Grateful for Greatness

I’ve been reflecting the last few days on a couple of weeks full of #BlackGirlMagic and feeling so grateful to have been in the presence of  amazing women, like…
Shanute Brewer, who is exposing her young VISIONaries to STEM subjects like coding;
Jamila Trimuel who is helping 9-18 year-old girls discover their purpose, passion and perserverance;
April Ervin, who just published her first book and is trying to help Superwomen save themselves;
Eva Kennedy, who is focused on helping women in transition find clarity;

Mox.E Women support the professional and personal development of women in leadership.

the women of Mox.E who empower women to live their purpose;
Dr. Yashika N. Tippett, the founding principal of Air Force Academy High School, who just brought the first flight training program to the Chicagoland area;
Tammera Holmes, the founder and CEO of AeroStar, who is creating bonafide pilots for an airline industry with a looming shortage of them;

So happy to see AeroStar Founder Tammera Holmes at the YWPL 40 Under 40 induction! Photo by Travon Prentis, TCP Photography.

Young Women Professionals League members, who are focused on developing siSTAR leaders holistically;
Aunt Oprah and FFL (Forever First Lady) Michelle Obama, who are showing the way;
my sister Vanessa Smith, who has successfully led her business for over 20 years
and my daughter, Renise Alexander, who is pursuing her passion for travel by any means necessary!

I am so grateful for your examples of excellence, persistence and resilience. You inspire hope…you inspire greatness.

#Gratitude
#Greatness

Descendants of the Diaspora

“Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, cause they knew death was better than bondage”. ~ Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, Black Panther.

We might never know the exact country or tribe of our origins.
We will never be given full throated permission to participate fully in the rituals of those native to the African continent.
We are never going to be viewed the same as native Africans by the descendants of those who kidnapped, tortured and enslaved our ancestors.

We are the descendants of those who chose to live … fated to share the choices of our oppressors … fighting to exist in the country we have called home. We have no choice now but to fight for its existence.

“If we do not now dare everything, the fulfillment of that prophecy, re-created from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us: God gave Noah, the rainbow sign, No more water, the fire next time!” ~ James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Inhale Resilient, Exhale Resigned…
Inhale Defiant, Exhale Defeated…
Inhale Resistant, Exhale Subservient…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Resilience