Meet Chanelle James | Author & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chanelle James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chanelle, how do you think about risk?
I think taking risks is necessary to overcome moments of nervousness that could prevent you from living your life fully. Taking risks can add to your growth and assist with reaching your goals. My career path is being an educator. I took a risk to publish a book and become a business owner because I wanted to follow my artistic passions that I did not pursue as my main career. I feel that all of the risks that I have taken in my life have developed my character positively.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I envisioned my life, I always knew that I wanted to help others because of my giving, passionate spirit. I began by creating and continuing a career as an educator and developed into a writer, author, and poet. Writing for me had been technical, but as I got older, I saw more therapeutic benefits. To battle the anxiety and stressors of the world, I started to write my feelings. Those feelings turned into rhythmic, candid stories that focused on most of my life experiences along with stories that are shared with me. The poetic rhythm was birthed from my love of music. I began to share these poem stories with family, friends, and colleagues and it took off from there. After copyrighting a collection of poems, my first book, Intuitive Ramble, was born. Intuitive Ramble is a collection of candid, themed poetry. Some of the themes include love, lust, empowerment, triumph, and faith. It was officially released in May 2021. After the release of Intuitive Ramble, I established my company Empathy Wanders, LLC (Candid Thoughts That Wander). Empathy Wanders is a mindfulness, lifestyle brand that promotes candid, relatable, and therapeutic poetry to wanderers that need an outlet to escape everyday life or to just make sense of it. The poetry presented is from (me), Nelle J. I tend to write and share frequently about current events that are on my Instagram @Nelle.J19 to keep giving that dose of candid. This year, my company will be offering a creative writing service along with offering additional products that include my new book! Being a small business owner has its daily challenges, but the one thing I constantly continue to tell myself is to keep grinding and believing. I am excited for the journey that continues to blossom.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta has a lot to offer when it comes to dining, hangouts, events, and everyday gems. I have had the pleasure of visiting some of the most eclectic and vibrant places. There are too many to name, but to name a few I will start with dining. If you are ever visiting the Old Fourth Ward area of Midtown, Ponce City Market along with Chin Chin II are a must. Ponce City Market offers a variety of cuisines from different cultures and boutiques. One of my favorite places to eat at the market is Hops Chicken. Chin Chin II is located in the plaza next door to Ponce City Market and has some of the best Chinese dishes. Negril ATL is a classy, Caribbean, Jamaican restaurant that has an after work happy hour vibe. The ambience gives a chill mood and vibe, and the food is delicious. Some of my favorites are the jerk wings and chicken, mac n’ cheese along with their famous rum punch. Lastly, if you are in a brunch mood, Cultivate in West Midtown is a treat.

In Atlanta, you can find a variety of artsy areas and attractions. Some of the best art exhibits that I have seen are located at the High Museum. Every first Friday, be ready to listen to tunes from a few Atlanta DJs while absorbing current art collections. The Krog Street Tunnel is an open, outdoor canvas for anyone wanting to express themselves creatively. Every visit to the tunnel is different because of the forever evolving artwork. After the short, aw-filled walk, you can grab a bite to eat and drink at the Krog Street Market. When it comes to nightlight and social functions, East Atlanta and The Battery Atlanta where the Atlanta Braves play are a few areas to explore. Sometimes you may want a breath of fresh air. Visiting the BeltLine, Piedmont Park, and the Westside Provision District are awesome places to frequent. The Belt Line connects all of Atlanta’s surrounding neighborhoods and offers dining, shops, parks and trails. Piedmont Park is located in Midtown and is known for iconic festivals and is super pet friendly. The Westside Provision District is an outdoor, urban experience where you can find fabulous foods at Taqueria Del Sol and grab a sweet treat from Jenni’s Splendid Ice cream. If you ever want a social, game experience with tasty libations, visit Ormsby’s. All of these places are just a handful of spots in the city I highly recommend!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my family and the friends I consider family. They say that it takes a village, and my village is always there for me at any moment’s notice. Whether it be words of encouragement, providing time and physical support, or showing up to events that I have. Without them, I would not be where I am today.

Website: www.empathywanders.com

Instagram: nelle.j19