Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interview Andrienne Johnson. She understands the need for women to have opportunities. She married at 17 because of her pregnancy and was divorced by age 20. Her single motherhood and belief in God taught her perseverance. Adrienne launched Wo Ye Bra in 2017 to keep girls in school who would otherwise stay home because they lack access to sanitary supplies during their periods. To date, she has created over 325 women entrepreneurs in West Africa.
Rev. Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Business, credentials include Certificate of Theology from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), Harvard Medical School Coaching in Leadership and Healthcare, and a graduate of the David Satcher Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from St. Paul's College.
She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Great Lakes (MI) Chapter of The Links, Inc., Founder of the Lake Spivey Jack & Jill Chapter, and a Board Member of AIB Television in Atlanta and the Rotary Club of Detroit.
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
If you're about to make a change in your life
and you feel uncomfortable, that's the best feeling you can
have because for the first time in your life, you'll
make under decision that's going to be best.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
For you and not what somebody told you to do.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
And that's when all bets are off. Welcome to Money
Making Conversation Master Class. I'm your host, Rashaan McDonald. Our
theme is there's no perfect time to start following your dreams.
I recognize that we all have different definitions of success.
For you and maybe decide to your Aham, it's time
to stop reading other people's success stories to start living
your own cape winning. My next guest is in studio.
(00:43):
She's Reverend doctor Adrian Booth Johnson. And the one of
the things we don't talk about a lot of things.
One of the things that you're doing that's really noteworth
is that you've created over three hundred and twenty five
That's right, women entrepreneurs in Ghana, West Africa as please,
Welcome to Money Making Conversation Master Class. Reverend Doctor Adrian
Booth Johnson.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I'm blessed.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
I'm blessed in hoighly favored should I should I do
doctor Johnson of Reverend Johnson?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
How about Reverend John's.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, we're gonna ride off that Reverend John's, which I'm
comfortable with saying because of the fact that, you know,
a friend of mine at the studio brought some information
about you to me and said, Raean, she'll be a
great guest.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Good And.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Why are you doing something? And God, where are you from?
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. My daddy was in
the Navy for twenty five years whatever, and he graduated
from Norfolk State University, and my mama went to Saint
Paul's College hbc US and we moved to Louisville, Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Daddy became an internal revenue agent.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I don't know what was he was there people like you.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
No, no, no. If you're doing right, he did. But
if you're doing wrong, no, well great. So I'm from
Harris Creek, Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Harris Creek here, little Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I tried to drop it out something.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
And then so so so you you was in Kentucky? Ye,
what type of life did they leave for you? Did
you do education there or what happened?
Speaker 4 (02:05):
So you know, if you want to make God laugh.
Tell them what your plans are. So my plans I
was running track for Mayl High School. I thought I
was gonna go to Tennessee and I run for the
Tiger bells. But instead I got pregnant, seventeen pregnant. So
my daddy was into education. He said, well, they put
you out of day school back in the day, in
nineteen sixty nine, they put you out of day school.
(02:25):
So I went to night school, parent's trade school, got
a GED. But I always dreamed of going to Africa,
and so I said, God, I don't know how you're
going to do this with a ged, but okay, but.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
You always dream of going to Africa.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I always dreamed of going to Africa.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
You know, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I for some reason, I always dreamed of working offshore,
and that came true. I did work off shore eighty
five miles out in the Gulf. And because I was
a Jaques Cousteau fan, so I got that Jaques Cousta
got me off eighty five miles out in the golf.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What got you to Africa?
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I can't tell you that it was a TV show
or anything. Maybe it was daddy being in navy traveling
coming home with all these great and wonderful gifts from
going these far away places. I just always wanted to
go to Africa. But I also I know the three p's.
You got to know what your passion is so you'll
know what your purpose is and then persevere. My passion
is helping women, helping women in Africa, and so that's
(03:20):
what I do. That that was my passion and that
is my purpose in life. So I said, God, what
do you need to do? So God said, with that
GED and I'm married seventeen divorced at twenty two. Well
that okay, So it's just billing out son, I'm a
single mom. I'm a single mom, and I'm just grinding
(03:41):
and GED with a GED divorce and divorce.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
So I started as a secretary and I saw where
my boss was always going to lunch, and I said,
wait a minute, you going to lunch. And the only
reason why you going to lunch and I'm sitting there
typing up your papers is because you got a college degree.
And I got a GED. I grabbed my purse. He said,
where you going, Adrian? I said, I'm going to college.
And so that's when I went to I went to
community college first because I didn't have the confidence in myself.
