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Today's Featured Biography
Karen Hunt Barker
From 2nd Avenue and Tireman bus rides to mentoring At-Risk teens in Detroit to Los Angeles, the past 25 years have been a roller coaster ride of "Servitude".
After graduating from the glorious Cass Tech High in 1983, I joined the staff at BCBSM working as a Reimbursement Data Entry Specialist, and attended Wayne State University and Henry Ford Community College at night. I moved up the ranks at the Cross from Data Entry to Customer Service Representative to Corporate Training Specialist.
During that time at BCBSM, my bestbud, Cheryl Darlene Herrington (CT83), graduated from Howard U, and she accepted a position with my old Auditing Department, after her time with one of the local top accounting firms, as one of their top Staff Auditors, auditing reports for all the Michigan Hospitals and Providers. There were other CT83 family members who I remembered walking the halls of BCBSM was Sky Thomas, Elaine Williams, and Audra Carson. It was also a reunion whenever I would run into them.
With an urgency to finish school, I completed my undergraduate program at Spring Arbor University, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Organizational Development.
My desire to always learn more, and to help others was a huge driving force in my life, and I left BCBSM, after 14 years of service to pursue a new career in Higher Education. This special life journey included a brief moment at Dorsey Business College, as Recruiter working with Sarah Withers-Brooks (CT83), and then I moved on to Eastern Michigan University, as their Continuing Education Liaison for the College of Health and Human Services.
I love working for Higher Education because it was a joy to help older adults return back to school to finish their dream. While working at EMU, I began working on my Masters in Communications, and completed a Radio and TV Broacast Program at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, which opened an opportunity at WMUZ AM1340, as a Weekend On Air Personality, "Kay Barker", under Pastor Darryl Ford, the uncle of Shawn Willaims (CT83), when the station first launched.
Once again, with a desire to help others, I fell in love with the city of Los Angeles on a vacation back in the late nineties. Not only did I fall in love with the ocean, palm trees, the moutains, and all the entertainment folks, so did my husband. We both decided it was time for a new change.
So, we moved to Agoura Hills, California where he worked in insurance on Wilshire Blvd, and I returned to Healthcare in Woodland Hills. It was funny to see the sun shine everyday. Truly the song, "It never rains in Southern California" is true. Well to a degree, the winter time is different, but yet still beautiful. :)
While living in California, I joined the Los Angeles Mentoring Group that mentored At-Risk childen of all ages. My participation with this organization was priceless. I met people from all the industries, movies, advertising, music, etc. It was a joy to work with the children each week, and to see their smiles.
As usual, the life journey will always have a roller coaster dip, and my hubby was called back to Michigan to help with another healthplan, and our California journey would end for a season. While he worked back in Detroit, I stayed and commuted back and forth for a while, until he was called to the Ministry, and then I had to return back to Detroit on a full time basis.
I cried three days, when I had to return, but to God be the Glory, and I see why it was time for me to return for a season. I was offered an opportunity to work for the City of Detroit as a Senior Systems Analyst/Project Management Assistant for the new CITS System. This was another great opportunity to work for public administration. Everyday was awesome because Monique White (CT83) sat right behind me in the Department of Human Rights. It did not seem like work, especially when I was able to monitor every contract that was coming into the City of Detroit, and identify which minority groups were getting all the contracs, as well as the Casino audits. :)
Yet again, my life would change, the City had to do serious budget cuts, and as usual IT & Training always seems to go first. But as usual, I had bounced into another contract analyzing, testing, and training staff for another company's new system, and the story goes on, and on but on this last budget cut, I decided to become my own boss, and the birth of a media and inspirational entertainment company was coming forth, Elyon Creative Media & 1965 Entertainment.
It was time for me to do what was in my heart, serving and entertaining others. Just like my Majorette and Y Teen days.
The timing was great because my husband had just landed a new position with a company that is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and he manages the Michigan Sales region, so it gave me the opportunity to live in Michigan and California, and this made it a win-win situation for my new company.
In addition to building a company that will help new Independent Christian Artist, Ministries, and Businesses get additional exposure, and develop wonderful inspiring programs for children, teens, and young adults, I serve as the National Photographer/Special Reporter for Detroit Gospel Online Magazine (www.detroitgospel.com). I have covered the major Gospel events for years from Stellar Awards to Red Carpet Movie Events such as the Steve Harvey Movie, The Gospel, and our own Darrell Thompson's (CT83) movie, JADA, and other events nationally, as well as locally. My camera lens has snapped many faces such as Nia Long, Steve Harvey, Fred Hammond, Anthony Anderson, Boris K, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and many others. I have visited Joel Osteen, and shook his hand, attended Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge, and attended service at Bishop Ulmer's church in the Forum, and LL Cool J was just seats in front of me. "Oh My What a handsome man"!!! This is the fun part of my life, traveling to meet and capture people on film who inspire people to pursue their destiny, and accomplish their dream.
When I am not serving as a Photographer/Special Reporter, I serve as the Urban Gospel Alliance International (UGAI) State Director (www.urbangospelalliance.com or www.myspace.com/ugadetroit), and my responsibility is to establish chapters throughout the state of Michigan for Urban Gospel Independent artist in the areas of Rap, Dance, Comedy, Theater, Movies, Conferences, etc.
Between DetroitGospel and UGAI, my time is always spent mentoring young ladies, and serve as one of the Motivational Speakers/PR Director for the Ruby Girl Teen Program, along with working with my local church community outreach Bible Study Program, and the Princess Circle Foundation.
Currently, my hubby and I do not have children, but hope to have children one day, as we continue to stay humble under God's care, and stay true to his ministry while serving others. God get's all the glory for my Life's Journey!
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