By theGrio

Ken and Wanda Bass were married for fifteen years before they divorced in 2002.

While any failed marriage is sad, the couple believes that a failed marriage does not have to be the end of family relations and good communication between co-parents. In fact, Ken and Wanda are now the creators of something new called Xcards, a holiday card line for exes that need healthy change, forgiveness, and restoration in their relationship after divorce.

In an interview, Wanda explained that, “co-parenting may not require friendship right away but it does require cooperation in order for your children to grow up in a socially healthy environment.” Both Ken and Wanda had a similar problem when neither of them could to find sufficient cards to send each other for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, or simply to find a card that spoke appropriate words towards some kind of reconciliation.

That’s when they came up with the idea for Xcards. The parents of two sons, who are both thrilled about what their parents are doing together, Wanda and Ken, said that before they came up with Xcards they would typically end up arguing whenever they were communicating after their divorce. Now, former wife to Ken says, “our sons are just as excited as we are about the positive impact Xcards can have on families,” she said. “Attitude really is everything. The amount of time spent fighting as parents is counterproductive. Instead, try engaging,” Wanda presses.

At the end of the day, the couple has said that their greeting cards that range from birthday to Christmas to most other holidays have received a wide amount of positive reviews from other divorcees looking for answers. Lastly, the couple argues that for $2.75 you can make your kids happier than ever.

By Tracy E. Hopkins, The Root

African Americans love to travel, and according to a research study, we spend nearly $50 billion a year on U.S. travel alone.

During our explorations, however, we don’t always make it a priority to support black-owned hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

“Like any industry, we’re stronger when we operate together. But beyond the economic reasons, and the pride we feel in supporting our family’s success, it’s also a matter of perspective,” says Kalisa Martin, co-owner of the Runaway Jamaica.

“When I go abroad, I’m genuinely interested in the local culture and getting an authentic view of it. But I’m also especially interested in the black experience of that place. The Diaspora is everywhere we are, and staying at black-owned hotels and B&Bs automatically taps us into that scene,” she adds.

According to Andy Ingraham, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, out of 58,000 hotels in the U.S., African Americans own approximately 700.

But that number is increasing.

“Most of the major brands are making an effort to attract diverse ownership,” says Ingraham. “We [also] have a large and growing African-American business community looking for opportunities, and the hotel business is an attractive investment.”

So when you’re planning your next trip, add these four new and popular black-owned properties in the U.S. and the Caribbean to your itinerary.

1.) The Ivy Hotel

Tucked away in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Ivy Hotel is co-owned by Eddie C. Brown—chairman, CEO and founder of Brown Capital Management, the second-oldest African-American investment management firm in the nation—and his wife, Sylvia.

“We weren’t originally seeking to be in the hotel business, but the sun and moon aligned to have the opportunity to purchase a historic mansion, literally across the street from my firm’s corporate headquarters,” says Brown.

Housed in a renovated 19th-century mansion that was formerly the site of the award-winning Inn at National Place, the 18-room Ivy opened in 2015. The luxury boutique hotel prides itself on the highest level of cuisine, service and ambience, and it is distinguished by decor that marries modern amenities with one-of-a-kind antique pieces. Each guest room and suite has a customized layout with a fireplace and canopy bed. The hotel also boasts an intimate spa and the acclaimed fine-dining Magdalena bistro. As a complimentary service, guests are transported in style to nearby art galleries and music venues in a classic London taxicab.

2.) The Runaway Jamaica

A couple of years ago, Brooklyn, N.Y., couple Jeff Belizaire and Kalisa Martin escaped the daily grind and winter weather and returned to their tropical Caribbean roots (Belizaire is of Haitian descent and Martin’s family is from Jamaica). And in late 2015, they launched the Runaway Jamaica—a luxury, adults-only B&B located in a scenic residential community on Jamaica’s north coast. Transportation is provided from Montego Bay.

“Because of this endeavor, Kalisa and I are more mentally balanced and [spiritually] centered,” says Belizaire. “Our priorities in life and love are focused.”

