I was an average troubled teen on the South Side of Chicago. This woman, Mrs. Helen Stanton- Hawkins was my high school principal and was one of the village members who pushed me to be more than I had previously dreamed. She allowed me to take leadership positions in my high school, insisted that I go to an HBCU for undergraduate school, encouraged me to join her sorority (Delta Sigma Theta), hired me as a teacher immediately after graduation and then insisted that I pursue my Masters degree. Everything I am able to do now is because of the positive influences that women like Mrs. Hawkins had in my life. It's my mission to pay that forward in my work with young people.
Two Fingers Press and Verbal Remedies are both programs that were started while I was teaching at Olive Harvey Middle College in Chicago
Receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Starr King School of Ministry for my work with the Documentary film Al Nisa.
I started the Mass Media program at Ron Brown High School in Washington DC.
Worked with the Pan-Hellenic Council on beautifying King Middle School in Atlanta, GA.
I have a strong history of working with community partners to advance learning beyond the classroom. Just a few of those partners are The Undefeated/ ESPN, Apple, Chick-fil-a, The Smithsonian Museums, Critical Exposure, SOUL Foundation and many more.
Traveling with youth poets to compete in slam competitions.
Visiting former students during HBCU College Tours
Traveling internationally with students in our School Without Walls Program.
I have been an invited Speaker, Lecturer, Presenter and Performer at over 50 Universities in the US and have performed or presented in 5 countries.