(04:05):
So I went to Jefferson Community College got my socials degree,
and then I went to University of Louis who graduated
for the School of Business. And I said, Bill, you
stick with me. We're gonna go to the moon. We
just might land on a star.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Now. So wow, that's right.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
There is inspiring, Okay, because we've got to build a story. Okay,
seventeen seventeen, Mom got married, got married. You know, back
then people get married just just a reputation. It's a
clean up of reputation. Yeah, it's a pregnancy. They're gonna
be a wedding, right, marriage over with ged ged And
then you sitting there her being a secretary secretary and
then you typist, and you said, look, I'm I'm gonna
(04:43):
carve out some time to change my life.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, I'm going for it.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
I said, for me to do what God wants me
to do, and I for me to get to Africa,
for me to have my son go to college and
be somebody. I got to set the tone. I got
to pave the way, and other women have gone and
pay the way ahead of me. I got to go
because I got to go help the women in Africa.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So so now we we got our degree. Business got So
I'm assuming you're not a clerk typist anymore. No, I
got clerk type is working for me. So where were
you working at that time?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I went to work for Westinghouse Newklean Energy in Pittsburgh. Okay,
so Bill and I went to Pittsburgh. We left Pittsburgh,
a friend of mine, Darnell Johnson, told me about a
job with US Department of Energy. They were looking for
black women in energy. I was like, that's me, right.
I was at Western House. I was a project matter.
(05:37):
I said, that's me. I went to Washington, d C.
US Department of Energy. I was in solar energy. I said,
come on, Bill, We're going to Washington DC. Bill said, Mama, great,
because you know what we got to Washington. It was
all single women. I found a village of professional women
and we all had children, and so we just helped
each other. We helped raise our sons.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That this is a beautiful story.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And I'm smiled because you you exude that that love
that I can do it, and then your story is
so simple, but it's so honest.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I'm saying that's that's the see.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
A lot of people tell their story and I go, now, no,
you missed something, but I want to get to the
next story with you. Okay, So so when did you
your resumes said Coca Cola.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yes, So when did you get to Coca Cola?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Well, I was working for the by then I left
the Department of Energy federal government, went to local government.
I was at DC Public Schools. But I always wanted to,
you know, work in corporate America. So one of my
girlfriends told me about that Ed Washington was hiring somebody.
There was a group out of Boston called New Audition
was just starting and they were coming from Boston, and
she said they look for somebody to hire them.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I said, I'm the woman for the job. So by
the daytime I.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Was working at DC Public Schools and in the evening
I was Adrian.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I was a public relations firm.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Ed Washington call said I need somebody to do a
promotion for this group New Addition. I said, okay, great,
I'm a woman for the job.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
He hired me. I did the promotion.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
A year later, he called me, he said, Adrian, he said,
would you like to go to work at cocoa cola.
I said, if you're not joking, listen to take me
about ten minutes to find my boss here the school system,
about five minutes to tell me where you out in
Silver Spring, Maryland? What about fifteen? What about twenty minute drive?
What is it one o'clock? I can start at three
this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You are so engaging, so's you're the job for me.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That's when you look in the mirror and you.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
What I I always talk about people who are fear change. Yes,
they fear, they are known, right, that is not part
of your.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Mom because I have God in my life. So when
you have fear, then you don't have faith. And if
you got faith, then you don't have fear. So I
call it a dark room religion. When I walk into
a dark room, I don't look for a light because
I know God is there. So when God tells me
to go preach in Kenya, he said, I got a
message for the women people in Kenya. I tell my husband.
(07:55):
I said, look, I got to run to Kenya this weekend.
He said, well, we don't know anybody in Nairobia. I said,
I know. But then me called Delta. I'm getting ready
to go to Nayloba this weekend. God gave me a
message to give and I go. I traveled Africa by myself.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Now, now when you when you went to the whole process,
because we I wanted to see when you were because
you said early on Africa was the.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Vision for Africa? Okay, Now when did then in.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
The steps because of your life? When did you first
go to Africa?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I went to Africa in two thousand and one. My
niece Adria Green was twenty two years ago. Three years ago,
Adria was doing some type of study of broad program
something and she was at Wellesley College and Pearline. My
sister call and said, let's go to South Africa. Adriana
is there. I was like, Adria is named after me.
I'm out going.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We went to South Africa, fell in love with it.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
From too far to South Africa.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
We went to a durban South Africa.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Been there. Now, I'm gonna tell you something. You know,
because you have to go through Johannesburg and then connecting
you drive down and so uh and uh. When I
was doing Steve hard Morning Show, they asked us to
broadcasting Durban and for the life of me, and we're
talking about two thousand and eight something like that. For
(09:07):
the life of me, I could not wrap my head
around that there was the technology there in durbing to broadcasts.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That's how simple My mind had been dumbed down to
the stereotypes of technology and Africa period, let alone South
Africa and also South Africa apartheid. So I was dealing
with a lot of confusion and so and finally when
I went over there, I was ashamed because it was
like I landed into Atlanta. Yes road, smooth car, new
(09:37):
car dealerships, everything was beautiful, black people running things. I
was really taken aback. But of course you've been to Africa,
You've dealt with these stereo types that I'm supposed to
be a person, a learned person, educated person, a liberal person.
But still I was saddled with the stereotypes. That's a problem, correct.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
It's a problem for people that don't go.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
See I started in two thousand one and I've been
going to Africa every year since two thousand and one.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I go.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
So I've created women empowerment programs in Durban and South Africa,
Liberia and Monrovia, Liberia, and now I'm in Ghana and
Sarah Leone and I'm on my way to Mozambique in Tanzania. So, yeah,
you can't watch what TV says. See, you got to
go for yourself. So you have to. I say, you
(10:24):
have to inspect what you expect, right.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And so but you but you can. I say, you're unique,
You're an inspiration. You you because that's you're You're not afraid. Now, know,
if an opportunity to comes your way, you're gonna raise
your hand.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
You told your son, Bill, let's go.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And your son had to be one of the most
motivated individuals because he's seen motivation. Motivation is his mama.
