We had the good fortune of connecting with Renita Thomas-Franklin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Renita, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

My thought process is always led by my “divine purpose”. Before investing your precious time and energy into anything you should have definitive answers to two important questions. First, I suggest you go to the “Creator” for your blueprint plans.  Seek God for HIS direction and will for life.  Ask your “make to reveal your unique gift(s)? Our gifts and talents are divinely purposed for the edification of humanity. We are all created on purpose and for a purpose greater than our individual selves and self-interests.

Secondly, honestly ponder the question”What do I enjoy doing?”  That’s normally the greatest clue to your gifting, and would you do it for free just because you love it that much!

When you discover what the gifts are then you can incorporate that into a business sector, and plan your business around that. I believe that any business or career endeavors that God proceeds will succeed and be impactful, fruitful, and something that will nourish and grow a healthy humanity ecosystem.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I’ve always been a storyteller at heart, as a child I kept myself entertained alone for hours playing paper dolls with the models I cut out of my mom’s Sears catalog as my characters. I would create a fictional world and be the voice speaking for each of the paper doll characters, so effectively that my mom would often admonish me because she thought I had friends in my bedroom! I was basically an average student in school but excelled in any class that focused on artistic expression and I loved history. So naturally, I majored in Theater at an HBCU Jackson State University, where my passion was ignited and my performance art perfected. My family wasn’t in full support of my majoring in theatre, they felt it just wasn’t a dependable life-supporting option. Nevertheless,  I graduated with my BS degree and moved to LA, activating my “plan B” to go back to school in Los Angeles at FIDM (Fashion Institute Of Design and Merchandising) where I majored in Visual Merchandising and Marketing communication, I graduated with an A.A.

Residing in LA  I’ve worked in retail, Investment banking, and hotels (hospitality) as I auditioned for acting roles and made connections. I eventually landed a role in my first play production with the Hollywood Thesipain Company (HTC), a well-known local theater company that had won 3 NAACP Theater Awards. By the end of the production run, I realized that I had found my “tribe” and immediately join the group as a permanent member. They became my family, and when I met my husband and got married the artistic director Mr. Rai Tasco walked me down the aisle, my entire wedding included members from HTC.  I continued acting in many productions with HTC and other theater groups and landed small roles in film and television. However, I had more success on the stage, garnishing me outstanding performance reviews in LA Times and other trade papers.

However, when my son was born things changed he became my focus and my acting career took a back seat.  Instead, I got my son, when he was a toddler an agent and he was going on more auditions than I could keep up with working full-time.  It became a bit overwhelming and my son didn’t like it, so I stopped.

As my faith (God) grew my passion turned to ministry, using my talents and gifts as artistic director of the theater ministry at my church. I am so proud of the work and the impact it had on the audience. The messages from the plays that I produced and directed were ones I believed in and were life-changing. After my son graduated from High school I got back to my passion of pursuing acting, this time my son joined me and we booked our first job TOGETHER in a Skype commercial and a FACEBOOK commercial, and just as we were heating up with record auditions, my son dumped me again…this time for music! He graduated from a music magnet program at Hamilton High. He has the passion and gift for music like his dad and is currently one of LA’s upcoming artists and music producers. My son performs under the name of MCM Raymond. Though disappointed, my son’s departure did not detour me, I continue auditioning and landing a few great roles in music videos; John Ledagend’s Preach, Eric Nam’s Into You, Beats By Dr. Dre, and I play NBA star Swaggy P’s mom in a FootAction commercial. In between auditions, I found a great job at USC working as a docent at Stephen Spielberg’s foundation, USC Shoah Foundation. Working there was the most unique job I’ve ever held, it was like going to work at the United Nations daily. There I was immersed in the world of learning about genocides, murder, and massacres. Hearing first-hand accounts from the Survivors themselves. The Survivors were dedicated to using their painfully tragic testimonies to educate and fight against hate. Being raised in a small southern town in (Yazoo City) Mississippi, this fight was already in my DNA. I am a byproduct of the civil rights era, as a child attending meetings geared toward organizing boycotts and protests was naturally in my blood. Working at the Shoah Foundation is where my “activism” skills were reactivated and further honed. I was there for 5 years before the strategy that was the catalyst for propelling me into my divine purpose took place. Looking back, I realize now that everything I had done up to this point, and all the relationship I had fostered was for this moment, and for this platform that I am now heading, Moms Allyship Against Racism (MAAR) was brought forth. Starting MAAR was not because I ever had non-profit aspirations or profit-driven business reasons. It’s 100% PURPOSE driven, birthed out of pain”.How it all began. was on Monday, May 25, 2020…I consider myself an ARTIVIST that’s an Artist+Activist= ARTIVIST

It started with the son of a man’s voice in distress, “Mama! Mama!”, I heard George Floyd cry from my television, as I stood there feeling helpless, paralyzed, and in shock as I witnessed the breath of life being crushed out of his body by “someone’s son” who sadly, didn’t value his life. When any child is in emotional or in physical distress it is a natural almost primal reaction to cry out for MAMA!! George Floyd, with his last dying BREATHE, used it to call out for that one person he knew would save him if possible, his ‘Mama”. The polarization of the video of George Floyd being murdered right before my eyes was broadcasted on national television was my final call to action! Seeing that image “reopened” my carefully stitched and bandaged wounds from; Trayvon Martin, which was slowly healing on top of my childhood trauma wounds of seeing photos of the hatred inflicted upon the mutilated body of Emmitt Till, I was still trying to heal. Upon seeing the image of George Floyd and hearing him cry out “Mama!”, they all simultaneously ripped open at the seams like a nice pair of silk pants 3 sizes too small; torn, extra flesh exposed, pouring through the opening, much like my heart that was pounding out of my chest and my stomach ached with pain. Moms Allyship Against Racism (MAAR) was birth from that pain turned into “purpose”.

