Meet Renita Walker | Wife, mother, grandmother, seamstress/designer, singer/songwriter/performer, the Funky Chaplain

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

Hi Renita, every day, we hear about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
LuviztheWay, LLC is my vision to spread love and hope through faith, fashion, and the funk!

For the last almost 12 years (my 12th anniversary is in September 2022) I have been training and working as a Chaplain (Spiritual Care Clinician). Pre-pandemic I provided mostly face-to-face care to patients and families who were struggling with the weight of both acute and chronic illnesses. When the pandemic hit and families were no longer able to visit their loved ones in the hospital, I recognized a gap in our healthcare model. If families can’t come inside, they often miss opportunities for spiritual assessment and care. My goal is to bring spiritual care out of the hospital and into the world! The healthcare for all movement necessarily focuses on physical medicine and we are beginning to see people championing mental health care as well. I am here to proclaim spiritual care is healthcare too! I provide spiritual care to care seekers and education to helpers that helps people assess and address spiritual needs as a vital component of holistic health.

I started RedoxRenew in 2017 because I wasn’t finding the clothes I wanted to wear as a professional chaplain. Most of the misses career wear was boring, bland, and colorless; and I am none of those things. So I began making and wearing my own custom Ankara outfits to fit my vibrant personality. I truly enjoy wearing Ankara! It helps me feel connected to the Motherland and I love the jubilant responses of my African colleagues when they see a fabric from home. My bright colors, fun prints, and mixed patterns brought an element of fun and joy to my job as a chaplain and earned me the moniker, “The Funky Chaplain.” I continue to make my own custom career wear and have a growing clientele of funky people who are having fun in their own RedoxRenew originals.

What can I say about Ya-Ya: The Intergalactic Sojourner Truth? I guess if being a chaplain is my “mild-mannered” alter ego, Ya-Ya is my real identity. (Although I’m not that mild mannered and my outfits definitely stand out.) Ya-Ya is my muse. She is who I dream when I dream of my freest self. When I need wisdom, or courage, or strength, I just think what would a fearless intergalactic freedom fighter do? She is a truth-teller, a chain-breaker, a healer, and she does it all with the FUNK. What better than music to free people from one side of the galaxy to the other? Music is the universal language, right?!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Although I am gifted and skilled to provide spiritual care and education as a chaplain, my art is where my soul really sings. Both my music and my fashion are expressions of my hopeful and joy-filled creativity. I believe regular people should have custom clothes. Having ill-fitting clothing because you aren’t the focus of fast fashion can be demoralizing and can keep people from feeling free in their own bodies. The custom experience is a wonderfully liberating experience; at the end of it you have clothes that are made specifically for you and your body. And because of limited space I don’t keep bolts of fabric, so often what I make is a one of a kind item. I make everyday people feel special in once in a lifetime clothes. One of my customers loved joking with me about how she was going to reply to inquiries about her custom outfit, “Oh honey this is custom. You can’t get this anywhere!” It bring me much joy to spread such joy!

Ya-Ya: The Intergalactic Sojourner Truth is the place where I get to play freely. Designing and constructing clothing does have some constraints related to the type of item being constructed and the construction material, but music is limitless. I can do anything with music that my mind and spirit can conceive. From the beginning Ya-Ya was intergalactic so there were no preconceived notions about who she is. I could really dream and imagine. I am most proud of my musical progression with Ya-Ya. I started making music 22 years ago and after a literal 20 year hiatus the music came storming back like it never left. I thought my dream of bringing that part of my calling to the world was dead, honestly. But I’ve learned to be open to the surprises in life’s journey, and to trust my own knowing and the Creator’s love and care.

In the Alchemist, Paolo Coelho wrote, “And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Since I said yes to this vision the universe has conspired to place the right people and opportunities in front of me for growth. One of my business mentors always says, “Success is where preparation meets opportunity.” So, as I transition from corporate employment to entrepreneurship, I continue to educate myself on the business of business. When opportunity knocks I am prepared.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For my foodies, one time my best friend was here and all we did was eat. We went to Krog Street Market and to the little shops on the Beltine around the corner; such good food there. I’m a fan of Ponce City Market for good food too. I also love Grindhouse burgers because they have options for vegans and vegetarians. Downtown College Park is really building up a little entertainment district with restaurants that have great reviews. And of course you gotta wait in line for Slutty Vegan. It really is that good.

Because I’m a creative, shopping for great materials is fun to me! So, for all my seamstresses and creatives looking for great materials my favorite fabric stores are Fine Fabrics in Norcross (a HUGE warehouse of every fabric imaginable), Fabric Joint in Decatur, and you cannot miss Afrocentric Network in the West End for quality African fabrics, clothing, jewelry, and oils. Tandy leather is a great supplier of leather and leather-working tools. I love going there- tanned leather smells so nice.

Finally, touring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District is on my must see list. You tour his birth home, old Ebenezer Baptist, and The King Center and learn more about his life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Being a chaplain is a taxing job. I am providing spiritual care to the sick and dying, and holding space for people during some of the worst experiences of their lives. I could not do this job and remain healthy myself without an awesome support system. My husband has been supremely supportive and truly a God-send. Our 15th anniversary is this July 2022 and I can’t even tell the whole story. We’ve had many ups and downs, from blended family struggles, to food stamps, to debilitating illnesses, and he has been a safe place. It takes a confident man to love and support a driven woman and he has supported every iteration of my calling this far. He’s a middle school social studies teacher and I know he is out here doing the lord’s work, because middle school?? I love him and I’m proud of the progress he’s made toward his own dreams and visions. (Also he’s an introvert so he doesn’t mind playing the background…he’s probably gonna be embarrassed by this lol!)

Website: https://www.renitawalker.com

Instagram: @redoxrenew @ya_ya_lives

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renita.walker.9

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpurSe6MkaAaTeNkja136sQ