Terri Winston has long been a paragon of entrepreneurial excellence utilizing her power of vision, faith, and indomitable will to constantly break barriers and transform visions into tangible successes.
Since first publishing her game changing magazine, Salon Sense, in the late 90’s, Terri has long been a beacon illuminating the path for aspiring African American women publishers and entrepreneurs.
Winston’s catalog of achievements has earned her recognition and accolades from esteemed institutions and individuals. Her receipt of awards such as the Know Your History Lifetime Achievement Lapel Pin Award and the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award underscores her status as an icon in the business and communication industries.
Her latest endeavor is helming the role of Executive Director of The Black Fire Brigade – a 501c3 non-profit organization she co-founded with Lieutenant Quention Curtis that fosters diversity within the EMT and fire safety profession. Through her visionary leadership, she has been instrumental in educating inner-city youth about EMT training and job placement, advocating tirelessly for first responders, championing EMT and fire safety, and standing up for EMT and fire safety rights before elected officials.
N’DIGO recently sat down with Winston to learn more more about the BFB and her other ventures.
N’DIGO: Who is Terri Winston?
Terri Winston: I’m a leader—a business owner. I’m this dope woman who makes stuff happen. I serve. I believe in people getting a fair opportunity. I’m a very resourceful woman. I like to share my wisdom and knowledge and help people.
What are three words your closest friends would use to describe you?
Some people call me aggressive. Some people call me wise.
My daughters call me that woman — a trendsetter, trailblazer, visionary, and leader. Miss Make it Happen.
What profession did you dream you’d have as a child?
That’s a funny question because I’ve always been a dreamer, and throughout my childhood, I never saw myself with a Public servant title, but I always saw myself helping people. So, my mom called me a jack of all trades because I was curious about many different careers. Believe it or not, it all paid off because, being an entrepreneur, you must know many traits. You have to see and learn a lot of skill sets. So, I knew I would own my own business when I was a child. I didn’t know what it was going to be. And now TerrI Winston is a Serial Entrepreneur.
How did you find your way into the world of marketing?
I was working as an account executive for a telecom company. I met this phenomenal sales trainer who helped me develop my sales skills. On that career path, I met an outstanding business development manager. He had me focus on a broader range of sales, from sales to sales and marketing. From there, I met my business partner at the time, who pushed me into the deep end of being self-taught. From there, I created the Terri Winston brand maker.
Please tell us about the work you do with the Black Fire Brigade?
The Black Fire Brigade is an organization that started in June 2018 to create first responders, one EMT at a time. We train young men and women from the West Side and South Side of Chicago and give them the career path of becoming first responders. We do it in three phases: an EMT, an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, and then on to firefighters upon completing their training. Within two years, they become first responders, a firefighter or paramedic. We encourage them to give back to the community by volunteering. So, you see us at many community events and activities because we want to expose our kids on the West and South Side to careers in EMS and fire safety.
What are some of the qualifications and first steps those interested in first response should take?
Well, I will give you the steps for the Black Fire Brigade. You must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or a GED, a clean background, and a clear driving record. From there, we take you through a program called Emergency Medical Technician. It’s a four-month long program. In your fifth month, you get your national EMT certification. Then the training academy. After training, you can go on or choose to go to paramedic school, which is a one-year program, and upon completing that program, you can transition to a hospital or a fire department as a paramedic. And that’s the entry-level into most fire departments.
What’s been your greatest joy in helping to make the Black Fire Brigade a reality?
The greatest joy is driving down the street and seeing a fire truck or ambulance. I see one of the members of the Black Fire Brigade, knowing that less than a year or two years ago, we put them on a career path, paid their tuition, bought their uniforms, mentored them, trained them, and looked at them now and driving a fire truck or an ambulance. When I went into a hospital, I saw a first responder there, knowing that that person came from the black fire brigade when we went to special events. I see an emergency medical technician, and I know that they are a representative or a member of the Black Fire Brigade; I start with a vision of my business partner, Lieutenant Q, and see it manifest six years later, knowing that we put over 700 kids through this program, single moms, homeless kids. Now they’re making $100,000 owning homes. They have a 401 K’s. They have pensions. They have their heart desires. Some of them are 21 or 22 years old. That is a beautiful feeling, knowing that you helped that young man’s family life change forever.
In terms of self-care and wellness, what are your favorite things to do for yourself?
I love quick vacations and I love the ocean. I can recharge, refocus, and get a clear mind when I hear the waves hitting the shores. All of my stress and pressures are instantly released. Some of my best projects have come to life on the shores of the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. I love coming back home and getting a manicure, but mostly, I love spending time with my family and my girls. I’m just getting back to being Terri Winston. My girls keep me focused and grounded and remind me that every day is a gift.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m a comedian. I got jokes. I’m also very sarcastic about some things. I have a great heart and a great sense of humor, but I definitely got jokes.
What is a book that has changed or impacted your life?
I love the Bible because it teaches you life principles. You know, understanding how to treat, care for, and be compassionate about people. Love is just number one. When you love others as you love yourself. You see, people that are in need. So, I see it from a different perspective. I know that people deserve a second chance. We all make mistakes. And, you know, we have many young men and women in our program, and mistakes happen, and the world wants to toss them to the side. But I see good in them based on my leadership skills, my marketing skills, and my being a human. If you have a felony, I’m opening up my Rolodex, trying to see if it’s something that I can do for this young man, this young woman. We can’t leave them out to fend for themselves. Somebody needs to help them. I am returning to life’s principles, pouring your blessings into someone else. Tom, to whom much is given, much is required.
I see young ladies that need an opportunity. I see young men that need an opportunity. They can’t pay their bills, can’t pay their light bills. The baby needs Pampers. They chose to come here to an organization, put their last few dollars on a bus, and their baby needed Pampers to give back and plant a seed into someone’s life. So I read lots of business books. I read, I read a lot. But the key to all of those books you read starts with the Bible, and it’s the interpretation of someone else’s thoughts on how they see it with their leadership and directions.
Best advice to the youth?
Be with and associate yourself with people on a career path as you are.
You can’t be the most intelligent person in the room. You must be someone other than the most intelligent person. At this phase of my life, I surround myself with people even more intelligent than me because I’m constantly growing. We’re constantly learning, and we’re continually adding components to it. So that’s when I say to the youth, you graduated out of high school, what’s the next phase? What are the next steps? What’s the next goal? Constantly challenge yourself to be better. Better and better you than you were yesterday.
What is your favorite quote or affirmation?
Be true to yourself. I do not compete with anyone. I’m not concerned about everyone else and what everyone has. If I focus on my talents and gifts and do my best every day, and if I challenge myself to learn something new every day, no one can touch me. I do what I do.
What’s next for Terri Winston?
I look for opportunities. I’ve look for problems in my training in the past; if you see a problem, people will pay you to solve it. I’m not retired yet. I’m not even ready to retire. There are so many things that I can see myself fixing, and I can see myself solving problems that every day, I have to get a notepad to write down what’s next on my list. I’m inspired to create and build new things that will serve the people of Chicago and worldwide.
For more information on the Black Fire Brigade, please visit www.blackfirebrigade.com
