THRIVING Melanin Family Magazine June 2017: A Father's Love | Page 4

THRIVE / Contents
THRIVE Crew June Issue
6
1
13
ANTOINE PARIE
14
10
I am Antoine Parie and currently reside in the super hot very windy
desert of Lancaster CA. I am the father of three handsome boys
Justin, Dash and Sage Parie whom my total world revolves around.
In 2010 I graduated with my AA degree in culinary arts
and since then I have been cooking in various establishments
including The Antelope Valley Hospital where I truly realized my
dream. I was working terrible hours that didn’t allow me to be
home to cook for my kids help with homework and sometimes
not be there to see them off to bed. On top of that there was
no room for advancement. So I talked to another co-worker told
him I have a dream to be bigger than that place and cook better
food and do it the right way, do it my way so with little effort and
not much thought I came up with the name Cali Smokehouse
Zodiac Grill. Not long after the name was born around a month
later in the summer of 2012 my coworker and I went and got our
business license and started advertising our catering services.
My purpose in life as I see it is to nourish the mind the body
and the souls of as many people that I possibly can. I hope to one
day become a celebrity chef and have a show that actually makes it
on air lol so I can reach far more people than what I currently do. I
want to get a distribution deal and place food on shelves of stores.
I want to create brands and become a household name. I wish
to give everyone one of a kind foodgasms and most importantly
I want to leave an empire to my children because most of the
hard work and struggles are for them and if all most or some of
these things are accomplished that will be Antoine Parie’s legacy.
17
21
18
REGINALD PERRY
My name is Reginald Perry. I’m a divorced father of four daughters
and one son. Born in Memphis, Tennessee and currently living in
Central Texas. I moved to Texas with my mother and two younger
brothers when I was eleven years old. I graduated high school in
Bangs Texas, a small rural community in West Central Texas. I
attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville Texas where I
received a bachelor’s degree in social work. I attended graduate
school at Tarleton State University - Central Texas in Killeen
Texas. Currently, I’m a social worker employed as a behavioral
specialist for a medium sized School District in Central Texas.
I knew as early as eight years old that I wanted to help
people. By the time I was fifteen years old, I knew that I wanted
to work in the education/social Arena. I’ve been employed at
facilities assisting adults with developmental disabilities, a youth
prison, therapeutic group homes for adolescents, Head Start,
and the past ten years in the public education system.
I’m inquisitive by Nature, and I love to learn new things. I’m
an avid reader with particular interest in social-political dynamics.
I’ve been a sports official for two decades. In my spare time
I enjoy assembling, cleaning, and shooting a variety of modern
and military surplus firearms. I like to build and repair anything
I can get my hands on. My friends and family call me a “jack of
all trades.”
In the next 5 years I see myself starting a business and
developing programs helping families and schools meet the
ever-changing needs of today’s at risk youth in the educational
and home setting. I also see myself being married within this
time frame.
24
DEPARTMENTS 10 DEDICATIONS
1 FOUNDERS LETTERS 13 BECOMING A SINGLE
FATHER by Antoine Parie
3 THRIVE CREW
14 GIVING PROPS TO MY
SONS FATHER by Brenda Sissoko
31 BOOK CLUB
32 CLASSIFIEDS
6 CELEBRATING SINGLE &
CO-PARENTING FATHERS
17 TURNING WHAT I FELT
INTO WHAT THEY NEED
18 BECOMING A SINGLE
FATHER . . . by Kevin Baker
21 A CHILDS GLORY IS
THEIR FATHER
by E. Geno Heffner III
24 STYLIZED THRIVE
by J. Nicolle
by Reginald Perry
On the Cover:
AMs. Jennifer Pink and her husband Israel welcome their first child together
J’adore Jennifer McGhee which will be the 7th child in their family.
THRIVE MAGAZINE
KEVIN BAKER
Like many in our community, I come from a broken family and
we are not very close. As a child and even into my adult life, I’ve
always longed to have a large loving family. I had my 1st child
(son Tyrell) at 19 and my second (daughter Kyvonne) at 23. I got
married and had 2 other children and now I was a part of a REAL
FAMILY although somewhat blended it was still MY FAMILY
I am the youngest of 4 boys and not knowing who my biological
father was always left a void in my development. Many of the
mistakes that I made in my life may not have been had I had a
father in my life to guide my decisions. I made a promise to God
that my children would never grow up wondering who their father is.
THRIVE MAGAZINE
BRENDA SISSOKO
Born in the Midwest, this mother of three is well traveled,
having made homes in Georgia, Colorado, and North Carolina.
These days she lives and works comfortably in Columbus, Oh.
Her children are all adults and she loves spending time with her
amazing four grandchildren. Visit www.favoredbyone.com for more
information on Coach Brenda.
3