I am so happy to bring you guys another edition of the “SoulShine Series!” This week, I am so honored to feature a wonderful woman and entrepreneur. Dwanna Toney is one of the MOST AMAZING people I have ever met! Our personalities play well together and I have often wondered how I didn’t meet her sooner, considering she grew up a few miles away from where I did. I love meeting and befriending creative and talented individuals and Dwanna surely is both. She makes some of the most beautiful hand-made jewelry and I love to live vicariously through her “weekend shenanigans!” She is the creator and owner of her own business, Brassy Moe’s. Here is more about my crazy (the good kind,) wonderful friend, Dwanna in her own words:
This country girl has not been a professional nor an entrepreneur all of her life! Born and raised in Jayess, MS, I graduated from Copiah Lincoln Community College in 2003 with an AA in Business. Later, I attended The University of Southern Mississippi where I obtained my BS in Marketing, and shortly after, my Masters in Public Relations. In December 2017, I will complete a MBA with an emphasis in Organizational Management. I have been a business/public relations professional working in the higher education sector for the past 11 years. I worked for four years as Program Promotions Specialist in the Office of Professional Development and Educational Outreach at Southern Miss. Wanting to take a change in my career path, I joined Antonelli College which allowed me to venture into career placement and instructing on the college level. I was excited about these ventures, because it allowed me to help others while still having a chance to practice marketing and public relations. I served as Career Services Coordinator, and then lead instructor for the Marketing and Social Media Management/Sales Management programs. Earlier this year, I was promoted to Director of Career Services. I was excited because this position allows me to not only still interact with all students at the college, but to walk in what I see as my true purpose. That purpose is motivating and encouraging others to enjoy life, to never give up faith, to embrace and love who they truly are and then, use it to push for greater.
My faith and love for positive self-image coupled with my larger than life personality led me on a different journey about two years ago. Aside from being a glamorous goofball, I am an earring addict. However, I struggled to find ones that I felt were not only affordable but right for my personality. So, I began making them. The year prior, while sitting down with my sister Moe discussing what we were going to do with our money if we won the lottery, we began talking about having a store down in New Orleans that carried all of the things that embodied our personalities. I said, “You can handle clothes, I just wanna sell my jewelry man”. She asked me what would I call it, and I responded that I needed something loud and bold. Thinking on my love of the city and brass bands, I went in to dramatic commercial mode and blurted, “Be Loud. Be Bold. Be Brassy. Brassy Moe’s.” The name was different, and it stuck. A year later I revisited the idea, stepped out on faith and I made it official. Fast forward to today, I have been operating Brassy Moe’s and successfully shipping jewelry in the US and overseas for two whole years. My proudest moments thus far was the great success of my Mustard Seed (faith) bracelet and being able to have some of my pieces (including the faith bracelet) sent to Africa. It was big for me because even if I never make it there to visit, I know a part of me has already been there.
An avid lover of family, food, music and the arts, I usually can be found making jewelry, road tripping to New Orleans to catch local live music and art , or posting selfies of myself and The Mamas (a term of endearment for my sisters) at the most recent concert or festival. My other spare time usually consists of hanging with family, flooding Instagram with natural hair and food posts, keeping up shenanigans or simply cuddled up watching TV with my nephew aka “the kid”.
If you would like to view and/or purchase some of Brassy Moe’s pieces, we can be found on Facebook, Instagram and online at https://squareup.com/market/brassymoes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brassymoes/
Instagram: @brassymoes
Please help me thank Dwanna for “being the light!”
