We caught up with the brilliant and insightful April Frazier a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
April, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
I was blessed to have parents that fully supported and encouraged me. My father is a Vietnam War Veteran. His service in the military motivated me to join the military and attain the rank that he did. However, he was none too happy to hear that I had selected Military Police as my field of choice. My mother also studied criminal justice, she operated a shelter for abused women and she is also a minister. I come from a family with a strong religious background.
My parents ensured I knew right from wrong and that I always chose the hard right over the easy wrong. They taught me not to be selfish and to look out for others who may not be capable of looking out for themselves. Despite the fact that my parents divorced when I was young, they never missed a beat adding value and positive influence to my life.
As a result, I had a very successful military career, raised three of my own wonderful children and served as Godmother to many others. I am level headed, empathetic, smart and consistent. Who I am today is wholeheartedly due to my faith in God and the examples my family set for me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I guess I should start at the beginning. I am from North Carolina born and raised. My father served in the military primarily at Fort Bragg, NC. I am a product of a family of public servants. My grandparents, aunts and uncles all played significant roles in caring for their respective communities as farmers, ministers, food pantry operators, victim advocates and Servicemembers.
I served 24 years in US Army the majority of that time spent as a Military Police with a wide range of Investigative and Victim advocacy Specialties. I also spent a number of years after my service working for the government. I was the coordinator of the Veteran and Armed Forces Legal Outreach Program for the SC Attorney General Office and I worked as an Inspector General for the Department of the Army. All of which was very fulfilling.
In all my years I will say that what I love most is helping others. I’ve volunteered with many organizations performing community service such as my Military Sororitity Kappa Epsilon Psi, Christian Community Foundation, Fort Jackson Cubscouts, various food banks and shelters. That is where my passion lies.
Let’s get down to business. My pride and joy is my nonprofit organization Galatians 62 which I founded in 2019. We provide services to underserved and/or at risk members of our community. Our programs are:
1. Mobile Homeless Outreach – We go out into the community identifying homeless individuals and providing them with care bags. We also identify specific needs our citizens have and attempt to align them with the appropriate resources.
2. Food Insecurity – Our food insecurity program allows us to assist low-income and underserved individual and families in need of food by providing grocery store vouchers and/or gift cards to assist with grocery purchases. Through our various partners we are also able to provide nonperishables, fresh produce and hot meals.
3. Veteran to Veteran assistance – Our Veteran to Veteran Assistance Program is a special project to honor our fellow Veterans. We provide furniture items and household goods to Veterans transitioning out of homelessness into independent living.
4. Benefit assistance – We are a SC thrive partner and use Thrive Hub to complete applications for resources you may need. Our benefits screenings help you find resources for which you may be eligible.
5. Bridging the Gap Program – Our Bridging the Gap Programs provides our clients and low-income members of the community with access to computers, internet services, job training, mentorship and a variety of other services to give them access to a better future.
6. The Blessing Store – Our Thrift Store offers new and used merchandise to the public. All funds are used to support our community food pantry and doubles as a clothing closet for those in need.
I became a notary and ordained minister in 2018. I incorporated my notary business A Moments Notice LLC in 2020 when I left Federal Service. Much like my nonprofit my for-profit business is centered around personal services. I provide mobile and stationary notary services to include loan signing agent. Additionally, I have a small wedding chapel where I officiate weddings. I provide personal and professional coaching. When my venue isn’t being used, I donate space to a local Girl Scouts Troop, and I mentor teenagers ages 13 to 17 in spiritual and personal development.
Even though money is an absolute necessity it isn’t my motivation. I genuinely want to help my clients. I treat their service with the utmost of importance. I think it’s important to form a relationship with my clients. They are choosing my business to provide a service that in most cases can be life changing i.e., weddings, christenings, vowel renewal., wills, power of attorney, depositions, employment verification, sell and/or purchase of a home. These are significant events in one’s life and they are entrusting me to be a part of that. I don’t take that lightly. That’s where my referrals and repeat business comes from. That’s the business that I want. I want my clients to know and trust that I’m going to provide the best service I can at the most reasonable price.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I am constantly seeking forms of development and education. I’ve found Linkedin to be a great source of education and development. The Small Business Association has also been a great resource. When I transitioned out of the military we received an excellent amount of information and training in the business arena. My degree is in technical and business management. I also take refresher courses for notary duites to ensure I have the most up to date information and services for my area.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Honestly, I think the COVID-19 Pandemic tested all of our resiliency and showed us what we are made of. For me it was two-fold because both, my for profit and non-profit businesses are in the service industry and require in person contact. It was nearly 8 months after I started my notary business before we authorized to resume services. I was fortunate in that I had income coming in from my military retirement.
I had to completely revamp my homeless outreach program to incorporate safety protocols to protect my clients and volunteers. Being a volunteer run organization there was a time when the only volunteers I could get to come in were family members, but we pushed through to serve the people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://galatians62.com https://amomentsnotice.org www.gdtechwork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galatians_62/ https://www.instagram.com/amomentsnoticenotary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/62galatians https://www.facebook.com/amomentsnoticenotary
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35569721 www.linkedin.com/in/april-frazier-39615b21
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Galatians_6_2
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqEc45Wj_lh10wW58axMLA