That's right, his mama, you know, you know, walk through
a brick wall is his mama.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That's Bill Green knows that Bill went Howard University's Alpha.
So I had my SNI I'm an Aka. Bill was seventeen,
and then I prayed to God. I said, God, look
I'm getting old. I want to get married again. I
want to have another baby twenty five years later to
see because God does answer your prayer.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I met him in the airport.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Joe Johnson attorney Joe Johnson out of Detroit, Michigan and
at forty three I had another baby, Jala Johnson. So
now I have a fifty five year old and I
got a thirty year old. I love man in Africa.
When I go, they say, here comes Granny, Reverend Granny.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Now with that being said, Reverend Granny, okay, we go
stick with now you have this time in front of
Reverend Reverend doctor Granny.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Adrian Booth Jones.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Okay, please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with
more money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money
Making Conversations master Class hosted by Rashaan MacDonald. Money Making
Conversations Masterclass continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow
(11:59):
My Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The whole program that I talked about earlier and I
want to get into it before the break of Women
Entrepreneurs that's right in Ghana, West Africa.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
What is that all about?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
So it's start of Joe and I bought a thousand
reusable sanitary paths because we know the period poverty is
an issue. So we bought a thousand reusable sanitary pads.
We took them to London to give them a jalo
while she was at the London School of Economics, said,
jaale go do a feasibilities to study in Ghana. See
if that really is a need. Jala's my daughter.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So Jala's came back. She said, Mama, they really need
the pads. So we decided instead of giving them fish,
let's teach them how to fish. So instead of giving
a fish, we created women entrepreneurs who make and sell
reusable sanitary pads. Because what we found is that ninety
five percent of the girls and living in villages in
Ghana miss twenty percent of the of the school of
being out of school due to lack of access to
(12:56):
sanitary pads. So now they don't have to because now
my three hundred and twenty five women are making paths
so girls can go to school.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
So now to get to that point, you had to
create structure. Yes, okay, and you in the country. Okay,
how did that get set up?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
So I set it up by creator. You know, God
sends people. Now he gives you the vision. He will
give you the provision. So I have a team over there,
Ellen Aduba and Jennifer Moffatt. So I have a team
on the ground, team who does things, and I do
the fundraising. So I'm gonna raise the funds here in
America and Ellen and Jennifer we go through the churches.
So we'll go to They'll go to a village and say,
(13:32):
pick ten women who've done one of two things. Either
they're asking God for a miracle or they're asking God
for a second chance. If they're doing one of those,
they can be in my Woey bra program and Woey
bra in America. When you say I'm on my period,
in Africa, they say I'm on my woey bra h.
So that's how we started.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
The name of the business.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
That's the name of the WOA nonprofit woe Ye Bra
Wye BRR.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Okay, by now you're not from the country, so I
probably ain't staying it, but.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I want everybody to hear because of the fact that
you're doing something, and you're doing something you know you
know what. Let's say you know walk, you talk, you know,
you walk, your fly because you're flying over there and
making it every year. When we come back, we're gonna
continue this conversation with Granny, Reverend doctor Granny who Adrian
(14:20):
Booth justin making a difference, roll your broad Foundation, Amen,
speaking of Reverend doctor Adrian Booth Johnson aka Granny, where
she goes over to Africa. Over here, she's just my
friend because she's making a difference. And when you make
a difference some place else, that means you're making a
difference where you are. That's on a regular basis. In
this case, three hundred and twenty five women have become
(14:42):
entrepreneurs in Ghana, West Africa. Now, when you was at
Coca Cola, that's right, with any programs, any relationships you created,
and when you exited that you took back over to Africa.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Talk about your exit plan.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Well, Coca Cola was a great company to work for,
and a lot of the marketing skills I learned, I
now teach them to my three hundred and twenty five women.
So I teach them marketing sales, customer service. I teach
them financial literacy because most of my women are uneducated,
and so I teach them. And that's why I go
twice a year. I go once just to teach them.
(15:17):
I go the next time to go and train more women.
So I gather more money, collect more money, and I
go back and forth. Because like I said, if you
want to do you don't ever want to send money
to a country that you have gone. You have to
inspect what you expect, right, and that's what I do.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
And so by going there, there's a physical presence, which
means creates accountability. That's right, that's accountability. And so when
you go there, so have you taken people or taking
students or taking individuals from HBCUs over there with you
just to see this experience.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Or its culture.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Well, the last promotion I was able to help execute
for the Coco Cola company was called the Open Happiness
Store and we took twenty one HBCUs students to South
Africa for the World Cup in twenty ten.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
And we took but also it just.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Went you can say, mcdot, anybody gonna blink it out.
