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Deone McWilliams, Editor-in-Chief, Talk Show Host Learn about her Inspirational Story, the Unique Lessons that May Assist Your Business 

DEONE McWILLIAMS

Editor-in-Chief & Talk Show Host Learn about her Inspirational Small Business Story and the Unique Lessons that May Assist Your Small Business!

I was just 7 years old (second grader), loved to read and write, and my 2nd grade teacher saw “something special within me”!

My second-grade teacher, Ernestine Green, resident of Richmond, VA’s Northside, was my core foundation which led to me being who I am today (next to my parents). She saw something special within me and allowed me to be free—express myself (reading, writing, acting, singing, etc.). Fast forward to now (being a grown adult). I went through life totally confused because I was different/unique. I tried any and everything I felt I could do (there was no such thing as not being able to achieve a goal). I knew I was an entrepreneur because my father was one and he taught me so much. I just loved how he would freely create things (carpenter by trade). My mother taught me how to be a respectful young lady. I was a writer, singer, model, legal secretary, public relations and marketing rep, and the list goes on! In 2014, after losing 7 family members in 1 year, I left corporate America, and made the biggest decision of my life (entrepreneurship!). I lost everything — house, possessions, sports car (drove my mother’s pickup truck), let my hair go natural, and whittled my bank account down to $22. I opened an office in a 6x9 closet at a friend’s education academy, spent my days standing on street corners handing out flyers in a deserving community in Richmond, VA--announcing a good-news newspaper was coming, and scouted out potential advertising clients. The hard work paid off! I quickly saw success and outgrew my closet office. Today, I have a studio/corporate office in RVA’s Capitol District, working on incorporating a talk show (podcast)—The GOOD TALK, and building a photography studio. Not only have I launched 3 newspapers—but the one that has survived the longest recently made it 101 “consecutive” months/issues (Northside Vibes), and today it’s named GOOD NEWS USA. Deone McWilliams

DEONE McWILLIAMS

Editor-in-Chief & Talk Show HostMy $22 Faith Walk – God’s Assignment

Fulfilling a 7-year old’s request: STOP THE BAD NEWS by Writing a GOOD NEWSpaper

Back in 2010, my grandson was a precocious 7-year-old, told me he was tired of the bad news—it was scaring all the kids—and asked me to write a newspaper filled with good news only, which started my journey and my 1st newspaper was published in 2010. I was beat out by competition. I would go back and forth to corporate America, but I knew I had to fulfill this child’s request. In 2014, I lost 7 family members. In 2017, I lost my 34 year old son, but God wouldn’t let me stop. I rented a hotel room for 3 days (after losing my son), prayed, and told God “This has to be your assignment and I’m going to keep going”—and I did! I wrote/created another issue in 3 days—and… it was on time. It hasn’t been easy! It has taken a lot of prayers, love, and support from so many people who believed in me—and I had to ignore those who didn’t. This paper is more than just a newspaper. It’s therapeutic for me and so many communities. I take great pride in every single supporter, every single person, and every child with a dream.

Yes! I risked it all and have no regrets whatsoever!

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