CoastalToday_Holiday22r2

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St. Augustine, FL
While many are
impressed with Miguel’s
acts of service, he
doesn’t care much for
recognition, pointing out
that he would do it even
if no one was looking as
it is a duty to take care
of children who were in
the same position he
was in.
“I’ve been giving back
since I was nine-yearsold
and my mom
explained some things
to me about adoption
and foster care,” he
said. “It started with St.
Ann’s Children’s Youth &
Family Center because I
was a foster infant there
but I added DC Child and Miguel Coppedge
Family Services Agency
because I was a foster child in the system and then later
adopted. I pride myself on giving back because I don’t
like to see anyone without the necessities they need. I will
continue to do this the rest of my life.”
When asked about his business and books, Miguel said
that he wanted to create something especially for African-
American boys to relate to. He is extremely proud of his
hair care product Krulle. His mother helped him create the
product after he wanted to wear his shoulder length hair
out instead of braided down.
“It’s pronounced kru-la-la and it’s from the Afrikaan
language spoken in South Africa,” he explained. “It literally
means curls so there you go. To me, Krulle represents our
African heritage and naturalness of our Black coils. Black
boys and men have always been trendsetters with our
hair. But whenever we go in the stores, it’s always a lot of
products for women but nothing for us. I made a cream
and hair butter formula for my own hair and a lot of people
told me how they liked my curl definition after I was using
it and wanted some. I started doing research and my mom
helped me with it and we sold out at our first vending event
and that’s when I realized I had a potential hit.”
Miguel’s immediate goals are to graduate high school in 2023
and go on to college to major in communications to become
a sports analyst while expanding his charity and brands.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON MIGUEL, HIS PRODUCTS AND CHARITY,
VISIT WWW.MIGUELCOPPEDGE.COM
A STATE
OF FOCUS!
Every year during the holiday
season, we’re encouraged to
love our fellow man a bit more,
forgive wayward relatives and
lastly, re-establish goals. I’m of the
belief that during this festive season
we should make time to reflect and rest
as we await the New Year. In addition,
we should desire to master how to get
it all done more purposefully. One word
that clearly comes to mind for me is
the word: FOCUS (Fresh Opportunities
Create Unbridled Success). I know
we all need to be committed to our
endeavors and stay the course in order
to achieve anything but throughout the
year, we may need reminders.
This acronym came to mind recently,
and I believe it would be helpful as we
navigate our goals for the New Year.
Fresh Opportunities Create Unbridled
Success (FOCUS). The end result of
a committed lifestyle opens the door
for new opportunities that showcases
our unique gifts. In doing so, we are
not only valued but we gain a sense
of purpose that can only reveal itself
when we share a piece of our majesty.
Nothing is more rewarding than feeling
like you’ve made a difference in the
world or in the life of another person.
It’s built into our very DNA! We have a
natural need to feel relevant. We need
to belong. We are designed to connect
as human beings by seeking out a
fresh, applicatory opportunity.
The mission of us all should be to
show ourselves that the commitment
we’ve made to leave an indelible
impression on others was worth the
adversity that may come our way. It
pays off each time a new encounter
EMPOWERMENT FOR TODAY
gives us a chance to excel at whatever
we do best. Their response to our
offerings confirms we had a ‘special
something’ that the world needed
to see, and it needed to be seen in
us. It needed to be seen from the
vantage point of our comprehension,
our imagination and our persona that
we all have a special something that
makes us vital to the world. Everyone
needs to be affirmed and encouraged
to move passionately in their life. An
opportunity should not be viewed
as just a money-making medium to
buy more things. Opportunity allows
us to present our best selves to the
world because in order to thrive, we all
need to experience the beauty of the
spotlight.
Fresh opportunities offer us the
inventive caveat we need to grow.
Inspiration is never stagnant, it’s fluid.
Creativity, like human beings, is living
which challenges us to adapt to the
new. It regularly evolves while adding
dimension to our experiences; whether
good or bad. Our aptitude compels
us to reflect on how we can use the
brilliance inside our soul to make our
world a better place. The splendor of
creativity is that we can always choose
to use it for good.
Once our gifts are fully engaged, we
are immeasurable! Inexhaustible!
Unbridled! We have the wisdom
to achieve our dreams once we
comprehend we don’t need permission
to pursue them!! We can be a catalyst
to invoke positive change. Innovation
through change is the sum of total of
all parts of FOCUS working in unison.
FOCUS awakens that part of us that
releases unrestrained passion! It’s
that place inside us where art, music,
fashion, technology and all things
ingenious emanate. We really can be
the captain of our own, destiny if we
simply endeavor to shape our lives by
living in a constant state of F.O.C.U.S.
Dr. Denise J. Williams is a nationally
certified empowerment coach and the
founder of The Healing Place Global
Alliance. The aim of her organization is
to empower leaders and provide clients
with the necessary tools to realize their
dreams. She resides Jacksonville, FL
with her husband of 15 years.
36 COASTALTODAYMAGAZINE.COM COASTAL TODAY MAGAZINE 37