We gotta slow down.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
And so when you went over there with him being
over there, right, and I'm mistaken he has African roots.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Right, he does.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
So he went and a lot of the twenty one
students I still stay in touch with him now because
I teach them business etiquette, right, because it was it's
one thing like when you go for a job and
if you're there now, doctors lawyers. But when you go
for a job interview, when you go and try to,
you know, work in corporate America, there's certain things you
discussions you shouldn't have knowing about dining, how to order,
what to eat, where to sit at a corporate table.
(16:41):
So I do that now in Detroit, because I live
in Detroit, and so I do that now and I
teach that now like a cast Tech high school. I'm
working with girls there, teaching them about Woa Yebra. They
cut out the sanitary paths and when I go back,
I take them to Africa, so they have a connection.
And I did a zoom call thanks to the Detroit
Rotary Club. They sponsored it, and I did a zoom
(17:01):
call so that the girls that cut out the paths
get to see the girls in Ghana. So they are
now friends.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Wow, maybe they will make that journey, that travel and
that cultural connections. Now, you know, let everybody know cast Tech,
I'm very familiar. Well, when I did the Hoodie Awards,
they won best high school every year in the country
and for sixteen years, I believe they won fourteen times.
And so casts take very prominent high school in the
(17:27):
city of Detroit. And now when you talk about what
you're doing entrepreneurship, leadership. Let's go back to you, because
when I'm fascinated by your energy, I'm fascinated by people
hearing this, this motivational voice and you go.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
We shout. I go twice a year, I go tright
to ye.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
So you say that like you're going, like if we're
in Atlanta, you going from another neighborhood. But how many
what's that flight journey? What's the flight journey.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
From Atlanta to uh Let's say a craw you sometimes
you have to fly through Amsterdam and stop switch planes,
or you go through New York. It's about ten hours,
twelve hour or something like that, fourteen hours. I don't
know something, and just do it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
You just do it.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
You just see when God gives you something to do,
you have to do it. See people sometimes they hesitate
and they pull back. But if he gives you something
to do, so it's just like an Isaiah six eight
when he says, I heard the voice of the Lord.
I said, who will go for us? Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us? I raised my head,
I said send me, send me Lord. I go by myself.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
I don't care well you raise your hand enough for
these jobs. Okay, you need a nuclear woman that you've.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Got me, I've got and so, and you know the
blessing is like people like the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
One hundred and seventy of them went and I was
able to bring one hundred and twenty of my women,
and they trained them right, They taught them. One hundred
and seventy zadas. The aka's alpha capital Alphas. They help
sponsor me. I mean, it's just the Lynx. Oh my god,
the Lynks Incorporated. They help. So there are a lot
(19:01):
of people here. But what I need everybody now to
do is go right. You gotta go. You got to
step out of the boat, just like when Peter when
the disciples within the water and Jesus told him go
way out, and they saw Jesus coming out of water,
and only Peter said, Jesus, that's you. Let me come
out of the boat. I'm Peter led me out of
the boat. I'm going to be with him right now.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Now.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Hey, I'm ready to walk. I'm ready to walk. We
got two minutes? Is the fingure of two minutes?
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Figure? And is there woe e bra Yes, what's the foundation.
That's right. Is there a foundation website?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Well, our nonprofit is Infinity Global Empowerment. Well, Yeebra is
just one of our programs. So Wollyebra. Our website is www.
Dot Woe Yeebra w o y e b r a
dot org because it's the organizations, that's our website.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So you can go make donations there.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Right, and so the and so as we as we
leave one note of inspiration. You know, first of all,
we're trying to kill stereotypes. Yes, we're letting people know
that by effort and passion, yes, and love, Yes, that
you can take people quote unquote uneducated and turn them
into entrepreneurs. That's correct, and you use your lessons to
(20:18):
do that correct.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Well, I want people, especially single moms, I want them
to know that sometimes you go to run and stuff,
it's just the bend on the road.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
It's not the end of the road. You gotta stay positive.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
And I want you to know this too, that the
question is not who is going to let you be successful,
but who is going to stop you?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
M m mmmmmm. And you're a reverend the right red.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Because I say that because of the fact that I've
just been inspired with that because y'all didn't know what
she pointed the finger at me.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I would you know, I mean pulling out my pocket.
I could be to open the Bible because you're preaching
to me.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Because because you know, when I do this show, yeah,
money making Conversations master class. Right, you know, I'll tell
you I get it before thirty in the morning. This
is the last thing I do on Tuesday. And I
am exhausted. But and I'm exhausted when I say goodbye
because then when I'm talking to individuals like it, lets
me know you can.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
See the God in me. And that's what you have
to understand. Sometimes when I'm in the village and villages
in Africa, the only God they see is the God
in me.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Wow. Now this is what you got to do, my
favorite's career. When the next time you go to.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Africa, I'm going in May and September.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Okay, September, before you go back on the show, I'm coming, Okay, cool.
I know if you always look at me off, I
ask you, we're sure you coming with me one time,
which means I gotta come. Okay, just person right here, Granny.
