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WOMEN PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES: Angela, Shniese, Evelyn, Rougie, Alethea, Jeanette, and Marlene inspire. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 1 Q ISSUE 6 Q Envision Proven Success Magazine Q We don’t look like what we’ve been through. Q 2019 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

ISSUE 6: PUBLICATION TEAM McQUETTA WILLIAMS Founder, CEO / Editor-In-Chief KENDRA CARPENTER Managing Editor 04 LETTER FROM THE CEO 06 ROUGHIATOU NGAIDE LYDIA STUTZMAN Creative Director IAN CRUMPLER Photographer 20 YEAR IN REVIEW 10 JEANETTE BRADLEY 14 EVELYN PARK 18 FAMILY LAW Q & A BOARD Tamani Lucy Thompson Robin McGowan Beverly Corner Kenya A. Lucy VOLUNTEERS Kashinda Robinson Sheirra L. Haines Amie Wright Mary Louise Hawkins Claudia Oliveros Ben Sullivan Vicky Magnalia Stephane Warren Blair Dufour Sara Watson Alethea Morris Angela King ADVISORY Anamaria Perales-Lang Dr. Anahi Ortiz 22 ANGELA SIZEMORE 25 ALETHEA MORRIS 28 DR. MARLENE CARSON 32 SHNIESE HORTON 35 LASTING IMPRESSIONS 36 RESOURCES 38 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Printing courtesy of: Contents ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 3

McQUETTA WILLIAMS & EnVision Proven Success Can you imagine disadvantaged women never having hope of living successful lives? As the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization EnVision Proven Success, McQuetta Williams can, which is why she created a forum to share women’s struggles and successes and to strengthen the resources that help women them realize their importance. On November 15, 2004, McQuetta suddenly lost her eyesight and began a huge life transition. “Before this date, I had been pondering over whether to attend college and complete my educational goals, now that I had raised three children. As a single mother, I was a symbol of a lighthouse for my children. However, on November 15, 2004, the light in my children’s lighthouse went out,” she says. After finally having enough of feeling sorry for herself, McQuetta decided if this is the path that she was supposed to walk, her God will put people there to help her. She enrolled at Ohio Dominican University and pursued a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. While attending college, she wanted to get back into the workforce, so she decided to try an internship at Firstlink, now known as HandsOn Central Ohio. McQuetta was referred to Dress for Success to receive clothing for her interview. When she was hired, Dress for Success gave her another five days of clothing. “I had never until this time, had anyone treat me like royalty. I was Cinderella being dressed for the ball! But unlike Cinderella, I did not have to return the clothes. I thank God for putting Dress for Success, Professional Women’s Group and Hands On Central Ohio in my life, because, collectively, they have helped me build my self-esteem, and I have discovered a new sight in life: a road to success,” McQuetta says. With all that McQuetta has achieved, it is her passion to elicit awareness into the community. That is why she created EnVision Proven Success — its mission is to provide knowledge and resources that empower women to improve their quality of life. EnVision publishes a professionally printed 4 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE magazine that shares the stories of women who have regained their dignity and moved forward in a way they previously thought not possible. McQuetta tries to make a serious and sincere effort to achieve emotional stability in her life by dividing balance into two categories: internal and external. “This allows me to take time out to acknowledge how I’m feeling by noticing the areas that I’m neglecting. It allows me to examine myself to see if I am leaning more toward an internal or external focus or if there are areas within both categories I would like to be more balanced. In turn, it helps me outline and decide ways to focus and make a list to balance my life’s goals,” she says. McQuetta plans to continue producing EnVision’s annual publication to serve as a source of empowerment for women in the community and to expand its workshop and event offerings to help women achieve their goals. For the past five years, EnVision Proven Success magazines, events and workshops have produced the highest quality content, events and marketing materials for its diverse audience: human trafficking, recovery, domestic violence, re-entry, suicide, disability, health and wellness. The magazine highlights women who achieve success and demonstrate innovative leadership. But it is not like traditional publishers. Instead of focusing on the “who, what, where and when,” EPS focuses on the “how and why” the featured women regained their dignity and moved forward in a way they previously thought impossible. Their stories also help teach those lessons so that others would not have to make the same mistakes. In this sixth edition of EnVision Proven Success, you will learn some valuable life lessons from our featured women, who have joined the ranks of other women who have shared their stories and triumphs in the prior five editions. These women “do not look like what they’ve been through,” and have bravely come forward to share their journeys and to demonstrate that there is life beyond tragedy.

LETTER FROM OUR CEO: McQuetta Williams And now “Inspiring Women”: In this edition of EnVision Proven Success our featured women’s personalities share these characteristics: HUMILITY These women have learned from others; they are not boastful or arrogant. They are willing to share their vulnerabilities with other women who are working to regain their dignity and to move forward in ways they previously thought impossible. COURAGE These women will not be silenced from their physical or emotional trauma. They are courageous and speak with candor so that readers can clearly understand the challenges faced by women from adverse circumstances. KINDNESS Despite their daunting trial and tribulations, these women overflow with kindness and serve as inspiration to others. VISION These inspiring women have the ability to look beyond the social norms and conventions and bring about a meaningful change in our community. These “Inspiring Women” aspire to inspire the women in our community to achieve greatness by serving others. We are more than statistics! As clients of nonprofit referral agencies, EPS has made every effort to achieve excellence and improve its status in the community. We at EPS are constantly striving to excel and to obtain economic knowledge and utilize creative resources in order to reach our ambitious personal and professional goals. In our local community, EnVision Proven Success has provided vital solutions for our clients. Imagine how much better our network of women will perform with more assistance from sponsors, donations, and volunteers. We appreciate your consideration and potential interest in membership, partnership, sponsorship, donations and volunteering with us at EnVision Proven Success. Thank you for taking the time to read this sixth edition of EnVision Proven Success. We encourage you to visit our website, envisionprovensuccess.com and to contribute to the mission and vision of EnVision Proven Success. Make it an EnVision Proven Successful Day! Sincerely, McQUETTA WILLIAMS +CEO/Founder of EnVision Proven Success +Dress for Success Columbus 2010–2011 Woman of Power +Nominated as one of the 20 Outstanding Women nominated for Sunny95 in 2017 +Professional Women’s Group Member +Featured in Capital Style, Daisy magazine, VOICEcorps, WrightChocice’s publication, Diversity, and on Radio One +Community Advocate ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 5

Roughiatou Ngaide BY TAMANI LUCY THOMPSON Born in Mauritania, Africa’s eleventh largest sovereign, Roughiatou “Rougie” Ngaide is an achiever. She proudly shares that she was raised among the Fluana tribe. Unlike her peers, she did not dream of coming to America. She did not fantasize of what life would be like in the “home of the free.” Instead, she was proud of her country and, most of all, her father’s accomplishments. She admired his leadership, his love for Allah, and how he was the voice for her people. She followed in his footsteps and learned to be an activist. Rougie developed a desire to help her people. She accredited it to her father’s emphasis on loving thy neighbor. Rougie says that her father always reminded her that “Islam is about service, not just praying and mosque.” Those in her household understood that the family had an obligation to serve God, country and people, and she vowed to do just that. Unfortunately, at the tender age of thirteen, Rougie’s father passed unexpectantly and her mother, both young and uneducated, became the sole provided for her and her twelve siblings. This made Rougie even more determined to equip herself with the knowledge and resources to better her people’s quality of life. She pursued her education and earned her master’s degree in public international law. While in school, she got married. She was very devoted to her husband and strove to be the best wife to him. When her husband wanted to move to the United States, she felt that was her duty as his wife to do so. So Rougie packed up and left behind all that was familiar to her, along with her passion for advocating for the Mauritanian people and serving her family. From the first day in the United States, Rougie recalls feeling uneasy — she was homesick. “I had a terrible longing to be back home. Anxiety…depression… helplessness,” Rouge says. Though she was fluent in six languages, English was not among them. Her struggle to communicate disqualified her for leadership roles that she was accustomed to holding in her motherland; in Africa, she was a lawyer, an activist, a human rights educator and employee of a nonprofit focused on gender issues and youth empowerment. Despite this, she could the find meaningless jobs that fell way short of her qualifications. In 2009, Rougie had improved her knowledge of the English language. And, it was during this time that her marriage took a turn for the worst. She shares that her husband was no longer the loving father and husband he once was. He neglected his promised role as the provider and protector. Rougie states that he was fighting with his own demons and decided to stop working. He lacked any desire to seek employment, and she was left as the sole breadwinner. Rougie says her self-image was wounded, but she managed to hide her true disappointment. She describes herself as a victim of financial abuse and it became difficult for her to continue supporting her family back in Africa — a vital expectation by all immigrants in order to maintain a safety net. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 7

