnterprises.com Trabianenterprises.com | 877-488-6329 Women for Economic and Leadership Development — Columbus WELD’s mission is to develop and advance women’s leadership to strengthen the economic prosperity of the communities it serves. We provide women with specific tools and skills to enhance their individual economic status. weldusa.org | info@weldoh.org ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 45 Chloe Inc., Equipping Teen Moms 1729 Durbridge Columbus, OH 43229 614-447-1426 | www.chloeinc.org PREGNANCY/ PRENATAL CARE Celebrate One celebrateone.info The Bluffs: Drug & Alcohol Rehab for Pregnant Women 2650 Lodge Rd SW, Sherrodsville, OH (888) 481-7821 | bluffsrehab.com Child Support Enforcement Agency Franklin County 614-525-3275 support.franklincountyohio.gov HELPLINES & HOTLINES SEE NEXT PAGE Find more resources at EnVisionProvenSuccess.com
HELPLINES & HOTLINES BY THE NUMBERS Poison Treatment & Advice Hotline Central Ohio (24-Hour) 1-800-222-1222 National Suicide Prevention Hotline (24-Hour) 988 or (614) 221-5445 Mental Health Crisis Hotline Franklin County (24-Hour) Adults > 18 (Netcare): (614) 276-2273 Huckleberry House Runaway Helpline (24-Hour) (614) 294-5553 Emergency Shelter & Homeless Hotline (24-Hour) 1-888-474-3587 Food Kitchens & Food Pantries Central Ohio Monday-Friday 8am–4pm | (614) 341-2282 HandsOn Hotline for General Help (24-Hour) 2-1-1 or (614) 221-2255 Ohio Tobacco Quit Line 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 Pregnancy & Prenatal Care Hotline Central Ohio (614) 721-0009 Rape & Assault Helpline SARNCO (24-Hour) (614) 267-7020 or 1-800-656-4673 Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline CHOICES (24-Hour) (614) 224-4663 National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800- 799-7223 (SAFE) Social security Administration 1-800-772-1213 or 1-888-741-1115 to report stolen card EBT card customer service 1-866-386-3071 Columbus Ohio Community Shelter Hotline for Single Adults and Families (614) 724-7000 BelleHarbour Management of Ohio Connecting women with affordable housing; Columbus Ohio 43229 | (614) 890-1479 More resources available by visiting our website, EnVisionProvenSuccess.com 5,300+ ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINES have been printed and distributed. 1,500+ WOMEN HAVE REACHED OUT TO EPS seeking assistance and network support for emergency and miscellaneous nonemergency needs. 200+ WOMEN HAVE BEEN REFERRED to partner agencies through EPS for assistance in meeting their critical needs such as employment, recovery, housing and mental health. 100+ WOMEN HAVE ATTENDED EPS WORKSHOPS on financial wellness, career readiness, board leadership and other life skills. Thank you to all past and present EPS magazine team members, volunteers, donors and sponsors for all your support. Special thanks to Grange Insurance Company, VOICEcorps, Clintonvillle Women’s Club and New Born Ministries — Pastor Charlie M. Davis Jr. 46 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
In Memoriam We honor the memory of these LASTING IMPRESSIONS Time to be Fierce The greatest time to be a woman, a Fierce Lioness, is now! Everyone’s life is not perfect. We all have gone through hard times, and it is OK to struggle. We ALL can all do a better job of being supportive and understanding of each other. Life’s circumstances provide us the opportunity to cultivate the mental grit to reclaim our joy, happiness and success and the ability to withstand our grueling circumstance. It is important to have people around you that support you and we are here to support you. If you or someone you know needs a place to share your struggles, need resources or need a support group — EnVision Proven Success is that forum to do just that! I will leave you with these words, “You never know what someone is going through. So be kind. Always!” “ You never know what someone is going through. So be kind. Always! OLIVIA BULLS Karen Ezirim 2015 FEATURED WOMAN Lily Lewis 2015 FEATURED WOMAN ” Jennifer Kempton 2016 FEATURED WOMAN Stephanie Claytor 2014 FEATURED WOMAN wonderful women and the mark they left on this world. Elizabeth Harris 2014 FEATURED WOMAN Crystal Adams 2020 FEATURED WOMAN ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 47
ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS 2023 GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR The goal of The Hanover Group Insurance Foundation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life in communities where our companies — The Hanover and Citizens Insurance — have a major presence, with a mission to enact meaningful and positive change in the lives of underserved youth and empower the difference-makers who support them. HANOVER.COM Thank you for your support. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM 48 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE EnVision Proven Success ©2023
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