Meet Mecca Terry | Educator, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Nonprofit Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mecca Terry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mecca, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Yes I have a few, but one of my favorite affirmations is, “everything I want and need is within me.” This affirmation means everything to me, and has been very instrumental in different areas of my life. It is a reminder that I can and will manifest all my goals if I visualize them and consistently work towards them. I often share this affirmation with others to encourage them of the same.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In my career I am most proud of two things. The first thing I am proud of is earning my PhD. This is both a personal and professional accomplishment. The process to obtain my PhD was not easy. Attending school full-time, teaching full-time, while being a mother, spouse, and wearing many other hats required balance, great time-management skills, and major self-care. I am thankful to have achieved this accomplishment, and to be an example for my daughter, family, and other Black girls/women.

The second thing I am proud of is that I have been fortunate to have had several careers. My first was in law enforcement as a Probation Officer, second as a Professor, and as an entrepreneur. Many people spend years in careers that do to serve them, that cause them stress, and ones they hate. I can truly say I have lived the life I wanted to live and chose careers that I thoroughly enjoy or have enjoyed at a point in my life, and for that I am truly thankful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, we would probably be visiting together in another country or somewhere we have never been. I along with my friends like to travel and explore new places, cultures, people, food, etc. This is was one of the motivations in starting the iManifest Empowerment Community; for liked-minded women to elevate, collaborate, and manifest their goals BUT also to travel! Our community will have an Annual Retreat in which we explore our traveling interests.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to Dr. Tamika Pollins. Dr. Pollins was an educator, sister, friend, encourager, supporter, and a member of my nonprofit team as the Community Relations/Partnerships Chair. She was very instrumental in helping me start my nonprofit organization, Embracing My Natural, Inc. by connecting us with various community organizations in New Jersey. Unfortunately, Dr. Pollins is no longer with us, but her legacy lives on through some of the nonprofits initiatives such as our Natural Hair Products Drive and one of our signature programs, The Crown Experience: Natural Hair Panel.

Website: www.embracingmynatural.org

Instagram: @embracingmynatural / @imanifestcommunity / @iam_thebusyprofessional

Other: Steps to Manifesting What You Want Workbook on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cWMX2f3 The Power of Manifestation: Steps to Manifesting What You Want | TEDxUNCPembroke: https://youtu.be/qNQLZLzqS7E?si=pTfAv4u_HfG-57no