Rougie’s mother, a strong and very resilient woman. Rougie’s father, Elhadj Ngaide with the first president of her country. Young Roughiatou (Rougie) Ngaide in her first year in America. In 2010, Rougie further stumbled when she miscarried her sixth child; she was devastated. Her husband’s reaction: “Get over it.” Rougie convinced herself that everything was okay. “I couldn’t be depressed,” she says. “After all we have been conditioned to say: “too blessed to be stressed.”” In denial and objecting to medication, Rougie maintained the facade that everything was okay. She maintained a successfully radio station where she gave advice about injustice to fellow Mauritanians. Her suburban home, three thriving children and productive lifestyle portrayed to the world that that everything was wonderful. Yet on the inside, Rougie was in a downward spiral. During this period in her life she was not able to make sense of all that was happening. She was without answers as to why life had dealt her an unfair hand. Detached from her husband, the loss of another child and fear of embarrassment, she sunk into what she recognizes today as depression. Though she made every effort to continue her radio station broadcast, go to work and nurture her children, she felt that she was losing her mind. She was embarrassed by her feelings, because she was conditioned to believe that people like her do not suffer from depression. It took a long time for her to admit that her feelings were real and that she was suffering from — what she now understands — post traumatic stress disorder. Rougie began treatment for her depression. She learned about the disease and was for the first time, felt comfortable talking about her true feelings and her struggles. Rougie says that it was “eye opening” to know why she felt the way she did: “It was a relief to have a why with how I was feeling.” Unfortunately, those around her did not accept her diagnosis and were not supportive, especially her husband. So, she found herself relying on medication to suppress her feelings in hopes of making her feel “normal” again. “ It was a relief to have a why with how I was feeling. ” Over time, she began relying on her peers in the program, who shared in her struggles. She realized that these positive relationships revived what was dying on the inside of her. “This country made me feel welcome. People here are the best people in the world,” Rougie says. She was blown away with the amount of people that provided services to her without wanting or requiring anything from her in return. It was not long before Rougie began volunteering for the same resources centers she visited. She says that she gained more than just tangible items such as food and clothes; she obtained a new sense of self. She developed relationships and renewed her confidence. Low and behold, doors began to open for her. 8 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

In 2016, she returned back to Africa to participate in a discussion panel about the lives of Mauritanians living in the United States. “This is my opportunity to get mentally better — ease the constant stress I was under,” Rougie says. Upon her return to Columbus, she felt healed. She was eager to empower others and to reactivate all the skills she possessed. Rougie recalls the phenomenal impact that Dress for Success had on her — so much so that she joined the organization and began volunteering. She now serves as an international ambassador. This year, she attended the worldwide legacy summer in the Bahamas and over the next six months, will be running a community action project meant to serve women that have experienced the trauma of being uprooted from home. She proudly accredits Dress for Success for giving her confidence to start an Amnesty International chapter and to become a registered interpreter though the Ohio Supreme Court. In 2018, after twelve years of freelancing as an interpreter, she started her own translation company, Transfulani LLC, which is now a vendor for the State of Ohio and Franklin County. Rougie exemplifies a woman that “doesn’t look like what she has been through.” Her infectious smile reflects to the outside world that she has always lived a life overflowing with promise. Without saying a word, her strong spirt and ambition shines bright, and she takes pride in the struggles that she has endured and recognizes them as the strengths that have molded her into the women she is today. Through all her trials and tribulations, Rougie never forgot her promise to serve God, country and her people. Her dad has always been her inspiration, and she takes comfort that he would be proud of the women she is today. Tamani Lucy Thompson Tamani is a writer for EnVision Proven Success who has contributed since the first publication. She is the First Lady at Trailblazers Ministries where her devoted husband is the Pastor. She has been blessed with four beautiful children and has opened her heart and home to a numerous number of foster children for over ten years. She has obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has committed to serving women focused on recovery from drug and alcohol.

Jeanette Bradley Everyone Needs a Mama J BY RYAN SANDER We decide to meet for coffee and settle on Northstar, a Columbus staple in the Short North. “I’ll be wearing all black,” she says over the phone, her voice light and easy. Jeanette immediately greets me with a smile and touches my arm. She has multicolored gemstone jewelry. Now I understand the black. She has a tattoo that reads, “Free To Be Me.” I want to ask about it but hesitate, making a mental note to circle back later. She reminds me of my childhood neighbor or one of my mom’s friends who has a license to say whatever necessary and impart wisdom that I need. Familiar. From the instant I met her, she was familiar. We sit down; I know little about her, except that for a period of time she was caught in the world of prostitution. But before I can begin, she asks about me. She smiles – it lights up the dimness. Some small talk breaks the ice. I learn that as a child, Jeanette suffered significant physical and sexual abuse from a family member. Little did she know that her sisters were being abused, as well. She had little to no support or encouragement from her parents. She turned to drugs and men for comfort, but what she thought was love, turned into abuse, which led her off path. “I’ve seen the worst of it. I’ve been homeless, I’ve squatted in homes, I’ve had sex for moneydrugs, you name it,” Jeanette says, “I came from middle class Worthington, and I became a prostitute.” Our conversation only skims the surface of a wide range of topics. We talk about family, struggle, thriving, drugs, faith, and so much more. “My biggest regret is not being the kind of mother I should have been to my sons,” Jeanette says. She describes how the abuse she experienced had such a big impact on her choices in life: “When it happens to you, you don’t understand how the abuse can continue to affect other decisions in your life, how you view yourself, or how you look at others.” Jeanette talks like she is indebted to a world that almost gave up on her. In speaking about her struggles, she says, “I’d go through everything to get here today and have the opportunities I have today.” I am shell-shocked for the second time in this conversation. I probed further about how she can be so joyful about things in her life that I cannot even imagine. I find that Jeanette’s faith is unshakeable. She points to her tattoo – finally, an answer to my burning question! “God was the first person that made me feel like it was okay to be me and have the opportunity to become me,” she says. She continues on and talks about her final suicide attempt: “I can remember waking up in the ER after my last suicide attempt. I made up my mind that I wanted to live for something. . . When my sister died, I didn’t grieve for the sadness in her life, I grieve for her missed opportunities and missed year; the impact she could have had.” ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 11

