Black Birdseye View0 min readCarolyn Marshall CovingtonHello Faithful Reader, I hope this month’s edition of Black Bird’s Eye View finds you well and in good spirit. I am well. In America, Black History is celebrated through the month of February…. but to hear me tell it BLACK HISTORY happens every day. This month I will introduce you to a woman who, in my opinion, is the epitome of Black History on multiple levels. Inspirational Advocate, Carolyn Marshall Covington is best known for her contribution to the beauty industry. Her story is broad. When I first sat down with Carolyn, I decided that the best place to begin her story was at the beginning. I asked her to tell me how she found herself in the beauty industry, to which she responded, “As a child, I always knew I wanted to become a hair stylist. I used to say I would become a famous hair stylist, travel the world, and own a chain of hair salons. In 1976, Bladensburg High School in Bladenburg Maryland had a vocational department that offered cosmetology. They only accepted the best of the best. Students were required to have perfect attendance and straight “A’s,” neither of which were my strong suits. They only picked one student from each Jr. High School. I probably would not have been considered the most disciplined student, but I worried my guidance counselor every day because it was the only vocational high school in my area where I could study my passion…. hair styling. My guidance counselor said he would bend the rules for me because, as he told my Mother, I could be a “worker” and stay out of trouble. Little did he know, I knew what I was doing. He judged me and placed me in a “box” and decided that I’d be a worker, not realizing that there would be a world of opportunity for me if I strived for excellence and followed my own path. It was a three-year program. I excelled in anything that had to do with hair. I was an apprentice at Audrey’s Hair Stylist after school. It was during that apprenticeship that I fine-tuned many of my skills. I ultimately got my Cosmetology License in 1979. I went to work for the “Hair Cuttery” in Washington DC and advanced to a higher level and began working for “Bubble,” where I acquired a lot of cutting skills and learned how to manage and run a salon. I opened InFlight Salon in Bladenburg Maryland in 1980. It was a concept salon designed by my brother, Michael Marshall. His vision was to provide InFlight clients with an Inflight experience designed around the concept of an airline cockpit. The goal was for clients to buy into the theme rather than my name. It was a success. During this stage in my career, I had a wonderful management team. With my team in place and manager Kay Wright to oversee business affairs, I was afforded the opportunity to travel to trade shows to grow my business. I invested in myself and fine-tuned my business savvy. Fast forward to current day, and I have over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry under my belt” I expanded from Maryland to Virginia, to North Carolina to create the InFlight chain. Carolyn has won countless hair competitions including 1st place in the USA Black Hair Olympics. She provided editorial work for many magazines and graced the cover of the first International Black Passion Magazine. When asked what prompted her to be apart of the Launch of Black Passion Magazine Carolyn had this to say: “My Mentor, Floyd Kenyatta, connected me with a talented photographer out of Miami who was planning to create a magazine called “Black Passion International,” because, at the time, there was a “Passion Magazine” but African Americans were not allowed to be in it. Every time we submitted a black model we were rejected. So, the opportunity presented itself to be a part of the first volume of “Black Passion International Hair Magazine.” "Black Passion International Magazine" would later be a staple in hair salons across the globe. “Black Passion” housed different hairstyles that salon clients could choose from. I feel honored and humbled and fortunate to have been on the cover of the very first Black International Magazine. It caused my name and salon to become a household name across the globe. You don’t really think about things when they are happening but looking back, I now see that it was black history in the making and I was a part of it. Known as the “Beauty Guru,” Carolyn’s Beauty Empire consists of more than 1,500 employees, ownership, co-ownership, and consulting for more than twenty successful salons and spas. She is a licensed cosmetology instructor, platform artist, product developer, beauty editor and a mentor to many. In 2000, Carolyn Marshall Covington was diagnosed with a devastating degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Current Day: “The idea of losing my sight was daunting. I remember it like it was yesterday. I met James Benton when I went to the rehab center (RLCB / Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind. He was a blind man who had never experienced sight but seemed to relish the art of living. I confided in him that I was depressed and having a difficult time adjusting to losing my sight. He informed me that I was not depressed. He said that I was grieving. He said that I was grieving something I’d had my entire life. He said it was normal and that: • in most cases, at first, there was the denial • then there would be the recognition that it was real • then most people would seek help, • and that then I’d get back to my “new” normal. He said it was normal to grieve all the things I’d miss seeing. At that moment my mind traveled down the lanes of my life and I took stock of myself. I been blessed with the support of my wonderful husband, children, family and friends. God laid it on my heart to get help and to help the people in my community. In 2016 I founded Insightful Visionaries, a nonprofit run by charitable donations. It was created for the purpose to empower the blind / visually impaired and disabled through resources, career development, job placement, and arts and entertainment. One of the programs that I am creating trains the blind / visually impaired to acquire employment in aromatherapy and hands on reflexology fields. Both fields that do not require sight. I have created 5-Steps to wellness Journey guide individuals on their path to wellness Carolyn Marshall Covington should be an inspiration to all. Her story exemplifies the art of achievement and reinvention. Hats off to this woman of excellence. Until next time Always, Robin https://carolynmarshallcovington.com https://wswwellnessgroup.org/shop-2 https://insightfulvisionaries.org
