Learner’s Permit: Police Relations in the Black Community

I’m a millennial mayor. In fact, I’m the youngest millennial mayor in Braddock’s history. As a mayor, I get to break ties when the six person council can’t decide, make recommendations on projects and programs, bridge the communication gap between community and council, and last but not least I oversee a police department. This includes…

Read More

Hunger for Words: Thank Your Local Library

I am forever grateful for my local library as it is/was the pinnacle of the neighborhood. I took journeys near and far thanks to the knowledge planted, watered, and harvested. My mom worked so at one point I was a latch key kid. I enjoyed the free meals the library provided, fostered friendships, and before…

Read More

On #BlackAF Being Black Enough

I’m not ashamed to say that I finished most of Netflix’s #BlackAF in one night. I woke up and polished off the last two episodes like it was nothing. It was enjoyable or I wouldn’t have sat through it. Kenya Barris has a lane and he’s comfortable in it. If it isn’t broken, he’s going…

Read More

America, Are We Great Yet?

There is no argument that our federal government has handled the pandemic with gross incompetence from start to finish. It’s time for them to to stop pointing fingers and get to action. Also, don’t forget to vote as this election will matter. The administration (that shall not be named) announced that this was our 9/11 and I’m here to denounce that. At least 9/11 had actual leadership.

RE: A Letter to 26

Five years ago I wrote a letter to my 31 year old self and today I’m finally looking back at it. Talk about restraint. I’m smiling as I get through it because my 2015 problems definitely weren’t anything and they weren’t ready for 2020 social distancing. Adulthood is still one big panic after another. Not…

Read More

Your Plate is Way Too Full for Impasta Syndrome

Women rock! We work (sometimes multiple jobs), volunteer, sometimes have a hobby, and even parent at the same time. We still make less than our counterparts and if you have a little melanin in your DNA, you make way less than what you’re worth. There’s a lot of us out here smashing goals and barriers…

Read More

Airbnb Saved My Birthday

This trip to The Big Easy started a little rough… I considered VRBO Ruined my Birthday, and Fleas are Not Party Favors as alternate titles but as an optimist, I choose to applaud and uplift Airbnb. They may just have customer for life as VRBO (also Homeaway as they’re all under Expedia) may never get…

Read More

It’s Okay to Repair Your Own Boat

Being selfish vs selfless; you have to draw a line or you will drown trying. For the last two-ish years, I’ve been on a super self-aware journey. Being a writer forces me to embrace that I’m goofy, it’s a personality trait but also it forces me to be real with myself. When I write reality…

Read More

Why I Left My Publisher

In 2014, a small vanity publisher told me that my book was awesome and that there was a space for me at her publishing company. I was ecstatic as I’ve been writing novels since high school. I always wanted to be a writer. The light bulb hadn’t gone off yet that I was indeed already…

Read More

The Power of Why: What drives me?

“People don’t buy what you do. People buy why you do it.” — Simon Sinek; Leaders Eat Last I believe that kindness and creativity can change worlds because creativity allows people to be courageous and innovative without the fear of failure. I guide people on self-publishing and writing journeys because as a child I built…

Read More