What A Word!

Mikell Butler serves as a Certified Addiction Recovery Specialist and Certified Recovery Peer Advocate. He share freely his struggle with addiction and recovery to those who are incarcerated and with community and civic organizations. He joins the podcast to share what it means to live life on life’s terms. #recovery #hope #transparent #recoverycoach #peeradvocate

Beverly “Song” Burton, born Beverly “Ann” Burton was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Passionate about music and ministry, she is a singer/ songwriter who has been blessed to share her orginal songs and arrangements with many people within the 50 states, Bermuda, and London. She credits family worship and her parents for giving her a firm musical foundation.

After establishing a short career as a science teacher for 6 years, Beverly has gone on to establish the Beverly Burton School of music and start her journey in 2018 as a full time musical artist!

Beverly is also passionate about her personal musical abilities and ministry and has just recently released her latest single “Undefeated.”

Website: gotobbsm.com; Instagram @beverly_song_burton ; @gotobbsm

Shallon holds an MBA from Washington

Adventist University and is a Project

Management

Professional (PMP), and a Lean Six

Sigma practitioner. His career began as

a quality engineer in

the military defense industry and later

served as a consultant for the US

patent office.

He is the cofounder of Thomas&Wynter

R&D.

Shallon seeks to share his vision of

servant leadership with the world and

inspire

others to start their entrepreneurial

journey. Follow Shallon Thomas on Instagram @shallonthomas Shallon’s business website is https://twtote.com/ #leansixsigma #entrepreneur #thomasandwynterr&d #twtote #uncomfortablegrowth #consultant

My conversation with Joshua Malachi is available on YouTube and your favorite podcast apps using the link https://linktr.ee/ryansharpe. Joshua Malachi is a freshman at Mount St. Mary College pursuing a degree in Human Services with the hopes of becoming a Social Worker. He recently participated in a collaborative effort that resulted in the recording of the impactful single: “Consuming Fire.” He joins us to discuss and share insight on his path to worship and service. Follow Joshua on Instagram @joshuamalachi_ on Facebook: Joshua Malachi and LinkedIn: Joshua Malachi. Follow the podcast on Instagram @whatawordpodcast and Facebook: What A Word! Podcast

MyShawn AKA “Mush” is a native of Mount Vernon, NY who currently resides in the DMV area. She finds pleasure in her devotion to her family and raising her 3 children. She is a social justice advocate who is passionate about her effort to evoke social change. As a pioneer in the human services field, MyShawn’s professional experience and scholarship are in the areas of juvenile justice, mental health and education. Currently working on what she hopes could be used to make the change she hopes to one day see in the world, the Children and Youth Introspect and Empowerment Commission, the Education Coalition for Change, the Teen Life Taskforce and F.A.B.B. Girls (For All Black and Brown Girls) are her latest creations. She calls it the “quad effect,” a collaborative work effort where community and school-based programs will be used to address racial and educational disparities existing in communities populated by Black and Latinx people along with an empowerment initiative aimed to teach young minority girls of today to become tomorrow’s leaders.

With music always being her first love, MyShawn has been singing since the age of 4. Coming from a musical family, her love for this gift is reminiscent of the times where her grandparents would teach their children and grandchildren how to develop a keen ear for good music and create melodious harmonies. From church choirs to school choirs to praise teams and more, MyShawn is a singer and Psalmist who believes in removing all of self. She takes absolutely no credit for her spiritual gifts and gives all glory and honor to the Most High God.

A counselor by profession, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health and Science and a Master of Science in Counseling from Mercy College. She also holds a Master of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a specialization in public management and leadership and she is currently on the home stretch of her doctoral journey of the same at Walden University. She is a health and human services coordinator serving those with severe mental illness and a professor of counseling for the School of Nursing & Health Professions at Trinity Washington University in Washington DC.

MyShawn strongly believes it is her calling to press forward in life as a trailblazer for a greater cause. She holds firm to the belief that one’s accomplishments, education or status does not define who they are but rather exemplifies how one humbly, with unwavering sacrifice uses those blessings to bless others. This she believes exemplifies the love and relationship one has with God; and defines how one views their stewardship to the world.

Hoping to one day make leave her marker in this life, to sum it up, MyShawn is a mother, a wife, a sister, and a daughter but most importantly she is a WOMAN created, designed and crafted by GOD!

Christine Sharpe is an educator. She shares why she became passionate about shaping and inspiring young minds in the classroom. Social media contact: @sistacs on Instagram. Please use https://linktr.ee/ryansharpe to access our YouTube channel and your favorite podcast app.

