Spotlight Feature-Monique Boyd: "Help Me, Help You"

Meet Monique Boyd of Maryland. She is no stranger to BOND Inc. Through the years, Monique has supported many of BOND’s initiatives through her work as a relationship coach.  Monique owns and operates a business where she offers life/relationship coaching, image consulting and personal training services.  Her mission is to help people transform their lives so they can move to the next level.  Monique’s vision is that the people she serves will begin to pursue their dreams, discover new ways of thinking and be empowered to make better decisions for their lives.

I started my business to help build stronger African American families through stronger relationships and partnerships.  It has since expanded into other services that we believe are the keys to building a stronger community.  Through our life/relationship coaching, we’re able to help people identify and diagnose the challenges in their lives which are preventing them from the success they desire and develop strategies and action plans to help resolve those challenges.  We also began offering image consulting services because we realized the importance of having a healthy self-image and how you present yourself to the world.  Last, we would be remiss if we helped people do all the inner work on themselves and forget about the outer work which includes keeping ourselves healthy and fit for our own survival.  Our motto is that “we transform you from the inside out!”

My greatest accomplishment to date has been:

Seeing my clients grow and transform their lives.  I’m always amazed at how hard my clients work and how much effort they put into becoming better people.  I always feel like a proud momma when I see my clients move into healthier relationships.

The most challenging thing I ever experienced has been:

Not being able to help people who can’t afford my services or they’re in a situation which is beyond any help I can give them.  When you have a business, you have to do what’s right for the business and that may mean turning some people away that really need your help.  That is the most heart breaking thing that I have ever experienced but I do have a meet up group which is free and I encourage those who can’t afford my private one on one services to join these groups.  I also host workshops on specific topics which are offered at a relatively low cost and may be a viable option for those in need of semi-private coaching.  

My most valuable lesson: 

I’m telling my age here but having lived this earth 30 some years, I’ve learned to accept people as they are in life.  Being judgmental does nothing but stop you from understanding people and developing a sense of tolerance for a person’s individual self-expression.  People have choices and their lives are a direct reflection of those choices.  No matter how much you try to steer a person in the right direction, they still have to walk it alone.  As Maya Angelou says, “when you know better….you do better”.

Final Remarks: 

I love helping people to succeed.  My strength and inspiration comes in helping people achieve their greatness in life.  If you’re looking to make changes in your life and my services interest you, please contact me immediately.  I look forward to hearing from you!

More Recent Spotlight Features

“My Aha Moment”

"All In His Plans"

"It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right" 

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BOND Inc Spotlight features ordinary African American women who are doing extra-ordinary things. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, send your requests for more information to iambondinc@gmail.com.

Spotlight Feature- Nicole Turner: "My Aha Moment"

It’s a pleasure that we introduce to you BOND’s May’s Spotlight Feature, Ms. Nicole Turner of Maryland. Nicole Turner is an author, motivational speaker, life strategist, and corporate consultant who has a passion for helping others. Nicole delivers powerful and proven ideas in an enlightening and inspiring manner. Nicole inspires others to move.  She motivates others to step outside of their comfort zone and recognize that their environment does not dictate their future or determine their opportunities. Nicole encourages other to see beyond their current circumstances, to leave familiarity behind, and make a move. 

Nicole’s personal journey began years ago when she moved from Mississippi to the Washington, DC metro area with a $180 to her name, no job, no family, no friends, and no place to live (practically homeless). She didn’t have a plan, but she was determined and resilient. 

Nicole has worked in Education, Corporate America, and the Federal Government.  Although she had great jobs in those fields, she still felt unfulfilled, and determined to identify her life purpose and passion. With each job, she found herself spending a great deal of time inspiring, encouraging, and motivating others, and one day she had her Aha! Moment.  Motivating, inspiring, and encouraging others is her passion, her calling.

