Last semester, as part of the grant that I work on, I participated in a youth domestic violence awareness/basketball exhibition event. I served as the Project Assistant for this event and also had an opportunity to perform a piece that I wrote about the topic. For months, I helped coordinate logistics and volunteers and strategize activities for the day's program; it was ultimately a definite success.
At the end of that day, one of the volunteers approached me and members of my team and expressed interest in having us come to present to her youth. She was impressed with our work and performance, and wanted to bring our talent and energy to the youth that she would work with in her 2013 summer youth employment program.
Well, after months of trying to coordinate a schedule and weeks of planning a curriculum, today, my co-facilitator and I stood before a room of about 70 youth and conducted a workshop on healthy relationships.
* * *
At about 12pm, after we had concluded, I sat on the train platform at Waterfront Metro station and just stared into space. I silently absorbed the energy of what we had just done.
After a patchy start trying to get our technology to cooperate, we launched an amazing conversation with the group about our experiences, attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, and hopes for establishing healthy relationships with those in our lives. The participants shared openly and brilliantly their thoughts on the video clips that we watched and on the joys and challenges of building community with the people we love. I could attempt to describe, but the essence of what manifest in that room wouldn't be done justice.
I simply felt alive and invigorated and re-affirmed; like I know what I am called to do and I can rest assured that God does a magnificent work through me, EVERY time.
The coordinator of the workshop said that the impact of our work was evident in the fact that the youth openly participated for the entire hour and a half, and even lingered after the session was over, keeping the conversation going and engaging us about how our stories resonated with their own experiences, and seeking advice from us about career choices and dealing with emotionally charged lives and experiences. There was a brilliant spirit in that room. I carried it all the way home.
On Wednesday, I'll head back to the church with the girls' group from last weekend to complete the workshop we started. I am SO open to continuing to create big things in the area of my passion. God, I'm truly honored to do your will. Thanks for choosing me.
Thanks for choosing ME.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Back in The Habit.
A few months ago, one of my cohort mates from my Alternative Spring Break in South Africa experience asked me to conduct a workshop for girls at her church. She was part of the planning team for a women's day event themed "Forward Focused Women: No Turning Back". The segment that she asked me to facilitate was "Beautiful Me: Loving Who God Made Me".
Today, I arrived at the church at around 9:45am and was welcomed by a team of women who had helped coordinate the event. I spent the morning with the assembly in the sanctuary and then veered off with the teens to their day of workshops. I sat in the background of the bible study classroom where they convened and observed them in discussions about faith, maturing as young women, and etiquette, and then, after lunch, it was my turn.
As I did my introductions and ice breaker activities with the girls it was as if I almost got entirely lost in the moment. I forgot about the sea of adults in the back of the room who had now taken my seat as observers, and I just got real relaxed and hyped with the girls.
We started a pretty engaged conversation about self-esteem and growing up as brown girls. The youth talked openly and freely about their personal experiences and what they've witnessed of their peers. They shared and I shared and it was pretty cool how much we quickly felt comfortable around one another, like we had known each other for way more than the few hours that we'd just spent in the same room.
Unfortunately, time got away and we didn't get to finish all that was planned, but the time mishap created an opportunity for me to return in the future.
Being there today reminded me so much of Sundays back in NYC sitting for 5-6 hours among my Rites of Passage girls. I was grateful to be back doing this work in some capacity, particularly at this time where the nation is resounding with rallies and petitions surrounding the Trayvon Martin murder and related acquittal. I felt like I was in my truth, and in some way, doing my part.
I look forward to returning to the group and finishing what we started...or laying the groundwork to begin something even bigger.
In the meantime, I'm also preparing to teach another workshop for DC summer youth participants. Wish me luck on that one, there will be about 70 youth in the room that time.
Today, I arrived at the church at around 9:45am and was welcomed by a team of women who had helped coordinate the event. I spent the morning with the assembly in the sanctuary and then veered off with the teens to their day of workshops. I sat in the background of the bible study classroom where they convened and observed them in discussions about faith, maturing as young women, and etiquette, and then, after lunch, it was my turn.
As I did my introductions and ice breaker activities with the girls it was as if I almost got entirely lost in the moment. I forgot about the sea of adults in the back of the room who had now taken my seat as observers, and I just got real relaxed and hyped with the girls.