You don't tell her no, you know, it's not a negative. No,
she is telling you come see the right thing done
and you will help do it too. Thank you for
coming on Money Making Conversations master Class.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Bless you, Thank you for allowing me to be here.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
And next week we're going to continue this journey. And
I thank everybody for listening because every time I bring
a guest, they changed my life. I got my gut
health right, I got my religious right because the reverendend
told me I'm doing some right things with my show.
Money Made Conversation Master Class. Talk to you all next week.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with rough Shan
McDonald is produced by thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc.
More information about thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc. Is
available at thirty eight to fifteen media dot com. And
always remember to lead with your gifts
If you're about to make a change in your life
and you feel uncomfortable, that's the best feeling you can
have because for the first time in your life, you'll
make under decision that's going to be best.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
For you and not what somebody told you to do.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
And that's when all bets are off. Welcome to Money
Making Conversation Master Class. I'm your host, Rashaan McDonald. Our
theme is there's no perfect time to start following your dreams.
I recognize that we all have different definitions of success.
For you and maybe decide to your Aham, it's time
to stop reading other people's success stories to start living
your own cape winning. My next guest is in studio.
(00:43):
She's Reverend doctor Adrian Booth Johnson. And the one of
the things we don't talk about a lot of things.
One of the things that you're doing that's really noteworth
is that you've created over three hundred and twenty five
That's right, women entrepreneurs in Ghana, West Africa as please,
Welcome to Money Making Conversation Master Class. Reverend Doctor Adrian
Booth Johnson.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I'm blessed.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
I'm blessed in hoighly favored should I should I do
doctor Johnson of Reverend Johnson?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
How about Reverend John's.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, we're gonna ride off that Reverend John's, which I'm
comfortable with saying because of the fact that, you know,
a friend of mine at the studio brought some information
about you to me and said, Raean, she'll be a
great guest.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Good And.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Why are you doing something? And God, where are you from?
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. My daddy was in
the Navy for twenty five years whatever, and he graduated
from Norfolk State University, and my mama went to Saint
Paul's College hbc US and we moved to Louisville, Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Daddy became an internal revenue agent.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I don't know what was he was there people like you.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
No, no, no. If you're doing right, he did. But
if you're doing wrong, no, well great. So I'm from
Harris Creek, Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Harris Creek here, little Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I tried to drop it out something.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
And then so so so you you was in Kentucky? Ye,
what type of life did they leave for you? Did
you do education there or what happened?
Speaker 4 (02:05):
So you know, if you want to make God laugh.
Tell them what your plans are. So my plans I
was running track for Mayl High School. I thought I
was gonna go to Tennessee and I run for the
Tiger bells. But instead I got pregnant, seventeen pregnant. So
my daddy was into education. He said, well, they put
you out of day school back in the day, in
nineteen sixty nine, they put you out of day school.
(02:25):
So I went to night school, parent's trade school, got
a GED. But I always dreamed of going to Africa,
and so I said, God, I don't know how you're
going to do this with a ged, but okay, but.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
You always dream of going to Africa.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I always dreamed of going to Africa.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
You know, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I for some reason, I always dreamed of working offshore,
and that came true. I did work off shore eighty
five miles out in the Gulf. And because I was
a Jaques Cousteau fan, so I got that Jaques Cousta
got me off eighty five miles out in the golf.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What got you to Africa?
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I can't tell you that it was a TV show
or anything. Maybe it was daddy being in navy traveling
coming home with all these great and wonderful gifts from
going these far away places. I just always wanted to
go to Africa. But I also I know the three p's.
You got to know what your passion is so you'll
know what your purpose is and then persevere. My passion
is helping women, helping women in Africa, and so that's
(03:20):
what I do. That that was my passion and that
is my purpose in life. So I said, God, what
do you need to do? So God said, with that
GED and I'm married seventeen divorced at twenty two. Well
that okay, So it's just billing out son, I'm a
single mom. I'm a single mom, and I'm just grinding
(03:41):
and GED with a GED divorce and divorce.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
So I started as a secretary and I saw where
my boss was always going to lunch, and I said,
wait a minute, you going to lunch. And the only
reason why you going to lunch and I'm sitting there
typing up your papers is because you got a college degree.
And I got a GED. I grabbed my purse. He said,
where you going, Adrian? I said, I'm going to college.
And so that's when I went to I went to
community college first because I didn't have the confidence in myself.
(04:05):
So I went to Jefferson Community College got my socials degree,
and then I went to University of Louis who graduated
for the School of Business. And I said, Bill, you
stick with me. We're gonna go to the moon. We
just might land on a star.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Now. So wow, that's right.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
There is inspiring, Okay, because we've got to build a story. Okay,
seventeen seventeen, Mom got married, got married. You know, back
then people get married just just a reputation. It's a
clean up of reputation. Yeah, it's a pregnancy. They're gonna
be a wedding, right, marriage over with ged ged And
then you sitting there her being a secretary secretary and
then you typist, and you said, look, I'm I'm gonna
(04:43):
carve out some time to change my life.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, I'm going for it.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
I said, for me to do what God wants me
to do, and I for me to get to Africa,
for me to have my son go to college and
be somebody. I got to set the tone. I got
to pave the way, and other women have gone and
pay the way ahead of me. I got to go
because I got to go help the women in Africa.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So so now we we got our degree. Business got So
I'm assuming you're not a clerk typist anymore. No, I
got clerk type is working for me. So where were
you working at that time?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I went to work for Westinghouse Newklean Energy in Pittsburgh. Okay,
so Bill and I went to Pittsburgh. We left Pittsburgh,
a friend of mine, Darnell Johnson, told me about a
job with US Department of Energy. They were looking for
black women in energy. I was like, that's me, right.
