the audacity to dream of an empowering journey your journey begins today that
journey your journey begins today that
journey your journey begins today that is what I want you who are sitting here
is what I want you who are sitting here
is what I want you who are sitting here who’ve ever been through anything to
who’ve ever been through anything to
who’ve ever been through anything to understand that from what I share today
understand that from what I share today
understand that from what I share today we know that so many people go through
we know that so many people go through
we know that so many people go through violence we know that so many people are
violence we know that so many people are
violence we know that so many people are impacted by violence but what is great
impacted by violence but what is great
impacted by violence but what is great is that you don’t have to stay in that
is that you don’t have to stay in that
is that you don’t have to stay in that place you have the power to move past
place you have the power to move past
place you have the power to move past your past your journey begins today and
your past your journey begins today and
your past your journey begins today and I hope that you will be able to
I hope that you will be able to
I hope that you will be able to understand that you have the power
understand that you have the power
understand that you have the power within this is me at 4 months old and my
within this is me at 4 months old and my
within this is me at 4 months old and my eyes seemed to say that first of all I
eyes seemed to say that first of all I
eyes seemed to say that first of all I don’t know who’s sitting in the room but
don’t know who’s sitting in the room but
don’t know who’s sitting in the room but I’m not really feeling it but I show
I’m not really feeling it but I show
I’m not really feeling it but I show this picture because it’s the age of
this picture because it’s the age of
this picture because it’s the age of innocence untouched unbothered pure and
innocence untouched unbothered pure and
innocence untouched unbothered pure and it also says that no one is experience
it also says that no one is experience
it also says that no one is experience pain at that age and it also says that
pain at that age and it also says that
pain at that age and it also says that we need to recognize that this is a
we need to recognize that this is a
we need to recognize that this is a stage in life what we also need to be
stage in life what we also need to be
stage in life what we also need to be turning our smiles and our laughs on the
turning our smiles and our laughs on the
turning our smiles and our laughs on the on our on our kids and on our children
on our on our kids and on our children
on our on our kids and on our children but unfortunately nowadays pain comes
but unfortunately nowadays pain comes
but unfortunately nowadays pain comes and it’s how we deal with that pain that
and it’s how we deal with that pain that
and it’s how we deal with that pain that makes us stronger at 4 years old I had a
makes us stronger at 4 years old I had a
makes us stronger at 4 years old I had a bunny and I really appreciated that
bunny and I really appreciated that
bunny and I really appreciated that bunny because it just made my life so
bunny because it just made my life so
bunny because it just made my life so complete and I also had my grandmother
complete and I also had my grandmother
complete and I also had my grandmother and they were my best friends my goat
and they were my best friends my goat
and they were my best friends my goat cheese but within a year of me and bunny
cheese but within a year of me and bunny
cheese but within a year of me and bunny being the best of friends I would
being the best of friends I would
being the best of friends I would experience something so traumatic I
experience something so traumatic I
experience something so traumatic I would eventually be molested by a man
would eventually be molested by a man
would eventually be molested by a man now many of you know back in the day
now many of you know back in the day
now many of you know back in the day that so many people my parents were late
that so many people my parents were late
that so many people my parents were late then teachers would take you home and
then teachers would take you home and
then teachers would take you home and they would wait with you but
they would wait with you but
they would wait with you but unfortunately while I was at my teachers
unfortunately while I was at my teachers
unfortunately while I was at my teachers house she introduced me to a man and he
house she introduced me to a man and he
house she introduced me to a man and he would be the one that we molest and
would be the one that we molest and
would be the one that we molest and touched me when she came back into the
touched me when she came back into the
touched me when she came back into the room after being gone for a minute he
room after being gone for a minute he
room after being gone for a minute he abruptly stopped what I do remember from
abruptly stopped what I do remember from
abruptly stopped what I do remember from that experience is that I just did not
that experience is that I just did not
that experience is that I just did not feel right
feel right
feel right and I didn’t know what to do and I don’t
and I didn’t know what to do and I don’t
and I didn’t know what to do and I don’t remember much after that at 14 years old
remember much after that at 14 years old
remember much after that at 14 years old I had another experience that was my
I had another experience that was my
I had another experience that was my third experience what happened was that
third experience what happened was that
third experience what happened was that my cousin raped me and at 14 years old
my cousin raped me and at 14 years old
my cousin raped me and at 14 years old you don’t know where to put all this but
you don’t know where to put all this but
you don’t know where to put all this but what you do you begin to lash out you
what you do you begin to lash out you
what you do you begin to lash out you begin to act out and you don’t know what
begin to act out and you don’t know what
begin to act out and you don’t know what to do with yourself during that time
to do with yourself during that time
to do with yourself during that time period I had dreams of being a dancer
period I had dreams of being a dancer
period I had dreams of being a dancer I thought dancing was so freeing I
I thought dancing was so freeing I
I thought dancing was so freeing I thought dancing would just change my
thought dancing would just change my
thought dancing would just change my world but long after that I stopped
world but long after that I stopped
