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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Joan Marie, 3450 Central Avenue Suite 130, Toledo, OH (2025)

09/30/2025

"My name is Josiah Williamson. I am 28 years old. At this point in my life, it’s been a lot. I was raised in a two-parent home. Both my parents came from a Christian background—my grandfather was a pastor, and my dad was a minister as well. Life was good.

Then, right around when I turned 16, my mom got cancer, and I lost her at 17. I ended up getting into the workforce and was just kind of working to try to get past that. When I turned 18, I had to start figuring out what I was going to do for work. So I ended up doing all these jobs. I went from valet to security, to even working in a factory—but none of that worked for me.
One day, randomly, I applied to be a police dispatcher. I ended up getting that job, and the experience was excellent. Through that, it opened my horizons to a career I always knew about but didn’t really know how to apply for, or have anyone personally guide me into. I applied to be a firefighter, and two years later that dream became a reality.

A year into being a firefighter, I lost my father as well. After that, it seemed like every six months I would lose somebody else. Life became difficult because now it’s only me, my brother, and a couple of aunts left.

I was a firefighter for seven years, and just recently I resigned to follow my passion of doing media full-time. A month ago, I got married, and if it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be where I am now."

To be named a Golden Thread Storyteller means you carry more than a microphone—you carry influence, healing, and honor. It’s not just telling your story, it’s stepping into legacy: https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/26/2025

From LA dreams to her mom’s basement, her journey wasn’t about ease—it was about resilience. Through every trial, she chose to rise stronger.

“Sometimes people think resilience is this easy thing, but sometimes it’s literally just waking up out the bed, finding some food for yourself, taking a shower and making sure your kid is fed.” - Toi

Her story is proof: resilience isn’t glamorous—it’s survival turned into strength.

Everyone carries a thread worth weaving into the tapestry. What’s yours? Share your story with us today: https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/23/2025

"I’m a whole completely different person… a better person. Now I see stuff clearly and understand what I can do, how I can help my family and how I can help myself. I’m always putting myself first now. Before, I wasn’t—I would do everything for everyone else." - Tanesha

This is what transformation looks like. This is what becoming your best self feels like!

Take the step toward becoming the best version of YOU, join The Becoming program: https://form.jotform.com/252604823439156

09/19/2025

“I see myself now as an intelligent woman and a beautiful person as opposed to not seeing myself and not wanting to even hear my own voice.” - Yolanda

Transformation isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about finally seeing the beauty that’s always been there.

At Joan Marie, we help you uncover the version of yourself God always ordained you to be. Share your story with us or start your journey today! https://www.joanmariellc.com

09/17/2025

"I had to start taking accountability for me...One of the hardest things for me was to let go of the familiar and to open my mindset to something better." - Jasmine Hicks

Every team member at Joan Marie carries more than a role—they carry a story. Jasmine’s story is one of triumph and truth, and it now lives inside The Golden Thread as part of our collective legacy.

The tapestry grows stronger when you add your voice.
It's time for the world to hear your story! https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/12/2025

My name's Cameron Lamb. I'm 25 years old. I go to the University of Toledo, and I study mechanical engineering. I'm a type 1 diabetic, recently diagnosed as of last year. I've been diabetic my whole life but didn’t know until last year when this big storm came. All the symptoms came crashing down in the last year. As I was hospitalized, my vision became poorer and poorer and by the summer last year, I couldn’t see.
Leading up to that, I was noticeably losing weight, extremely thirsty and hungry all the time, plus tired. I was having memory issues. There was a software on my phone that I could use to read stuff for me. I had to rely on other people to take my insulin or check my blood sugar.
And then just day-to-day life—not being able to do what you want to do because you can’t see. You have to find ways to keep yourself entertained, or learn, or, you know, not go insane. I didn’t know if my condition was reversible at that moment until I saw a specialist. They explained to me that we just have to have cataract surgery.
But my cataracts were so dense, and the pressures of my eyes was so high, that if they didn’t do the surgery the next week, I was actually going to permanently lose my vision. So the surgeon pushed me in the schedule, and they did my left eye the first week of August of last year, and then the second eye on the 15th of August.
After that, I was trying to rush to get back into school, even when two of my doctors said not to because I was still going to have complications after—which I did. I ended up having neuropathy, which is nerve damage due to the diabetes. Retinopathy, which is bleeding in the back of the retina, which healed on its own. Eventually neuropathy went away on its own too, after medication and stuff.
All that taught me the value of patience. Being patient and moving methodically instead of like, “Okay, you know you have to do this task,” but thinking about different variables first before running directly back into it.