Thanks to a creative Kickstarter campaign, the Runaway became the first and only successfully funded B&B in Kickstarter history. Funds were used to design, renovate and decorate the bright and airy property with an organic rooftop garden, a private beach and pool, and handcrafted furniture in each of the four guest rooms with en suite bathrooms.

A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Martin does double duty as chef and head of operations. In addition to breakfast, she treats guests to freshly prepared lunch and dinner options made with locally sourced ingredients.

The Runaway is booked for 2016, and Belizaire and Martin are exploring opportunities for global expansion, which would include a location in upstate New York. Martin is also set to publish a cookbook in the fall.

3.) Salamander Resort & Spa

Black Entertainment Television co-founder Sheila C. Johnson made her mark in the entertainment industry and now has a burgeoning hotel empire. As the CEO and founder of Salamander Resorts & Hotels, Johnson owns and operates four properties in Florida and one in Virginia.

The company’s crown jewel is the Salamander Resort & Spa, a sprawling resort that opened in 2013 in Middleburg, Va., less than an hour from downtown Washington, D.C.

Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 340-acre, equestrian-inspired property has 168 guest rooms and suites and a world-class spa. Several wineries along Virginia’s wine trail are nearby.

“It has been nearly three years since we opened our doors, and the reviews have been amazing,” says Johnson. “I wanted to create the finest resort and spa experience on the East Coast. The project was a decade in design and development, but it was well worth it.”

4.) Rock Cliff Jamaica

Scheduled to open in fall 2016, Rock Cliff Jamaica is a high-end, all-inclusive resort near Ocho Rios. The 13-room property had been unoccupied for many years until entrepreneur Stephanie M. Clark and business partner Kez Ford—the former owner’s son—took over in 2015 and created Dreamers Resorts, LLP.

“I feel honored to be one of very few African-American women to own and operate a hotel,” says Clark. “My plan was to open a small B&B within five years, but God’s plan was much bigger than mine.”

Rock Cliff boasts a waterfall swimming pool, tennis court and a private beach. The 7,000-square-foot main house, perched on 1.5 acres on a cliff, offers an idyllic backdrop for weddings and retreats. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and kitchenettes, and 10 of the guest rooms are built into the cliff with stunning views of the Caribbean Sea.

Tracy E. Hopkins is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based travel, lifestyle and entertainment writer. Visit her blog, Everything She Wants, and follow her on Twitter.

By Special to The New Tri-State Defender

At the busy intersection where science and humanity connect, Karen E. Nelson, Ph.D., is leading discoveries that may affect the lives of people in every corner of the world.

Nelson is president of the renowned J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a world leader in genomic research with more than 250 scientists and staff, more than 250,000 square feet of laboratory space, and locations in Rockville, MD, and La Jolla, CA.

A prominent microbial physiologist who quickly grew into the role of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) executive, Dr. Nelson led the team that published the first human microbiome paper. Since then, the world has taken note of the meteoric rise of this native Jamaican in an industry heavily dominated by males.

Dr. Nelson’s soaring profile takes on even more prominence as STEM equity continues to emerge as “a critical civil rights concern.” According to Advancing Equity through More and Better STEM Learning, a February 2015 report by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund, “only 2.2 percent of Latinos and 2.7 percent of African Americans have earned a degree in the natural sciences of engineering by the age of 24.”

Noting that more and more of the jobs being created today require a STEM background, the report concluded that “a scarcity of AP classes, qualified teachers, funding, and resources in underserved schools have effectively locked students out of opportunities in crucial, well-paying fields like computer science, engineering, and defense.”

The issue is not just that minorities or women may not consider STEM careers; often it is that they can’t always find the role models and mentors who can guide them toward successful careers, Dr. Nelson says.

“There are many people out there with brilliant minds, and we need them all in the STEM field,” Dr. Nelson says. “From a science and biological perspective, when you are talking about diabetes and genetics, you have to have women and minorities to push their own science — so their issues get the attention they need.”

