Honey Mag

The holidays have come and gone but the gift of giving doesn’t have to. It’s amazing to see people living their dreams especially when they give back to young people. From her teen non-profit Hip Hop 4Life to her special events and talent relations firm Epiphany Blue, Tamekia Flowers-Holland is definitely a fabulous force to be reckoned with.

HoneyMag: What was your inspiration for starting your non-profit Hip Hop 4 Life and what is the mission?
Tamekia: I have been participating in youth-based community service initiatives since pledging Zeta Phi Beta at Syracuse University. Even after graduating, I would volunteer at a school or youth organization at least one a month. During this time, I realized that the youth were not adequately receiving health and life skills education, especially in a way that they could relate to. This is one major reason why I launched Hip Hop 4 Life in 2003.

Hip Hop 4 Life’s mission is to build self-esteem, confidence and sound judgment in young people so they can achieve their utmost potential and become proactive members and leaders within their communities. This is done through year-round mentoring that includes social and educational activities and interactive life and health skills. There are also risk prevention workshops which incorporate health, corporate, sport and entertainment industry professionals.

HoneyMag: Around how many teens per year come through your programs?
Tamekia: Each year we serve 200-400 teens through our internal Empowerment Team workshops, our external empowerment workshops provided to schools and youth organizations, and our annual YOUTHFEST youth summit, which occurs annually in October.

HoneyMag: Why did you decide to use hip-hop as a catalyst to teach young people life skills and health education?
Tamekia: Elements of Hip Hop and popular culture are incorporated in Hip Hop 4 Life via our curriculums and the people we invite out to speak to the youth. This was done because being a baby of Hip Hop, I understand that this is a culture that speaks directly to young people of all ethnicity’s. We incorporate the culture as a conduit to deliver the important information and education to the youth.

HoneyMag: Can you tell us about “Shades of Beauty” and “Man Up”?
Tamekia: “Shades of Beauty” was developed in 2003 by Hip Hop 4 Life’s Program Director, Tanisha Tate and I. The program was created based on a conversation we had with a dynamic woman, Saundra Heath. She mentioned that she knew of some young girls who had major self-esteem issues because they didn’t look like the girls in the videos or the girls that the boys seemed to like (e.g. light skin and long hair). Tanisha and I remembered the time when we felt the same way. We decided to launch the program because we wanted young women to begin to develop stronger self-esteem, confidence, and a greater appreciation of their looks and who they are as a person.

“Man UP!” was launched in 2007. We launched this program because there were many programs out there that focused on the empowerment of young girls and we felt like our young brothers were being left out. Young Black men are the #1 victims AND offenders of Homicide. They also need to be empowered, they need their self-esteem to be further developed, and most importantly they need to be exposed to powerful male “role-models” who can show the boys that they can dare to dream and achieve!

It is important to have Shades of Beauty and Man UP! Because while we do execute co-educational workshops, sometimes there are topics that girls need to just discuss with women and topics that boys need to just discuss with men.

HoneyMag: You are definitely a Jane of all trades! Tell us a little about your special events and talent relations firm “Epiphany Blue”?
Tamekia: I founded Epiphany Blue a little over four years ago. I love planning events and assisting my clients with reaching out to the celebrities that they would like to have perform or appear at their function. This year we launched Teen Blue, a new division of Epiphany Blue aimed at creating events and talent-related programs for the youth demographic. We are blessed to have some outstanding clients including: Burrell Communications Group/McDonald’s; dmg management LLC, Kenny Smith Aim High Foundation and Microsoft; Alonzo Mourning Charities; Dwyane Wade’s Wades World Foundation; BET Networks; Jet Magazine; Allan Houston Foundation; Verizon Wireless; Bank of America; and our very first client, United Communities Center.

HoneyMag: For our entrepreneurial readers can you tell us how you get started and if you sought out investors?
Tamekia: I did not seek out investors, I just made sure to keep my overhead (expenses) very low. I actually just got our first office space this year! But to those who possess that entrepreneurial spirit I offer what I call the three P’s: Passion, Preparation and Pursuit. Simply put, first you must find your passion. What is it that you like to do that you would do even if you weren’t getting paid for it? That is your passion. Once you find that passion, you must prepare. Read everything you can find about that passion and how to turn it into a career. Work to identify a mentor or advisor in that career field who can provide that extra guidance. Attend conferences/trade shows related to that career field. Identify networking events and/or professional associations in your city directly or indirectly related to your industry of choice. Build relationships and contacts. Develop a business plan or your plan of action. There are many guides on the internet that can help you with this process. You also must begin to research what is needed to start a company in your home city. Finally the last thing to do is to pursue that career. It is hard to step out on faith and pursue that entrepreneurial spirit but remember to keep people in your corner who will encourage you and not discourage you.

HoneyMag: Where do you see yourself next year?
Tamekia: 2010 is going to be an awesome year. Tanisha and I, along with a dynamic board and outstanding team of advisers and volunteers, accomplished so much for Hip Hop 4 Life in 2009 and we have even more in store for 2010. As it pertains to Epiphany Blue, I am working on some exciting proposals and event strategic plans for next year, starting with the 2010 NBA All-Star Week. And finally, I plan to finally get my certification to become a Yoga Teacher, another one of my passions. I am truly excited to embark on these new endeavors.

HoneyMag: What was your first job ever?
Tamekia: My first job was as an Assistant at Katz Media Group, a radio rep firm. I had two dynamic bosses, both of whom I still keep in contact with to this day. This job was truly a major step along my career path.

HoneyMag: What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Tamekia: All you have in business is your word and your reputation. If you promise to do something, especially for a client, over deliver.

HoneyMag: How do you balance work life and personal time?
Tamekia: Honestly, I am still trying to find that magical balance. Sometimes I can get so immersed in my work, I can temporarily lose sight of my personal time. This is something I promise to myself that I would seriously improve next year!

HoneyMag: What are five things you can’t live without?
Tamekia: Wow! This is a good question. After much thought I will say my Iphone, my Macbook/Macbook Air, my Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick Lip Balm (the best), my DVR and my comfortable Victoria’s Secret PINK brand sweatsuit!

HoneyMag: OK so the job market is pretty scary right now. I think many of us know the basics but can you give us five tips of personal success armor that people need to wear to their next job interview? What will REALLY make someone stand out?
Tamekia:
1 – Confidence – Head up, shoulders back, eye contact is key

2 – Passion – Speak with passion and conviction

3 – Preparation – Know all you need to about the company you are interviewing with

4 – Friendliness – Go in there with a warm and friendly disposition, not a stiff and stern demeanor

5 – Smile- And most importantly remember to have a wonderful smile!

HoneyMag: What do you like about HoneyMag?
Tamekia: I love HoneyMag because I feel like the site is for women like me, that young urban professional who is still making her mark on the world and wants to do it in style! Also HoneyMag truly spans generations. Not only can I read the site but the girls of my Shades of Beauty program can get a lot from it also. I specifically love the Beauty (being a self-professed beauty product junkie) and Lifestyle sections. I loved the Yoga feature I recently read on the site a few weeks ago.

HoneyMag: Where can people find out more about your work?
Tamekia: To find out more about Hip Hop 4 Life, please visit HipHop4Lifeonline.com. For more information about Epiphany Blue, please visit EpiphanyBluellc.com.