I was at Western House. I was a project matter.
(05:37):
I said, that's me. I went to Washington, d C.
US Department of Energy. I was in solar energy. I said,
come on, Bill, We're going to Washington DC. Bill said, Mama, great,
because you know what we got to Washington. It was
all single women. I found a village of professional women
and we all had children, and so we just helped
each other. We helped raise our sons.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That this is a beautiful story.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And I'm smiled because you you exude that that love
that I can do it, and then your story is
so simple, but it's so honest.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I'm saying that's that's the see.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
A lot of people tell their story and I go, now, no,
you missed something, but I want to get to the
next story with you. Okay, So so when did you
your resumes said Coca Cola.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yes, So when did you get to Coca Cola?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Well, I was working for the by then I left
the Department of Energy federal government, went to local government.
I was at DC Public Schools. But I always wanted to,
you know, work in corporate America. So one of my
girlfriends told me about that Ed Washington was hiring somebody.
There was a group out of Boston called New Audition
was just starting and they were coming from Boston, and
she said they look for somebody to hire them.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I said, I'm the woman for the job. So by
the daytime I.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Was working at DC Public Schools and in the evening
I was Adrian.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I was a public relations firm.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Ed Washington call said I need somebody to do a
promotion for this group New Addition. I said, okay, great,
I'm a woman for the job.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
He hired me. I did the promotion.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
A year later, he called me, he said, Adrian, he said,
would you like to go to work at cocoa cola.
I said, if you're not joking, listen to take me
about ten minutes to find my boss here the school system,
about five minutes to tell me where you out in
Silver Spring, Maryland? What about fifteen? What about twenty minute drive?
What is it one o'clock? I can start at three
this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You are so engaging, so's you're the job for me.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That's when you look in the mirror and you.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
What I I always talk about people who are fear change. Yes,
they fear, they are known, right, that is not part
of your.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Mom because I have God in my life. So when
you have fear, then you don't have faith. And if
you got faith, then you don't have fear. So I
call it a dark room religion. When I walk into
a dark room, I don't look for a light because
I know God is there. So when God tells me
to go preach in Kenya, he said, I got a
message for the women people in Kenya. I tell my husband.
(07:55):
I said, look, I got to run to Kenya this weekend.
He said, well, we don't know anybody in Nairobia. I said,
I know. But then me called Delta. I'm getting ready
to go to Nayloba this weekend. God gave me a
message to give and I go. I traveled Africa by myself.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Now, now when you when you went to the whole process,
because we I wanted to see when you were because
you said early on Africa was the.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Vision for Africa? Okay, Now when did then in.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
The steps because of your life? When did you first
go to Africa?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I went to Africa in two thousand and one. My
niece Adria Green was twenty two years ago. Three years ago,
Adria was doing some type of study of broad program
something and she was at Wellesley College and Pearline. My
sister call and said, let's go to South Africa. Adriana
is there. I was like, Adria is named after me.
I'm out going.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We went to South Africa, fell in love with it.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
From too far to South Africa.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
We went to a durban South Africa.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Been there. Now, I'm gonna tell you something. You know,
because you have to go through Johannesburg and then connecting
you drive down and so uh and uh. When I
was doing Steve hard Morning Show, they asked us to
broadcasting Durban and for the life of me, and we're
talking about two thousand and eight something like that. For
(09:07):
the life of me, I could not wrap my head
around that there was the technology there in durbing to broadcasts.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That's how simple My mind had been dumbed down to
the stereotypes of technology and Africa period, let alone South
Africa and also South Africa apartheid. So I was dealing
with a lot of confusion and so and finally when
I went over there, I was ashamed because it was
like I landed into Atlanta. Yes road, smooth car, new
(09:37):
car dealerships, everything was beautiful, black people running things. I
was really taken aback. But of course you've been to Africa,
You've dealt with these stereo types that I'm supposed to
be a person, a learned person, educated person, a liberal person.
But still I was saddled with the stereotypes. That's a problem, correct.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
It's a problem for people that don't go.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
See I started in two thousand one and I've been
going to Africa every year since two thousand and one.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I go.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
So I've created women empowerment programs in Durban and South Africa,
Liberia and Monrovia, Liberia, and now I'm in Ghana and
Sarah Leone and I'm on my way to Mozambique in Tanzania. So, yeah,
you can't watch what TV says. See, you got to
go for yourself. So you have to. I say, you
(10:24):
have to inspect what you expect, right.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And so but you but you can. I say, you're unique,
You're an inspiration. You you because that's you're You're not afraid. Now, know,
if an opportunity to comes your way, you're gonna raise
your hand.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
You told your son, Bill, let's go.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And your son had to be one of the most
motivated individuals because he's seen motivation. Motivation is his mama.