Treatment “tailored to the individual”

By sequencing DNA from individual cells and studying bacteria and a variety of microbial species that live on and in the body, researchers at J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) are changing the way medical professionals look at humans, prompting them to explore symbiotic relationships and to consider how big and small things — such as organs and bacteria — actually relate to each other.

“The scientists at JCVI are engaged in basic science research that has the potential to change society,” says Dr. Nelson.

Scientists now know that the human body is teeming with a variety of microbial species, a community that is known as the human microbiome. Everyone is born with trillions of microbes: the central question is how these colonies, which include bacteria, viruses and fungi, function and ultimately affect human health and disease.

The National Institutes of Health Human Microbiome Project (HMP) was launched in 2007. The $175 million, five-year effort aimed to study the many microorganisms that live in and on the human body, such as in our mouths and on our skin. This important body of work is laying a foundation for precision medicine, an approach that will enable health care providers to tailor treatments and prevention strategies to unique characteristics of an individual, such as their genome sequence, diet and health history.

President Barack Obama is a true believer in the science.

“Doctors have always recognized that every patient is unique, and doctors have always tried to tailor their treatments as best they can to individuals,” he says. “You can match a blood transfusion to a blood type — that was an important discovery. What if matching a cancer cure to our genetic code was just as easy, just as standard? What if figuring out the right dose of medicine was as simple as taking our temperature?”

When Dr. Nelson delivered a presentation last year in India, 1,000 people tried to squeeze into the room. And when President Obama unveiled his Precision Medicine Initiative in 2014, she sat in the audience of distinguished scientists and health care professionals at the White House.

On the horizon is a game-changing moment, the kind of breakthrough that illuminates the groundwork laid by scientists as well as a seismic shift in daily life.

“The idea is that someday everybody will have medical treatment that is tailored to the individual,” Dr. Nelson says. “So that my blood pressure medicine is not the same as your blood pressure medicine because we probably have genetic backgrounds that make us have different needs.”

JCVI and similar organizations are providing a glimpse into how today’s science-driven organizations are finding societal solutions, such as JCVI’s sustainable lab on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

Research laboratories — in particular genomic-focused ones — traditionally consume large quantities of energy to run both energy-intensive scientific equipment and for heating and cooling, Dr. Nelson explains. The conservation-conscious facility actually seeks to be “net zero” for electrical energy, which means it seeks to produce as much electricity on-site as it consumes. It also was built to be the first carbon-neutral laboratory facility in the world.

“In the end, the goal is to make life better,” Dr. Nelson says.

Someone “who will believe in you”

Karen Nelson’s quest to understand how things work began at age seven when a teacher assigned her class the task of planting seeds in soil, and then placing the pots in sunny spots as well as shady places to determine how nutrients and sunlight would impact growth.

“I still remember doing that, and learning something significant, and just thinking about what it all meant,” she said.

That experiment hooked her on science. She went onto to earn her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago; her M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Florida, Gainesville; and her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Cornell University. After encountering microbiology, her interests were piqued, and that passion eventually led her to the JCVI’s legacy organization, The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR).

With the help of “positive, supportive mentors, and hard work,” Dr. Nelson emerged as a leader in her field. “I realized early on that education is the one thing that people can’t take away from you,” she says. “Coupled with my curiosity, and a little bit of luck meeting the right people, I have been able to do well.”

The author or co-author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and the editor of three books, Dr. Nelson is currently editor-in-chief of the international journal, Microbial Ecology. She also serves on the editorial boards of BMC Genomics, GigaScience and the Central European Journal of Biology. She is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences Board of Life Sciences, a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorary professor at the University of the West Indies, and a Helmholtz International Fellow.

Prior to her appointment as president in 2012, she held a number of other positions at JCVI, including director of JCVI’s Rockville Campus, and director of Human Microbiology and Metagenomics in the Department of Human Genomic Medicine.

