Population of over 10,000. Predominately black in population. Some would say that most are living at the poverty level. It’s home to the Whirlpool world headquarters. Right on the shores of Lake Michigan. I’ve taken you for granted before. I must admit. I love you. I’ve lived and worked in many cities across the country. I’ve traveled. At the end of the day, there’s no place like home. We all need a secret place. A place to regroup. It’s…
Can you believe it’s August 1st??? At the beginning of the month I like to make adjustments to my budget, and check my goals checklist. What do I need to follow-up on, and what opportunities have I missed? Yes. You read that correctly, what opportunities have I missed? Whenever I visit New Orleans I’m always fascinated with the rich history, but in the feature photo I was mesmerized by the gate. The gate is open, right? Could I take this…
So, what’s up with the title RJ? Where am I going with this? Over the weekend I was reminded that the culture of “colorism” still exist. Colorism: prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group. I was cruising around social media, and noticed a few things that were disturbing. It’s 2016 and in an age of #blackgirlmagic we are still making comments about light skin vs. dark skin. Then…
Last week was jam packed with goodies, so let me get straight to it! Tuesday: I attended my weekly “Discipleship Class” at One Church Empowerment Center in Grand Rapids, MI. The four week class has enlightened and encouraged me through this journey of my life. Learning to embrace abandoning MY PRIDE in order to do the work of the Kingdom. I arrived home to complete the story for The Final 48 Project #GriefTalkTuesday photo campaign. Be sure to check it out on…
When you’ve grown up in the Midwest (Michigan, on the lake to be exact) you can identify with the struggle of experiencing all four seasons within 24 hours. Imagine running errands, preparing for a photoshoot, and snow in April! Sunny, Rain, Snow, and windy all within one day, and no wonder I’m recuperating today. I have a habit of committing to things, and becoming burnt out. I’ve done it with social media. I was too focused on being present on…
I am on cloud nine this morning. The weekend was a time for reflection, connecting with family/friends, and of course Resurrection Sunday. On Thursday I received a phone call from the local radio station in my hometown that wanted to do a short segment with me. Now, let me tell you how we arrived at this moment. A childhood friend of mines reached out to me shortly after the book was published. He wanted to connect me with the radio…
I am still attempting to wrap my mind around the #SuperTuesday results that’s occurred in 2016. The country is divided, and I’m baffled that people are not exercising their right to vote. I know it’s a choice for you to vote. I guess because I know my history I look at my right to vote as a privilege to do so. The right to vote was not always accessible to my community, and the road was quite tumultuous getting there….
NOW! If you don’t have an insurance policy you should start shopping around for a policy today. Trust me. It’s worth it. Take a look at Go Fund Me. You will understand the need to have your own insurance policy. Many slave masters knew the value of having a policy on their slaves (or property). They wanted to protect their investment. I really did not realize the importance of having Life Insurance until three years ago. I couldn’t imagine the…
I love when this day comes around every year. Say it aloud, “March Forth.” Move forward. How does that statement resonate with you? For me, it motivates me to keep pushing to the next level of my dreams. We are almost ninety (Yes 90) days into the new year and how are we doing with our goals for 2016? I’ve been reflecting on the goals I have on my vision board, and I’ve made progress. Don’t get me wrong, I…
I think it’s safe to say after the last three weeks I am exhausted! The pack/unpack cycle has concluded for at least a month, but I’m definitely grateful for the Historical Tours w/R.J. that were completed. You know I love a good road trip. Can you believe of my many road trips on the east coast I’ve NEVER been to Philadelphia? I rode through Pennsylvania heading to Virginia but never visited any historical sites in the state. Our nation’s first…