Julie McKnight was born to be a performer. She grew up around famous musicians who encouraged her in Los Angeles. But a pregnancy in college, and an early marriage to Brian McKnight who would eventually become a successful R&B singer, threatened to derail Julie’s career. Like many women, her dreams took a backseat to family. But eventually, she found the strength to break out on her own as a single mother of two young boys. She’s traveled all over the world singing with her band, 9th Street Protocol. Being a singer is just one of the many layers to Julie—she has also worked in therapeutic counseling in the foster care system and has taught preschoolers. She and her extended family have been foster parents to hundreds of children. She has a nonprofit called Carolina’s Child which brings the arts to inner-city youth. Julie has written about her unique blended family in a book called “Mama Bear” which details her journey to create relationships between her children and McKnight’s children with other women. Julie is kind and vivacious, but most of all, she radiates joy in everything she does.

https://www.facebook.com/julie.mcknight2

https://www.instagram.com/itsjuliemcknight/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-mcknight-b4319454/

Holly Richard has gone through the worst thing that anyone can ever experience, the loss of a child. In 2019, her 28-year-old Army veteran son, Derek, died after being diagnosed with a tumor called glioblastoma, the Titanic of brain tumors. It nearly broke her. But instead of staying in a dark place, Holly chose to share her painful journey in a book and to work hard to help support other brain cancer patients and research for this underfunded disease. It’s not surprising that Holly rose to this challenge as her life has always been a challenge…she left high school at 17 to move away from home with a boyfriend, got married, and had children. Holly eventually earned a college degree while working full-time and raising children. Holly has spent her career in the nonprofit world focusing on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She’s a fighter as well as a kind, and compassionate human being who is using her personal experience to help others.

To learn more about Holly and her work:

https://www.facebook.com/holly.richard.505

https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-richard-983a0b6b/

Maura Allard’s journey started down a rocky path. She was a college dropout who was kicked out of her home as a teenager and fell into addiction. Several relationships ended poorly, one in death, the other in divorce. But when Maura finally got sober, her career thrived. She started a business and became a realtor, but something was always missing. It wasn’t until she started learning about the metaphysical world after a spiritual awakening in 2021 that Maura knew something had to change. She was burned out and lacked a true purpose in life. She moved from Boston to North Carolina to marry her passion for healing and finding the perfect homes for her clients through something called intuitive real estate. Now, Maura lives a quieter and more intentional life, something she believes is within reach for everyone.

To learn more about Maura:

https://www.facebook.com/WindWaterWisdom

https://www.windwaterandwisdom.com/

https://mauraallardintuitiverealtor.com/

https://www.instagram.com/windwaterandwisdom/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allardmaura/

https://www.youtube.com/@WindWaterandWisdom