Nicole’s first book, Detox Your Life: Building a Healthy Relationship with Yourself and Others uses real-life examples to help readers identify those mental and emotional toxins that are preventing them from reaching their full potential and walking into their destiny.  Not only does Nicole encourage others to identify those mental and emotional toxins that are preventing them from reaching their full potential in life and walking into their destiny, but she also inspires them to do something about it. Nicole is a sought after motivational speaker, workshop facilitator, and life coach. She leaves audiences inspired, educated and seeking more.

My greatest accomplishment to date has been:

My greatest accomplishment to date was finally realizing my calling in life.   

My philosophy has always been, if you truly want to blessed, be a blessing to others.   

Although, I carried that philosophy within me every day for many years, it still took me quite some time to FINALLY get that my calling is to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to live the life they were destined to live. 

The most challenging thing I ever experienced has been:

The most challenging thing I have experienced is understanding how all the pieces to the puzzle fit together. When I moved to DC area in my early 20s without a job, a place to live, family, or friends, I worked as a temp in various organizations. One day someone suggested I apply to be a school teacher. I had no desire (at that time) to be a teacher, but it was a permanent job.  Had I not become a teacher, the careers I had following that would have never happened.  Yes, it was very challenging to move to a place full of unknowns, experience a lot of lows and setbacks, a lot of closed doors, a lot of doors that never opened, but it is a blessing to be able to reflect back on my life journey, up to this point, and see how the “building blocks” led me to where I am today. 

My most valuable lesson: 

My most valuable lesson is that God has equipped me with everything I need to succeed, I just need to believe.

Final Remarks: 

In order to receive it, you must believe it, even before you can see it. There is a direct correlation between our faith and positive thinking.

 

 

More Recent Spotlight Features

"All In His Plans"

"It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right" 
"Forgiving My Father to Move On"

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BOND Inc Spotlight features ordinary African American women who are doing extra-ordinary things. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, send your requests for more information to iambondinc@gmail.com.

Spotlight Feature- Leslie Wallace "All In His Plans"

Author Leslie Wallace 

Meet Leslie Wallace of South Carolina
Ms. Wallace is a light for those in a dark world. She is a daughter, sister, wife and mentor and motivational speaker.  She is the author of Changing Faces her first published book.  Leslie is also a licensed minster who has been sharing the gospel for over 8 years. She volunteers weekly at a homeless shelter and mentors to the women there. She also mentors and motivates several women within her church. Leslie along with her husband Karl founded His Plans Ministry which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps displaced women and children get back on their feet.  She spends time sharing and encouraging others. Raised in Union South Carolina, Leslie obtained her BS from Limestone College and her Masters in Non-Profit from Capella University. Leslie’s passion is to help women know their true identity and worth through the word of God. This is her life’s goal to help others know and walk in their purpose.

Having spent years herself not knowing her true purpose and making many careless and countless mistakes, Leslie wants to help other women to not go down that same path. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, this was the scripture that helped her through a rough divorce and that changed her life for the better.

My greatest accomplishment to date has been:

My greatest accomplishment to date is being able to see my first book Changing Faces

published and impact the lives of so many. This is far more than I could have ever dreamed. God has truly blessed the words that He allowed me to pen to the world. The message of love, hope, forgiveness, deliverance and restoration is freeing many from past pain and hurts. This is truly a humbling experience, to have God choose me to display His love through this book.

The most challenging thing I ever experienced has been:

To realize that I am worthy inspite of my mistakes and my past. To grow up without a father, to lose my older brother to a violent crime, to go through a terrible divorce and all the bad choices and decisions that I made. God still finds and calls me worthy. To know that I am Somebody, that there is a purpose and a plan for my life. I am not a mistake. I am not what others say I am, but I am who God says I am. To know that His love for me is genuine and real and that it will never change. This is the same love that I  have been called to share with others so that they can also experience the feeling of being  loved and worthy inspite of their past or current situations.

Most Valuable Lesson: 

There are so many, but if I had to list one, it would be the power of forgiveness.  This is a powerful tool if used correctly. I have learned that forgiveness is not for the other person, but it is for me. As long as I held on to unforgiveness the other person had control over me, they were controlling me and they didn’t even know it. Once I learned that my deliverance, and healing rested in this simple act, then I was able to move on and live a positive and productive life. This is a lesson that I try to practice daily, and share with others so that they can be free also. There is power in forgiveness.

Final Remarks:

It's truly humbling and an honor to be considered as a nominee in this awesome women's forum. I thank God for every step of this journey that has brought me to this point, and I pray that He continues to find me worthy to be used of Him to impact the lives of others for the better. 

More Recent Spotlight Features

"It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right"

Forgiving My Father to Move On

"Making Dreams Come True"

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BOND Inc Spotlight features ordinary African American women who are doing extra-ordinary things. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, send your requests for more information to iambondinc@gmail.com.

Spotlight Feature-Jaemellah Kemp "It Take Two to Make a Thing Go Right"

Meet Jaemellah Kemp of Maryland. She is the founder of IT TAKES TWO, INC. IT TAKES TWO, INC is an entity formed out of a passion that turned into purpose based on her personal experience as a single mother. Ms. Kemp was faced with a decision whether to pay for school supplies for her son that was entering kindergarten at the time or to buy food for the week. God then laid it on her heart to help other single parents that struggle with taking care of the basic necessities.

To say the least, I was amused by this vision because in my finite mind I could not do it. I was in the midst of my Bachelors program, so in addition to my homework, my son’s and his extracurricular activities, I saw no time in my schedule to start and operate a business! But, God is just who He is so after sitting on the vision for almost two years, I reached out to a lawyer friend who prepared our documents and filed with the state, at no cost. In February 2012, we were deemed a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the state of Maryland and have been operating in faith ever since!

IT TAKES TWO, INC provides support to students living in single parent homes in the Greater Washington, DC area through our scholarship program and life skills workshops. Our scholarships pay for school supplies, books, and uniforms and are awarded to students in 4^th  grade through college (age 26).

To date, we have provided support to 11 families with back to school costs. We continue to reach out to the community through our reading challenge wherein 4^th-8^th grade students receive free books to add to their home libraries.

This fall we also assisted 25 Anne Arundel County students return to school with book bags filled with school supplies thanks to the tremendous support from our community of supporters.

We are currently running a $1,000 Home Room Makeover contest for a lucky single parent to win! We understand that resources are limited so we are doing our part by renovating a room in the home. Our plan is continue to serve single parents and their children to the best of our abilities.

My greatest accomplishment to date has been: 
My greatest accomplishment to date is the birth of my son, Brandein, in 2004. I never knew the level of love that exists between him and I was even possible. I often say that he is my motivation, breath of fresh air, and heartbeat. He’s the reason why I refuse to give up on my dreams of creating a lifestyle that will make him proud to say that I am his mother. 

The most challenging thing I ever experienced: 
The most challenging thing I’ve experienced thus far is this balancing act of being a single mother, full-time employee, and entrepreneur all the while struggling at times in the same manner that I seek to provide relief in other single parent homes. While I could allow my circumstances to give me a reason to quit, I refuse to do so as there is work to be done and God has not let me down yet! 

Most Valuable Lesson(s):   
For some time I was shocked at the lack of support from individuals that I thought would offer assistance or a simple word of encouragement at the very least. However, I have learned that not everyone will support you and that not everyone is meant to go on the journey or stay along for the ride. I am now content with this fact. I simply accept the support in whatever form it is offered and continue to be mission minded.

As the journey continues, those whom are intended to further this vision have been strategically placed and for that I am forever grateful. 

Final Remarks:   
I encourage the person reading this to pursue your dreams despite what may appear to be obstacles. Will you fail? Maybe, but there is a lesson to be learned in every failure and in every success. Surround yourself with people that are wiser than you so that you never become complacent, predictable, or comfortable. Always seek to take it to the next level. I’ll be rooting for you!  

Recent Spotlight Features

Forgiving My Father to Move On

"Making Dreams Come True"

“I Have a Reason to Live”

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BOND Inc Spotlight features ordinary African American women who are doing extra-ordinary things. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, send your requests for more information to iambondinc@gmail.com.