We started a pretty engaged conversation about self-esteem and growing up as brown girls. The youth talked openly and freely about their personal experiences and what they've witnessed of their peers. They shared and I shared and it was pretty cool how much we quickly felt comfortable around one another, like we had known each other for way more than the few hours that we'd just spent in the same room.
Unfortunately, time got away and we didn't get to finish all that was planned, but the time mishap created an opportunity for me to return in the future.
Being there today reminded me so much of Sundays back in NYC sitting for 5-6 hours among my Rites of Passage girls. I was grateful to be back doing this work in some capacity, particularly at this time where the nation is resounding with rallies and petitions surrounding the Trayvon Martin murder and related acquittal. I felt like I was in my truth, and in some way, doing my part.
I look forward to returning to the group and finishing what we started...or laying the groundwork to begin something even bigger.
In the meantime, I'm also preparing to teach another workshop for DC summer youth participants. Wish me luck on that one, there will be about 70 youth in the room that time.
Monday, July 15, 2013
The People. United. Will NEVER be defeated.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/54619/31-inspiring-images-from-the-trayvon-martin-protest-in-new-york
Sunday, July 14, 2013
I am Discovering Talents I Did Not Know I Had
I've been doing some affirmations. One of them is around awakening and honoring my creativity.
This past week, I had the pleasure of taking the photographs from a wedding and turning them into a slideshow for the bride and groom. I went at it. I found videos on YouTube to learn the technology and then worked tirelessly for about three days to make it happen.
First, there was music to select and then pictures to arrange, and then to figure out how to combine both...Three days later, I had something that I must say, I am extremely proud of.
I approached this project from a space of love; I truly wanted the newlyweds to feel like they could remember the feeling of passion and love that they had as they walked the aisle and exchanged vows. I wanted them to have something that could re-invigorate the love in their marriage as the years passed on. I wanted them to feel the passion with which this video was crafted.
Lawrence, my boo and the photographer, made it so that I was able to be there (virtually) as the couple watched the finished product for the first time. There were tears and speechlessness; the blood, sweat, and love that was put into the piece was conveyed and felt; the absolute best feeling in the world to an...artist!
At best, I can say that the law of attraction is alive in my life. Weeks ago I sent the following words into the universe: 1) I release all resistance to expressing myself creatively 2) I am discovering talents I did not know I had 3) I will express new creativity until the day I leave the planet...Aqueelah and Ali's love offered an opportunity for me to make good on my intentions. I am affirming. I am owning and honing.
Thank you universe for hearing my calls.
P.S.
Please check out 1982 Creative Studios for all of your photography needs. You will NOT be disappointed.
info@82stu.com
Shout out to the CEO!
This past week, I had the pleasure of taking the photographs from a wedding and turning them into a slideshow for the bride and groom. I went at it. I found videos on YouTube to learn the technology and then worked tirelessly for about three days to make it happen.
First, there was music to select and then pictures to arrange, and then to figure out how to combine both...Three days later, I had something that I must say, I am extremely proud of.
I approached this project from a space of love; I truly wanted the newlyweds to feel like they could remember the feeling of passion and love that they had as they walked the aisle and exchanged vows. I wanted them to have something that could re-invigorate the love in their marriage as the years passed on. I wanted them to feel the passion with which this video was crafted.
Lawrence, my boo and the photographer, made it so that I was able to be there (virtually) as the couple watched the finished product for the first time. There were tears and speechlessness; the blood, sweat, and love that was put into the piece was conveyed and felt; the absolute best feeling in the world to an...artist!
At best, I can say that the law of attraction is alive in my life. Weeks ago I sent the following words into the universe: 1) I release all resistance to expressing myself creatively 2) I am discovering talents I did not know I had 3) I will express new creativity until the day I leave the planet...Aqueelah and Ali's love offered an opportunity for me to make good on my intentions. I am affirming. I am owning and honing.
Thank you universe for hearing my calls.
P.S.
Please check out 1982 Creative Studios for all of your photography needs. You will NOT be disappointed.
info@82stu.com
Shout out to the CEO!
Not...Guilty.
