One of the most rewarding things about creating media platforms is that we get to control the narrative and raise awareness of topics that are meaningful to our gender and to our culture. Additionally, we are able to show public love, honor, and respect to true game changers and innovators within their respective fields.

Our covers for Serendipity Media Group Publications vary from celebrities, change agents and influencers to community, business, and ministry leaders; all of whom are well on their way to being recognized for their lofty and unselfish contributions! Such is the case with this fabulous, loving, and integral May 2025 Issue of our beloved DIVA Zone Magazine™ where the amazing, gorgeous, quintessential, classic, original D in DIVA Matriarch, Dr. Evelyn Braxton is featured!

On the cover: Dr. Evelyn Braxton, affectionately known as Ms. E, has been a guiding force in her family’ s life and a source of inspiration for many. In this interview, she shares insights into her experiences as a mother, her values, and her current endeavors. Get comfortable, grab a cozy beverage, set the lighting, and prepare to feast upon with pearls of wisdom shared by a true Matriarch. You are in for a treat!

Overview: The DIVA Zone™ Magazine is blessed with the awesome opportunity to share an issue dedicated to Beautiful, Strong, Sacrificial, often Underappreciated and Seldom Celebrated, Black Mothers aka QUEENS. While Mothers in general are celebrated and honored in this issue, we have gone deeper to provide a space for the unique challenges and turbulent journeys that our AMAZING Black Mothers face while raising children in a world that is not always kind. Our beloved publication is gearing up for the long anticipated 2025 print version( with national distribution) and continues in the current electronic format which will allow us to expand our magazine even further and make your reading experience more interactive; and prayerfully more readily accessible. It is also our hope that our readers are encouraged to electronically share with many others what we believe to be a quality, wellbalanced publication for our sisters. Check the website for a list of stores where The DIVA Zone™ will be distributed for free. We are counting on you to help us spread the good news!

Inside this May 2025 Issue, you will be blessed by articles that address our overall theme of Motherhood with an intentional emphasis on Black Mothers. The articles, dedication and tips shared in this issue ooze with love, wisdom, and care for the community our communities. True to our core, all contributions offer hope, love, grace, and wholeness and are full of overall solid, and inspiring content. From health and fitness, financial literacy, and mental wellness, to food and fashion and beauty tips, this issue will bless your soul and add value to your journey!

The DIVA Zone™ Magazine, May 2025 Issue will be mass distributed into various markets on our digital platform and will be the first to grace the shelves in print format later this Spring into three major markets: Northern, NJ, Greater Richmond, Virginia, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Serendipity Media Group appreciates your support in thought, word, and / or deed! Love and Blessings!

From all of us here at The DIVA Zone™ Magazine, we again thank you for your continued support, prayers and most assuredly, for believing in this vision. Although, we are but the conduit and God is the Master of this plan, the writers and editors remain in awe of the unfolding of it all.

FOUNDING PUBLISHER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NAJIYYAH BROOKS

MANAGING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NAJIYYAH BROOKS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / EDITORS

Chef Ann-Marie Bennett Jeanette Blake MSW, LCSW Layne Brooks Monica Brooks Najiyyah Brooks Javis Brunson Donna Watts Burley Victoria Corprew Gail Davis Adrienne Dawkins-Smith Donna Hayes Noreen N. Henry Genea Johnson Shani Tyler Jones Martha Massey Tashena Middleton Malinda Phelps Sandra O. M. Shearn Kath Gaines-Still Shaunte’ Sparks Tamika VanEckelen

Advertising Sales and Editorial Offices: www. divazonemagazine. com / sales @ divazonemagazine. com www. serendipityproductionsllc. com

The DIVA Zone Magazine™ is published six times a year by Brooks Media Group LLC and has earned the readership of both national and international online audiences of women seeking to lead well-balanced, happy, healthy, wealthy, and spiritually sound lives. Contribution of articles, photographs and industry information are welcome, but cannot be returned. The DIVA Zone Magazine’ s mission is to inspire, educate, uplift, and encourage all women into well balanced and healthy living. Advertisers who offer products, services and events in support of our mission are encouraged to contact our Sales Department at sales @ divazonemagazine. com

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, including photocopying, electronic retrieval / publication without written permission of the Publisher.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Publisher’ s Note

Morning Prayer

Bonus Daughter

God Chose For Me, Adoption

Blessings In Disguise: Discovering Motherhood Beyond Biology

Dear Mama Open Letters to My Mother and God Mother

Discovering Your Worth As a Woman When You Weren’ t Affirmed at Home as a Young Lady

The Journey of Becoming the Mom I Always Yearned For

The Importance of Fathers Being in the Picture

Lessons for My Daughter, Lessons for My Younger Self

COVER FEATURE

Faith, Food, and Family Values

An Intimate Chat with

Matriarch, Dr. Evelyn Braxton

Cultivating a Child’ s Palate: A Chef Mom’ s Journey Through Flavor

Teaching Children Valuable Money Skills

Why Married Couples Battle Over Money

Family Stages Workplan

Financial Planning

Diabetes and You

Lifting the Veil A Letter to Mama

Gracefully Made: Modeling Respect and Radiance Across Generations

The Best Place

Reflecting on A Mother’ s Love: Appreciation, Forgiveness, Reconnection

Mommy Time: Commitment in Investment In Your Children

Mommy To A Special Gift

Tik Tok For Dinner

The Gift of Taking Care of Aging Parents

The Sacrifice of Love: Downsizing to Care For Aging Parents

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