What is your passion?
My passion is my family and uplifting others. I gave birth to two wonderful children. God trusted me to be their mother and I don’t take that lightly. My husband chose me to be his wife and that means a lot! There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family!
Life, as beautiful as it is, can be quite difficult at times and its easy to get depressed and give up. I try to always lend a smile and an encouraging word… you never know who needs to hear it.
Why do you love this community?
I’ve been a part of this community all of my life. I’ve grew up and built relationships with some pretty amazing people. It’s the people who makes the community what it is.
Why go the extra mile for it?
I go the extra mile simply for the people who make up the community. Those who came before me and those who will come after me. If I can play just a small part in making this community a brighter place, then I’m happy with that.
How in the world do you juggle family and pandemic and still find that fire to serve?
While the pandemic has been horrific in every sense of the word, it has also been a blessing! I always look for the positive in everything…yes, even in a pandemic. It has afforded us more time together as a family. It has reminded me of what’s really important in life, to enjoy every moment of it because the next second is not promised to you. “Everybody dies but not everybody lives.”
Where does the fire come from?
The fire comes from the desire to build a legacy. I want to show my children, your children, those who have lost hope that anything is possible. You can be whoever you want to be, do whatever you want to do, create the life you’ve always dreamed of!
Who inspires you and why?
Where do I start? I’m inspired by so many. I love to hear people’s story (we all have a story) and how it has taken them where they are today. What and how they overcame their obstacles, didn’t let it stop them but instead used it as fuel to get them to the next level. Yes you have your Oprah Winfreys and Tyler Perrys of the world, but there are many right here from/in our community. Your Courtney Gore Smiths, DeShaun Watsons, Keisha Storeys, Donna Lockwood Sims, Ashley Bells, Chuck Underwood (my husband), and countless others. They weren’t born from wealthy families with a silver spoon in their mouth, but they didn’t let that stop them. My mother raised 5 children on her own. I watched her experience so much hurt and pain in her life, but she always kept pushing forward. She’s the strongest most giving person I know. My father was diagnosed as a schizophrenic when I was in the 2nd grade. He lost a lot, including his family. Somehow he managed to keep going. He greets everyone with a smile. I’ve never witnessed him mistreat anyone, even those who mistreated him. These are the people who inspire me and I feed off of daily.
BONUS QUESTION: I was also asked what advice I would give to a woman struggling to find her voice.
I would tell her to stay true to herself. I believe in the law of attraction, so always give off good positive energy and that’s what you’ll get in return. Take as many risks as you possibly can…nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Be persistent! “There is no passion to be found in playing small and settling for a life that’s less than the one you are capable of living.” -Nelson Mandela
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