People. Purpose. Passion.
The Power of US.

Love Is A Parable is proud to share that J. Dwayne Garnett, Founder and CEO, will be returning as a presenter for the third time at the 5th Annual ATHENA Leadership Conference & Awards on March 24, 2026, hosted by ATHENA of the Triangle at the SAS Campus in Cary, North Carolina.

Each year, this powerful gathering brings together women leaders, entrepreneurs, and allies who believe leadership is most effective when it is rooted in authenticity, collaboration, advocacy, learning, and giving back. The ATHENA Leadership Conference is not just an event, it is a movement centered on the ATHENA Leadership Model and the belief that progress happens together.

During the conference, Garnett will lead a session titled Synergic Leadership: An Interconnected Touch, exploring how value-based leadership, intentional relationships, and collective responsibility strengthen individuals, organizations, and communities.

The day will feature inspiring keynote voices, dynamic breakout sessions, meaningful networking, the ATHENA Leadership Awards Ceremony, and a shared commitment to leadership with heart.

Love Is A Parable is honored to continue partnering with spaces that uplift purpose-driven leadership and amplify voices committed to collective impact.

Registration is now open.
Join a community that believes in leadership, connection, and the power of US.

https://athenatriangle.org/athena-leadership-conference/

#LoveIsAParable #ATHENALeadership #PowerOfUS #WomenWhoLead #ValueBasedLeadership #CollectiveImpact #LeadershipWithHeart

Love Is A Parable was honored to join the family at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Apex, NC for their special “Sunday on Saturday” Worship Service as they celebrate 160 years of ministry, faith, and community impact.

Our founder, J. Dwayne Garnett, had the privilege of serving as the Guest Poet during this high energy contemporary worship experience under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Gary L. Brown. Moments like this remind us how storytelling, reflection, and faith can bring people together and strengthen the body beyond the individual member.

Thank you to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church family for the warm welcome and the opportunity to share in such a meaningful celebration.

#LoveIsAParable #FaithInCommunity #StorytellingMatters #ApexNC #WorshipTogether

Love Is A Parable was honored to participate in the 25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration in Raleigh, North Carolina, held at the North Carolina Museum of Art. This annual celebration serves as the statewide kickoff to Black History Month and brings together storytellers, artists, musicians, authors, and community voices to honor the richness of Black history and culture.

Our founder, J. Dwayne Garnett, had the privilege of serving as a storyteller, sharing reflections that connect history, values, and lived experiences. Storytelling is a core tenant of the Love Is A Parable mission. We believe stories are seeds. When planted with intention they grow into understanding, connection, and community.

With the 2026 theme recognizing a Century of Black History Commemorations, it was powerful to stand among so many voices committed to preserving history while shaping the future.

Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful gathering and to continue demonstrating how value based education, storytelling, and personal reflection can bring people together.

#LoveIsAParable #BlackStorytelling #BlackHistoryMonth #NCMuseumOfArt #StorytellingMatters

Do you know the impact integration had on students and families right here in our own backyard?

Many of the students who lived through integration in the Fuquay-Varina area are still alive today. Their stories are not distant history. They are living testimony. They walked into uncertainty so that future generations could walk into opportunity.

Hear the story and more at

Inspiration in Integration
Sunday, February 22, 2026
2:00 PM
All seats $10

Sponsored by the Town of Fuquay-Varina, the Friends of the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, The Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club, Legacy Partners Realty, Mayor William Harris, Pinkie Strothers, Bryan Haynes, and Thrice Funeral Home.

This is not just a Black History Month event. It is a community reflection. A chance to sit in the room with living history. A moment to honor those whose steps made space for ours to be a dash more better.

Seats are only $10. Do not wait.

Get your tickets here:
Come listen. Come learn. Come remember.

#fuquayvarinaartscenter #fvartscenter #blackhistorymonth #inspiring #leadership #inspirationinintegration #communityhistory #honoringourpast #courageousleadership #locallegacy #livinghistory

It’s time to create a safe space for healing and open dialogue around the issues too often left unspoken.
Join Accelerating Men for a powerful panel discussion featuring:

J. Dwayne Garnett – Love Advocate
Jason Phillips – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Facilitated by Marcel Anderson

Thursday, October 30th
7:00 PM EST
Register at www.acceleratingmen.com
(Zoom link will be emailed after registration)

Together, we’ll dismantle stigma, foster awareness, and build community-driven solutions that support the mental health and well-being of young boys and men.

SAFE Program for Men (Securing A Fresh Environment)

#AcceleratingMen #LoveIsAParable #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingTogether #CommunityCare #MenSupportingMen #BreakingStigma #Brotherhood #SafeSpaces #Empowerment #FaithAndHealing #PurposeDriven #TogetherWeRise

Love Is A Parable is honored to share J. Dwayne Garnett as part of the 2025 Domestic Violence Advocacy Awards Gala hosted by The Hidden Jewels Project Inc. This evening of “Purple Elegance” will uplift voices, honor advocates, and celebrate the resilience of survivors while reminding us of the critical need to continue raising awareness.

Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Purple Carpet: 6:30 PM | Gala: 7:00 PM
Village Inn Hotel & Event Center, Clemmons, NC

The evening will feature powerful performances and voices:

• Lauryn Benjamin – Liturgical Dancer

• Tamra Bradshaw – Recording Artist

• Tameka Bright – Emcee

• Pastor Timothy Careathers – Man Stand

• And J. Dwayne Garnett, Author/Poet and Founder of Love Is A Parable

We will also celebrate the 2025 honorees who continue to do life-saving advocacy work:

• Alexandria Hicks (Next Step Ministries)

• Kenya Thornton (Eliza’s Helping Hands)

• Bishop Sir Walter Mack (Union Baptist Church)

• Anita Dean Arnette (The Truth Network)

Tickets: $75 | VIP $95
Get your tickets at www.hiddenjewelsproject.org

Together, we can continue impacting communities and saving lives. 💜

#DomesticViolenceAwareness #Advocacy #PurpleElegance #LoveIsAParable #TogetherWeRise #HiddenJewelsProject #Community #FaithInAction #EndDV #HopeInAction

Are you ready for Compassion Day 2024? Have you marked your calendars?

Not sure what it is? Get ready for a day filled with compassion and community spirit! Join us for our annual Compassion Day, hosted by Holly Springs United Church of Christ, Lost Sheep Outreach Ministry, and Woodhaven Baptist Church. Together with local community members and organizations, we’re bringing you an incredible day of free services and fun for all ages!

Free medical screenings

Kid-friendly entertainment

Expungement services

Career prepping

Live performances

Delicious food

…and so much more!

Check out our entertainment lineup—more details to come.

Event Details:

Location: Holly Springs United Church of Christ, 116 3rd Street, Holly Springs, NC 27540

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST

Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends—everyone is invited to experience the love and compassion that makes our community special!

#LoveIsAParable #CompassionDay2024 #CommunitySpirit #FreeServices #FamilyFun #HollySprings #GivingBack

Tonight, J. Dwayne Garnett had the honor of joining the NAACP North Carolina State Conference Black Voices: Advocacy in Action Town Hall.

He shared his new piece, Big Beautiful Lies, as part of a powerful conversation centered on urgent issues impacting Black communities such as healthcare, education, food access, environmental justice, and more.

To stand alongside leaders such as Dr. Eric Kelly, Rep. B. Ray Jeffers, Rep. Allison Dahle, Clarence Birkhead, Wendell Tabb, Michelle Burton, Christina Cole, and so many others was a reminder of the strength that rises when voices unite.

Our stories matter. Our voices matter. And together, our advocacy matters.

It is time to join tonight’s town hall or participate in others throughout the series: https://ncnaacp.org/2025-black-voices-town-hall-series/

#BlackVoices #NAACP #loveisaparable #BigBeautifulLies #CommunityImpact #EquityInAction #ValueBasedEducation

SPEAK YOUR PEACE — A Night of Poetry, Spoken Word & Expression

Presented by The House of Creatives, in collaboration with The Rumman Room and Muslim Artists of NC.

Join us for an evening that celebrates the power of words and the beauty of self-expression. Speak Your Peace will feature live performances by local spoken word artists and poets, creating space for authentic voices and community connection.

This night will feature Amal Kassir and J. Dwayne Garnett, alongside 7 additional performers from the community (registration is now open).

Details:
☕ Vendors on-site
🎟️ $5 per person
✨ Family-friendly | All ages welcome
📍 The Portal HQ, Raleigh
🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

BOOK SIGNING & READING EVENT

Join us for a moving and memorable celebration of truth, healing, and poetic expression.

Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: St. Matthews Rosenwald School
At St. Matthews Baptist Church
5410 Louisburg Rd, Raleigh, NC 27616

Featuring:
J. Dwayne Garnett, author of Can I Just Write
With a foreword by David K. Baker, Sr.

About the Book:

Can I Just Write is not just a collection of poems; it’s a soul exposed, a breath exhaled, a mirror held up to the complexities of living, loving, hurting, and healing.

Written by J. Dwayne Garnett, this deeply personal and spiritually grounded journey gives language to the emotions we often silence. Through reflections shaped by grief, injustice, fatherhood, faith, identity, and resilience, Garnett invites readers into the sacred space where vulnerability meets power.

With raw honesty and rhythmic insight, each poem in this collection is both a release and a revelation, crafted not to impress, but to connect. It is for those who know what it means to wrestle in the dark while still searching for light.

Whether read in quiet solitude or aloud to reclaim your voice, Can I Just Write will stir your spirit, affirm your worth, and remind you that your story matters, even when it hurts to tell it.

This is not a performance.
This is permission.
To feel. To speak. To write.

