Plan. Prepare. Participate.

On August 9, 2014, the all too familiar rumblings of discontent with injustice began. This time, people from all over the world began to call the name "Michael Brown". On that Saturday this young man was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The community reported that his body lay in the streets for hours. The officer responsible remained at large.

The social media firestorm has been powerful. The new cry: Hands Up, Don't Shoot.

There has been outrage, protesting, tear gas, rubber bullets, military vehicles, and mounting chaos. There is pain.

In the aftermath of each tragedy as this, I pause. I'm not a bandwagoner. I don't jump to action. Honestly, I'm usually initially unclear of where to even begin. Sometimes my instinct is to retreat from all the noise because my spirit has a tendency to just soak in everyone's agony. My mind will play and replay the suffering story non-stop to the point of overwhelm. From that space, I am helpful to no one.

I have been watching from the sidelines. Silently trying to figure out my move.

Tonight, I watched Iyanla's coverage on the grounds in Ferguson and I got some inspiration for next steps.

Iyanla did an hour and a half special that took us to the very spot where Michael Brown took his last breath. She started in prayer and then asked permission from the community to enter and begin her work of organizing for peace and transformation.

Her first step: be an ear for the people.
She simply asked their stories and listened to their experiences. Some had been there to see to shooting happen. Others were family members, community leaders, youth, and even the leader of the local police department. She listened and then coached each person and group to articulate their request. "What is your ask?", she prompted. This question helped put words to the anger and protests that had erupted over the past few weeks. This created a powerful moment of pause for people to really get clear about what exactly was wanted and needed.

She held a powerful exchange with some young men and asked them to be leaders in organizing the rest of the community to stand down from the violence and disorganized protesting in order to create space so that the the investigation into the shooting could be conducted. They obliged. They were amazed at this new vision of leadership and sense of community. They were passionately charged and focused. It was powerful. It was brilliant. It moved me.

Yesterday, I got a call from someone in my program asking about what organizations or institutions are in place for us as Social Workers and Howard students to come together around issues of human importance. I immediately remembered some advice I heard from former Congressman Ron Dellums and from a Professor who attended a recent meeting held on campus about bringing back the Nigerian girls who were kidnapped. Their advice encouraged us to bring together our intelligence and expertise from around the University and have interdisciplinary meetings where we develop strategies and suggestions for solutions that we could present to government officials, community members, and others as steps that could be taken toward change. I presented this idea to my colleague and am writing it here to help set myself up for action. Today, I acknowledge that I am an able body who can help make this kind of work happen.

The Engagement Party.

It was like a dream.

On Saturday, August 2nd, 2014, friends and family from near and far gathered to celebrate our engagement. In a cozy bar lounge in the heart of new hipster Brooklyn we gathered over food and toasts and lots of love.

Lawrence and I stood out in our color coordinated attire. He in casual dress coral pants and a white buttoned down shirt with gold accents and me in a body hugging coral sweetheart neckline dress--picked out just a few weeks earlier with the help of my amazing neighbors.

* * *

The plan had been in place for a little over a month. My little sister came to us with the idea for an engagement party. After google searching what that actually entailed, we obliged and she got to planning. With the help of our loved ones it turned out to be a truly amazing celebration. There was a surprise musical performance dedicated to us, Aunt BeBe's famous Mac n cheese, and a beautiful blessing by the moms. It was indeed a day I will never forget.

The bus ride back to the DMV was rather quiet. I spent most of the time daydreaming and repeatedly looking at pics from the party. It was definitely the dreaded journey back to reality--on the other side of the bus ride existed the academic life that I was happy to forget over the weekend as I primped and got ready for our day.

Once the key turned in the door to my apartment, it was like I was locking up the fun and unlocking the last leg of this academic marathon. So many things to do and the start of the semester fast approaching...I won't taint the memory of our celebration with the harsh reality of this other life I lead...but I will use it to inspire me to keep pushing.

The engagement party made me excited about married life and collapsing the distance between me and my partner. I cherish that moment and look forward to celebrating many more milestones including donning a less form fitting gown and walking across the stage in the final ceremony of this program.

For pics, check out the link below:

http://1982creativestudios.com/2014/08/02/engagement-party/