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

Hi Rue, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I am Rue Clark.

I was raised in a family that took great pride in their ability to create businesses that would sustain and support ourselves. We weren’t rich by any means, but my Mother, Grandparents, Uncles & Aunts were able to realize ownership and the ability to control their stations in life and positively impact the communities we lived in. This made for a family of good humans, good community neighbors, and amazing entrepreneurs.

I’ve continued this trend as an entrepreneur, creating vehicles that empower, enlighten, and enable my family and community to see far beyond imagined possibilities into the realm of “anything is possible”, because it is. If I have need of something and there is no resource to tap into, I know there are other people like me that have the same want. For me, this is the seed. This is how a business begins and how I can positively impact my community.

There are a few vehicles I’m particularly proud of.

I founded a travel club in 2011 and for six years gave black women the ability to travel all over the world without fear. Not just as a tourist, but as someone wanting to learn about other cultures by spending time with people native to the regions we visited. I believe travel creates good global citizens, changes/ broadens ideologies, increases self- awareness, and eradicates selfishness.
It’s hard to be self-centered and selfish when you see firsthand how vast the world. When you see how people live their lives far away from the community you comfortably live in and how women that look like you live their daily lives. It’s an amazing thing to be welcomed as a stranger and depart as family.

After a necessary hiatus I knew it was time to begin again and when thinking of a name for my current venture Northern Southern Girls was instant and constant.
Northern Southern Girls is a term I’ve used for years to explain me and the cultural duality I reside in. I was born in Buffalo, NY and raised in both Buffalo and Atlanta, GA, so I have the fast-paced aggression of a northerner and the subtle intensity of a southerner. It’s who I am down to the bone and marrow!

I liken the entity Northern Southern Girls to a tree with many branches able to provide shade and sustenance to all that dwell in its’ shadow. I’ll invite amazing women to partner with me along the way because the vision is as huge as the magnolia tree in my back yard.

Right now, there are two branches flowering and doing very well.

NorthernSouthernGirls.com is my apparel line that creates what I’ve dubbed “wearable social statements”. The line was initially intended to give voice to black women who felt the need speak out about the biases, injustices, hate, racism, discrimination, and misunderstandings we face each day, but I’ve discovered that I have allies who share my sentiment and wear NorthernSouthernGirls.com apparel as well. So, you’ll see men and non-black women wearing my statement pieces. It’s great to see.

Buffalo Soldiers Women’s Gun Club is the second branch. We pay homage to the first African American army regimen and the units one- and only-woman Cathay Williams by taking this name. With the gun club the directives are to
1. Unite black women in safety and defense.
2. Ensure our members are effectively trained to be our own 1st line of defense.
3. Educate black women to safely maintain and operate firearms at the highest levels possible.
4. Advocate gun defense. Abhor gun violence. Know the difference.

In case you’re wondering why a gun club I’ll tell you. Statistics show that black women are purchasing firearms at a rapidly increasing rate because they want to feel safe, but these new gun owners are not properly trained. Buffalo Soldiers Women’s Gun Club offers very comprehensive continuous training and not only that. We’ve built a Sisterhood!

The next branch to flower will aid the senior community, because again I have a need without ready resources, which means there are others that have the same need.

Because of the restrictions the pandemic has placed on us I had to pause the initiation of the newest branch, but as soon as I am able to, I will introduce an amazing service to senior citizens in Atlanta that is so needed.

I’m so proud of the work I’m doing now and the things on the horizon that will give my community what is needed. I’m also proud that I’m able to continue in the footsteps of my mother, grandparents, uncles, aunts and now sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Modeling family and community responsibility for future generations.

What should our readers know about your business?
After a necessary hiatus I knew it was time to begin again and when thinking of a name for my current venture Northern Southern Girls was instant and constant.

Beginning again was a hard thing to do for the hiatus was needed to care for my father who was terminally ill. I had to make the sudden and immediate decision between continuing to operate a thriving business that allowed me to travel the globe, (something I loved with every fiber of my being) OR become the primary caregiver for my father and ensuring he had every chance and resource to successfully heal.

There was no hesitation in choosing my father, but I did grieve the loss of my business. Both the illnesses my father faced, and the sudden closure of my business was devastating.

It would be another four years before I would venture into business ownership again and it was hard for me. Not that I was afraid that the business wasn’t viable, but could I garner the trust that I once had before suddenly falling off. Could I begin again?

Yes.

I’d learned that it is necessary to build a community within your business too. You never know what life challenges you’ll face and you’ll need the community to carry on with the mission.

My sister-friend Dani Hutcherson has been a second sister to me for more years than not. She’s supported and championed me in all things and I wanted her to join me on this new journey. I’m grateful she agreed to, for a limited time, become a partner in Northern Southern Girls.

