The Effective Communicator

Awe-Inspiring Journalist Acknowledged for Success Against The Odds:

Award from Atlanta Business League Inspires Others

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Calvin Coolidge

President Coolidge’s classic words are not only thought provoking, but they accurately describe what can happen when one is determined to succeed. Alonia Jernigan, accomplished entrepreneur who is well known for her effective communication skills, understands Coolidge’s school of thought. By embracing Coolidge’s way of thinking and by adding the component of faith, she has risen above the odds to achieve admirable success in business. As such, the Atlanta Business League awarded Jernigan with the accolade of Success Against the Odds during its 2008 Super Tuesday awards celebration.

For those who do not know, the obvious questions are, “What were her odds and how did she overcome them?” In 1997, Jernigan, along with her husband James, began publishing a magazine called IMANI. Given that the magazine was a vision to Alonia from God, she made sure IMANI focused on faith, family and economic empowerment. The publication received great acclaim, including a letter of commendation from the White House among other notable honors. Despite the high praises, IMANI still faced the challenge of obtaining enough advertising dollars to sustain itself. Nonetheless, the Jernigans continued to publish the magazine, exhausting every possible resource they could --- even their personal assets, ultimately losing everything they had.

In 2004, the Jernigans made the painful decision to give the magazine up. The cessation of IMANI’s publication left Jernigan heartbroken and devastated. Because of her strong faith in God, Jernigan essentially felt like a total failure; she felt like she had let God down. The only things she had left to hold on to were the basic tenets that IMANI was founded upon: faith, family and hope. After Jernigan came to the bitter realization that her dream of publishing IMANI could no longer continue, she decided to build on the skills she had accumulated over the years. She says, “I knew I could not allow my gifts to remain idle. I had to find a way to use what God had given me. If I didn’t, I was convinced I’d lose even more than what I had already lost.”

To that end, Jernigan sought opportunities to write, speak and train as much as she could. She took an inventory of the experiences she’d had over the past 20 years. Today, Jernigan can proudly yet humbly say that she has been blessed to use her gift of communication to empower others. Whether working behind the scenes by writing a script, developing verbiage for collateral materials or commercials, or whether speaking words of encouragement to a designated audience, Jernigan has created a name that speaks for itself. She is known for giving her audiences just what they need when they need it. Her writings have appeared in prominent publications to include the Birmingham Woman, The Atlanta Business League’s newsletter, Who’s Who in Black AtlantaÒ, and Who’s Who in Black BirminghamÒ. Her scripts have been read by many of Atlanta’s leading media personalities and such celebrities as Tracee Ellis Ross (UPN’s Girlfriends) and America’s Next Top Model Eva Pigford. And, as a speaker, she has captivated crowds that include youth groups, church congregations, business owners and parent groups.

By 2008, Jernigan found herself being nominated as Most Outstanding Journalist by Los Angeles’ Electronic Urban Report, a nomination she shared with ESSENCE Magazine’s former editor Susan Taylor and romance novelist Zane. She says, “You cannot give up when your dreams seem to have been deferred. When this happens, of course, you’re disappointed. You’re hurt, discouraged and frustrated. You’re even embarrassed because you know there are those who were counting on you to keep things going, yet there were others who were just waiting for you to fail. And so you cry, you blame yourself, you become withdrawn. You may even feel inadequate. I know because I’ve felt all of those things and more. But don’t be discouraged. There is a lesson to be learned from every experience. Rewind the events of your life. Take inventory and see what works and what you need to do differently. Please know, though, that what you cannot do is give up. Never give up on yourself. Take the lessons you’ve learned, combine them with the knowledge and abilities you have, recreate your network and get back up again!”

Jernigan has inspired many by her tenacity. Referred to as Necee by family and friends (because her middle name is Denise), a close friend, Victoria Lester, jovially remarked to her husband Al, “We are liable to look up one day and see Necee all over the place. I’ve never seen anybody with such perseverance. She has inspired me to know that anything really is possible.” Others describe Jernigan as a go-getter whose sensitivity to others helps accentuate her communication skills.

Jernigan is flattered by the comments but she simply insists, “Anything worth having is worth working for and fighting for. If what you’re achieving were an easy task, everyone would be doing it. Only you have the authority to make it happen. I truly believe that the worst is over and the best is yet to come. Yet, I also know that if it is to be, then it is up to me.”