Poetic Explorations Include:

• Literacy as healing and self-expression

• Misandry and its overlooked impact

• Abuse and trauma both seen and hidden

• Fatherhood and responsibility

• Healing forward with grace and wholeness

About the Author:

J. Dwayne Garnett is a Truth Revealer, rhythm-based realist, and man who writes from lived experience. Born in Augusta, Georgia, he turns vulnerability into strength and pain into purpose. His work gives voice to emotions many feel but struggle to express.

He is the author of Random Thoughts, Ampersands and Commas: Love Is Communicating, Ephphatha: Love Is A Parable Reflection Manual, and Can I Just Write, a poetic exploration of misandry, abuse, divorce trauma, fatherhood, and healing.

Garnett is the Founder and CEO of Love Is A Parable, a nonprofit focused on value-based education and togetherness. With 20+ years in higher education and human services, he champions literacy, emotional awareness, and the power of truth.

His words do not seek applause. They seek truth. Even in silence, our stories still matter.

Why This Location Matters:

The event takes place at St. Matthews Rosenwald School, one of the historic schools built to educate African American children during the segregation era. Hosting this event here is a powerful tribute to resilience, legacy, and the enduring power of literacy and voice.

Light refreshments will be served.
Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Join Us for the National Day of Prayer Community Event

Prayer. Refreshments. Community

The Holly Springs Interfaith Alliance (HSIA) invites you to an evening of reflection, recognition, and connection as we celebrate the National Day of Prayer with a special awards celebration.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Venue: Studio 557, 300 S Main St Suite 324, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
This is a free event, but space is limited! RSVP today.

Event Highlights:

✅ Opening Performance by Music Makers United (Interfaith Choir)
✅ Inspirational Reflections from diverse faith leaders
✅ Award Presentation
✅ Interfaith Resilience Scholarship Proposal – investing in future faith-driven leaders
✅ Corporate Prayer – lifting up youth, families, public servants, peace initiatives, and more
✅ Networking & Fellowship – build meaningful connections with faith and community leaders

This evening is more than a gathering; it is a call to unite in faith, celebrate those who bridge divides, and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation and peace.

📢 RSVP now to secure your spot! Space is limited. Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to stand together in faith and purpose.

Gospel Pioneers Of The Carolina's Appreciation Program April 5th 2025 doors open @ 3pm and start 4pm. Harnett County Commons 309 Cornelius Harnett Blvd Lillington NC so save the date and this program is FREE!!!

We’re excited to reconnect with ATHENA of the Triangle as J. Dwayne Garnett takes the stage as a featured speaker at the ATHENA Leadership Conference!!!

Psychological Safety & Workplace Empathy with J. Dwayne Garnett A workplace that values trust, inclusion, and empathy fosters stronger teams, greater innovation, and lasting success. Join Love Advocate & Value-Based Educator J. Dwayne Garnett as he explores the power of psychological safety and how it shapes workplace culture. This session will provide practical strategies to create environments where individuals feel respected, heard, and empowered to thrive.

Dating over 40? Let’s talk about it! Join J. Dwayne Garnett and an insightful panel of experts for Straight Talk with KWF, hosted by the Knightdale-Wake Forest Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

This Healthy Relationships Month event is designed for singles navigating the dating scene after 40. Expect: thought-provoking discussions, insights on cultivating genuine connections, professional tips & strategies, giveaways, and more!

You're Invited to the Love Is A Parable Ribbon Cutting & Fundraiser Ceremony!

Date and Time: Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST

Location: Holly Springs Masonic Lounge 224 Raleigh Street, Holly Springs, NC 27540

Join us for an evening of celebration, community, and giving back! We are delighted to partner with the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce to bring you this special event.

Proudly Sponsored by: Thrive Skin + Wellness

Enjoy Performances by: Iconic Bond and Kim Person

Savor Delicious Catering from: Full Street Catering Services

Dance to the Beats of: World Class DJ Ty

Contact Information: Lindsay Tremelling Send Email

Come share in the joy, enjoy great entertainment, and support a wonderful cause. We can't wait to see you there!

#LoveIsAParable #RibbonCutting #Fundraiser #CommunityEvent #HollySpringsNC #JoinUs

We're thrilled to share some exciting news with you all. J. Dwayne Garnett, our esteemed CEO & Founder here at Love Is A Parable, will be speaking at a very special event—the 11th Pastoral Anniversary of Pastor Jamal Brown at the Historic Holly Springs United Church of Christ!

Date: March 3rd, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Historic Holly Springs United Church of Christ

116 Third Street

Holly Springs, NC 27540

Pastor Jamal Brown embodies hope and change in the RDU community, and we're honored to celebrate his remarkable journey with him. Together, let's gather, support, and shower him with love on this momentous occasion.

Save the date, spread the word, and let's make March 3rd a day filled with love and inspiration! We can't wait to see you all there!