As president, Dr. Nelson juggles multiple responsibilities, serving as leader, fundraiser, scientist and role model. As she travels the globe sharing JCVI’s findings, she is on the lookout for promising talent.

“I represent an organization that is one of the best in the world. People helped me along the way and I want to give back however I can,” Dr. Nelson says. “I can now connect talented individuals with the right people, which means that someone cared enough to make a connection.”

Twenty years after Dr. Nelson entered the industry, she still stands out as a woman and a person of color when she attends global conferences. Data provided by Change the Equation, a coalition of Fortune 500 companies focused on increasing STEM education, reported in 2015 that the STEM workforce was no more diverse that year than it was in 2001.

“I started in 1996, when there was a huge shortage of women and minorities in the field. It has not improved since that time in my opinion. I still think there is something wrong with the system,” she says.

JCVI is not waiting on the sideline for change. It has linked up with high schools and colleges to provide hands-on learning opportunities that pique curiosity and promote discovery. Additionally, its Genomics Scholars Program (GSP) helps smooth the transition from a community college to a four-year college by using a combination of activities. The program has proved beneficial to all stakeholders, according to Dr. Nelson, who adds, “I think community colleges are fabulous!”

She sees the mentoring component provided to area community college interns as especially important. Before researchers can succeed, they often fail, and then learn from these failures.

“A scientist needs the ability to handle rejection,” she says. “Your paper is not always going to get published. Your grant might not get funded. It is not always going to be perfect. Sometimes it is tough. And you just need someone who will believe in you.”

Dr. Nelson looks forward to welcoming the young scientists exiting the pipelines that carry talent from college into the STEM workplaces.

“I am really excited about the next generation of scientists,” she says. “They care about social causes. They are really about getting the message out, and trying to educate people.”

(This story is a variation of a version that first appeared in the Pathways magazine, produced by Community College of Philadelphia, and is published here with the College’s permission.)

By Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2016) — The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today announced the Mid-South Minority Business Council as a grant recipient to operate a MBDA Business Center in Memphis.

The federal funding ($285,400) will be distributed annually during a five-year period with a start date of April 1, 2016.

The grant program is designed to help minority-owned firms across the nation create jobs, develop their business, and compete in the global economy.

A key component of MBDA’s Business Center Network is providing minority firms with access to technical expertise and resources to grow their businesses.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 Survey of Business Owners, minority-owned firms in the United States increased from 5.8 million in 2007 to 8 million in 2012, and employed 7.2 million people in 2012.

In Tennessee, there are 105,234 minority-owned firms, that contribute more than $14.5 million annually in economic output. These firms employ more than 79,000 local residents.

Since 2009, MBDA Business Centers have assisted minority firms with gaining access to more than $31 billion in capital and contracts, while creating and retaining nearly 142,000 jobs.

MBDA will make additional announcements regarding grant winners and future grant opportunities. For the latest information visit www.mbda.gov .

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. Established in 1969, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that provide greater access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.

By Carlee M. McCullough, Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Depending on the age of their children, some parents are facing the onset of summer with tongue-in-cheek dismay as they concern themselves with the activities of the kids during the school break.

Some kids will chill at home for the summer. Others will attend summer camp. Some energetic children will have jobs for the first time. And a few enterprising youngsters will take an opportunity for entrepreneurship.

Children learn meaningful lessons – time management, teamwork, budgeting and leadership – by having some type of work experience. Years ago, summer jobs for teens were prevalent and plentiful. But as the job market became tighter, summer jobs became scarce. Now there is an underlying competition between teens and adults for jobs that have traditionally gone to teens.

An enterprising few bypass the job market and dive head first into owning a business. With proper supervision there are a few jobs that are very kid friendly.

Social media consultant

Teens have grown up with the Internet while many adults do not have a comfort level with social media yet. So there is a huge opportunity for teens to assist adults in developing a social media presence. Whether the presence is for business or personal use, teens can help adults get ushered into social media.