Jeanette would eventually find success through Catch Court, a program in Franklin County that helps survivors of Human Trafficking. It took a long time for Jeanette to get out, but once she did, she never looked back. Jeanette eventually earned her college degree at Columbus State, something that she never contemplated as a youth, and she now runs 2nd Chance Ministries. Her organization is involved with Amethyst, Catch Court, and many other community partners. She helps girls with makeovers hoping that if they can see beauty on the outside, they will recognize their inner beauty and own self-worth. She talks about storming drug houses and helping strangers escape from prostitution. It is very clear that Jeanette lives out her values of “second chances,” telling me that it is never too late to begin again and that no one is too far gone or worthless. And, there is one thing Jeanette wants to make sure people understand: “I call myself a thriver not just a survivor,” she states emphatically. “ If you want corn plant corn, if you want hope, plant hope. ” I have a million questions I want to ask Jeanette about relationships. I ask her for advice for people who struggle in relationships. She gives excellent advice: “Ask yourself: is it the way they speak? Is it the way they treat you, are there too many highs and lows?” Jeanette does not know it but she is having a serious and profound impact on me. My expression must not seem right to her: “You know, I can tell you’re a good one.” I ask her to put that in writing and engage my typical defense mechanism: self-deprecation. Jeanette sees right through me, but kindly gives me a pass. Jeanette and I continue to talk about her past, her struggles and her triumphs. We soon fall into a conversation about hope. “Hope is what got me through my absolute lowest,” she shares. We continue to talk about the impact of hope and how to have hope even when it seems impossible. “If you want corn, plant corn; if you want hope, plant hope,” Jeanette says. “ Everything matters. There is nothing small in this world. ” Over the course of the next few days Jeanette and I exchange e-mails. She now signs her e-mails as Mama J. I consider myself a very fortune member of a very exclusive club. A lot of people are quick to toss away those who have made mistakes or are considered undesirable, but not Jeanette. She believes that everyone has value. “A broken crayon still colors,” she says. Her passion lies in helping others find their voice and discover their value. If you are ever lucky enough to meet Jeanette, you will walk away with a whole lot more than just a smile and a hug; you will also get words to live by. “Everything matters. There is nothing small in this world,” she says. Ryan Sander Ryan is an attorney for The Legal Aid Society of Columbus and represents victims of domestic violence and families who are living in poverty before the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts. He is a former staff attorney for the Capital University Family Advocacy Clinic. 12 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

FINDING MY TRUTH Mentorship Sheirra Haines is the Mentor Coordinator for Finding My Truth Mentorship Program. This mentorship program is designed to empower women to rise above their current situation through mentoring and education. We realize that in order to know where you want to go in life, we must first understand who we are and what we were placed on the Earth to do. Our mentorship program will focus on six areas: 1 Gaining self-awareness 2 Developing a life plan 3 Releasing and breaking free from past hurt and walking in purpose 4 Business and entrepreneurship 5 Personal development 6 Self-care Our goal is to target the mentees on the basis of their needs. Once the program has been completed we encourage former mentees to become mentors so that they can reach back and help someone else. CONGRATS, AMIE WRIGHT! EPS volunteer received our first scholarship from WELD and our first speaker during their 2019 conference, sharing her story on Focus Forward. WAY TO GO, KENYA LUCY! Kenya serves as a Youth Executive Board Member and is a 2018 graduate from Columbus Alternative High. She is majoring in Law at Central Stateand made the Dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA. THANK YOU, SCNO! Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations (SCNO) provided important resources that were instrumental towards our Success for 2019. We’re grateful for their continued support — helping with our Mentorship Program. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 13

Evelyn Park Shame is Not Her Middle Name BY KENDRA CARPENTER Evelyn Park is a walking miracle. Over the course of 16 hours, Evelyn was sexually assaulted and nearly beaten to death. Not by a stranger, but by her husband — a man she had known for 30 years who had never shown one sign of violence. Evelyn first met her assailant while attending high school with his younger sisters. They both went on to lead their own lives: getting married, having kids, and getting divorced. They later reconnected in their adult years and began dating. Eventually, he moved into Evelyn’s Pickaway County home; they later married. Shortly thereafter, her husband lost his job and his behavior changed — depressed, as Evelyn describes it. He was gone a lot — according to him, he was spending time with his mother in Southern Ohio — and when he was home, he mostly slept. Evelyn says that they would make plans, but he would later want to break them so he could stay home and sleep. She had yet to discover that he was using illicit drugs. Her husband’s “depression” caused other problems in the marriage - gaslighting, as Evelyn recalls. “He was attempting to make me doubt myself,” Evelyn says, “I’m a very organized person, and when I put something away, I know where it should or shouldn’t be. But things just started missing or were moved someplace else — I just couldn’t find things.” She describes one time where she left her phone charger on the counter, and later when she returned for it, it was gone. “He said to me, ‘I don’t know where it is, you must have done something with it.’ Yet, I know that wasn’t the case,” Evelyn says. Evelyn says that her husband never showed any signs of violence. Although, she is aware that her father-in-law, Orvel, physical abused his wife, but they never divorced. Upon his death, there were those who worried about what her mother-in-law would do without Orvel. As any strong woman would, Evelyn told them that “she can do any damn thing she wants to do,” because after what the women endured, she deserved to. In January 2018, about a year after their own wedding, the couple were preparing to attend his son’s wedding in Chillicothe. The night before, her husband left home and did not return until about 4 a.m. Evelyn says that they did not discuss his whereabouts, because they were in a rush to get ready and meet up friends with whom they were driving. Evelyn reports that the wedding went off without a hitch, but when the reception started, her husband disappeared again. He came and went about three times without any explanation. After the third disappearing act, Evelyn was done. She drew him to a private corner and asked him what was going on. She says that her husband pulled her into a bear hug, declared, “I’m Orvel” and pushed her to the ground. Recalling her violent father-in-law Orvel, she called 911, because she knew immediately that she was in danger. Law enforcement arrived. No arrest was made, but her husband was told not to return to the residence; he left with his sister to an unknown destination. Evelyn sent a text to him stating ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 15 PHOTOS COURTESY OF EVELYN PARK

that the marriage was over and reiterated that the police told him not to return home. Wanting to unwind before returning home, Evelyn returned to the hotel with the other couple who came with her to the wedding. She did not intend to stay at the hotel, because her husband had access to the room. She thought she would be safe to return home, because her continuous checks of the security cameras confirmed that he had not returned. After her final security check of the night, she was satisfied that he was not there, so she got in her car and went home. Then, her life changed forever. Evelyn arrived home shortly before midnight. She was unable to park in the garage, because the garage door would not work. Unbeknownst to her, her husband had disabled it. She threw her bags over her shoulder and entered the house through the front door. Before she could unload, he rushed her while screaming, “You ruined my life!” and began choking her. He screamed over and over, “Bitch, I’m going to kill you!” until she lost consciousness. Evelyn recalls coming to and her husband not being in sight. “He probably thought I was dead,” she says. The next thing she remembers is grabbing her keys and running for the door to get into her car. Just as she was about to reach the driver’s door, he grabbed her arm and dragged her back inside. Along the way, her husband bashed Evelyn’s head and face into the concrete walk and porch several times, leaving a long and obvious trail of blood. Evelyn recalls screaming as loud as she could and hoping that someone would hear her and call for help. She feared that that “she was dead” once she got back in the house. “I remember that he still had on his dress shoes from the wedding,” she says. He used those shoes to kick Evelyn in her head, torso and back over and over. She also recalls that he was banging her head on the hardwood floors until she passed out again. She later recalled that the scene inside the house was a blood bath; the floors, the walls, the blinds, the furniture — nothing was spared from stain. She woke up naked on his side of the bed while he was sleeping quietly beside her. Her mind was 16 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE dim, and she could not recall how she got there, only his words along the way, “Bitch, you better run! Get your ass in the bedroom.” When she told her husband that she was going to throw up, he calmly retrieved the trashcan in the bathroom so that she could rid herself of the damage inside her that was the result of her severe internal injuries. She recalls that her pain was so excruciating that she could barely move. Then the doorbell rang, and he got up to answer it. It was the police; little did Evelyn know that this was the second time that they had come to the house. Video footage from the security camera shows they first arrived shortly after Evelyn was dragged back into the home. Despite the path of blood leading to the front door, the police left. This time is no different; they leave again. However, her husband returned to the bedroom and calmly stated, “I’m going to jail today,” and laid back down. Evelyn says she recalls thinking, “I’m on my own,” and then passing out. Evelyn awoke to the smell of bleach. Her husband was trying in vain to clean up the mess he made and to destroy evidence. “You have to figure something out, or you are going to die from internal injuries if you don’t get out,” Evelyn thinks. She has no idea where her phone is, and she is paralyzed from the pain. Little does she know that among her multiple lifethreatening and disfiguring injuries, her neck is fractured, she has a lacerated spleen and liver, and multiple deep contusions on her brain. When her husband returned to bed, he fell into a deep sleep — snoring. For Evelyn, it was now or never. “By the grace of God,” she recalls, she summoned the strength to get up and walk over to the other side of the bed where her attacker was lying, in hopes that her tablet is on its charger. Yes! Success! She grabbed it and made her way back little by little. She was grasping the furniture for dear life — she was far too weak and injured to attempt a run to the front door. Unable to access her Facebook messenger account, from the deep recesses of her mind, she recalled her sister Rebecca’s email and began sending messages. “My sister thought it was spam until she saw his name,” Evelyn says. Rebecca was not aware of the events at