world but long after that I stopped dreaming about dancing at 16 years old I
dreaming about dancing at 16 years old I
dreaming about dancing at 16 years old I was a junior in high school and I began
was a junior in high school and I began
was a junior in high school and I began cheerleading and I loved cheerleading
cheerleading and I loved cheerleading
cheerleading and I loved cheerleading but the main thing I loved about
but the main thing I loved about
but the main thing I loved about children was was that I thought it gave
children was was that I thought it gave
children was was that I thought it gave me acceptance so during my junior year I
me acceptance so during my junior year I
me acceptance so during my junior year I started to think about what I wanted to
started to think about what I wanted to
started to think about what I wanted to do for my career whether I wanted to
do for my career whether I wanted to
do for my career whether I wanted to dream about then I started dreaming
dream about then I started dreaming
dream about then I started dreaming about being a journalist because I
about being a journalist because I
about being a journalist because I wanted to share good news I’d had so
wanted to share good news I’d had so
wanted to share good news I’d had so much bad news going on in my life that I
much bad news going on in my life that I
much bad news going on in my life that I really wanted to share good news so
really wanted to share good news so
really wanted to share good news so that’s what I did I dreamed of becoming
that’s what I did I dreamed of becoming
that’s what I did I dreamed of becoming a journalist but during that time period
a journalist but during that time period
a journalist but during that time period also what happened was I started to feel
also what happened was I started to feel
also what happened was I started to feel even more pain because I was tired and I
even more pain because I was tired and I
even more pain because I was tired and I felt alone that no one understood what I
felt alone that no one understood what I
felt alone that no one understood what I was going through during my junior year
was going through during my junior year
was going through during my junior year that was also my third experience I was
that was also my third experience I was
that was also my third experience I was raped by my boyfriend and it would
raped by my boyfriend and it would
raped by my boyfriend and it would impact me so much that no one I knew
impact me so much that no one I knew
impact me so much that no one I knew that no one understand that no one cared
that no one understand that no one cared
that no one understand that no one cared and so I had to move on shortly after
and so I had to move on shortly after
and so I had to move on shortly after that I went to heart went to college
that I went to heart went to college
that I went to heart went to college while I was in college I met a young man
while I was in college I met a young man
while I was in college I met a young man who would impact my life forever now I
who would impact my life forever now I
who would impact my life forever now I must say that when I got there he was a
must say that when I got there he was a
must say that when I got there he was a football player and no offense to any
football player and no offense to any
football player and no offense to any football players in the room I just did
football players in the room I just did
football players in the room I just did not like football player well what I got
not like football player well what I got
not like football player well what I got from him was that he was sweet gentle
from him was that he was sweet gentle
from him was that he was sweet gentle and loving he wasn’t like most football
and loving he wasn’t like most football
and loving he wasn’t like most football players so we became fast friends we
players so we became fast friends we
players so we became fast friends we enjoyed talking to each other and
enjoyed talking to each other and
enjoyed talking to each other and spending time with each other but after
spending time with each other but after
spending time with each other but after months of us dating we came together and
months of us dating we came together and
months of us dating we came together and I talked told him about what happened to
I talked told him about what happened to
I talked told him about what happened to me
me
me and he was the first person to not judge
and he was the first person to not judge
and he was the first person to not judge me for anything and I really appreciated
me for anything and I really appreciated
me for anything and I really appreciated that so it gave me some hope to know
that so it gave me some hope to know
that so it gave me some hope to know that I could do something with my
that I could do something with my
that I could do something with my we met in 92 and we married in 1994 and
we met in 92 and we married in 1994 and
we met in 92 and we married in 1994 and that was a wonderful experience shortly
that was a wonderful experience shortly
that was a wonderful experience shortly after that when we did marry it came to
after that when we did marry it came to
after that when we did marry it came to a point where it got a little more
a point where it got a little more
a point where it got a little more challenging because I started to
challenging because I started to
challenging because I started to remember all the things that had
remember all the things that had
remember all the things that had happened to me and those insecurities
happened to me and those insecurities
happened to me and those insecurities all those things that felt became to
all those things that felt became to
all those things that felt became to rush back to me and it caused problems
rush back to me and it caused problems
rush back to me and it caused problems in our marriage it even caused problems
in our marriage it even caused problems
in our marriage it even caused problems within me parenting because we had a
within me parenting because we had a
within me parenting because we had a child within our first year of marriage
child within our first year of marriage
child within our first year of marriage well I’d start to get tired of how I was
well I’d start to get tired of how I was
well I’d start to get tired of how I was feeling I started being tired of feeling
feeling I started being tired of feeling
feeling I started being tired of feeling very tired of looking down on myself so
very tired of looking down on myself so
very tired of looking down on myself so I did an assessment I looked deep into
I did an assessment I looked deep into
I did an assessment I looked deep into my heart I looked deep into my mind I