For a fee, teens can teach adults how to set up their social media sites, how to blog and how to use search engines efficiently. Although books and websites detail how to effectively use social networking sites, it is usually better to have one-on-one training to truly learn the concept and the differences between all of the sites. The teen can point out which sites are most popular. They can help with set up and even management of the site. By the time a site reaches many adults, it may be on the downside as far as usability in the social networking arena. Getting ahead of the social networking curve is a welcome position.

Babysitter

Babysitting is a sure-fire way for a responsible teen to earn great money during the summer. Parents are in need of child-care options for kids that are too old for daycare but not yet mature enough to stay home alone. A top-notch babysitter must be a number of things, including patient, professional, responsible, trustworthy and prepared. Special skills such as CPR and lifeguard are added selling points. Great references go a long way.

Marketing can begin with posted flyers, parents’ family and friends. There are also websites such as care.com that can also be used as a marketing tool.

Kid shuttle service

Parents and their kids often have summer schedules that don’t coincide. Camp or the child’s summer job may present a transportation challenge and that makes a kid shuttle service useful. Some parents may not be comfortable with Uber transporting their children from point to point. So a familiar teen with a vehicle, insurance and a great driving record can be a welcome addition. Make sure to become familiar with the laws, regulations and rules associated with transportation in the state.

Teen concierge

Running errands for adults and seniors can be worth the money paid for the service. The parents’ time is freed up for other things when simple errands can be performed by someone else. Grocery shopping, dog walking and picking up the cleaning are only a few of the services that can be offered. Transportation is usually needed to be effective with this gig.

Hair décor

For teens that love arts and crafts, hair décor can be a popular item for sale. Hair scrunchies, headbands, hair ties, and hair bows are all things that women gravitate towards. Creative designs tend to attract younger kids; while mature females tend to prefer functional and conservative. Social media is a great way to market them for low cost.

House-sitting

Summer is intertwined with family vacations. Many homeowners like the additional security provided by a house sitter and increasingly so given the concern many express about crime. Reliability is key.

(Contact Carlee M. McCullough, Esq. at 901-795-0050; email jstce4all@aol.com.)

By Stephen A. Crockett Jr., The Root

When Tristan Jacobson was just 5, his mother left him on the stoop of a Springfield, Mo., homeless shelter in 17-degree weather and went back to her addiction.

A year later, Donnie Davis and her husband, Jimmy, onetime friends of the boy’s mother, took Tristan in, and he has stayed with them ever since. Now the family is looking to formally adopt Tristan, who is now 9, a process that was going to cost upward of $5,000.

The family started a YouGiving page in hopes that donations would help offset the cost.

Tristan, wanting to do all he could to help, opened a lemonade stand to help raise money for his adoption, and in a weekend, as word spread, he raised more than $7,000.

“There’s not enough words to say thank you to everyone who has shown support or given us donations,” Davis told the Springfield News-Leader. “Everyone has made this possible. We will make sure this child will forever be ours.”

His parents told the newspaper that any extra money would go toward Tristan’s education.

Tristan’s adoptive mom said that when Tristan was 4, she began noticing a difference.

“Shortly before he turned 4, I could notice a huge difference in his physical appearance, clothes being dirty and not fitting and in her activity in both of her boys life,” Davis said of Tristan and his biological mom on the YouGiving page. “For the next year, it got worse and worse. Long story short, we found out that she had been doing drugs and had been prostituting to get money for drugs.”

Davis went on to describe the horrible conditions Tristan was subjected to while with his birth mother.

“She would take him with her when she would meet men for sex, she would allow her multiple boyfriends to beat on him, she would leave him alone in her apartment, he was always in his little brothers clothes, they hadn’t been washed, he witnessed sexual acts between her and other woman and men,” she wrote.

“He was locked in a dark room at night and had to listen to her being beat by the multiple boyfriends. This is just a small listing of all of the abuse that he went thru,” she continued.

According to the newspaper, Tristan set up the stand on Friday afternoon, offering cold glasses of lemonade for $1 each. He raised some $7,100 in donations by Saturday.

