Today we’d like to introduce you to Charmaine Moss.
Hi Charmaine , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am Charmaine Moss, Founder & Publisher of Real Women Atlanta Magazine. RWAM is a platform where Black women throughout the Atlanta area can tell their stories. Our goal is to give a voice to ordinary Black women who are doing extraordinary things.
How did Real Women Atlanta Magazine get started? I’m often asked how did Real Women Atlanta magazine come about. It was inspired by an unexpected visitor I had one day in my office. It was a visit that would change my entire perspective on life and moved me into my purpose.
There have been many books that have been written about this thing called PURPOSE, like; The Purpose Driven Life, The Purpose Room and The Purpose Playbook. But what is meaning the word Purpose? She is described in the dictionary as, the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. For me, her name is Marie.
See, I believe sometimes we become so overwhelmed with all of the things going on in our lives; jobs, bills, children, spouses, etc…, that we miss all of the blessings we are given each day. I’ve had many days like that where I’ve allowed the cares of this world to capture my attention and caused me to miss the great things that were right in front of my face.
One day I was sitting in a meeting with my staff having a discussion about the company’s budget stressing over how we were going to accomplish our goals with the lack of funds we had. Frustration was setting in because it seemed that all we were doing was robbing Peter to pay Paul. In the midst of the meeting, our door opened. What happened after that changed my life and inspired me to publish this magazine.
When the door opened, a young woman walked in. We knew we weren’t expecting anyone, but here she was. “My name is Marie,” she said. “What is your name?” All though we were caught off guard, we all introduced ourselves. I asked her if she was lost or if there was anything we could do for her. She said, “No I’m just walking through.” She had this radiant smile that appeared like she had no care in the world, but to look at her appearance, one would think otherwise. She was wearing some white high top sneakers, denim shorts and her hair was short parted with these small multi-colored rubber bands all over her head, as if she was a little girl. To look at her outwardly, you saw despair, but to listen to her, you heard joy and peace.
For Forty-five minutes, we listened and learned about Marie. It was as if time stood still. She began to tell us how much she loved God and how blessed she was. It seemed like she didn’t have a care in the world. In that time, Marie was a welcomed distraction, because it allowed us to totally forget about our budgeting issues.
As the conversation went further, Marie began to tell us about herself. She was 26 years old, originally from Decatur Georgia. Two years prior, she was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. When her family found out about it, they put her out of the house. She was now living in a homeless shelter and since being there, she had been sexually assaulted several times. We were all sitting there with tears in our eyes, but Marie’s demeanor never changed; still smiling and thanking God. Marie had an income of $125 dollars even two weeks. I was heartbroken.
I learned a lot that day from Marie. I learned just how blessed I really was. If Marie could be grateful for the life she had, why couldn’t I? Marie had an incredible story, but who would even hear about it. I began to think about how many other black women were out there with stories like Marie; stories of struggles, pain, despair as well as triumph. That day, Purpose walked into my life. I wanted to do something to give opportunities to black women to tell their stories. I met Marie in the year of 2000 and carried the memory of her since then.
In 2018, we launched, Real Women Atlanta magazine. It was birth out of this incredible meeting with Marie. In our magazine, you’ll find stories of women who have survived rape, domestic violence, financial despair, and much more. But their stories will also tell you about how they were victorious. I don’t know where Marie is today, but I’d like to thank Marie and all of the women like her, for their courage to share their stories. Our hope is that through the pages and platforms of RWAM, our readers will be educated, empowered and encounter their own purpose.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, It hasn’t been a smooth road. There has been many challenges. One of the challenges has been financial. It’s also hard when you first get started to secure the funding needed to make your vision successful. The other was getting a great team who believes in the vision enough to be committed to seeing it through. But I believe the most important thing is never giving up and never lose focus of the vision, because if God gave you the vision, He will always make the provision.
We’ve been impressed with Real Women Atlanta Magazine, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The mission of RWAM is to tell the stories of ordinary Black women who are doing extraordinary things. RWAM features and highlights Black women who have been through trials, hurts, obstacles and sometimes harsh experiences of life, but are still standing. We are able to strengthen our readers through the transparency of these articles that deliver a feeling of “If she can do it, so can I”.
We are committed to educate and inspiring Black Women in a proactive way. We believe “proactive is the key to our mission. We like to think that RWAM is more than just a magazine; we are a MOVEMENT! It is our goal to inspire, inform, educate, empower and entertain. We address matters of importance to Black women including Health, Wellness, Lifestyle, Relationship, Business and Community.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I have learned is to appreciate the good and bad experiences in your life. I believe that they all do really work together for you good.
Contact Info:
- Email: realwomenatlanta@yahoo.com
- Website: www.realwomenatlanta.com
- Instagram: @Real_Women_Atlanta_Magazine
- Facebook: RWAM Real Women Atlanta Magazine
- YouTube: Real Women Atlanta Magazine