the wedding reception but took the emails seriously and began calling the police. Her husband woke up and was satisfied when Evelyn says that she was only playing solitaire. His only words to her was, “I’m sorry I ruined the evening.” Her husband got up again and was gone for extended periods of time. At one point, he placed a damaged space heater at the upstairs landing. The master bedroom, where she was held captive, was on the first floor. There was no logical reason for a heater to be used in the location of the home. Evelyn’s family found the damaged heater and are convinced that he was going to stage a fire to burn her up with the evidence. Later discovered evidence supports this. At some point, Evelyn heard the doorbell ring again and voices outside. It was the police, but they leave again, because no one answered the door. Evelyn recalls frantically emailing her sister an almost indecipherable message begging her not to let them leave. Her sense of time is off, but she hears voices again — over a megaphone, “Stand Down” was shouted repeatedly, then the shatter of glass. It is the Franklin County SWAT coming to do what her home county failed to do — rescue her. Evelyn is very stoic in telling her story, until she discusses her daughter — her only child - being at the scene. Medics removed Evelyn from the house on a gurney and covered her face as she was taken to the ambulance. This caused Evelyn’s daughter to think that her mother is dead. For this amazing and selfless woman — who was brutally beaten and defied death — her daughter’s pain and anguish are too much for her to bear. Evelyn’s road to recovery has been a long journey. She lived with her sister for three and half months during her recovery, and she could not return to work fulltime for five months. Her long list of injuries read like a CSI script. Evelyn recalls a visit with her neurologist about nine months after the incident: “He said, “for an unfortunate woman, you are extremely fortunate; your outcome was not expected.” That’s when it hit me. The magnitude of how — what the repercussions could have been but weren’t.” She is not just lucky, she is blessed. Her husband pleaded not guilty to first degree attempted murder, first degree kidnapping, second Pictured: Evelyn (right) with her sister, Rebecca (left), who saved her life. degree felonious assault and domestic violence. With Evelyn’s approval, he took a plea deal and agreed to plead guilty to attempted murder and domestic violence and to accept a nine-year prison sentence (11 years was the maximum), along with restitution of $122,000.00 relating to Evelyn’s injuries (though it is likely that she will never receive a penny). He apologized to the court and said: “She’s my wife; I love her.” Without missing a beat, the judge said: “You can’t be serious about that. Actions speak louder than words, always have. You’re lucky she’s as tough as she is. Don’t stand here and tell me you love this woman; I don’t buy it.” During the sentencing, Evelyn — with great composure and fortitude — looked directly at prisoner A743961 and spoke courageously: “You may have won the battle that day when you viciously beat my body. I am a survivor. I won the war against your evilness and hatred. I am still alive. You damaged my body, but you did not break my spirit. But you — you will always be the selfish, cowardly, soulless monster that sits in this courtroom today. First, you strangled me with your hands and left me for dead. I regained consciousness and attempted to escape. Then, before I could get into my car, you drug me against my will into the house while smashing my head and face into the concrete porch along the way. Inside, the assault did not end. You continued with your barrage of closed-fist punches to my face and body, kicks to my entire body with hardENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 17

soled shoes, and further bangs to my head on the hardwood floors. My pleas for you to stop meant nothing to you. You beat me beyond recognition, not even recognizable to my own family.” Her message to others is: “Don’t give up; keep fighting; and realize your own self-worth.” And most of all, “Don’t be ashamed.” “You know when things are right, and you know when things are wrong,” Evelyn says, “Follow your gut. There are people out there to support you — ask for help.” “ I’m not going to let him win. ” Though Evelyn is still undergoing facial reconstruction, her physical injuries are only obvious to her. As I see her, she is beautiful as ever, both inside and out. She has returned to work, and despite concern from others close to her, she returned to her home. “It’s my house; I did nothing wrong.” she says, “I’m not going to let him win.” Well said, Evelyn, well said. FAMILY LAW Q & A Q: My son’s dad is listed on the birth certificate. Does he have any legal rights to my son? A: When parents are unmarried, the mother has “de facto” custody — meaning the mother has sole legal custody (i.e. control and “say so”). A father — even one that is paying child support — must file an action in court to establish his parental rights as the child father, which would include parenting time (a/k/a visitation). Kendra L. Carpenter Kendra is an attorney who specializes in family law and is the owner of Carpenter Family Law LLC. Attorney Carpenter serves as a board member for the Delaware County YMCA and as the District 6 Commissioner on the Clintonville Area Commission. She is a survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and thanks God every day for every day. She is married to John Dean and has two furry sons, R.J. and Charlie. She is the proud daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of army veterans who served in the Korean Conflict, World War II and World War I. Q: Sometimes I leave my kids with my boyfriend when I have to work. There have been times when I come back and my kids are crying and telling me that he “hit” them. My boyfriend brushes it off and says that he had to discipline them because they were “mouthing off.” I agree that my kids can be a handful and I sometimes have to put them in timeout, but for the most part, they are just kids being kids. Should I be concerned? A: Absolutely; particularly, if you have made it clear to your boyfriend that he is not to use any type of corporal punishment. If this continues, Children Services could remove your children from the home and place them in foster care. At the very least, stop leaving your kids alone with him. But also, for yourself, make sure this is the right guy for you. The choice between him and your kids should be a no-brainer. Q: What’s the difference between a divorce and dissolutionment. A: First, let’s current the term: it’s “dissolution,” not “dissolutionment.” Both a divorce and dissolution are ways to terminate a marriage. The only difference is how the case is filed in court. In a dissolution, the parties file the action with an agreement that has resolved— financial issues and 18 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

child-related matters. There is a 30 day “cooling off” period, and then the court will “dissolve,” i.e. terminate, the marriage. In a divorce, the parties have not reached an agreement on all matters and are seeking court intervention. A majority of divorces turn from contested to uncontested. Those that are not resolved proceed to a trial whereby the judge will make a decision. Q: What is shared parenting? A: In shared parenting, the parents “share” the parental rights and responsibilities, i.e. decision making about major life issues, according to a shared parenting plan. This is different from sole custody where one parent has the decision-making control. Shared parenting and sole custody is separate from parenting time (when each parent will have the child), and it is separate from child support. Q: My landlord just gave me a “Notice to Leave the Premises” saying I have to vacate my rental property in three days. What happens if I don’t get out in three days? A: The landlord cannot put your stuff out if you don’t vacate in three days. Ohio law has a process which the landlord must follow. The landlord has to wait three full days after giving you the notice before he can take the next step in the process, which is to file an eviction complaint in municipal court. If the landlord files an eviction complaint in court you will be served with court papers. The top page of those papers will tell you the time and date of the eviction hearing. The hearing will probably be scheduled for 14 days from the date the complaint was filed. Kendra L. Carpenter Carpenter Family Law OhioFamilyLawSpecialist.com Over 13,000 clients are empowered and achieving with our sisterhood since we opened our doors in 2007. Any woman referred is eligible for our transformative free-of-charge programs. Learn more: www.DFSCMH.org

BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS 2019 5,300+ ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINES have graciously printed by our partners at Grange. 1,500+ WOMEN HAVE REACHED OUT TO EPS seeking assistance and network support for emergency and micellaneous 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 FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 20 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

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Angela Sizemore Making Her Own Way BY AMANDA PAGE Angela Sizemore is a fighter. She worked in the recovery and human rights field for eight years, after a much longer struggle through the cycle of addiction and recovery and relapse. She has fought her way back to recovery and is now working with women to empower them during their own recovery. Angela’s experience runs the gamut, and whether it has been addiction, child abuse, or human trafficking, “I’ve been a fighter all my life,” Angela says, “Now I’m fighting for others.” “ I stand up for things I believe in. ” Angela was born in Columbus and raised by her abusive stepfather who believed children should be seen, but not heard. When she was 9 years old, Angela threatened to tell someone about his physical and emotional abuse. He responded by threatening to kill her. She did not say a word to anyone about the abuse until she turned 13. That year, her math teacher noticed the signs of abuse and called Children Services. It took the social worker six hours to get Angela to open up. Once she did, she was removed from her stepfather’s home. “It took them six hours to get me to talk, and now I talk all the time,” she says. “I stand up for the things I believe in. Women go too often being abused without standing up for themselves. If I know about it, I’m going to say something.” She has fought opiate addiction, which had her in its grip three times in her life. The first time she became addicted to opiates, she was 22 years old. “I had abdominal surgery,” Angela says. When she realized she was addicted to her painkillers, Angela went to get help. She sat in the waiting room at Talbot Hall until they could give her a bed. It took three days, but she waited it out, because she had the will to quit. She was released with a taper dose of Suboxone, and she went about her life, raising her son. The second time opiates entered her life, she was in the wake of her breast cancer diagnosis. “I got breast cancer and got addicted,” Angela says. She survived breast cancer, only to enter the dark world of human trafficking as a victim of a man who exploited her. She met this man while in the midst of her addiction. She went to a house on the westside of Columbus to buy drugs. When she left to buy cigarettes, this man pulled up beside her in his car. She got in, and before she knew it, she was supporting her drug habit through human trafficking. About six months later, a police officer stopped her while she was on the street. Angela knew at that moment that it was time for her to get sober. “I was sick and tired. I knew in the back of that cruiser that I was done,” she says. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 23

She kept the addiction at bay until she was 35 years old. “I got my teeth knocked out in a motorcycle accident and got addicted again,” Angela says. It was the third time that paved the path to prison and divorce, but also to a new purpose and career. Before her last relapse, Angela worked as a Girl Scout Leader and real estate agent. In addition, she worked a part-time job at the Franklin County Clerk of Courts to pay for her $500-a-day Oxycontin habit. When she had already depleted her family’s accounts and realized that her paycheck was not going to cover the cost of thirty pills a day, she began to embezzle money from the county — something that did not go unnoticed. The Judge sentenced her to six years for embezzlement of $200,000 from Franklin County. Her husband filed for divorce that day. Once in prison, she devised a plan to pay back those she had hurt. “I wrote to [the judge] to see about restitution because I had no way to pay back $200,000. I’d already drained family accounts and took from the county to cover that,” Angela says. The judge had her speak in the TIES program, and now Angela helps various judges set up drug courts around the state. Twice a month, she speaks to women in the CATCH program. “I have felonies for embezzlement and identity theft. Who would hire me? I found a way to make my own job title. I don’t always get paid, but I do it because I get to pay back,” she says. “ Showing other women who’ve come through similar struggles that you can make your own way, you can create your own life. ” 24 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE In addition to her work for the court, Angela works for Fair Rights, a non-profit organization, where she is a Treatment Placement Specialist. She is working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Addiction through Ohio Christian University. Her goal is to work for a treatment center so that she can help those who are recovering from drug or sexual abuse. Angela has worked hard to create her own title and develop her own career. “Who is going to hire me as a felon?” she asks. Her life’s work is helping others who face situations like the ones she survived. “Showing other women who’ve come through similar struggles that you can make your own way, you can create your own life,” Angela says. Amanda Page Amanda is an essayist and educator in Columbus, Ohio.

Alethea Morris When Mercy Meets Forgiveness BY IAN VITA “Dad went to the store.” In any other context and in any other family such words would pass without notice. But to a young girl use to seeing her mother suffer at the hand of first words and then physical violence, the implications were more profound. “After a few weeks, I knew he wasn’t coming back.” However, as the oldest of three and wife of an executive used to moving and adept at reading and adapting to her surroundings, Alethea knew the abuse was over the day she heard those words. The daughter of college sweethearts and social workers from Mt. Vernon, NY Community service is in her blood and goes back to at least her grandmother’s community organizing in North Carolina. “She could have been mayor. They wanted her to run at least.” We were nearly half-way through our interview before Alethea mentioned her grandmother, but it’s evident her presence looms large and is still very much a part of who she is today. As the matriarch to eight children, one can’t help see some parallels between the woman who help tie her community together so many years ago to the woman who is now concentrating on changing Columbus for the better. While the desire to give back and help others is what guides Alethea now, it was not necessarily what drove her in the beginning. “I was trying to make friends!” As a spouse to a of a corporate turn-around artist, moving was always part of her life, and as the commensurate outsider, she knew what it was like to always be alone. Whether it was New York, Atlanta, Richmond, or now Columbus, Alethea has always drawn upon her community as a way to anchor her family for however short time she was there. As a new mother in Atlanta, one of her firstly forays into giving back was through African American Moms Network, a tight group of largely African American mothers Alethea formed after the birth of her first son in 1993. Drawn together by a shared need of community, the group shared “tips and ideas,” and organized a variety of event and outings during her time in Atlanta. However, most surprisingly was the criticism she received for not organizing more “African American” centric events for the group, “whatever that means.”To Alethea, it’s never been about who you are or what you look like, rather, just like her father, it’s about who you are as a person. The first time she publicly came to terms with the abuse her mother suffered was in 2012(?) when she and her husband were in the process of adopting their third child. “They wanted to know everything. My entire family history. I was in tears,” she said. Nonetheless, it allowed her to come to terms with why her father acted the way he did. “He had a vision for what he saw a successful black man was.” He could have been a lawyer, or a doctor,” and from her accounting, was clearly smart ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 25

“ Love god, love yourself, love people. ”

Left: Alethea’s siblings, her father, and herself Below: Alethea Morris enough do it but was never afforded “the same opportunities others had.” Still, she is proud of her relationship with him and what they shared together as he got older. “My best memories are just being his daughter. “Fishing, visiting him in Florida and just sitting and talking.” It’s an idyllic picture, and one almost forgets the pain he caused early on her life. Still, Althea refuses to allow his past actions to label him and admits he changed for the better after the divorce and had by all accounts a successful marriage with his second wife. Thus, like Althea’s constant moving, it seems too the abuse was transitory in nature. Unfortunately, the abuse she witnessed as a child would not be the last time she suffered loss. Killed while driving him from a friends house, the police were never able to find the assailant and his death is a reminder that things can change in an instant and is a constant reminder of struggles other face and the importance of helping those in need something she has embraced since moving to Columbus. “Love god, love yourself, love people.” Alethea recounts these words from her mother, but it’s evident they guide her in every facet of life. Whether it’s the WYMCA, the food pantry, clothing ministry or African American Male Wellness, Alethea is focusing on her legacy now that her “hair is getting whiter.” As this hair gets whiter I will probably pick one. I just haven’t figured out which one yet.” Nonetheless, whether it’s EnVison, or her own Hand to Heart Ministries, she has no intention of slowing down, and like her grandmother before her will no doubt instill her resilience and passion for community in her own children — besides, you never know when they might ask you to be mayor. Ian Vita Ian is a Columbus based attorney currently working for the Columbus city prosecutors office. An Ohio native, and graduate of Miami University and Capital University Law School, when he’s not in the office you can usually find him outside, volunteering for a number of community organizations and campaigns, or trying to walk his girlfriend’s golden retriever — often unsuccessfully. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 27

Dr. Marlene Carson BY LORIE McCAUGHAN Dr. Marlene Carson is a “SurThrivalist”… she says, because she survived domestic minor sex-trafficking and it’s profoundly deadening effects on her young life by, first, giving herself over to God through her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Marlene’s faith — in God, in herself, and in those who truly loved her — became real to her the day she decided to get up out of the “coffin” of bondage of forced prostitution, “to become who I wanted to be.” She trusted and prayed and trusted until enough life was breathed back into her to “[dig] deep for the treasures within.” And, what a treasure trove she’s mined. Over the past thirty years, Marlene has started several businesses and non-profits, including Rahab’s Hideaway, a residential treatment facility for women victims of human trafficking. Marlene is Founder and CEO of the anti-trafficking network, “The Switch.” Through The Switch, Marlene has created a line of unconventional greeting cards, “Cards for a Cause,” to encourage those celebrating sobriety. Marlene has authored and published several books, including, “12 Steps to Transform the Exploited Soul,” a series that includes an edition for the survivor, and an edition for volunteers who work with survivors. Her upcoming book, “SurThrology,” set to be released October 2019, is on the art and science of how to move from surviving to thriving. And, per usual, Marlene, already is deep into writing her next book on the subject of “relationship equity.” Dr. Carson obtained her doctorate degree in theology and she loves sharing the Gospel. She has opened restaurants including, “Bojhetto’s Soul Food Restaurant in north Columbus; “It’s a Wrap,” soups, salads, and more, located in the old train depo, Delaware, Ohio, to employ and inspire (and mentor) both men and women to pursue their dreams and destinies. Marlene points out the significance of her restaurant being located at the old train depo - where trains switched tracks -now a place where the exploited work together to “switch the tracks of their lives” from one taking them to nowhere to a new track leading to their best lives. Marlene has done all this while loving and caring for her grandchildren. Marlene knows how to mine for gold, and she has never stopped serving and inspiring others who are recovering from addiction, exploitation, and trauma, to dig deep within themselves to revive their own dead dreams, visions, and purpose. She finds an opening where she sees that her and their lives overlap… “I recognize the abused and neglected…it’s like looking in a mirror from my own younger days.” So, she shares her “secrets,” because she knows that trusting each other enough to share them with each other has much to do, also, with the secret of finding what it is to be whoever you want to be. While many have a textbook knowledge of the perils of forced prostitution, Marlene knows from her own personal experiences. The “SurThrivalist” ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 29

At age 15, Marlene became one of the tens of thousands of girls who are sexually exploited. Through her faith in Jesus Christ and sound biblical teaching, Marlene’s misery became her ministry. Here is Central Ohio, it has been reported there are over 1100 missing and exploited children. “Some may be runaways, some may have been taken; all are vulnerable to exploitation. It is imperative that we, as a community, come together to help to prevent and abolish human trafficking and keep our children safe.” Marlene implores us to watch for some of the warning signs of humantrafficking: branding tattoos, sexualized behavior, as well as withdrawn, distressed, distracted personality; less appropriately dressed than in the past; brags about making or having lots of money; possessing more than one cell phone; and unexplained absences. Yes, Major League Marlene, as her friends refer to her, in her boundless energy, educates, empowers, and inspires others to dig deep within to mine what it takes to make their dreams- no matter how big - become reality. And, no longer does she try to do this on her own; Marlene has learned how to delegate, so that she is freed-up to do the work she loves most. She shows others how to put their social causes to work for profit, as well as for good, by relying on their greatest possession and resource of all — their relationships with others who believe in them, as well as in their causes. In her newest book, “Relationship Equity,” Marlene eloquently describes how people who believe in you will invest in you. Marlene believes that social enterprise is a way to sustain social justice causes. She, herself, has learned to take her transferable skills from the trauma of her life and turn them into treasure, and she collaborates with other inspiring and aspiring women to help others to do the same. To this day, though, after all the accolades and magazine articles written about her and the TV appearances broadcast; after all her accomplishments and establishment of thriving enterprises; the work Marlene cherishes most is sharing herself, i.e., her time — the most valuable of all treasures — at a time when one is most desperately in need of lifesaving hope. In fact, as I interviewed Marlene, there was a woman with her, who, overhearing our conversation, requested to speak to me, directly. Through her choked-back tears, she told me how Marlene had shared Jesus Christ with her and prayed for her… how Marlene had taken her shopping to buy decent clothes and make-up. Marlene Carson pours herself into this survivor, as she pours her time, talent, and treasures into everything she set out to do. Marlene expounded that some time ago, she had searched, to no avail, for a young woman after a pastor in Macon GA, had described how an exploited, young woman had been badly burned and her fingertips cut off by her pimp. Fast forward two years… toward the closing of a speaking engagement, a young woman in the audience posed a question to Marlene, which led to Marlene relaying her story about her search for this girl. By the overwhelming ways of God, it turned out, “the girl” was seated right beside the one who had asked the question which provoked the story. Marlene’s search had come full circle when the young woman announced, “I am that girl,” and I came here to meet you. Lorie McCaughan Formerly a practicing nurse, Attorney McCaughan joined the legal clinic staff at Capital University Law School in 1998. In addition to representing indigent clients, Ms. McCaughan supervises students enrolled in Capital’s General Litigation Clinic and the Civil Protection Unit of the Family Advocacy Clinic. She is also a court-approved mediator for Franklin County. Ms. McCaughan is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association. She serves on the Delivery of Legal Services Committee of the Columbus Bar Association and participates in the CBA’s Homeless Project. 30 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

CONTRIBUTE NOV. 27: GIVING TUESDAY We are incredibly proud to be a Top-Rated nonprofit and a part of the #GivingTuesday movement. Help us make November 27th a day to remember, please visit our website envisionprovensuccess.com to donate. GREAT NONPROFITS Please help people to be more aware of our cause by giving a review of our organization through this link: greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/envisionproven-success KROGER REWARDS 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! SUPPORT EPS Partner with us! EnVision Proven Success serves as the long-term support to ensure that initial opportunities provided by community service organizations are parlayed into a promising future of community engagement, career services, and overall independence. Register your Kroger plus card online at the Kroger community rewards website: 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. MEDIA SPONSORS: Your Ad Here! Advertise your business in our next issue. Full, half, quarter, and business card size space available. eps@envisionprovensuccess.org To learn more about all the ways you can support EnVision Proven Success, call 614-344-1188 or email us at eps@envisionprovensuccess.org ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 31