“It means everything. He is absolutely our son. He is in our hearts,” Davis said.

“This is more for reassurance for him, knowing that he has his forever family and he has our name,” she said.

By Sherrell Dorsey, The Root

The statistics are clear: There is a stark shortage of women in leadership roles at top technology companies in Silicon Valley and beyond. When it comes to addressing the lack of black women in managerial or senior roles within the industry, the numbers are grim.

Despite their gross underrepresentation, several black women are paving pathways for innovation and increased diversity at their respective companies. Their roles run the gamut, from serving as lead software engineers to heading up strategy to directing public policy or creative marketing campaigns. We’ve compiled a list of eight black women leading America’s most prominent technology brands.

By Charles Sims Jr., Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), commonly known as a reverse mortgage, is a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured loan. A HECM enables seniors to access a portion of their home’s equity to obtain tax free funds without having to make monthly mortgage payments as long as they live in the home as their primary residence, continue to pay required property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintain the home according to FHA requirements. Consult a financial advisor and appropriate government agencies for any effect on taxes or government benefits.

Eligibility for a reverse mortgage loan

To be eligible for a HECM reverse mortgage loan, all homeowners must be at least 62 or older and must meet financial eligibility criteria as established by HUD. The home must be owned free and clear or all existing liens and mandatory obligations would need to be satisfied through the reverse mortgage proceeds.

Eligible home types

Many home types are eligible: one to four unit* owner-occupied homes and approved townhomes, condominiums and manufactured homes.

Difference between a reverse mortgage and a home equity loan

With a HECM, the borrower doesn’t have to make any monthly mortgage payments. Whereas borrowers with a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) must pay back any funds borrowed, plus interest, within the repayment period.

The interest rates for a HECM versus a HELOC are fairly comparable. Upfront costs for a HECM reverse mortgage are significantly higher than they are for a HELOC. Unlike a HELOC, however, there are no draw or utilization fees with a HECM. In addition, HECMs do not have a set draw period or a limit on the number of draws after the first 12-month disbursement period. Therefore, a HECM gives borrowers the flexibility to use the line of credit any time and in any amount, until the line of credit is exhausted. With a HELOC, the lender can reduce or cancel the line of credit under certain circumstances.

When the loan becomes due

The loan generally does not have to be repaid until the last surviving homeowner on title permanently moves out of the property or passes away. At that time, the estate can repay the balance of the reverse mortgage loan and keep the home or sell the home to pay off the balance. The borrower must also live in the home as their primary residence, continue to pay required property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintain the home according to FHA requirements.

Estate inheritance

If the equity in the home is higher than the balance of the loan when the house is sold, the remaining equity belongs to the heirs/estate.

The estate is not personally liable if the home sells for less than the balance of the reverse mortgage loan. No other assets are affected by a reverse mortgage. For example, investments, second homes, cars, and other valuable possessions cannot be taken from the estate to pay off the reverse mortgage.

Available loan proceeds

The amount of funds that you can receive depends on many factors, such as: age, current interest rate, and the lesser of the appraised value of the home, the sale price or the FHA maximum lending limit.

The funds available to you may be restricted for the first 12 months after loan closing, due to HECM requirements. In addition, the borrower may need to set aside additional funds from the loan proceeds for taxes and insurance. Generally, the higher the value of the home, the higher the loan amount will be, up to the FHA’s maximum lending limits. Use our reverse mortgage calculator to estimate how much you could receive.

Distribution of money from a reverse mortgage loan

There are several ways to receive the proceeds from a reverse mortgage loan:

• Lump sum – a lump sum of cash at closing

• Tenure – equal monthly payments as long as the homeowner lives in the home

• Term – equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months

• Line of Credit – draw any amount at any time until the line of credit is exhausted

• Any combination of those listed above

Borrowers may access the greater of 60 percent of the principal limit amount or all mandatory obligations, as defined by the HECM requirements, plus an additional 10 percent during the first 12 months after loan closing for all adjustable rate loans. For fixed rate loans, the additional 10 percent may only be taken at loan closing. The combined total of mandatory obligations plus 10 percent cannot exceed the principal limit amount established at loan closing. The principal limit is the amount of funds available to the borrower through a HECM loan. Speak with a Liberty advisor for further details.

