Meet 3 local women who shared stories for series
The inaugural “Her Journey” series features engaging interviews with 10 successful Black women in Memphis. These revealing stories will be shared to inspire girls and young women to succeed despite personal circumstances. Featured are women from diverse backgrounds and careers. Here are brief profiles on three of the women in “Her Journey.”
Takeisha Berry Brooks is an awardwinning hairstylist and entrepreneur who specializes in natural hair and products. She is founder/ceo of A Natural Affair salons and Define Natural Hair products. After 10 years as a stylist, in 2008 she opened her salon and a second location in 2022. An educator and mentor to students and salon owners, she partners with Memphis-shelby County Schools’ cosmetology program. “I’m especially honored to be a part of ‘Her Journey’, to be aligned with women of this caliber,” says Brooks.
Roshun Austin is president/ceo of The Works Inc., a community development corporation that builds singlefamily and multifamily properties in distressed neighborhoods. The Works operates a mortgage loan fund, farmers market, greengrocer, mobile grocery
and provides nutrition education. Austin says “Her Journey” is a “phenomenal” project. “I grew up in poverty... I don’t want that for other children, girls. I want to help them avoid some of the things I encountered.”
Audrey Willis is co-founder of Codecrew, which focuses on creating diversity and inclusion in computing through education, workforce development and advocacy in computer science. She is also program director for Codecrew’s Code School, which trains adults and youth in software development, robotics and other technology. Willis previously was Shelby County’s first manager of innovation and performance analysis. “Being a woman in tech is difficult,” says Willis. “Being a Black woman in tech is even more difficult.”
— Lynn Norment, columnist