Hello Faithful Reader, I hope this month’s edition of Black Bird’s Eye View finds you well and in good spirit. I am well. In America, Black History is celebrated through the month of February…. but to hear me tell it BLACK HISTORY happens every day. This month I will introduce you to a woman who, in my opinion, is the epitome of Black History on multiple levels. Inspirational Advocate, Carolyn Marshall Covington is best known for her contribution to the beauty industry. Her story is broad. When I first sat down with Carolyn, I decided that the best place to begin her story was at the beginning. I asked her to tell me how she found herself in the beauty industry, to which she responded, “As a child, I always knew I wanted to become a hair stylist. I used to say I would become a famous hair stylist, travel the world, and own a chain of hair salons. In 1976, Bladensburg High School in Bladenburg Maryland had a vocational department that offered cosmetology. They only accepted the best of the best. Students were required to have perfect attendance and straight “A’s,” neither of which were my strong suits. They only picked one student from each Jr. High School. I probably would not have been considered the most disciplined student, but I worried my guidance counselor every day because it was the only vocational high school in my area where I could study my passion…. hair styling. My guidance counselor said he would bend the rules for me because, as he told my Mother, I could be a “worker” and stay out of trouble. Little did he know, I knew what I was doing. He judged me and placed me in a “box” and decided that I’d be a worker, not realizing that there would be a world of opportunity for me if I strived for excellence and followed my own path. It was a three-year program. I excelled in anything that had to do with hair. I was an apprentice at Audrey’s Hair Stylist after school. It was during that apprenticeship that I fine-tuned many of my skills. I ultimately got my Cosmetology License in 1979. I went to work for the “Hair Cuttery” in Washington DC and advanced to a higher level and began working for “Bubble,” where I acquired a lot of cutting skills and learned how to manage and run a salon. I opened InFlight Salon in Bladenburg Maryland in 1980. It was a concept salon designed by my brother, Michael Marshall. His vision was to provide InFlight clients with an Inflight experience designed around the concept of an airline cockpit. The goal was for clients to buy into the theme rather than my name. It was a success. During this stage in my career, I had a wonderful management team. With my team in place and manager Kay Wright to oversee business affairs, I was afforded the opportunity to travel to trade shows to grow my business. I invested in myself and fine-tuned my business savvy. Fast forward to current day, and I have over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry under my belt” I expanded from Maryland to Virginia, to North Carolina to create the InFlight chain. Carolyn has won countless hair competitions including 1st place in the USA Black Hair Olympics. She provided editorial work for many magazines and graced the cover of the first International Black Passion Magazine. When asked what prompted her to be apart of the Launch of Black Passion Magazine Carolyn had this to say: “My Mentor, Floyd Kenyatta, connected me with a talented photographer out of Miami who was planning to create a magazine called “Black Passion International,” because, at the time, there was a “Passion Magazine” but African Americans were not allowed to be in it. Every time we submitted a black model we were rejected. So, the opportunity presented itself to be a part of the first volume of “Black Passion International Hair Magazine.” "Black Passion International Magazine" would later be a staple in hair salons across the globe. “Black Passion” housed different hairstyles that salon clients could choose from. I feel honored and humbled and fortunate to have been on the cover of the very first Black International Magazine. It caused my name and salon to become a household name across the globe. You don’t really think about things when they are happening but looking back, I now see that it was black history in the making and I was a part of it. Known as the “Beauty Guru,” Carolyn’s Beauty Empire consists of more than 1,500 employees, ownership, co-ownership, and consulting for more than twenty successful salons and spas. She is a licensed cosmetology instructor, platform artist, product developer, beauty editor and a mentor to many. In 2000, Carolyn Marshall Covington was diagnosed with a devastating degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Current Day: “The idea of losing my sight was daunting. I remember it like it was yesterday. I met James Benton when I went to the rehab center (RLCB / Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind. He was a blind man who had never experienced sight but seemed to relish the art of living. I confided in him that I was depressed and having a difficult time adjusting to losing my sight. He informed me that I was not depressed. He said that I was grieving. He said that I was grieving something I’d had my entire life. He said it was normal and that: • in most cases, at first, there was the denial • then there would be the recognition that it was real • then most people would seek help, • and that then I’d get back to my “new” normal. He said it was normal to grieve all the things I’d miss seeing. At that moment my mind traveled down the lanes of my life and I took stock of myself. I been blessed with the support of my wonderful husband, children, family and friends. God laid it on my heart to get help and to help the people in my community. In 2016 I founded Insightful Visionaries, a nonprofit run by charitable donations. It was created for the purpose to empower the blind / visually impaired and disabled through resources, career development, job placement, and arts and entertainment. One of the programs that I am creating trains the blind / visually impaired to acquire employment in aromatherapy and hands on reflexology fields. Both fields that do not require sight. I have created 5-Steps to wellness Journey guide individuals on their path to wellness Carolyn Marshall Covington should be an inspiration to all. Her story exemplifies the art of achievement and reinvention. Hats off to this woman of excellence. Until next time Always, Robin https://carolynmarshallcovington.com https://wswwellnessgroup.org/shop-2 https://insightfulvisionaries.org
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