*Not applicable to HECM for Purchase

(Charles Sims Jr., CMFC, LUTCF, is President/CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.)

By Carlee McCullough, Esq., Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Ashley Perry says her goal is to build a loyal customer base, expand into new markets nationally and internationally. (Courtesy photos

Move over CoverGirl, Maybelline and Mac. A new kid is in town by the name of Naturelle Cosmetique, a company formed in 2014 with 97 percent natural ingredients, gluten free, and never tested on animals. Ashley Perry, the proprietor, shares her unique journey on how she created Naturelle Cosmetique.

Carlee McCullough: Thank you for taking the time to share with our readers your experience and knowledge about Naturelle Cosmetique.

Ashley Perry: Using the knowledge and expertise from Nail Technician School, it was initially created to help my mother recover from the scaring and hyper pigmentation left from a condition called Cellulitis. Using only honey, apple cider vinegar, tea tree, vitamin E, and coconut oil, I made my first product. In a matter of weeks, my mother experienced dramatic improvement in the texture, and appearance of her skin. From that, I have developed premium, deeply moisturizing formulations using rich essential oils, botanicals, extracts, and locally sourced Tennessee Honey.

C.M.: Why do you use honey in your products?

A.P.: Honey is one of the oldest foods in existence, known for healing and anti-microbial properties; it has been delighting humans for centuries symbolizing health, beauty, purity, and strength. That is precisely why I use it in every product I create. Products include soap, scrubs, body butter, and serums. All products are naturally scented, cruelty-free, environmentally friendly and perform beautifully without false promises.

C.M.: When did you discover that you wanted to go into business?

A.P.: I knew for quite some time. But while I was in Nail Technician School, I learned so much about the skin and how to care for it that I knew I wanted to make products to help effectively take care of the skin.

C.M.: How did you decide on the cosmetics business?

A.P.: I consider myself a beauty enthusiast. I love all things that enhance what we naturally have as women. It just made sense for me. I studied chemistry at the University of Memphis. So making things just comes naturally for me.

C.M.: Tell us about your products and what makes them unique.

A.P.: I have all natural Tennessee Honey based soaps, scrubs, body butter, and serums. We take unexpected ingredients such as ground raw almonds, apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, and locally sourced honey that has amazing results on the skin.

C.M.: What is your goal for the business?

A.P.: I want to grow and build awareness for the brand, grow by 30 percent this year, and expand into more stores and new markets outside of Memphis.

C.M.: What does it take to maintain the business?

A.P.: It takes lots of time and commitment to the overall success of business.

C.M.: Where can people find the products?

A.P.: They can be found via our website at www.livenaturelle.com or in stores such as the Trolley Stop Market & Curb Market in Memphis and Valley Pecans in Texas.

C.M.: As a young entrepreneur, what advice would you give to others interested in following your footsteps?

A.P.: First, to be 100 percent committed because there will be failures, constant No’s. But with determination, doors will start to open for you.

C.M.: What did you do in preparation for the business?

A.P.: I did two years of research before I made a single product so I could be well informed. I did market research to see whom my competitors were and saved every dollar I could get my hands on.

C.M.: What is next for Ashley Perry?

A.P.: Well, I am focused on building my brand and expanding my market share by making products available nationally and globally.

C.M.: As a business owner, what is the greatest reward?

A.P.: The biggest reward for me is to see others appreciate and acknowledge the hard work I’ve put into building this company.

C.M.: What’s most challenging as a business owner?

A.P.: I’m a workaholic. So keeping things separate and making time to do other things that I love is the biggest challenge for me.

C.M.: What’s your overall goal in this industry?