This was and is very personal to me. In deep depression from witnessing the murder of George Floyd, traumatized I took to my bed for refuge. But, I couldn’t rest. I have a son, husband, brothers, nephews, cousins, and black male friends whom I love. BLACK and PEOPLE of COLOR that I love. I prayed for guidance. God inspired me to take action and move intentionally and with “purpose”.

Thursday, May 28, 2020, Moms Allyship Against RACISM (MAAR) was birthed out of the desire to end the continual diabolical brutal killings of African Americans, to combat and subdue the DISEASE of RACISM that starts in the MINDS of children and is taught and trained before it enters and contaminates the HEART!

If we as moms are “truly” the hands that rock the cradles which rule the nations”, we can also be the hands that “shape and mold the hearts and minds” of those who will have the power one day to be the catalyst for positive change in combating/subduing the racism and hatred of this world! The thought of Mr. Floyd or my own son crying out for the protective arms of “mama” to save him was heartbreaking and still haunts me today. His “Mama” could not be there to save him, but WE as mothers can do our parts to ensure this will not happen again to another mother’s son or daughter.

This is a call to ACTION for all MOMS, regardless of ethnicity, religious or political affiliations, to organize and help curb and subdue the disease of RACISM and they HATE that fuels it!!

MAAR’S platform uses education and facilitates dialogue to build relationships that will form allyships that will leverage resources and privilege to bring awareness to racial injustice and inequality. We are committed to educating in order to raise children with empathy, compassion, and RESPECT for all ethnicities! There Is Only One Race. THE HUMAN RACE.

The legacy of “allyship activism” is the building blocks and guiding principles of the foundation on which MAAR’S platform is proudly rooted and founded.

📌 Click the link to join our Moms Allyship Against Racism (MAAR) Facebook Group Page: https://lnkd.in/eX-w_CB

Visit our website: https://www.momsallyshipagainstracism.org
** Visit our website to sign up for Virtual Meet and Greet and Anti-Racist Workshops: https://www.momsallyshipagainstracism.org/contact
** Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/3b5585xu
**Follow us on Instagram @maarwest2020

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So much has changed since COVID-19 and our favorite restaurant The Chart House in Marina Del Rey closed, but definitely, my itinerary will begin with a nice powerwalk to Dockweiler Beach ( I live in Westchester) and then breakfast or lunch at the Coffee Company in Westchester.

We can spend a day rediscovering the newly revitalized downtown Culver City and have an evening massage at the Massage Garage on Main Street in Culver City.

After the wonderful massage drop by my favorite Thai place Natalee Thai Restaurant for dinner in Culver City! Or Truxton’s in Westchester within walking distance of my home!

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?

Shout out to my dear husband, a modern-day renaissance man D’Andre Franklin; Music arranger, songwriter & producer (produced Smokey Robinson’s first gospel CD and his Emmy-winning “Intimate” ) Performing Artist, Architectural Designer, Landscaper, Builder, Actor, and the greatest husband and father…His work ethic inspires me to excel and take risks!

Shout out to my college professor (Jackson State University (JSU) and mentor renowned educator, activist, and NAACP Best Actress Nominee, actress of stage television and film the great Dr. Tommie “Tonea” Stewart.
Dr. Stewart was and “still” remains my living example of what I could become! She inspired me as a theatre major student at Jackson State University (JSU), where I watched her be an actress, full-time college professor, wife, and mother! She was my mentor and role model in every way! She challenged me on the stage, fine-tuning my craft as an actress and giving me the confidence to soar as an artist. She exposed me and thousands of students to professional-level production criteria! Our college theatrical rehearsals and performances were second to none under her directorship. Off stage she mentored me in life, she knew I can from a single-parent home and my struggle financially, and she often allowed me to wash my clothes at her home. She and her sister my play mama “Beverly T-Bug” purchased items for me to do theatrical performances. What Dr. Tonea has sown into my life is priceless. It was Dr. Tonea who brought me in contact with the next person I want to give a shout-out to. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2002, The late great Oscar Nominated and Emmy-winner actress (“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”, In The Heat Of The Night”, Beloved”) Beah Richard, was Dr. Tonea’s mentor and inspiration. I am doubly blessed by what both of these giants imparted into my spirit. It was Beah who helped me to level up my acting as a student under her tutelage at the Academy of Being. We bonded further after we both found ourselves in life-changing transitions, I had become a mother suffering from postpartum depression and feeling lost and she was battling the final stages of emphysema and need assistance to stay in her home. I became a part of a trusted group of people she allowed to assist her. It was doing that time that Beah helped me find my “voice” as a budding writer and used her influence to get me a community access scholarship to the UCLA writer extension program, where I completed my first script. I used that script to gain entry to the illustrious Guy Hank and Marvin Mitchell Screenwriting Program (aka..The Cosby Program) at USC. My classmates included the now-famous filmmaker and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waite. So, I give a heavenly SHOUT OUT to Beah Richard for departing hours of wisdom, laughter, and love upon me, I stand on the shoulder of giants!

Website: https://www.momsallyshipagainstracism.org

Instagram: @maarwest2020

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330913644556570/?ref=share

Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/3b5585xu

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