I remember the first time I saw my dad shed tears. I was 11 years old and laying in a hospital bed. A few days before, I had fallen off my bike and unbeknownst to us for days the impact of my handle bar hitting my side has punctured my liver and I was bleeding […]
Over the last 12 years of racing triathlons, I’ve often spoken on my own experience of observing the transformation of individuals that participate in the sport now versus when I first started. Around 2007, it appeared there were very few individuals that looked like me that participated in triathlons. Though I was inspired by my […]
I often talk to my Black brothers, and no matter if single, married, divorced, young, or old, I’ve listened to them express feeling undervalued, ignored, hated, unsupported, and attacked. The way society and media in general often depict, negate, ignore & minimize them & their greatness has been something I often speak of and have […]
Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl. Since 2011, this day has been observed as a day to empower, speak to, advocate for, and uplift girls and women. It is a day to create or increase awareness of gender equality, as well as the adversities that girls and women around the world […]
Being in a position to empower young women, as well as men is a blessing and honor. I find myself at times reflecting on the sense of responsibility I feel to pour into those who have come after me in a way our ancestors and previous generations have into me. Recently a young woman confided […]
Last week, along my Facebook feed was a link to a media outlet discussing the recent end of what had been termed a 17 year “feud” between Jada Pinkett-Smith and Gabrielle Union. It’s always interesting how the media & people can spin things to diminish the relationships between Black women. In this clip (at 3:01) […]
Calling ALL young ladies ages 13-18 in the Chicagoland area!! You do NOT want to miss this year’s Annual L.E.A.P. Conference. On March 17, 2018 from 8am-4pm, this event will feature sessions for those looking to grow in the areas of professionalism and emotional/spiritual well-being. I’m looking forward to presenting about Women of Color in […]
This morning I woke to a post that my big brother from another mother put on Facebook that intrigued me. My reaction to the picture below was immediate, but to also see the reaction of others even more perplexed me. Now maybe I’m naive seeing as I’ve never been married, but the idea of 1) […]
With all the outcry for the violence that we are seeing in the world, our communities (particularly low income communities & those predominantly people of color), we all can choose to play a role in transforming our current state. I’ve written various posts to uplift and encourage us all to take action no matter our […]
My apologies if this offends anyone as it is not my intent to do so. With this past week’s tragedies of the killings of Alton Sterling, Philandro Castile, and the Dallas police, we are seriously hurting and many have been trying to deal, make sense of it, and figure out what next must be done. […]
