We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Chantrise, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When it comes to risk taking normally I am the scary one. I hate being scared and I like things to be predictable partially because I have a slight control issue. It’s the Capricorn in me. However, as this leg of my life’s journey progresses, I have had to learn to step out of my comfort zone and do a lot of things scared. Turns out, risk taking isn’t any different than taking a leap of faith. Same concept. Different words. There are a lot of things I wouldn’t currently be doing had I not leaned into faith leaping!

What should our readers know about your business?
When I began Disturb the Universe back in 2015, it was to be a way to help teachers become more creative in the classroom and essentially disrupt status quo for the purpose of educating our children. In 2018, when my entire life was upended due to a heart attack and the complications that came with it, “disturb the universe” took on a whole new meaning. It was no longer just about disrupting status quo in the classroom. It became a rallying cry for me. I began applying the same strategies I used to help others to help myself get back to a life worth living. As a result, Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman became my personal brand created to inspire people to live their best lives in spite of circumstances. Then, Resilient and Winning appeared as a way to help women build their resilience and overcome their fears so they can move from stuck to successful in their personal and professional life. And finally, Disturb the Universe came back around as I launched “The Writers Workshop,” a program to offer writing and ELA support to students in grades 5-12. Becoming partially paralyzed and a bilateral lower limb amputee at age 45 shook up my entire world, but it taught me that resilience would be the key to my successes. I had to learn and relearn a number of skills and I had to find my new way forward. But, the businesses that now sustain me would probably never have been birthed had my life NOT be interrupted. So, just because something bad happens in life doesn’t mean God doesn’t already have a plan for it worked out.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
This is a difficult question one because I’m an introvert and don’t get out much and two because there are so many amazing things to do and places to eat here in Atlanta. My three favorite places to visit all happen to be in the same general place and those are: The Aquarium, The World of Coca Cola, and The Museum of Civil and Human Rights. I’m a huge nerd so anything that feeds my intelligence is a go to. I’m also a huge college football fan so The College Football Hall it Fame would definitely be on the list. I grew up with an artist mother so The High Museum would be a definite especially since it was featured prominently in The Black Panther When it comes to food we’d absolutely have to do a tour of all the delicious Black owned restaurants in the area. Slutty Vegan would be up first and then visits to Slim and Husky’s and Plant Based Pizzeria, Tom, Dick & Hank, Juiceheads ATL, The Real Milk and Honey, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar, and Sublime Doughnuts, Sweet Auburn Seafood, Le Petit March, Tassili’s Raw Reality, and of course Busy Bee Cafe

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?
Whew! That’s a long list! I wouldn’t be doing any of this if not for the love and support of my parents, John & Phyllis, my husband C.J., my daughter Astede, and my bonus children Kaleb, Hannah, and Nia. Add to that my sister friends and my beautiful Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, especially the members of the East Point/College Park Alumnae Chapter.

Website: www.drchantrise.com
Instagram: @DrChantrise
Linkedin: Chantrise Sims Holliman, EdD
Twitter: @DrChantrise
Facebook: Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman (business) Chantrise Holliman (personal)
Other: To join the Resilient & Winning FB Group go to www.resilientandwinning.com

Image Credits
Photographer: KeJay Urbane

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