Unified Community Bio Mari Van Rosa Armistead, PhD Residing in Southeast Washington, DC and former resident of Norristown, Pennsylvania, I began training rigorously in 1979 with the Washington DC Wheel kickers Tae Kwon Club five days a week for two hours with my young daughters in tow to learn the art and mysteries of Karate. I participated in tournaments throughout the Region and was rated in each of my divisions, first and second place amongst some of the toughest, skilled female fighters in the area. In 2009 I graduated from Breakthrough Bible Theological Seminary and was twice voted Class President and earned Summa Cum Laude and Cum Laude honors in both Graduate and Post Graduate Degrees. Employed by the Government of the District of Columbia Public Works serving as an inspector/investigator for twenty years, I was recently awarded the D.C Federation of Civic Associations, Inc. and Female Delegate Northeast Boundary for outstanding and dedicated service in 2018. I am the founder and principle leader of Focus Ministries Global, which is a Ministry without walls, based in Washington DC and have traveled throughout the country teaching on such topics of Spiritual Warfare and Domestic Violence, and promoting my book it’s In the Knowing, the Real Truth on Domestic Violence. My Martial Arts and Theological Professors/Instructors stressed the importance of giving back to the community in service, to those who are not as fortunate as others and to be a solution and not the problem. Both institutions afforded me to utilize my strengths and principles to assist the youth, seniors and church goers any many who are not affiliated to any denomination. As a former member of many grass root community outreach programs such as Southern Christian Leadership Conference it is important to reach those in unconventional ways. In 2013, I suffered a devastating personal loss in the untimely death of my daughter to Domestic Violence; the event inspired my serious desire to infuse both the spiritual and martial arts training together. With the leading of one instructor, I began training a beginner class at the Richard England Boys and Girls Club #14 in NE Washington DC in 2016 which were called the DC Stingers Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts Training Academy. With the continued training and leading of my instructors, I have gained accomplishments and awards in 2017, as a nominee and later inducted into the Philadelphia Martial Arts Hall of Fame Class of 2017, the first female in the history of The Washington DC Wheel Kickers Tae Kwon Do Club and DC Kickers Martial Arts Academy Washington DC. 2018 and 2019 afforded me to be I was Inducted into the United States Head of Family Martial Arts Association International Hall of Honors Hall of Champions, nominated and Inducted into the Kung Fu & Karate Expo 13 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, inducted into the World Black Belt Club Council and the Grand Master Council, and one of two Martial Arts Ambassadors in Region One with the USHFMA. Early this year I was promoted to Grand Master in the World Korean Martial Arts Union International to 8th Dan by Grandmaster Chang H Park and Grandmaster Joe Parrish. Today I still serve in my community in many forums, hosting benefits, clothing drives, care packages just to name a few. Our Motto is “Stand Tall, Be Fearless, Stay Humble, Be Strong”.