Meet Char Miller-King | Woodshop Instructor/Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Char Miller-King and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Char, how do you think about risk?
I took a giant leap of faith and it paid off. I often jokingly say I am a motivational speaker, encouraging anyone who will listen to follow their dreams at whatever cost.

In 2003, I made my first project out of wood, a bed. I was a recent graduate without furniture or the means to purchase any. After three months of trial and error, I completed it and slept on it for seven years.

The seed had been planted that would flourish into an undeniable passion for building things and using power tools.

I would spend the next 12 years, figuring out an ideal scenario in which I could “make sawdust” all day. If your heart desires something strongly enough I wholeheartedly believe that you will receive it.

After starting my family, which consisted of my college sweetheart, our daughter and son. My career journey had progressed, I was a Director of a department in higher ed, I had a massive corner office with floor to ceiling windows. I had arrived, or so I thought.

During the summer of 2015, I discovered, I was pregnant, with twins!

I was told that I could not work my job with four children, there were whispers of me not returning. Such that a colleague was brought into oversee my department during my maternity leave. I did return after maternity leave, I returned to a previously mentioned promotion being denied, I returned to a new director who requested I move out of my corner office, I returned to a new position. What was my position? I was the director, now she is the director? It was all quite confusing and overwhelming.

Day after day I walked into a stressful situation. Until I decided to walk away. There was no contingency plan, No savings to sustain us.

I did not know that making this risky move would propel me into a new realm and the life I had always hoped for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In this life we are burdened by the stereotypes given to us by society. I choose to break free of those. While there are many other Black females who woodwork. There are few who are also teach. That is what sets me a apart. I am excited about giving young people the access to the trades. Being an advocate for making and how it correlates to mental health. Performing a tactile task with your hands activates many sensory outputs connected with our dopamine levels.

It was not easy to climb the ladder in the woodworking world. I would like to say it was harder because I am Black, I am certain imposter syndrome and the comparison game played a huge role. Until I decided that this is where I belong and nothing was going to stop me from being everywhere you see a classroom, power tools and lumber.

Networking and building my community has been key. I enter every relationship with what can I give, rather than what I can get. Sharing feeds my soul and ultimately provides me with a career.

You can’t help feel like the only one when you are the only one. I used to shrink myself to not be so visible. So that I did not get labeled as something. Sometimes I would get treated as less than or looked at as if I was in the wrong place or even ignored, the worst is spoken down to. I choose to ride above it and lean in to be the only one or one of many. No matter what you cannot change someone’s mind or thoughts.

I have learned that each one of us has a gift. A God given talent. And He gives us the tools we need to execute. Even when things are not going my way, I know that in the end I will be victorious. I am a black girl from Compton who found passion in woodworking and teaching and had the opportunity to visit the whitest places in the US and appear on shows where there has never been a person of color.

Perseverance, belief in yourself, leaning on others when you need it will help you reach your goals!

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.
I love food halls, so we would eat at Politan Row and ATL food works at least a few times. Then we will need to walk all that good food off on the Beltline, I love exploring this city and watching the melting pot of people go by.

We would definitely visit my makerspace, Decatur Makers. The typically tourist locations are also fun to see, the Zoo, the Cyclorama at the Atlanta History Center, Fernbank, the Aquarium and the World of Coke, I am a huge history buff and each of these places offers a peek into the past. I love sharing that with others.

It’s summer here and also quite hot, so I am okay with sitting in the house with the AC and watching a great movie with a friend.

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 am a culmination of my experiences. My experiences include the people I have encountered throughout my life. My mother first and foremost who gave me ever opportunity to explore different passions in life and supported me .
My first manager who let me borrow his drill to build my bed and the makerspace, Decatur Makers who gave the opportunity to teach and grow my community as a maker.

Website: www.thewoodenmaven.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/woodenmaven

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYZ0RWjxPMff427xIrWy1rQ

Image Credits
The photo of the bed : The Home Depot