Threads connect us. Stories transform us.
What’s your stitch in the fabric? https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/09/2025

"I feel like now anything that comes up against me, I have the tools to get through that without having to weigh out the pros and cons about it or to having to think in a negative perspective about it just knowing there’s going to be another side to it to where it’s like, it won’t even matter afterwards." - Mikayla Jenkins

Her breakthrough isn’t just her story—it’s a thread in the greater tapestry we’re weaving at Joan Marie.

When you step into the Wealth & Wellness Program, you’re not just gaining tools for your own transformation—you’re becoming part of the Golden Thread. Your story of resilience, growth, and triumph becomes woven into a legacy that strengthens our entire community.

The invitation is simple:
Join the Wealth & Wellness waitlist today: https://www.joanmariellc.com/wealthandwellness

09/08/2025

Photography is my balance between good and evil because I didn’t want to present myself in any other way for my kids. Whenever anybody’s ever inquired about “why photography,” I always say it’s my antidepressant—because of the position I was in in my life where I needed something else. Photography became the thing that allowed me to communicate with adults. My world was very closed off at one point, and that reintroduction was necessary to be the best example I could be for my kids.
And yeah, it’s taken me some places. I’ve met fantastic people, mostly on the East Coast. I’ve spoken to kids and orgs and done all of those good things. But throughout those experiences, there’s still that need to nurture myself as a father.
I was fortunate to meet some cool folks who helped me on my way. My man John Icos was probably the first person who gave me a chance, hiring me for Toledo.com way back when. Technically, my first published photograph was in an iPhone magazine—which I feel is nonexistent now—but using an iPhone 5, I won a competition with a lens attachment. Weird, but cool. Every so often that photo still surfaces on Tumblr.

Some accomplishments I’m proud of: seeing my boys off to school, being published in The New York Times and Harper’s Bazaar, winning the Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Award, and receiving various grants through the Arts Commission. Having a show at the art museum—wild. Releasing a book in the same year that sold out twice—wild too.

I almost didn’t do the museum show because I felt like I didn’t have the material, but that experience forced me to look at my work. I tend to be a workaholic. Regardless of how good a photograph is, it’s never satisfying—it’s a seconds-long experience. So while I’m proud of the work I do, I don’t think I’m satisfied yet. But I’ve got to give myself props, though—because when I roll film, I’ve got some bangers.

One thread can inspire. Many threads can transform. Add yours in today: https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/08/2025

"My name is James and I'm the shy twin. Talking about my beginnings is different, but I have a twin brother, Mike. Born and raised in Toledo—Fulton Street—you know, represent Scott High School Bulldogs, always and forever. I've got two boys, 18 and 19 years old. I guess my greatest contribution to society is the raising of these two young men and photography.

There were milestones in my life that shaped me as an individual—most of that was the formation of emotional intelligence. At that point, I knew it was something I didn’t want to pass on to my kids. Because of the stigma surrounding young Black men, I wanted my boys to be able to negotiate with themselves when they encountered conflict. At any point in their dad’s life, things could have taken a deep, dark turn.

Photography has been that balance. Whenever there was conflict between myself and the world my kids exist in, it was the one thing I leaned on. It taught me a lot about people. I’ve met some fantastic folks, but mostly it allowed me to identify with people who look like me, people trying to figure out how to survive—everyday folks. Those were the conversations I needed the most in my life. They were probably unaware because I was there as a listener, but the minutes and hours we spent helped nurture my soul.

Living on Fulton, being close to family and friends—that was great. Intimidating too, because you’re dealing with all types of walks of life and things you don’t understand as a child. I was rapping with this dude earlier today, another Scott High grad, and we were reminiscing about Fulton Elementary School. Being out on those steps until 4 a.m., just kicking it, or being at my nephew’s grandma’s house, pi***ng her off because we kept leaning on her fence.