my heart I looked deep into my mind I
my heart I looked deep into my mind I said well where do you want to be where
said well where do you want to be where
said well where do you want to be where do you have desires to be I said well
do you have desires to be I said well
do you have desires to be I said well one I need to finish school the other
one I need to finish school the other
one I need to finish school the other thing I needed to do was figure out my
thing I needed to do was figure out my
thing I needed to do was figure out my career and the other was to figure out
career and the other was to figure out
career and the other was to figure out what I wanted to do with my family so
what I wanted to do with my family so
what I wanted to do with my family so most of us want great and awesome
most of us want great and awesome
most of us want great and awesome families and that’s what I set my sights
families and that’s what I set my sights
families and that’s what I set my sights on I wanted an awesome family so I said
on I wanted an awesome family so I said
on I wanted an awesome family so I said I need to get some help I went into
I need to get some help I went into
I need to get some help I went into therapy and I sat down with my therapist
therapy and I sat down with my therapist
therapy and I sat down with my therapist and we had great conversations and he
and we had great conversations and he
and we had great conversations and he was able to help me to cope with what
was able to help me to cope with what
was able to help me to cope with what I’ve been through also during that time
I’ve been through also during that time
I’ve been through also during that time period I lost my best friend my
period I lost my best friend my
period I lost my best friend my grandmother she was the one who just
grandmother she was the one who just
grandmother she was the one who just loved me unconditionally so he helped me
loved me unconditionally so he helped me
loved me unconditionally so he helped me to cope with that as well but what I did
to cope with that as well but what I did
to cope with that as well but what I did next was when I went back to school at
next was when I went back to school at
next was when I went back to school at 29 years old I made the decision that I
29 years old I made the decision that I
29 years old I made the decision that I needed to go return to school and get my
needed to go return to school and get my
needed to go return to school and get my education but while I was there I also
education but while I was there I also
education but while I was there I also made a decision that this not is not
made a decision that this not is not
made a decision that this not is not just for me this is for me to help the
just for me this is for me to help the
just for me this is for me to help the next person this wasn’t about my pain it
next person this wasn’t about my pain it
next person this wasn’t about my pain it was about helping all those other people
was about helping all those other people
was about helping all those other people in the world who were experiencing
in the world who were experiencing
in the world who were experiencing something similar that what I was going
something similar that what I was going
something similar that what I was going through so I went back and got my degree
through so I went back and got my degree
through so I went back and got my degree from Spelman College in Atlanta with a
from Spelman College in Atlanta with a
from Spelman College in Atlanta with a degree in sociology and then I thought
degree in sociology and then I thought
degree in sociology and then I thought about Human Services and how much how
about Human Services and how much how
about Human Services and how much how many more people I could help and my I
many more people I could help and my I
many more people I could help and my I got my degree and master’s degree in
got my degree and master’s degree in
got my degree and master’s degree in Human Services then I said well we have
Human Services then I said well we have
Human Services then I said well we have a community full of hurting people
a community full of hurting people
a community full of hurting people and I took the time to really think
and I took the time to really think
and I took the time to really think about what I needed to do next
about what I needed to do next
about what I needed to do next and that was to start my own
and that was to start my own
and that was to start my own organization called empower to heal and
organization called empower to heal and
organization called empower to heal and our tagline is healing is a journey that
our tagline is healing is a journey that
our tagline is healing is a journey that begins with you and so for the past
begins with you and so for the past
begins with you and so for the past three years we’ve been working to make
three years we’ve been working to make
three years we’ve been working to make sure that no one feels that they don’t
sure that no one feels that they don’t
sure that no one feels that they don’t have any support I wanted to be that
have any support I wanted to be that
have any support I wanted to be that support that I didn’t feel like I had
support that I didn’t feel like I had
support that I didn’t feel like I had and now I have a great and wonderful
and now I have a great and wonderful
and now I have a great and wonderful family three happy children three
family three happy children three
family three happy children three healthy happy children and we ever even
healthy happy children and we ever even
healthy happy children and we ever even had two wonderful dogs so I’m excited
had two wonderful dogs so I’m excited
had two wonderful dogs so I’m excited about all that has happened I persevered
about all that has happened I persevered
about all that has happened I persevered I stayed the course I did not give up
I stayed the course I did not give up
I stayed the course I did not give up and I challenged you don’t ever give up
and I challenged you don’t ever give up
and I challenged you don’t ever give up on your dreams
on your dreams
on your dreams don’t let anything that you’ve ever been
don’t let anything that you’ve ever been
don’t let anything that you’ve ever been through stop you from what you are want
through stop you from what you are want
through stop you from what you are want to do is an exciting journey don’t ever
to do is an exciting journey don’t ever
to do is an exciting journey don’t ever quit and just remember today your
quit and just remember today your
quit and just remember today your journey begins with you thank you
journey begins with you thank you
journey begins with you thank you [Applause]
”
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