We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Candy Harris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Candy below.
Candy, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from the Biblical principle: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It sounds cliche but I honestly ask myself WWJD (What would Jesus do?)
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For sixteen years, I have been a passionate educator.. I am told that my tireless commitment and infectious personality spreads like wildfire, igniting a desire to learn from every student I have encountered. As a history teacher and born storyteller, I used my unique experiences and abilities to reach students who are deemed “unreachable”.
I am a native Memphian married to my high school sweetheart Marcus Harris Sr. and we are blessed with three children; Marcus (12), Cadence (11), and Myles (10). While addressing my own challenges as a parent, I wrote a book compelled by my perceived and self-imposed failures as a mom. I realized that teaching and raising children had many correlations. I acknowledged that motherhood was not all the glitz and glamour that maternity magazines and marketing often portray. So I chose to share my journey and authentic voice as a mom who never fantasized about motherhood hoping to encourage other moms who might be overwhelmed. In turn, my audience demanded more and asked me to host a book club that transformed into a support group offering a safe space to be heard. I then established MOMversations901 and I meet monthly with Memphis moms while supporting Black businesses in the community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the three qualities of my book and platform that are most impactful is that I am transparent and encouraging while adding comical flare within my delivery. I am told that in a world of people only sharing the good, my book provides a sense of relief because I dive into the good, the bad, and ugly truths of motherhood.
If I were to offer any advice to anyone wanting to share their story (because we all have one), I would encourage you not to sugar coat anything. There is someone who needs to hear your story just as it happened. That’s what makes it a testimony.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am looking to collaborate with mompreneurs in Memphis and beyond. My desire is that we build a community that practices being the change we want to see in the world. I want to contribute to the growth of my community by supporting and encouraging the women that birth the community. Nurturing relationships with fellow mamas comes with many benefits – we can find support when needed, feelings of empowerment from collective success, and gain valuable wisdom from those who have gone through similar experiences before us.
My goal is to see women succeed in their God given purpose. When women support each other, amazing things happen. A woman alone has power, collectively we have impact.
We are always looking for spaces to meet: coffee shops, lounges, bistros, etc. If you have your own space and would like to host us, please contact me by email at [email protected]. You can also find me on Facebook as Sweeter than Candy and on Instagram at Momversations901.
We are also looking for volunteer opportunities. How can we help?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Momversations901
- Facebook: Sweeter than Candy
Image Credits
Eyes of Ivey Photography