Shniese Horton Overcoming the Odds BY GERRI COLLIER The first 23 years of Shniese Horton’s life was a cataclysmic cycle of sexual abuse, life traumas, failed relationships, isolation, alcohol and drug addiction. Shniese grew up in the allblack Columbus neighborhood of Bolivar Arms. Coming from a large family, she falls fourth in the pecking order of ten children. Her father had six siblings and completed high school. Shniese’s mother grew up with twelve siblings. She only completed the eighth grade and had three children by the time that she married Shniese’s father. Shniese recalls her parents working multiple jobs and long shifts in order to support the family of fifteen. Often, she and her siblings were ignored. Her father passed in 2000; she recalls that her father and his family were very protective of her and showered her with unconditional love and protection. However, she never felt that her mother loved her; never once during her childhood did her mother say, “I love you.” Shniese suffered from a severe stuttering disorder that made it very difficult for her to communicate with others. She was embarrassed by it and isolated herself from others, both at home and school. At 8 years old, she became the victim of ongoing emotional and sexual abuse. “I stuttered so badly. I was unable to tell anyone what was happening to me,” she says. The abuse continued until age 13. God entered her life when her paternal uncle took her to church and introduced her to Christ. She became filled with the Holy Ghost and began speaking in tongues. Going to church gave her life; it inspired her. She could forget about the abuse; she could forget about feeling unloved. She felt good in the church and loved the worship experience. She was confident enough to join the community recreation center track team and begin interacting with other boys and girls. When she was 16, her life detoured. She developed a relationship with one of the boys she had met and become pregnant. Curiously, she never knew that she was pregnant, nor did anyone else around her. She first discovered her condition when she went into labor and was taken to the hospital where she delivered the baby. For a brief time after giving birth, Shniese and her baby stayed with her aunt. Later, she moved in with her sister, but that living arrangement did not work out, and she found herself homeless. Eventually, she was able to move in with a neighbor. Her life began to look up, and she met a man whom she believed to be a good person. After investing herself in the relationship and bearing two of his children, she found out that he was married. So at 20 years old, Shniese found herself with three young children. Shniese got a job and found a place to live, but she began engaging in harmful activities. She started going out to clubs and drinking a lot — every day and at work. On one occasion, she blacked out while driving. She hit a parked car; her car flipped and landed in Greelawn Cemetery. She was trapped in the car, but her passenger was able to go for help. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 33

Rescue workers arrived at the scene to find Shniese lying on the sidewalk. They asked her how she got out of the car, and she told them that the EMTs helped her escape. “They told me: ‘We just arrived. There is no way possible that you got out of this car by yourself. You are lucky to be alive,’”she says. She knew then that the angels had saved her and laid her on the ground. “God saved my life. I went to jail. The court placed me in an intervention program at Maryhaven,” Shniese says. “ You are lucky to be alive. ” Yet, the intervention was not her savior. Shniese fell back into her old life of drinking and drugs. The lifestyle overtook her, and she began leaving her three children, ages 5, 3, and 2, home alone while she went out to party. This led to Children’s Services removing the children from the home and to Shneise going back to jail. By the time she was released, she had been evicted from her home and found herself homeless once again. Shniese realized that she needed a plan to get her children back. She moved in with the father of her youngest children, and all her children were returned to her custody. Unfortunately, this did not change her old habits; she continued to drink and use cocaine. Unlike her, the child’s father was clean and sober, and he soon left. Shniese found a job and moved in with a cousin in Poindexter Village. She continued to drink and to use drugs; she ended up in a crack house. Shniese knew this was not a good life for her children, but she says that she was unable to help herself. She was forced to call upon the children’s father again to take all the children so that she could try to get her life back on track. She was only 23 years old, but it seemed to her that she had existed for decades longer. Shortly thereafter, Shniese saw a lady who looked familiar. It turned out to be an employee of Maryhaven and the catalyst for Shniese to reach out for help. She called Maryhaven again and again until she was admitted and placed in a 30-day program. Each time she was ready for release, she asked to stay longer, because she was afraid of returning to the streets and her old way of life. She entered a six-month program and 34 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE was ready to return to give her new life a whirl just after four-and-a-half-months. There was beauty in the strangers at Maryhaven; Shniese describes feeling their overwhelming love, expressed in a way that she had never experienced. Not only was she able to finish her treatment education, but also, she found resources that helped her to stop stuttering. It was awesome, and for the first time, Shniese began to feel important. With the help of Children’s Services, she regained custody of her children, found a home and was able to furnish it. Her new journey had begun. Along the way, Shniese met someone while in recovery and they started dating. They were married in 1998, but later divorced in 2010. The divorce almost set her back to her addictive lifestyle, but with strong resources, she says that she was able to stay clean and sober. For the past 29 years, Shniese has been clean and sober — something she credits as one of her greatest accomplishments. Shniese enjoys having a relationship with her children and being the proud grandmother of four grandsons. She has made peace with herself and with her mother, with whom she regularly communicates. Also, Shniese is passionate about her job at Maryhaven, which she has held for the past 25 years. She likes seeing the clients’ growth from hopelessness to inspiration by finding themselves, overcoming addiction, completing their education and restoring their ability to obtain custody of their children. Shniese plans to further her education and continue to help others who are experiencing life traumas. Gerri Collier Gerri Collier is the proud mother of one daughter and one granddaughter. She has resided in Columbus for ten years. She is a strong believer in community engagement and community service. She is a current volunteer with the AARP State Office and the Central Ohio AARP Team.

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Dear Chosen Ones, It is not enough to believe in empowering women. It is not enough to say you empower women. It is not enough to have ‘empower women’ on your heart or on your ‘to do’ list. It is not enough. We must speak the words of our hearts through our actions. We must dig deep and reach higher. We must extend ourselves and pull up sisters striving to achieve. We must cease all conversation and action that holds a sister down and hold one another accountable to lifting — for when we lift a sister, we also rise. What have you done today to further opportunities for a woman in need? What have you done this week to encourage a young girl seeking confidence? What have you done this month to help a single mom in transition? These are the questions I ask myself every day. And these are the questions I encourage you to ponder, and then act. Learn your calling, find your purpose, and then use your precious gifts to blaze a trail forward for a woman who does not yet realize her strength. No good deed is too small. We sometimes feel ‘What can I do? I am just one person.’ One person is the start of a movement. One act of kindness is contagious. One step forward is monumental to someone sliding behind. Think of one thing you can do today to empower a woman and then act on it. Challenge yourself tomorrow to do the same, and before you know it, empowering women is part of your daily soulful giving. Maybe it’s a call or a text to a friend you know is facing challenges. Maybe it’s a donation to a women’s organization. Maybe it’s signing up to volunteer at a shelter or church women’s group. A strong woman stands up for herself. An empowered woman stands up for others. We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. Be the woman who wakes up with purpose and intent. Be the woman who shows up and does not give up. Be the woman who believes anything is possible and be willing to work for it. Be the woman who believes in her sisters — those she knows intimately and those she’s never met. Empowered women change the world, and I believe in a better place for us — I believe in equality for you, for me, and for the young women to whom we will pass the baton. So please, join me, join McQuetta, join the inspirational women featured in EnVision Proven Success and take the action to empower women! We are a movement in the making! “ A strong woman stands up for herself. An empowered woman stands up for others. ” VICKI BOWEN HEWES CEO — Life Leadership Legacy Founder Emeritus — Dress for Success Columbus ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 35

