” It doesn’t matter where you come from, just matters where you’re going.” – unknown

Many people talk about Tameka Raymond in  celebrity gossip blogs, radio shows, major news networks like CNN and neighbor “hood” gossip. What do they all say ? They all discuss  her marriage to Pop/R&B superstar Usher. Welp, I’m tired of hearing about thier marriage and divorce. I want to know about Tameka’s journey from Oakland to Los Angeles to Atlanta and  jetsetting with celebrities as their stylist . I want to shed some light on a Oakland native that defied the odds and followed her passion for fashion: Tameka Raymond…….

Tameka is an accomplished fashion stylist -stlying the likes of Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Lauren Hill, Usher and so many more. Tameka is the founder of two non-profit organizations : Oakland Natives Give Back and Lost Ones Foundation. Recently, she opened her Atlanta based boutique Estella which sales vintage peices. ( I love Vintage !)

Below are tidbits from a May interview with Baller Alert that Tameka Raymond did :

“Growing up in Oakland, California. I saw and knew many girls that could benefit from a program like the Lost Ones Foundation. I still return each year to work with another non-profit I’m apart of called “Oakland Natives Give Back” (ONGB). Where we have ‘Stay in School’ rallies and serve underserved youth with Backpacks and school supplies annually. Therefore, when I got the opportunity to branch out, I went for Girls whole-heatedly. There is such a need to steer these young women on healthier and less toxic paths, it seems that society today, is just letting go of any need to teach our girls to become positive, moral, smart, productive and strong women. The standards have been drastically lowered and it seems that now anything goes. Remember the boys always follow the girls :-)”

“I went to school in Los Angeles at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) to become a Retail Buyer/ Merchandiser but in the interim I discovered my passion for Styling. I went on to help the careers of many of the well known fly, stylists today, they got “Fostered” in so to speak. I’m so happy to see and hear of their successes. My advice to the ‘newbies’ is to always hit the refresh button on your way of doing/seeing things, be honest, be yourself, be punctual (hard lesson;-), stay true to what is right, and most importantly keep God first.”

“Yes, we get tons of positive feed back from counselors, teachers, parents and family members who tell us of the girls behavior and changed attitudes since joining our program. It makes very me happy and so proud to know that I have reached at least ONE girl and possibly thwarted a future mistake or negative behavior. With each Retreat, I hope these stats grow and we can re-direct more girl.”

If ,I had the chance to have a sit down interview with Tameka Raymond. I would ask about her experience in Oakland ( the negative steoretypes , violence, hope, resources she used, mentors and high school ), achieving her dreams, career in fashion, relationship with Christ, friendships, motherhood and so much more. I believe that Tameka Raymond is an amazing individual. She is more that just Usher’s ex-wife.

Next month, my interview with Nyeisha DeWitt – co-founder of Oakland Natives Give Back and my experience at the rally can be viewed in my column on Oaklandlocal.com

Follow her on twitter.

Photos courtesy of www.flystyle.com www.gossiponthis.com www.streetsrus.wordpress.com