My guest Marilyn Fielder Whitley is a gifted singer and leadership consultant. Born in Baltimore Maryland she developed a love for the arts at an early age. She shares willingly her struggles and how she overcame. To access episodes on YouTube and your favorite podcast apps, click on https://linktr.ee/ryansharpe

Andre Johnson was Born in Decoy, St Mary in the Jamaica West Indies to humble beginnings. In his formative years, he experienced severe hardship and counts his numerous accomplishments as nothing short of a miracle and the dreams of his mother. As early as he could remember, he aspired to become a criminal defense attorney and acted upon these aspirations by pursuing a double major in history and linguistics at the University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, and attaining a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the West a Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. Andre had hopes to engage in private practice and to eventually open his own firm. These aspirations changed when he began the Masters of Laws program at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, Long Island, NY. He developed a strong interest in bringing an awareness to systemic racial injustice in the legal system and cumulative disadvantages that engender and perpetuates systemic discrimination against the poor and women of color. His desire to advocate on behalf of the voiceless and marginalized and practice criminal defense married with his recruitment and placement at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. Social Media: Instagram @dreboss ; Twitter @WANTED_joh ; Facebook: Andre DBoss Johnson

The word is passion. And for Loretta Merritt it all starts with the voice. In fact, the Brooklyn native and youngest of five children has always enjoyed singing ever since her days coming up in the church where she was a featured talent in the children, youth, and young adult choirs. Loretta’s passion for music was ignited when she was first exposed to gospel legends such as the Clark Sisters, Cece Winans, and Yolanda Adams. The gifted vocalist’s strong foundation was set. For her it was always bigger than just music. It was and remains Loretta’s life. She was blessed and excited to utilize her singing and acting abilities, in 1985, in an Off-Broadway play, “I’m Reaching for the Stars” in New York City, where she had a leading role. Excerpts of the play were later aired on the Manhattan Cable Television.

 

She was later inspired to sing, record, and tour with the renowned gospel choir James Hall and Worship and Praise. The choir was privileged to perform at The Stellar Awards, Bobby Jones BET, New York City Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting, along with Gladys Knight, Michael Bolton, and other renowned artists, to name a few. “Singing with the choir was one of the greatest experiences in my life,” says Loretta. “The power in our voices exuded greatness!” She adds. Loretta was thrilled to have the opportunity to develop her vocal talents further at the Juilliard Adult Evening Program in 2013. She studied the basics of vocal performance and mastered a wide variety of music from the layered complexities of classical to the bombastic majesty of Broadway.

 

With hard work, dedication, and faith, one of Loretta’s dreams became a reality. She released her first single, “No One Greater” on April 26, 2019, played on The Bobby Parker Radio Show, The Gospel Grind Radio, WJOU Praise 90.1FM, and all digital platforms.

 

At the 25th Annual Gospel Choice Music Awards in 2019, Loretta Merritt took home New Independent Artist of the Year award. On September 2019 she sang at “Christmas in September,” a live taping at Jamaica Performing Arts Center in New York, which was aired on Tim Warner (Spectrum) 79 & 1998 | Cablevision (Optimum) 68 | RCN 83, Verizon FIOS 43, and online streaming worldwide.

 

Loretta enjoys performing at various concerts. On June 6, 2020, Loretta ministered in songs at the Saturday Night A.M.N. Live, via YouTube and Facebook, where she sung, “Turning Around for Me.” No matter what people were going through during the pandemic Loretta wanted her audience to know that God will turn the situation around. Loretta has been working with Grammy Winner Singer-Songwriter, Makeba Riddick-Woods at the Young Dreamers Consulting Agency where Loretta has found her sound, recorded songs. August 20, 2021, she released her amazing Single, “His Name,” written by Makeba Riddick-Woods and produced by Kid Classic and her Official Music Video was released October 22, 2021. For Loretta singing is not only a passion but also where she finds joy. Making an impact in people’s lives; encouraging others, uplifting, and ushering them into the presence of the Lord is her true calling. Loretta’s singing has touched audiences and they, in turn, have impacted her by just knowing that they were blessed. Loretta humbly states, “I was touched when a young teen girl came to me crying because my singing resonated with her, as she was going through challenges. It is times like this when I know I am living in my purpose and my singing is not in vain.”Her inspiration in writing songs comes from life experiences of herself and others. As she is creating, putting pen to paper, she believes when the lyrics are heartfelt and moves her, it will move others. “Music is a language of its own; It can reach people where other avenues cannot, which is why it is so powerful,” explains Loretta. Loretta believes that through God we can do all things and is forever grateful to serve Him through this ministry. “God has entrusted me to share my gift to the world,

Asha McElroy credits her parents with peaking her interest in her course of study and in the art of cultivating plants in gardens to produce food and medicinal ingredients at an early age. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health and Nutritional Sciences. She is passionate about connecting community residents to healthier food options and alternatives and is a member of the Detroit Food Policy Counsel. Follow her at @asha_the_scientist on Instagram. Resources mentioned: Keep Growing Detroit ; Oakland Avenue Farms. This episode can also be viewed on YouTube using https://linktr.ee/ryansharpe