The vision I had for Northern Southern Girls would begin with shirts, but there was so much more and I knew I needed to build a team from the start.

As I said, Northern Southern Girls is a tree with many branches able to provide shade and sustenance to all that dwell in its’ shadow.

Right now, there are two branches flowering and doing very well.

NorthernSouthernGirls.com is our apparel line that creates what I’ve dubbed “wearable social statements”. The line was initially intended to give voice to black women who felt the need speak out about the biases, injustices, hate, racism, discrimination, and misunderstandings we face each day, but we’ve discovered that we have allies who share our sentiment and wear NorthernSouthernGirls.com apparel as well.

Buffalo Soldiers Women’s Gun Club is the second branch. We pay homage to the first African American army regimen and the units one- and only-woman Cathay Williams by taking this name. With the gun club the directives are to
1. Unite black women in safety and defense.
2. Ensure our members are effectively trained to be our own 1st line of defense.
3. Educate black women to safely maintain and operate firearms at the highest levels possible.
4. Advocate gun defense. Abhor gun violence. Know the difference.

Buffalo Soldiers Women’s Gun Club started with women of Atlanta and now we have members throughout the U.S. We’ve also recently become an official partner of the United States Concealed Carry Association.

We’re currently cultivating Having A Senior Moment. This branch will aid the elders in Atlanta, Buffalo, and eventually nationally, Having a Senior Moment will become a good thing and something our elders will look forward to.
Because of the restrictions the pandemic has placed on us we had to pause the initiation of the newest branch, but as soon as we are able to, we will introduce an amazing service to our elders that is so needed.

I have learned to trust the voice that says, “if you need this, someone else needs it too. So create it Rue!”

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?
Friends visiting me in Atlanta can always count on me to introduce them to good time.

There are certain things that are musts when visiting Atlanta

Sunday-
Start your day at Grant Park Coffee House with amazing coffee and fresh baked goods. I’ve been hooked from day one and the owner Rahel is the energy that gives this place so many good vibes. I sit outside on the patio surrounded by flowers and enjoy my meal.

Next, we’ll hit the beltline. Stroll through the Krog Street Tunnel and along the Atlanta Beltline. Amazing art is everywhere. paintings, sculptures, musicians, photography, dancers, skaters, bikers. Just people everywhere on the beltline. I have a standard Poodle, Beauregard, and I love that the businesses sit dishes of water out for our fur babies. We’ll walk up to Ponce City Market and go do a little shopping. On the way back we’ll stop and have grilled wings at Nina and Rafi and sample as many beers as we can stand at Pour.

Sunday night there is no other place to be than Al Smith’s Midtown Jam Session at Vista Vibes. This Jam Session has the best musicians and singers in the city and has been a staple for over 20 years. It used to be housed at Apache Café’ but has relocated. You cannot miss this!

Monday-
Breakfast at the Atlanta Breakfast Club on Ivan Allen Jr Blvd.
Visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Stroll Centennial Olympic Park
Visit the MLK Jr. National Historic Park Center in the Historic Sweet Auburn District- Birth Home, Ebenezer, Burial Site all within 1000 feet
Go to The Vitamin Lady on Auburn and grab a quick bite or bowl of soup.
Dinner at Spring Greens Café’

Tuesday-
Breakfast at Breakfast at Barneys (you’d better be prepared to wait, but it’s worth it.)
Shop my fav boutiques and stores while seeing the the Grant Park, Inman Park, and Little 5 Point neighborhoods. Pink Sky, IamDaniJay, Squash Blossom, Abbadabbas, Mood Music.
Late Lunch at Anna’s BBQ in Kirkwood to eat the best turkey ribs and barbeque you’ll ever taste.
Then off to the range to shoot with Buffalo Soldiers Women’s Gun Club and train with Instructor Kimberly.

Wednesday-
I can keep this going forever. Remember, I spent years as a tour organizer and I still freelance for international visitors locally so my recommendation list is never-ending.

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 fully understand that no one can exist without the help and support of community and no woman could ever achieve success without the community that supports her.

My sister Kasinda is an amazing sounding board and often brainstorms with me, giving me insight and ways to enhance my business. She is never afraid to be frank with me and quick to exhort me.

There are so many people, patrons, and organizations that have supported me but there are some that must be named: Christel Peacock, Dani Hutcherson, Ms. Willa Mae Owens, Mrs. Sylvia Walker, The Mays Family as a whole, Women in the Spotlight Going Global, Beautiful Brown Girls, The Elim Christian Fellowship Family of Buffalo, NY and the matriarchs of my family that are now departed. Mrs. Alma Mays and Mrs.Stella Shorter.

 x

Website: www.northernsoutherngirls.com

Instagram: @trypchyck @northernsoutherngirls

Facebook: @rueclark @northernsoutherngirls

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.