GAZELLE MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 | Page 92

WOMEN WHO INSPIRE Boots on the Ground AREVA MARTIN ACHIEVES SUCCESS THROUGH HARD WORK, FORWARD THINKING By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n G rowing up in North St. Louis, Areva Martin knew that she would one day, do something big. Did she realize she would be a managing partner in the largest female African-American-owned Los Angeles law firm, a featured guest on “The Dr. Phil Show,” a recurring co-host on “The Doctors,” and legal analyst on CNN news? And perhaps, an author? Maybe not, but she knew there was something bigger out there - somewhere. “I saw many inequities in our lives, and as a child, I would ask myself why we had so much less than others. I wanted to change it,” Martin said. “I wanted to go to college, and I wanted to become a lawyer.” With a work ethic inspired by her grandmother and godmother, a lot of determination, and years of plain old hard work, Martin has achieved all of that and more. In her recently released third book, “Make it Rain, How to Use the Media to Revolutionize Your Business and Brand,” she shares some of her insights and life lessons to enable others to have a voice in issues they feel strongly about. Martin became acutely aware that others needed this kind of help after her son, Marty, now 17, was diagnosed with autism at 18 months. “After my son’s diagnosis, there was at first, a lot of despair. I had my law practice, but I realized that I needed time to take care of him and figure out his complex level of needs,” she said. That was when her husband, Ernest, came into the firm to help. She formed the grassroots Special Needs Network Inc., helping people navigate the myriad of services available for children on the autism spectrum. “In California, many services are free, but finding and getting them can be difficult, especially in underserved areas,” Martin said. She saw that type of imbalance growing up in poverty. Her mother had her children very young, and had to