EPS FEATURED RESOURCES Dress for Success Columbus 1204 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201 (614) 291-5420 | dfscmh.org Maryhaven Inc Womens Extended Care Program 100 Noe Bixby Road, Columbus, OH 43213 (614) 892-2454 The P.E.E.R. Center A drop-in wellness, recovery & support center (614) 453-4830 | thepeercenter.org H.O.P.E. A Peer-Led Support Group 1636 Graham Rd. Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 The Center for Family Safety& Healing 614.732.8200 Community Partner in Central Ohio Clauda Stephens | (614) 376-6202 Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Richardo Banner Jr. | (614) 254-9258 or (614) 922-8823 JONESHANINA6462@yahoo.com 911 Robinwood Avenue Suite G Columbus, Ohio 43213 Prinston O. Martyn Jr. (POM-J) Try assortments of plant- based foods. Catering for 50 people or more & meal preps available | pomjfitness.com (323)702-1393 | pomjfitness@gmail.com VOICEcorps; reading service 2955 W Broad St, Columbus (614) 274-7650 | voicecorps.org Netcare Access Provides crisis intervention, assessment and referral services to children, adults and older adults experiencing a mental illness and/or alcohol or drug addiction | 199 S. Central Ave, Columbus, OH 741 E. Broad St, Columbus, OH 614) 276-CARE (2273) | netcareaccess.org CompDrug 547 E. 11th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211 Direct: (614) 586-1554 | Fax: (614) 291-0118 compdrug.org Maryhaven Addiction Stabilization Center 1430 S High St, Columbus, OH 43207 maryhaven.com/addiction-stabilization-center (614) 445-8131 Safe Harbor House offers a great little guide on dating violence for 2019, both international and national statistics that bring light to the scope of domestic violence problems both in the United States and globally. At the bottom of the page, at the bottom of the page you will find listed resources for domestic violence help by state. | (844) 214-8384 | safeharborhouse.com Capital City Career Prep High School 2400 S. Hamilton Road, Columbus, Ohio 43232 (614) 312-7121 | lifeskillshs.com/about-life-skills.html Skinucation, Architects of Beauty Veronika Hill, CEO/Founder (404) 438-3883 | skinucations@gmail.com skinucations.com H.O.P.E. The Center of for Family Safety & Healing (614) 0122-8200 | Claudia Stephens: hope@rumc.org (614) 376-6206 A Peer Led Support Group 1636 Graham Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) Barb Smoot | (866) 614-9359 weldcolumbuschaper@weldoh.org | weldusa.org Miracle-Ear Chrissy King, Marketing Coordinator Lewis Center, OH | chrissy.king@miracle-ear.pro Office: (614) 781-5969 | Fax: (614) 396-8221, Ext. 3420 Fair Treatment Reform and Re-Entry 1141 Oakwood Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43206 (614) 101-1924 | fairtreatmentreform@gmail.com Franklin County First Step Program The first Friday of every month 10 a.m.– 12 p.m. Ohio Means Jobs Center 1111 E. Board Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205 reentry.franklincountyohio.gov jpp.franklincountyohio.gov (614) 525-5955 Direct | (614) 525-5577 Office (614) 525-5549 Fax 36 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE

The City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods Meet your liaison | columbus.gov/ neighborhoods/neighborhood-liaisonprogram/Meet-Your-Liaison/ The Kitchen—Taco Tuesday 231 E.Livingston Ave. Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 225-8940 Fax: (614) 225-8943 info@thekitchencolumbus.com East Columbus Business Association (614) 980-0361 eastcolumbus.org join@eastcolumbus.org 100 Black Women Columbus The mission of the 100 Black Women Columbus is to advocate on behalf of African American Women and Girls to promote self-awareness, artistic development, leadership and mentorship, gender equity in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. Global travel to spread our mission including STEM programs. (614) 360-3277 | 100blackwomencolumbus.org HELPLINES & HOTLINES Poison Treatment & Advice Hotline Central Ohio (24-Hour) 1-800-222-1222 National Suicide Prevention Hotline (24-Hour) 1-800-273-8255 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 CHURCHES New Born Ministries Pastor Charlie M. Davis Jr. 1756 Brice Rd, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 NewBornMinistries1756@gmail.com Trailblazer Ministries Pastor Caska Thompson & Lady Tamani Thompson 1280 Brentnell Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43219 Trailblazersministries@yahoo.com 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 Educational guide about domestic violence and substance abuse drugrehab.com/guides/domestic-abuse/ More resources available by visiting our website, envisionprovensuccess.com ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 37

EPS VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT MELISSA HARRIS Editor- in-Chief, 2014–2018: “I’ve been lucky enough to volunteer alongside you at some point in the last five years to make EnVision Proven Success magazine a reality! I am so grateful to have had the most talented writers, photographers and designers join me in supporting the mission of EnVision Proven Success. The magazine has served as a catalyst for more than 5,000 women in our community to do better and reach higher than they ever thought possible. The fifth edition of the magazine, which we released in September 2018, was my last. I’m looking forward to passing this honor of celebrating women who’ve overcome unimaginable struggles to someone else who will hopefully be just as humbled and inspired by their stories as I’ve been.” IVAN SUGIJANTO “I’d love to stay in the States, yet unfortunately, I didn’t get the working visa and so, I sadly had to leave. However, I appreciate McQuetta and EPS for not only giving me the opportunity to volunteer to sharpen my skills but also for helping me to find jobs that could give me visa sponsorship. I am currently working at family’s business in Indonesia and the lesson and skills I gained through volunteering at EPS has helped me to excel in my job. Thank you EPS!” ARITHA LUSTER Minister, Founder & Director Wailing Women Win House of Lemuel: “Helping to serve both men and women on their journey through life has been one of my greatest accomplishments. It’s been a blessing to witness the same spirit from those who serve at EnVision Proven Success. They consistently partner with community organizations in effort to create a brighter future for individuals in need. As a partner from Indianapolis Indiana our purpose for donating and supporting EnVision Proven Success is to aid in ensuring their work can continue for many years to come. 38 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE Our mission at Wailing Women Win and The House of Lemuel, is to assist in the restoration of the lives of both men and women who have been temporarily detained from their destiny. I am committed to continue partnering with leaders in various communities to see that both programs and resources are available for all people. We believe together we will make an impact, one person at a time, and it is partnerships like this with EnVision Proven Success that will provide the opportunity people need to accomplish their goals.” MARY LOUSIE HAWKINS Mary for the past year is one of the compassionate volunteers at EnVision Proven Success. She came to one of fundraisers looking to support our work in any way she could. After she began an advocate and we are inspired by her strength, an enormous amount of courage and support of serving not only EnVision Proven Success, but other organizations in our community. As hard as it is, she has a real sense of calm. It is eye opening to see how she is supportive and we are so impressed with how is on board to help. It has been really rewarding and fulfilling. Mary has incredible insight and instincts, and she works hard to continually develop her knowledge and skills through attending monthly meetings and various trainings in our community. She is encouraged by how well we’re doing as a community, but also finds it hard to observe that there are still so many people in need of help. 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, that helps the women we serve to regain their dignity and moved forward in a way they previously thought impossible. Our volunteer opportunities range from serving on our board of directors, to providing legal and financial assistance to survivors, to assisting with our prevention programs, fundraisers and office tasks.

DA’CEEA’S HAIR DESIGN TEAM Anita Peaks t (614) 235-4335 c (614) 774-3104 3453 E. Livingston Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43227 @DACEEASALON IAN ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY 614.725.7994 IANCRUMPLER @GMAIL.COM IAN-ALEXANDER-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM Focused on SOLUTIONS not problems Carpenter Family Law llc 614.310.4135 | www.OhioFamilyLawSpecialist.com Divorce • Dissolution • Custody Free Telephone Consultation In Christy’s Shoes strives to impact communities in vulnerable circumstances by raising funds for integral programming. The areas impacted include homeless, unemployed, substance abuse, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and brain cancer. inchristysshoes.org Lydiary DESIGN & STRATEGY FOR GOOD Lydiary.com | @TheLydiary | Columbus, OH + Training & Coaching + Consulting Services + Application Development + Recruiting Services Improving a complete IT services firm, offering training, consulting, recruiting, and project services. Our innovative solutions provide sustained and meaningful value to our customers. Improving is committed to remaining tech-flexible, while at the same time providing the highest degree of expertise to our clients. improving.com YOUR TRAVELING BARTENDER 614.619.8227 • bartenderservicecolumbus.com 10% of the proceeds of next booking goes to EnVision when you mention #EPSMagLaunch Heart Beat Music Music For All Occasions Kelvin D. Williams, Heart Beat Music + Mobile Disc Jockey + Sound Engineering Services + (614) 378-4534 DJPLAYTHATSONG.COM ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 39

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