| SPRING 2010
Wendy Brawley
By Breanna Herschelman
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Wendy Brawley
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For years, Wendy and Paul Brawley noticed an absence of a lifestyle magazine for African American women in their home state of South Carolina. The entrepreneurs decided to start their own magazine to address the lifestyles of these women and empower them. With money from their savings account and some help from Wendy’s event planning company, Events Unlimited, they began to get the magazine under way.
In 2000, Wendy, who received her Master’s degree from Webster’s Ft. Jackson, S.C. campus in 1989, and Paul, who received his degree from the Myrtle Beach, S.C. Metro campus in 1991, surveyed a group of dynamic women from throughout South Carolina about what they would like to see in a magazine. The group wanted a strong African name, one that had no negative connotations and was empowering to women. The word “imara” came to mind, which is Swahili for powerful. With some consultation and discussion, they chose to call the magazine IMARA Woman.
Wendy wanted to make sure the magazine focused on promoting quality health for women and also gave tips about how to take care of one’s body and mind.
The magazine is sold at retail stores throughout the state and is provided free to community-based organizations as well. Its readership has reached nearly 50,000 people statewide. Wendy and Paul recently branched into television with IMARA Woman. Viewers in the area can catch Wendy on the Columbia, S.C. division of The CW, WZRB-Channel 47.
www.imarawoman.com
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470 East Lockwood Avenue