We had the good fortune of connecting with Kara Barker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Every day you are presented with choices to either adhere, adjust, respond or even reject. Taking risks to achieve any goal has required me to model tremendous courage, faith and quite honestly a “little grit”. As a new Christian author, influencer and leader, there has been numerous times in which I had to bet on myself because either people didn’t see my potential nor could envision me even in the role or position. Before 2020, I considered myself slightly risk adverse and one who was comfortable with coloring within lines. But my faith in God, allowed me to take on my “giants” head on because I knew there was a greater purpose and plan for my life. 2020 was a transformational year for me, in which, I fully “owned my space in the world” and published my first book called, Hallelujahs and Hiccups a 100 Day Devotional Journal which is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Target.com. Hallelujahs and Hiccups, engages the reader to experience 100 days of prayer, reflection and provides a space for journaling. Within the book, I share various career and life stories which required me to take on risks, remain vulnerable and stay transparent which has not always been easy. When sharing personal stories, there is always the risk of being criticize and judged but the global response and the testimonies from readers alone has truly outweighed the personal risks. Taking a leap of faith in any area of your life may be risky, especially when it comes to something as important as your career but with every risk, no matter the outcome, we grow through the process and become more equipped and resilient for the future. And when you’re faced with adversity, your faith muscles are strengthen to take on greater risks which can improve your chances of achieving future goals. Now believe me when I say this, taking risks doesn’t mean you’re going to land on your feet every time, and when you miss a step, Yes you will miss multiples steps throughout your journey; it’s important that you pause, regroup, dust off your shoulders and get back up again. The process of taking risks may lead to failure, but without the struggle there would be no growth.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My faith is my core, and everything else surrounds that center. I am a Christ follower who loves her family, loves her community and believes in servant leadership. My drive and commitment to humanity and diversity stems from being raised by two phenomenal “Baby Boomer” parents who were the firsts of many African Americans within their local community to create social change. My parents always stressed the importance of faith, grit, perseverance, education and social advocacy. They also told me to be passionate for what you stand for and never sacrifice your character, integrity and personal brand. I am a wife, a mother of three and mentor to many women. I have been married for over 24 years to my college sweetheart and best friend, Lonnie. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with honors and master’s degree magna cum laude in Human Relations and Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. I am also the co-founder of Hope Hop International and “REALationships” a marriage enrichment ministry for couples of all walks of life.
As previously shared, I am the author of the devotional journal Hallelujahs and Hiccups a 100 Day Devotional Journal. Within this journal, I share with readers some of my worst setbacks that turned into my greatest comebacks for which I call those testimonies “hallelujah moments”. Hallelujah moments are those breakthrough moments when God intervened on your behalf, you got the job without the credentials, your wayward child returns home, your irreconcilable marriage is reconciled, you were accepted into college after applying to over 20 schools, and the list goes on and on. However on the other hand, hiccups are when you experience life’s setbacks as a result of an unexpected disappointments or misfortunes. Truth be told, I’ve experienced so many “hiccup” moments in my life that I just stopped counting them because I had to realize that those hiccups only lasted for a season and sometimes for a reason. My strong faith in God and the support of my husband and extended family has been my core foundation that has allowed me to reach for the stars in everything that I have been able to accomplish. To achieve great things you need to have a solid faith and a solid support system. In addition, I have recently partnered with YouVersion the Bible App as a content creator and published two reading plans, Hallelujahs and Hiccups a 14- Day Reading Plan and the recent, featured plan Queen Moves a 5- Day Reading Plan.

Along with being a recognized published author, I work for a Fortune 50 organization as a mid-level leader with over 13 years of leadership experience with leading organizational transformation strategies, championing diversity and inclusion, identifying business trends and increasing productivity without sacrificing quality results.


If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our weekend would start off by taking my friend to one of my favorite spots in the DFW area called Legacy West in Frisco, Texas. Legacy West is one of the largest mixed-use retail destinations in North Texas that has a plethora of opportunities for entertainment, dining and shopping. After a long day of retail therapy we would venture off to Plano, Texas and enjoy a therapeutic stone massage at, The Woodhouse Day Spa. Our Friday evening would conclude with a little local cuisine at Fuel City, in Dallas for some mouthwatering street tacos. Early Saturday morning, we would hit the trails for a nice walk at Erwin Park in McKinney, Texas and then head over to Klyde Warren Park in Downtown Dallas for some live music, brunch and some fun people watching. As our weekend was coming to an end, on Sunday morning we would head to my favorite place of worship, One Community Church in Plano, Texas to hear a good word and enjoy some praise and worship music. Lastly, as we wrapped up our girl’s weekend, we would catch an afternoon performance by the Dallas Black Theater at AT&T Performance Arts Center. DFW has some many places to explore, and although our weekend would be busy, we would have only scratched the surface during our girl’s weekend.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lonnie Barker, husband and founder of Hope Hop International and Takman Publishing Company
Christian Women’s Book Club
The Official Hallelujahs and Hiccups Book Club

Website: www.karabarker.net

Instagram: karabarker

Linkedin: Kara Barker

Facebook: Hallelujahs and Hiccups Book Club

Other: YouVersion The Bible App- Reading Plans: Hallelujahs and Hiccups 14 Day Reading Plan Queen Moves 5 Day Reading Plan

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.