Local Business Series: Whit Devereaux Enterprises

Whit Devereaux, is an Award Winning and Bestselling Author of “Not By My Own,”“Unraveling the Layers: Memoirs of a Wounded Soul,” and “There’s a Jewel in You, Volume 2.” She is also a Domestic Violence Survivor Advocate, Mentor, and Motivational Speaker. Additionally, Whit is the Founder and Executive Director of the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization Not By My Own Community; helping survivors of domestic violence to rebuild their lives by giving them a safe place to experience a life of wholeness through Jesus Christ. The specific objectives and purpose of her organization are:

a) To provide a mentorship program to women survivors of domestic violence
1. Group and/or 1:1 coaching is available to all mentees to support and counsel them to wholeness
2. Through monthly challenges, masterclasses, book chats, courses with materials included etc. are offered to empower survivors to obtain their personal goals of healing.
b) To host bi annual and/or annual events where women survivors can network and receive helpful resources to help with rebuilding their lives post abuse e.g. mental health, legal, substance abuse resources and more.

Whit holds an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences. Her studies and experience include human behavior which she now has over a decade of experience working in the social services settings. Through her company, Whit Devereaux Enterprises, she assists Entrepreneurs with obtaining sponsorships and gaining the attention of their target audience through media exposure and local partnerships. Whit has been the cover story feature on the  Chicago Defender, in addition to being featured on the AC Green Show, Warriors Talk Radio on Urban Broadcast Media, The Kendall Moore Show on WVON, and is an active member of the Chicago Police Department District 006 Domestic Violence Subcommittee.

As the mother of two, one of which she had as a teen mom, she enjoys taking family vacations, spending quality time with her daughters and showing them that with hard work, faith, and determination – nothing is impossible. You can connect with her via email at [email protected] or via the contact form on http://www.whitdevereaux.com/

In the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it is safe to say that everyone was on edge and angry that we had to be confined to our living quarters. As time goes on, speaking for myself, being in quarantine is making me a better person. I’m becoming a person with better patience. I’m learning to live with the situation as if I have no other choice.

I’ve always been a optimist. I don’t know who I’ve inherited that from because the majority of my family are impatient hot-heads. I like to think of myself as the smooth creamy filling that calms things down when they become outrageous in my immediate family. I have to take on this attitude because I have lupus and stress is my number one trigger in having a flare up.

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks itself, instead of fighting off invaders that would cause damage or potential damage to internal and external organ systems. I try my best daily to avoid stressful situations as my worst symptoms consists of joint and muscle pain, stiffness or weakness, or worse, the need for blood transfusions due to a diminished blood platelet count. Platelets are important in preventing the blood from clotting which can travel throughout the body.

I thought it was important to share this tidbit with you so you can see how important it is that a person with lupus or other chronic illness to be quarantined. We cannot afford to be sick with the coronavirus or any virus because of our already threatened immune system. On the flip side, I also understand that I cannot be paranoid not to talk to my family should I come in contact with them; I just have to make sure they are masked up and that everything is sanitized when they come in and out. Of course, limiting the amount of people you allow in your home is paramount to diminish any chance of unwanted germs which is why I have one sister who I allow to visit because she works as my homemaker. Anyone else, I’ll see them on social media.

Speaking of social media, this is another thing to be grateful for! We may be social distancing but at least we can communicate with each other on our phones, desktop computers or whatever technical gadgets we have that brings us comfort and ease to get through everyday life. You wanna know what can lift your spirits when you think about what a drag it is staying at home? Think back twenty or thirty years when we didn’t have these luxuries. Imagine if you didn’t have a home phone and had to go to the corner to use the pay phone. How disgusting would that be knowing the coronavirus is looming the air. Think about coming back into the house with the germs without a mask. Masks weren’t that freely available to us as they are now.

There is so much to do at home. We baby boomers get the drift. It’s just explaining it to these millennials who cannot get it through their thick skulls how good or should I say great of an advantage they have it, not to mention that they are saving their lives as well as others.

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If my private diary had categories the way this blog does, I think every year would have a category called I Never Thought of This Until Now. Tonight will have the first entry in that category for 2020.

I had to go to the bank for the first time since the public advisory to wear masks on our faces in public. It’s been a couple of weeks, but with little shopping, the main thing that drove me to the bank was the need to get quarters for the machines in the laundry room. So off to the bank it was, with a mask made of a soft pink-and-white bandanna and two ponytail holders to hold the fabric across my face.

The thought came to me on the bus: I was going to the bank to make a withdrawal, and I had a mask over my face in order to do it.

One of the bankers walking around the office — a big one, since my usual little branch is closed — said hello to me calmly and reacted with gentle concern when I said I had a question.

“Should I take my mask off before I go up to the teller window?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he said, and he gently encouraged me to look at the people in line for the tellers — six feet/two yards apart, but unmasked.

I released the pressure on my ears, stuffed the bandanna mask in my coat pocket, and smiled at the banker as I thanked him.

Everything went calmly at the window. I got only the money I asked for, no more, and walked over to the door of the bank.

I put the mask back over my face and walked away through the quiet mid-afternoon traffic.

Just another day in 2020.

Margaret Serious has a page on Facebook.

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DETROIT, April 12, 2020 – Motown Museum is staying connected with Motown fans around the world by releasing a stream of entertaining and educational content on Instagram, FaceBook, YouTube and Instagram TV.  Its part of Motown Museum’s mission to celebrate the legacy and pioneers of Motown Records and to ‘pass on the seeds of inspiration, community and creativity to the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs’.

(L-R) Elesha-Bridgers, Robin Terry, and Edna Kane Williams at the Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown event. Orchestra Hall, Detroit. Photo: Motown Museum.

The Temptations performing at the Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown event. Orchestra Hall, Detroit. Photo: Motown Museum.

Robin R. Terry, CEO and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Motown Museum says the virtual experiences will allow fans to engage and interact with the museum during its temporary closure due to shelter in place measures.
“Even in the most challenging moments, there is room for creativity and connectivity,” said Terry. “We hope these programs bring joy, inspiration and fill our fans with a little bit of Motown magic as we navigate this time together.”

Curtis Terry, Honorary Co-Chair and Robin Terry, CEO & Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Motown Museum. Photo: DVIDEO 79 Productions for The Production Crew: On-Camera documentary series.

[VIDEO] NE-YO Perform at Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown.

[VIDEO] Robin Terry interviewed by Daina Howze for The Production Crew: On-Camera documentary series.

Motown Museum is the pride and joy of Detroit and becoming one of the nations’ biggest tourist attractions.   The museum is the home of the iconic Hitsville U.S.A. building where artifacts and the original Motown recording studio is on display to the public.  It’s also the birthplace of the world’s best soulful music from renown artists like Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Supremes and Marvin Gaye.  “With nostalgia from the past and optimism for a brighter future,” expresses Terry, “we are hopeful these virtual engagements will help us remain connected as we eagerly await the day we can welcome our guests back.”

Big Sean performs at the Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown event. Orchestra Hall, Detroit. Photo: Motown Museum.

The virtual campaign will showcase content during the month of April and include a Motown inspired DJ dance party, educational programs, entertainment from Motown’s Spoken Word open mic performances and a sneak peek of last year’s Motown Museum 60th anniversary weekend event, Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown.

Motown Museum is bringing the party to your home. With traditional nightlife currently on pause,  Motown DJ Dance Party will feature music spinsters like Carl “DJ iNViSiBLE” Hollier and DJ RUE as they mix your favorite Motown songs from the expertly curated Motown Museum Spotify playlist.  Motown DJ Dance Party will stream live for an hour on Motown Museum’s Instagram Channel (@motownmuseum) every Friday in April.  Guest deejays will shout out to fans and invite Motown alumni to join in, promising a good time for all.

During the month of April, Motown Museum will unveil a diverse virtual lineup of educational programming that includes a series of easy-to-follow activities designed to enrich the artistic lives of children in grades K-12. These engaging lesson plans are structured to peek students’ interest  by offering home schoolers, educators and curious parents an exciting  new way for children to learn about Motown’s legacy and pioneering spirit.   Hitsville Next: Educational Content will inspire the spirit of Motown for the next generation with lesson plans made available online via the Museum’s Facebook Page.

April is National Poetry Month and while Motown Mic: The Spoken Word 2020 is postponed due to shelter in place ordinances, Motown Museum will give spoken word artists and performers a voice.  Motown Mic: At Home will feature previous winners and finalists in new and prerecorded performances premiered live for Motown Museum Facebook fans. The Spoken Word Competition was created in 2012 to pay homage to the Black Forum, a Motown spoken word label created in the ’70’s by Berry Gordy and the Motown Record Corporation.

In celebration of last year’s Motown Museum 60th anniversary, Hitsville Honors: Celebrating Berry Gordy & 60 Years of Motown, the Motown Museum will debut never-before-seen clips  from the event.  Hitsville Honors was a star studded ceremony, hosted by television and film actor Hill Harper, that celebrated Motown’s legacy and paid homage to Motown founder Berry Gordy and other Motown pioneers. Exclusive performances from The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, along with award-winning contemporary artists Ne-Yo, Kem, and Big Sean will be showcased on Motown Museum’s YouTube Channel, Facebook Page and Instagram (IGTV Channel).

Motown Museum was founded in 1985 by Berry Gordy’s sister Esther Gordy Edwards. A major fundraising announcement was made in 2016 to expand the museum to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination.  To date, over 25 million dollars have been  raised and when completed, the museum will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit communities.  For more information on Motown Museum, visit http://www.motownmuseum.org.

About the Author:  Don Howze is an Emmy Award Winning Film/Tape Editor and Associate Professor of Journalism and Television Production.  Don is the producer and director of the upcoming film documentary The Production Crew, funded in part by The Field Foundation of Illinois.  imdb.me/dondvideo