That's right, his mama, you know, you know, walk through
a brick wall is his mama.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That's Bill Green knows that Bill went Howard University's Alpha.
So I had my SNI I'm an Aka. Bill was seventeen,
and then I prayed to God. I said, God, look
I'm getting old. I want to get married again. I
want to have another baby twenty five years later to
see because God does answer your prayer.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I met him in the airport.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Joe Johnson attorney Joe Johnson out of Detroit, Michigan and
at forty three I had another baby, Jala Johnson. So
now I have a fifty five year old and I
got a thirty year old. I love man in Africa.
When I go, they say, here comes Granny, Reverend Granny.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Now with that being said, Reverend Granny, okay, we go
stick with now you have this time in front of
Reverend Reverend doctor Granny.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Adrian Booth Jones.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Okay, please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with
more money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money
Making Conversations master Class hosted by Rashaan MacDonald. Money Making
Conversations Masterclass continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow
(11:59):
My Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The whole program that I talked about earlier and I
want to get into it before the break of Women
Entrepreneurs that's right in Ghana, West Africa.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
What is that all about?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
So it's start of Joe and I bought a thousand
reusable sanitary paths because we know the period poverty is
an issue. So we bought a thousand reusable sanitary pads.
We took them to London to give them a jalo
while she was at the London School of Economics, said,
jaale go do a feasibilities to study in Ghana. See
if that really is a need. Jala's my daughter.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So Jala's came back. She said, Mama, they really need
the pads. So we decided instead of giving them fish,
let's teach them how to fish. So instead of giving
a fish, we created women entrepreneurs who make and sell
reusable sanitary pads. Because what we found is that ninety
five percent of the girls and living in villages in
Ghana miss twenty percent of the of the school of
being out of school due to lack of access to
(12:56):
sanitary pads. So now they don't have to because now
my three hundred and twenty five women are making paths
so girls can go to school.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
So now to get to that point, you had to
create structure. Yes, okay, and you in the country. Okay,
how did that get set up?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
So I set it up by creator. You know, God
sends people. Now he gives you the vision. He will
give you the provision. So I have a team over there,
Ellen Aduba and Jennifer Moffatt. So I have a team
on the ground, team who does things, and I do
the fundraising. So I'm gonna raise the funds here in
America and Ellen and Jennifer we go through the churches.
So we'll go to They'll go to a village and say,
(13:32):
pick ten women who've done one of two things. Either
they're asking God for a miracle or they're asking God
for a second chance. If they're doing one of those,
they can be in my Woey bra program and Woey
bra in America. When you say I'm on my period,
in Africa, they say I'm on my woey bra h.
So that's how we started.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
The name of the business.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
That's the name of the WOA nonprofit woe Ye Bra
Wye BRR.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Okay, by now you're not from the country, so I
probably ain't staying it, but.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I want everybody to hear because of the fact that
you're doing something, and you're doing something you know you
know what. Let's say you know walk, you talk, you know,
you walk, your fly because you're flying over there and
making it every year. When we come back, we're gonna
continue this conversation with Granny, Reverend doctor Granny who Adrian
(14:20):
Booth justin making a difference, roll your broad Foundation, Amen,
speaking of Reverend doctor Adrian Booth Johnson aka Granny, where
she goes over to Africa. Over here, she's just my
friend because she's making a difference. And when you make
a difference some place else, that means you're making a
difference where you are. That's on a regular basis. In
this case, three hundred and twenty five women have become
(14:42):
entrepreneurs in Ghana, West Africa. Now, when you was at
Coca Cola, that's right, with any programs, any relationships you created,
and when you exited that you took back over to Africa.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Talk about your exit plan.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Well, Coca Cola was a great company to work for,
and a lot of the marketing skills I learned, I
now teach them to my three hundred and twenty five women.
So I teach them marketing sales, customer service. I teach
them financial literacy because most of my women are uneducated,
and so I teach them. And that's why I go
twice a year. I go once just to teach them.
(15:17):
I go the next time to go and train more women.
So I gather more money, collect more money, and I
go back and forth. Because like I said, if you
want to do you don't ever want to send money
to a country that you have gone. You have to
inspect what you expect, right, and that's what I do.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
And so by going there, there's a physical presence, which
means creates accountability. That's right, that's accountability. And so when
you go there, so have you taken people or taking
students or taking individuals from HBCUs over there with you
just to see this experience.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Or its culture.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Well, the last promotion I was able to help execute
for the Coco Cola company was called the Open Happiness
Store and we took twenty one HBCUs students to South
Africa for the World Cup in twenty ten.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
And we took but also it just.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Went you can say, mcdot, anybody gonna blink it out.
We gotta slow down.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
And so when you went over there with him being
over there, right, and I'm mistaken he has African roots.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Right, he does.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
So he went and a lot of the twenty one
students I still stay in touch with him now because
I teach them business etiquette, right, because it was it's
one thing like when you go for a job and
if you're there now, doctors lawyers. But when you go
for a job interview, when you go and try to,
you know, work in corporate America, there's certain things you
discussions you shouldn't have knowing about dining, how to order,
what to eat, where to sit at a corporate table.