A.P.: My goal is to build a loyal customer base, expand into new markets nationally and internationally. I would also like to see my products in stores like Kroger, Wal-Mart and whole foods. Additionally, I would love to create a new movement in beauty, where natural products are the new standard in beauty.

C.M.: Any closing remarks?

A.P.: “If you’re not willing to fail, you won’t succeed!” – Shai Agassi

For more information, contact Ashley Perry at (901) 421-1597. The website address is www.livenaturelle.com

(Contact Carlee M. McCullough, Esq. at 901-795-0050; email – jstce4all@aol.com.)

By Carlee McCullough, Esq., Special to The New Tri-State Defender

As an attorney, I have seen the impact of a business on relationships. Whether the business is successful or not, it can have a detrimental impact on all parties involved. Owning a business is supposed to be the “American Dream.” But entrepreneurship can send a healthy relationship into a tailspin if the participants are not adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.

Mentally absent

In business, the pressure to be successful is so great that the business owner can be physically present but not mentally available. During special events, dinner, PTA meeting, and date night, the entrepreneur’s thought process is on how to make payroll for the business or how to pay the utility bill or the home mortgage. It is not enough to simply be present. The lack of engagement, for example, can trigger discussion by the significant other. Unfortunately, if there are children involved, they feel when a parent is aloof or disengaged. So extra effort has to be made to leave the office problems behind when it is family time.

Physically absent

Business, whether it is old or new, frequently requires after-hour meetings with the opposite sex or even out of town travel. In a two-parent home, frequent meetings and travel by the entrepreneur requires the other parent to pick up the slack. This can be overwhelming for the parent with the children the majority of the time.

Often times the business owner is caught up in their own day-to-day operations and the advancement of the business that he or she repeatedly and inadvertently minimizes the contributions made by his or her partner to maintaining the family.

This lack of compassion for the stresses that both parties endure contributes to resentment. Therefore, communication is required to overcome the challenges presented by a physically absent parent. The entrepreneur has to remember that his or her partner needs a break as well. A break does not necessarily include the children.

Financially strapped

A business can be more than a drain on a household. Regularly, the business requires extra funds to meet payroll, taxes, and all of the ancillary expenses incurred on a day-to-day basis. The startup may require loans from family, friends and maybe even against assets. Servicing the debt can be even more of a challenge when you have to face the same family, friends and spouse with no money to pay them back. The stress builds and so does the resentment when there is no communication involved.

One of the top reasons for separation and divorce involves financial problems in a relationship. The buildup of anger and bitterness is difficult to overcome and contributes to problems. The communication breaks down and the individuals completely shut down sharing their feelings with each other. Even in times of financial strife, sharing with a spouse or significant other becomes most important in getting over the hurdle. Beware of sharing with others while not sharing with your loved one. This creates a recipe for disaster.

Business success

The business is a success and all should be well. Money is rolling in, the bills are paid, and the entrepreneur is vindicated that starting the business was the right decision. Sometimes the spouse or significant other is still not happy. Success is not necessarily the answer when damage to the relationship has been done along the way and animosity has built up over time. Regardless of the success of the business, it can still be stressful on the relationship. Sometimes money has a way of changing people…sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. Remember, every step of the way, communication is the key to overcoming challenges.

A form of infidelity

It is so easy for the business to become a form of infidelity in a relationship. The business consumes all of the entrepreneur’s time, effort and energy. The owner’s mind is always on the business and not on the family. The entrepreneur travels, dines, and meets consistently with colleagues and staff. The company requires commitment and devotion. But remember, in the long run, so does the family, spouse and/or significant other.

While it may seem simple enough to divorce or end a relationship for the sake of the business, understand that ending a relationship takes an emotional toll and frequently leaves a path of destruction on not only the participants, but the business as well. Just as the business requires nurturing, those personal relationships require attention as well.

(Contact Carlee M. McCullough, Esq. at 901-795-0050; email – jstce4all@aol.com.)