Yesterday evening, after conversing with my cohort mate, I was prepared to write an entry about this new revelation we had about school. I penned a title and everything...and then her phone went off.
I saw a little CNN icon light up on her screen. I figured something BIG was up in the world. We shortly discovered that the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case was in. Within seconds we were glued to the TV screen. And then, there it was: GEORGE ZIMMERMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY.
For me, there wasn't shock, just an utter state of disbelief. I instantly felt the weight of sorrow in the pit of my stomach. We watched as they replayed the verdict and cameras captured the subtle celebration of members of his defense team and family, while in the background, the anger and outrage poured in from around the world, outside the courtroom and on facebook news feeds. NOT...GUILTY??????
Time stopped a little bit for me. I was kinda frozen within my emotions. Trying to figure out which way to go with all that I felt. At first I just watched all the news briefs and then I read all of the posts, it got a little overwhelming.
There was this awkward stillness. It hurt. It stung. It was difficult to fall asleep.
. . .
When morning came, the first thing I wanted to do was call my momma. She had ALL the words I needed to hear. The gist of her message was that it was okay to reside in peace, to relinquish anger, to say my prayers, and to trust God. Honestly, jail wouldn't have "fixed" it. Trayvon would still be dead. His mom and dad would still be without their son. Maybe people would have felt like there was "justice"; maybe it wouldn't feel so much like there is blatant disregard for our people; maybe...but we will never know.
I guess, the feeling is really: "Now what?".
While I feel like I don't really have all the words, I'll share the voices of others:
Today, just be sure to go forward in love.
Rest in Power Trayvon...and all those whose names we have not known or have forgotten.
I saw a little CNN icon light up on her screen. I figured something BIG was up in the world. We shortly discovered that the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case was in. Within seconds we were glued to the TV screen. And then, there it was: GEORGE ZIMMERMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY.
For me, there wasn't shock, just an utter state of disbelief. I instantly felt the weight of sorrow in the pit of my stomach. We watched as they replayed the verdict and cameras captured the subtle celebration of members of his defense team and family, while in the background, the anger and outrage poured in from around the world, outside the courtroom and on facebook news feeds. NOT...GUILTY??????
Time stopped a little bit for me. I was kinda frozen within my emotions. Trying to figure out which way to go with all that I felt. At first I just watched all the news briefs and then I read all of the posts, it got a little overwhelming.
There was this awkward stillness. It hurt. It stung. It was difficult to fall asleep.
. . .
When morning came, the first thing I wanted to do was call my momma. She had ALL the words I needed to hear. The gist of her message was that it was okay to reside in peace, to relinquish anger, to say my prayers, and to trust God. Honestly, jail wouldn't have "fixed" it. Trayvon would still be dead. His mom and dad would still be without their son. Maybe people would have felt like there was "justice"; maybe it wouldn't feel so much like there is blatant disregard for our people; maybe...but we will never know.
I guess, the feeling is really: "Now what?".
While I feel like I don't really have all the words, I'll share the voices of others:
I will not hate. I will not walk the earth powerless. I will not incite violence nor will I run away from it. I will encourage flowers to bloom regardless of how filthy the soil is they must walk on and grow from. I will not go quietly into the night. I will be remembered for something greater than the Black flesh I reside in. I will continue to honor all life and the sacredness of breath. I will not shy away from using words/images/sounds that make people shutter. Truth is my mission. Cowardice is my enemy.-Hanif Abdur Rahman
Because we have survived white supremacy, racism, sexism, poverty, slavery, reconstruction, deconstruction, castration, lynching, assault and assassinations of the black boys America refused to let live to become old men, we know how to survive, and we know how to hope our way through expectations. We are survivors. It is exhausting and it is harrowing and depleting, but we are survivors.-Joshunda Saunders
I hope that in our rage we can be productive advocates Trayvon Martin’s family and so many others whose lives are devalued. I hope we can embrace the ones who are here, I expect that it will be hard to contain rage and despair and sadness. I expect to feel the furnace of the fire next time continuing to burn in my belly, but I hope that more of us will learn from the past enough to stand up, to affirm our lives, to stay alive in spite of a world that would just as soon dance on your grave.
Today, just be sure to go forward in love.
Rest in Power Trayvon...and all those whose names we have not known or have forgotten.
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