Growing up in Uptown Philly I was often teased. I was awkwardly tall for my age, dark brown, with big lips and gapped teeth. Each day I left my urban neighbor to attend a predominantly white suburban school for girls, where I was different and misunderstood. They wanted me to be more like them and often excluded me. All of this judgement made me feel as if I didn't belong and question if I was enough, just the way I was. No matter where I went no one 'got me' and I began to fall into the background and lost my voice. The less I stood out the less others had to say.
I went on to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, become a wife, mother of 2 amazing kids, motivational speaker and founder of a program for girls!!! Turns out this so-called awkward, big lipped girl, who'd muted herself, was destined to Speaker. Im thankful my adversity taught me much more than it took from me. I allowed their words to created holes inside of me that almost convinced me I was unworthy but that simply was not true. Eventually I found my way, my worth and most importantly my voice.
As the founder of Daughters of Zion, an enrichment program for girls, my mission is to equip young girls to be their authentic selves, beautiful inside and out, overcoming obstacles and not allowing the world to define them. My challenge is helping them see the hope deep inside of themselves before getting lost along the way. We all have an amazing story to tell about our personal journeys and together we can empower girls to know they too are Beautiful Brown Bold young women!
