Meet Charell G. Coleman | AUTHOR | SPEAKER | CERTIFIED CRM INSTRUCTOR

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charell G. Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charell G., every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My life’s journey was the fuel for starting this business. Being the child of a mother and stepfather who battled drug addiction, there were countless times that people would help my brother, sister, and me in many ways so that we wouldn’t have to feel left out or be without the resources we needed to help us live a life of normalcy or close to it. We simply learned to play through the pain. As early as age 9, I learned to see trauma as a means to an end. I knew that we were in a broken situation, but I couldn’t afford to completely break down. It simply wasn’t an option! I simply learned how to map the life I wanted through the use of the tools I did have accessible. I used a simple diary and a pencil  33 years ago when I was only 12 years old Journaling was an outlet for my trauma-filled childhood and continues to be a resource for me even today. I wrote out what I wanted my life to be and began to manifest it as though things were already well. I even used my journal to create stories of fantasy to heal the pain of my reality. It seemed to work every time. Journal writing provided me with safety and sanity. I used this as a way to help me to have the GRIT I needed as the eldest of my siblings when we needed transportation to or from school, food to eat, clean clothing, or the other bare necessities. I knew they deserved better. I had no idea securing their needs would help me to grow my resilience toolbox for what life would offer me. It gave me the opportunity to view life through the lens of fortunate rather than the unfortunate. Writing was a tool I chose because of my substantial success in school. School has always naturally come easy to me. I wanted to write away the struggles my little brother had in relation to school. I felt there weren’t enough tools to serve him as an active brown boy who struggled to read. It is partly what lead me to choose a career path as an Educator. I would change that narrative for students that had learning challenges like my brother.  During the pandemic, I had time to reflect and read about many issues of social injustice in our world. What stood out for me was the crisis of literacy and trauma in our world. Having this time in isolation also allowed me to focus on finding proven tools and resources to help myself and others become more resilient and heal the trauma that we face in our present and past. I saw the connection between these two issues and understand that any resource for one may have a positive impact on the other.

I Curate resources to build resilience, champion others as they walk through their pain while understanding that trepidation only leads us to more fulfilled lives. Literacy is the superpower that leads this effort as we heal today to secure our future! Erasing Illiteracy and Healing Trauma is the idea behind Lead & Ink, LLC.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I like to say I hold the position with the warm touch. I have had the opportunity to warm and fill lives of all ages and stages. I have served as an Elementary and Middle School Educator for the last 24 years and still presently do so in the private sector. In this capacity, I serve students with Dyslexia, ADHD, and language and auditory processing challenges.  Currently, I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at a college in Massachusetts where I have the opportunity to teach Educators Social Emotional Learning courses that I have personally designed. Being a Certified Trauma Resource Teacher has afforded me opportunities like these. Teaching has always come second nature for me quite honestly. I learned the power of love and non-judgment from my sweet, departed Mom.  Being very transparent, I have always known that God has me on Earth to teach in multifarious ways. It is my belief that my life experience with abandonment, molestation, and inconsistent home, and school environments only prepared me for the job! I couldn’t think of a resume better suited for students of various backgrounds. The story of my brand is Lead & INK simply because my childhood was drawn in pencil Lead. These were all the things others taught me that I should do, what I should think, and the ways I should behave. Once I became an adult, I found the power to erase the Lead and pencil marks that were scribbled upon me. I became wiser and discovered the power to be my authentic self, releasing the desire to please others for the sake of their comfort. Here I decided to challenge myself to a more sustainable life of tools that worked in my favor. That is when I INKed it so that it became my permanent way of thinking. My thought is When you teach people to have a mindset of resilience, empathy, and self-compassion and love people where they are and just as they are, you have educated not only one, but you have educated the world!

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.

Sunday- Illuminarium/Slutty Vegan

Monday- Jamaican Tropical Cuisine on Old National Highway and Bad Axe Throwing

Tuesday- The Beltline

Wednesday- Painted Pin/Two Urban Licks

Thursday- Drive to Chattanooga to Skydive

Friday-Center for Civil and Human Rights/Old Lady Gang Restaurant

Saturday- Fellaship ATL/Escobar Restaurant

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?
My shoutout would certainly go to the most resilient person I know…one of my first kids, my little sister! We have been championing one another since Day 1… We don’t miss a morning without an I love you and a check-in. She is the person who allows me to just be ME and still loves me genuinely- priceless! My grandmother gifted me with her secrets that she said were too much to bear even as tough as she always presented in my eyes. She also helped me to understand that it was ok to be myself regardless of how others interpret me. Never will I forget my angel of a Mommy, nor will I go without recognizing her ability to teach me incomprehensible forgiveness and Luke 6:35 love for all. And without the support of my main crew who holds it down on the homefront day in and day out, my husband and 2 children the challenge to fulfill my passion would be insurmountable so for them I am most grateful! Thank you for this opportunity Voyage ATL!

Website: charell@leadandink.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellgcoleman/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charell-coleman-305b4724a/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharellGColeman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharellGColeman