Part 2 of the Tamika L. Sims Interview with J Haleem

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is the motto of Five-time Author, Book Coach, and Publishing Strategist, Tamika L. Sims. Through years of opposition, domestic violence, and life's challenges Tamika has a story to tell. As a book coach, Tamika's mission is to empower others to share their story with the world equipped with accountability, self-awareness, and guided instruction.  Over the last eight years, Tamika has helped more than 200 men, women, and children, tell their stories, producing bestselling and award-winning books worldwide. For over five years, Tamika served as a lecturer at the University of South Carolina - Columbia where her debut novel, The Plus Factor was used as a required text in the Department of Women and Gender Studies. She has served as an expert in the areas of domestic and sexual violence for numerous NBC, FOX, and CBS affiliates.  A native of Columbia, SC, Tamika now resides in Las Vegas, NV where she continues to work with aspiring individuals who want to share their stories with the world. 

Neicee J, was born Tahneisha Plowden in Lorain which is in North East Ohio. She is the daughter of the (late) Gary and Carolyn Plowden. 

Neicee J currently resides in Greensboro, NC where she is employed as an After school teacher. She is the author of three books including Behind Closed Doors, The Behind Closed Doors Journal and her Children’s book The Good Touch and The Bad Touch and a fourth book called In Too Deep coming soon. Neicee J is also an actress with Delinda Kay productions. She was in her first film Sheltered (not yet released) and am upcoming film called Forever Loved. You can find her credits on IMDb. She has been married for 10 years and is a mother to her two children a bonus mom to four children and a grandmother of two. Neicee J prides herself in helping others n being the best she can need as a person

Terrance Tucker is the founder of the T.U.C.K. Project, a mentoring

program aimed at promoting male achievement throughout the

Columbia, SC and Augusta, GA regions. The T.U.C.K. Project was

founded in 2016 with just five mentees, and has successfully grown to

approximately 170 mentees and 15 committed volunteers. An extremely

gifted and engaging motivational speaker, Terrance has spoken at over

200 middle schools, high schools, and colleges; as well as five federal

prisons and juvenile detention centers around the South Carolina,

Georgia and North Carolina region. Mr. Tucker has also delivered over

60 keynote addresses. In addition to motivational speaking, Terrance

teaches life skills courses at two South Carolina federal prisons.

Terrance has devoted countless hours to ensuring that these young men

have the tools to recognize and achieve their maximum potential. In

addition to a focus on youth, the T.U.C.K. Project hosts a monthly

outreach program where clothing and food are donated to the homeless

community in downtown Columbia, SC. In doing so, he is

demonstrating the importance of reaching back while reaching ahead.

Amber Jones, Ceo of CoachAmberJ Enterprises LLC, is a Certified Transitional Life Coach through Integrative Academy empowers her clients both men/women to successfully balance their personal and professional lives so that they can have more fulfillment without burnout to live in Purpose.

Amber also, is an Image consultant, and Author of "The Key You are the Master Key"

Amber is a mother of 3 boys (her perfect 3). Amber Launched her Coaching business in 2016 to help people birth their vision and walk in their purpose focusing on three key areas: Personal Growth, Spiritual Growth and Purpose.

Prior to coaching and being a Mother. Amber spent over 10 years in property management and an experienced consultant since 2012. She has mentored through her management career, and teaches many life skill courses through inmate reentry programs as well as at risk youth programs through solution to change non profit. Today

Amber offers a wide range of coaching programs and services from individual coaching to workshops with groups and other Coaches

To contact Amber please visit her at www.CoachAmberJ.com

Derrick Washington is an Oscar-nominated, Emmy-award-winning Master Barber/Stylist with Tyler Perry Studios. He has worked on the following productions: Madea's Homecoming, The Oval, Sisters, House of Payne, Wakanda Forever, and The Banker. Derrick is a native of Columbia, SC, but currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

Shawn McCray is a lifelong Newark resident,  currently serving as an Attendance Counselor for Newark Public Schools, specifically, Central High School. Shawn also serves as the head Basketball Coach at Central. He has been coaching since 2002, becoming the Head Coach in 2006. Since his tenure as a coach, Central has won numerous Championships, including the 2011 State Championship.

Shawn is the founder of the Zoo Crew Basketball Program, which was started in 1996 to give inner city youth the recreational outlet needed in Newark around that time. Since its inception, the program has serviced thousands of youth in and around the Newark area, implementing summer leagues, camps, all-star games, and providing a safe environment for youth ages 5-21. He is also the owner of Zoo Crew Apparel, a brick and mortar that has been in operation since 2017.

Shawn has also tried his hand at politics running for Central Ward Councilman in 2014, 2018, and 2022, nearly winning in 2018 and 2022. He has been inducted into three Hall of Fames:

• 2016 Keystone College Athletic Hall of Fame
• 2018 Caldwell University Athletic Hall of fame
• 2021 Newark Athletic Hall of Fame

 Shawn received in BA in Sociology with a Minor in Criminal Justince from Caldwell College.

Allan Purnell was born and raised in Orange County, CA. He  played at Kennedy High School (La Palma) and Savanna High School (Anaheim). After graduating high school, Allan chose to play basketball at Fullerton College where he was a team captain and scholar-athlete for 3years. His work ethic on and off the court resulted in being ranked one of the top junior college shooting guards on the west coast and earned a full scholarship to the Div 1, University of the Pacific (UOP). At UOP, he was part of a team that won back-to-back Big West Championship (2004 & 2005) with 2 NCAA Tournament appearances and ranked 15th nationally in 2005. 

After graduating from UOP with a business degree, Allan extended his basketball career by playing in several semi pro leagues (ABA, IBL, WCBL, Drew) throughout the states from 2005 – 2013. He was selected to represent the IBL and WCBL in 2 tours to China. In between seasons Allan would give private lessons and coach at his alma mater, Savanna. This experience inspired Allan to start the Advanced Player Basketball League (APBL), a youth basketball league in the city of La Palma. The APBL and private training lessons eventually evolved into the founding of Baller 4 Life Sports Training. 

Allan curently lives in Las Vegas and is the program Director of our Las Vegas chapter. He is also the CEO of HOOPr, a new social media platform for basketball training