(16:41):
So I do that now in Detroit, because I live
in Detroit, and so I do that now and I
teach that now like a cast Tech high school. I'm
working with girls there, teaching them about Woa Yebra. They
cut out the sanitary paths and when I go back,
I take them to Africa, so they have a connection.
And I did a zoom call thanks to the Detroit
Rotary Club. They sponsored it, and I did a zoom
(17:01):
call so that the girls that cut out the paths
get to see the girls in Ghana. So they are
now friends.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Wow, maybe they will make that journey, that travel and
that cultural connections. Now, you know, let everybody know cast Tech,
I'm very familiar. Well, when I did the Hoodie Awards,
they won best high school every year in the country
and for sixteen years, I believe they won fourteen times.
And so casts take very prominent high school in the
(17:27):
city of Detroit. And now when you talk about what
you're doing entrepreneurship, leadership. Let's go back to you, because
when I'm fascinated by your energy, I'm fascinated by people
hearing this, this motivational voice and you go.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
We shout. I go twice a year, I go tright
to ye.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
So you say that like you're going, like if we're
in Atlanta, you going from another neighborhood. But how many
what's that flight journey? What's the flight journey.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
From Atlanta to uh Let's say a craw you sometimes
you have to fly through Amsterdam and stop switch planes,
or you go through New York. It's about ten hours,
twelve hour or something like that, fourteen hours. I don't
know something, and just do it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
You just do it.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
You just see when God gives you something to do,
you have to do it. See people sometimes they hesitate
and they pull back. But if he gives you something
to do, so it's just like an Isaiah six eight
when he says, I heard the voice of the Lord.
I said, who will go for us? Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us? I raised my head,
I said send me, send me Lord. I go by myself.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
I don't care well you raise your hand enough for
these jobs. Okay, you need a nuclear woman that you've.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Got me, I've got and so, and you know the
blessing is like people like the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
One hundred and seventy of them went and I was
able to bring one hundred and twenty of my women,
and they trained them right, They taught them. One hundred
and seventy zadas. The aka's alpha capital Alphas. They help
sponsor me. I mean, it's just the Lynx. Oh my god,
the Lynks Incorporated. They help. So there are a lot
(19:01):
of people here. But what I need everybody now to
do is go right. You gotta go. You got to
step out of the boat, just like when Peter when
the disciples within the water and Jesus told him go
way out, and they saw Jesus coming out of water,
and only Peter said, Jesus, that's you. Let me come
out of the boat. I'm Peter led me out of
the boat. I'm going to be with him right now.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Now.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Hey, I'm ready to walk. I'm ready to walk. We
got two minutes? Is the fingure of two minutes?
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Figure? And is there woe e bra Yes, what's the foundation.
That's right. Is there a foundation website?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Well, our nonprofit is Infinity Global Empowerment. Well, Yeebra is
just one of our programs. So Wollyebra. Our website is www.
Dot Woe Yeebra w o y e b r a
dot org because it's the organizations, that's our website.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So you can go make donations there.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Right, and so the and so as we as we
leave one note of inspiration. You know, first of all,
we're trying to kill stereotypes. Yes, we're letting people know
that by effort and passion, yes, and love, Yes, that
you can take people quote unquote uneducated and turn them
into entrepreneurs. That's correct, and you use your lessons to
(20:18):
do that correct.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Well, I want people, especially single moms, I want them
to know that sometimes you go to run and stuff,
it's just the bend on the road.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
It's not the end of the road. You gotta stay positive.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
And I want you to know this too, that the
question is not who is going to let you be successful,
but who is going to stop you?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
M m mmmmmm. And you're a reverend the right red.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Because I say that because of the fact that I've
just been inspired with that because y'all didn't know what
she pointed the finger at me.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I would you know, I mean pulling out my pocket.
I could be to open the Bible because you're preaching
to me.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Because because you know, when I do this show, yeah,
money making Conversations master class. Right, you know, I'll tell
you I get it before thirty in the morning. This
is the last thing I do on Tuesday. And I
am exhausted. But and I'm exhausted when I say goodbye
because then when I'm talking to individuals like it, lets
me know you can.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
See the God in me. And that's what you have
to understand. Sometimes when I'm in the village and villages
in Africa, the only God they see is the God
in me.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Wow. Now this is what you got to do, my
favorite's career. When the next time you go to.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Africa, I'm going in May and September.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Okay, September, before you go back on the show, I'm coming, Okay, cool.
I know if you always look at me off, I
ask you, we're sure you coming with me one time,
which means I gotta come. Okay, just person right here, Granny.
You don't tell her no, you know, it's not a negative. No,
she is telling you come see the right thing done
and you will help do it too. Thank you for
coming on Money Making Conversations master Class.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Bless you, Thank you for allowing me to be here.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
And next week we're going to continue this journey. And
I thank everybody for listening because every time I bring
a guest, they changed my life. I got my gut
health right, I got my religious right because the reverendend
told me I'm doing some right things with my show.
Money Made Conversation Master Class. Talk to you all next week.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with rough Shan
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