Something about that neighborhood was precious, but it pushed back too. My earliest encounters with police were just leaving my house, treated like I was breaking in. That became repetitive throughout my teenage years, into college and my twenties. At the peak of things, I had a traumatizing police experience—I was chased four times, and my arm was broken. The year before that, I got arrested with my man Brian just for leaving a nightclub. Wild. For whatever reason, that magnetic attraction existed, and it kept me indoors for a minute. Nearly losing my life, the only thing that came out of it was my baby boy—a blessing.

The police situation and the deterioration of a relationship put me in my darkest space, trying to parent while navigating trauma. After 12 years of suffering, I had to find a way out. I picked up a camera. Nothing came out of that police case—no charges, no closure, just 12 years of trauma. I don’t want to say hatred, because I have friends and family who are cops, but I will never understand their perspective.
Photography helped me reconnect and find a light to turn on."

The tapestry of our community is missing one thing—your thread.
Share your journey: https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/05/2025

I graduated college in the middle of the Great Recession in 2009. I just remember my professors—they didn’t say this out loud, but you got the feeling they were thinking: “Hey students, everything we taught you about how to go approach and get a job… we’re not really sure what the market’s going to look like, but it’s not great. So sorry and good luck.”

Senior year, I only had two classes, but ceramics really spoke to me. My professor, who was about to retire, mentioned that since we were still friends, he’d let me into the studio in the evenings and during community pottery time. He said, “Hey, I’m retiring, and I’m going to build my own studio up at my lake property in Indiana. Do you want to come and apprentice with me?”
I thought, Okie doke, that’s what we’re going to do next.

So I went up there and ended up living right off Lake James for four years while I was building my own pottery business. I did it for ten years (full-time for five).
I thought I’d do that forever, but my hands didn’t want to do that forever. So I had to pivot again. Grant (husband) and I had just built a website and promoted Life Is Beachy. Then COVID happened. We pivoted into more commercial work, photographing products and objects that didn’t require many people. That got us through.

We moved 2.5 hours from Indiana to Toledo. During that time, I realized I really missed making things. I started Toledo Soap Co.—developed a product line, created formulas for soap and a hand balm, figured out the branding, and defined my target market. I ran that business for about two years. It was fun, but I felt pulled back to working in photography, so I sold the soap business.

From a teenager who expected to probably end up in some corporate office job, I somehow became an artist and craftsman—a maker, then a photographer, then a maker again, and now a photographer. I’ve reinvented myself several times, and it’s been interesting. The road hasn’t been straight by any means. It winds around, and you just have to keep adjusting and edge yourself back into the right lane.

Legacies aren’t written in stone—they’re woven in stories. Share yours! https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

09/03/2025

Meet Shana — a woman whose story goes far beyond food and travel. What began as capturing meals and moments, soon became a deeper journey: one of rediscovery, healing, and stepping into her true voice. Along the way, she fell in love with the creative art of vlogging — not just for what it showed the world, but for how it transformed the way she saw herself.

“I feel like nothing is impossible for me...If I set my mind to it...I always know it's possible and I can get there!” - Shana

Every story holds the power to transform, and every voice deserves to be heard. Add your thread to the tapestry: https://www.joanmariellc.com/thegoldenthread

08/28/2025

"My name is Tomarie Belcher, and here’s a little bit about me. I wanted this transformation because I wanted to focus more on myself, not worry about others, and not be scared to take risks. My takeaway from this class was not letting fear get in the way of anything I wanted to do. I can’t say I actually tried without going for it. Now, I have time to focus on me—putting in more work on myself before putting others first."

Wealth & Wellness isn’t just a program—it’s a thread in the larger story. Each graduate weaves their resilience into a community tapestry of transformation. Are you ready for your next chapter? https://www.joanmariellc.com/wealthandwellness

Joan Marie

09/30/2025

09/26/2025

09/23/2025

09/19/2025

09/17/2025

09/12/2025

09/09/2025

09/08/2025

09/08/2025

09/05/2025

09/03/2025

08/28/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm