A woman truly OHmazing. What a great and meaningful conversation with Ohavia Phillips. A journalist at heart, Ohavia leads with love and uses her passion for media to speak her voice to serve in communities and bring the important issues to all who need to hear and educate themselves to assist with the change that needs to happen. To open the conversation, I asked the oh so important question, “how are you doing?”
“Honestly, I feel like there has been such a major shift inside of me. I used to create content that was feel good, really positive and there wasn’t an uncomfortability about it and I’m calling myself out. It changed with Ahmaud Arbery, I remember waking up that morning, my Mom and I have coffee and watch the news together and I told her I don’t know what this feeling is but I feel like there needs to be content creation of this and then George Floyd was the spark inside of me. I had to go live and talk about this. I went on IG live, I had no script and I didn’t know what I was going to say but I had to get it off my chest, I was just frustrated. I was frustrated by people, not only here in our city, but beyond who we support and share their content and buy their march, buy their music and buy into their brand and they weren’t showing up for us. As a community that was mourning, as a community that wanted answers. Even at the very least and artistic expression or song where we could just release and a lot of our favorites we’re not doing any talking. I thought — Instead of complaining, I’m gonna say something. So while I was on IG live I said, I’m calling you out. It’s easy for some of you to be part of the communities when it relates to promo and when you get money from us but now, we need you as a person and you are nowhere to be found.”
“Now with Jacob Blake, it is a blessing is that he lived, and now passed living we need to make sure he lives. So who are the community leaders, who are the artists, and who are these people that will stand in the gap in these communities to make sure that we pull up and continue to pull up. So, here we are, back again. Some of my favorite responses I’m getting is “well, I’m doing stuff behind the scenes.” The truth is, if you’re doing the work behind the scenes then thank you. But then it goes to what point do we take that work behind the scenes and being secretly done and you’re showing your community like, “Hey guys listen, here’s what we have done, here is where our money, time or talents are going.” It’s a very fine line”
I wanted to learn more about Ohavia and what she does in Charlotte:
“I do all things media in Charlotte. God has blessed me and has opened so many doors where I can host and moderate events. I have my talk show, The OH Show where I highlight awesome people in the community who are using their gifts with purpose. With each show, we have a theme and I build the panel of people from the theme of the show. I’m a content creator and researcher and truly a journalist by heart. I wake up every day with coffee and read articles. I continue you to work with nonprofits — if it has to do with community, youth, or media, that is where you will find me.”
With this series, I ask how people are doing because it’s important to be a person who can just sit and listen to someone truly explain what they have been feeling and going through this past year. I asked Ohavia how COVID-19 has affected whats she's been doing:
“In the beginning it was tough, a lot of bookings have been canceled. But now, content is more intentional, everyone is home and able to view this content so views are up. It caused me to look at self — “Hey Ohavia, now with the attention of people how will you be a better Stewart and that is creating intentional content” So now we are good, everything is virtual so we are pulling up there.”
I asked if she has seen any difference this time around compared to a few years ago with the impact in protest and the calls for change and what those differences are:
“Let's compare from 2016 to 2020. I will say this, people are defiantly stepping out of their boxes more and it makes me so proud and hopeful, a lot of young people in our city want to be heard so they are making sure there is a pedestal for everyone to speak or a pedestal for everyone to serve. There is no more lip service now there are a lot of young people that have stepped up to speak on what’s tough. A drastic change from 2016 to 2020 and we aren’t letting up, we are not letting this go quietly.
Any advice or anything you would like to see continued from those in our community?
“Don’t stop pulling up. (I interrupted because I had to let her know how much I love that phrase that Ohavia uses daily, it’s the energy we need.) It is in every portion that you have been gifted with, if you’re an artist, grab your paintbrush, grab your design. If you’re good at making music, start recording stuff for us. If you’re good at making speeches, start writing and having a conversation. Let’s be honest, money talks. People got a lot of bread and they don’t want to talk. Take that bread and keep sowing, give it to your communities. But the biggest thing above all, don’t stop. With whatever it is you’re good at, keep doing it. Don’t let up, don’t let January come and god forbid another name comes and here we go again. People are gonna say well didn’t you go quiet from September to January? That’s why Jacob Blake is a lesson, it was a gut check. Are you still doing the service? Do you keep pulling up? How will you continue? How has he inspired you, his life and how will that inspire you to create? Keep leading with love and don’t stop serving.”
