Meet Devin Francois of Agape Way in Dekalb County/ Doraville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Francois.

Devin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in the 8th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. As I was surrounded by violence, drugs, and crime, I was also surrounded by a family full of loving and pure individuals, friends who became family, and the bountiful beauties of the New Orleans culture — the food, the music, the art, and the unmatched vibe and energy felt all throughout the city. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina relocated my family, along with many other families, elsewhere. Here in Georgia is where I have experienced the vast majority of my personal growth. It is where I actually found myself and learned — and continue to learn — who Devin Francois was.

Here, I have built and strengthened values and morals. I’ve grown mentally, physically, and spiritually through cinema-like experiences. And with the help of everything that I have been through, and the people who have been at my side through it all — specifically, my Queen of a mother, my Queen of a grandmother, and my King of a brother, I am able to say with confidence that in this present time, I am at my zenith. I am at the greatest and grandest level of me that I have ever been in, and the future only holds more.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say it has been a particularly smooth road, and I also never held much desire for a smooth road, for the speed bumps, potholes, and roadkill are what have always been responsible for my knowledge and my better decision-making. So, no. My little time as an entrepreneur hasn’t been ideally smooth, though I am indubitably appreciative and grateful for what it has been. Whether things are slow and stagnant or active and consistently engaging, I welcome it, accept it, and embrace it as a lesson. If business is lifeless for a period of time, that’ s okay. I’m fully aware that I will encounter those moments, but of course, I want as little of those as possible, so I, simply, adjust to avoid or prolong that next potential time of humdrum. And in those times of liveliness when ‘business is booming’, as they say, I take the same approach — welcome it, accept it, embrace it, and seek more opportunity to grow.

The immense amount of support I’ve received from family and friends, and even the support from those who I’m not as acquainted with, has cushioned and mitigated the struggles I’ve had along the way. Financing the business and brand has been one of the more arduous tasks, which I’m sure is a common difficulty among the everyday entrepreneur. One of the things that has assisted me with this is remembering that it is an investment in something that is extremely significant to me — and that is to make the world a better place.

Please tell us about Agape Way.
I emphasize that Agape Way is first and foremost a movement. It is a socio-cultural movement with high intentions for the betterment and amendment of the populace of the world. As the movement embodies unconditional love as a whole, it also represents honesty, forgiveness, and unity. The Agape Way movement strives to instill self-confidence and awareness into those a part of it. I want people to learn who they are, and love and appreciate who they are. People must love themselves thoroughly before they are able to share that love with other people. It is a movement of acceptance. One should be willing to accept what they are, who they are, and how they are. And likewise for others.

Agape Way is a challenge. It is a challenge to simply be. I want to encourage people to be whoever they are without any shame or hesitation, whether it be Christian, Jewish, Republican, black, white, yellow or purple. I want people to be whatever it is that they want to be and to be the greatest one, but first, foremost, and more important than all, be a soul. For it is certain that we are souls with bodies; we aren’t bodies with souls. We should allow our souls to rise to surface. Allow it to take control. See the beautiful souls of others. See the beauty in the flowers, the trees, the songs of the birds… the things we may sometimes take for granted. We must allow the soul of our neighbor to be far more significant than their religious or political preference. Their race or their sexuality… The amount of money they do or do not have… We are, first, souls. Only after are we Muslim, gay, Democratic, Asian… Though these ideals and attributes are important, we mustn’t allow them to impede. We mustn’t allow them to deter our output, or our input, of love.

I have clothing and other apparel available as physical representation of my brand, though it is secondary to the acceptance of the movement and challenge. Of course, I want people wearing what I have available, but only after they have accepted to love themselves, love others, and join me in making the world a better place. That is what’s most important to me.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
It’s tough to pick only one memory from my childhood as a favorite. Looking back on it, and reminiscing as I do often, I realize that the whole time was a beautiful one. I miss being around a lot of my family all the time — aunts and cousins next door and across the street, friends up and down the way and around the corner. I miss playing football in the street and making visits to the candy lady for “a dollar worth of frooties” and frozen cups when the sun beamed. I miss the huge, magical Christmases we somehow had every year, and the first time I made and threw a snowball. I miss walking to the corner stores. I miss sitting on the porch with my family eating crawfish, or beignets, or a fried shrimp po’boy with a pineapple Big Shot, while listening to Al Green, Barry White, and the Temptations sing their souls out from my uncles truck speakers. I miss a lot from my childhood, and I wish I understood its significance in the moment. This is why I want to encourage people to open their eyes, hearts, and souls to see and realize the beauty around them. Time moves, and it waits for no one. So we must live in it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.agapeway.store
• Email: beauxfrancois7@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagapeway_/
  https://www.instagram.com/_beauxxx/

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