Tuesday November 16th, Rare Talk had a fantastic interview experience with Victoria. She answered "Why Blair Holt"?
Victoria, with a group of teens with Ray of Hope Center of the Arts, wrote an original stage-play on the life of Blair Holt. He was a Chicago teen and honor roll student who shielded a friend from gunfire. As a result, he lost his life. The play was performed not once, but twice at the great DuSable Museum.
More from Victoria.
I am a minster, a playwright, and artist. I am also, the Founder/Executive Director of Ray of Hope Center of the Arts which is a teen-focused multi-cultural arts organization that uses the arts to transform lives and uplift people. I am currently pursuing a Masters of Arts Degree in Applied Professional Learning. My goal is to develop a global activism model that uses the arts to address social issues within inter-generational and multi-cultural contexts with an emphasis on teens.
I have been blessed to work with more than 500 teenagers over the past 5 years and spans back more than 20 years. Much of my life work stems from the fact that I was born to a teenager who was shunned by society. Sadly, the same thing happens today. I believe that teens need that extra push and support to help them develop high expectations for success; it’s their last stop before adulthood. They need encouragement as they seek to know and understand their path in life. I believe we all do.
I encourage each of you to believe God for all you need in your life, and always believe in yourself and what you see for yourself. Embrace the wisdom around you while still being true to yourself. You can make it regardless of your age and your circumstances; you can make it!
CURTAINS ARE GOING UP AGAIN!
Victoria's current project
FLASHBACKS
Clarissa Renee' of Lee Cha'risse Designs styles a fashions are available at www.leecharissedesigns.com
Lamont Brown of LB International can be contacted at www.LBInternational.biz
David Miller, owner of MTECH, is the designer Lamont Brown's website. For a view of David's work you may visit, MTECH.Kingdom-Coalition.org
Last month, we featured Songa and Clarissa who both had pregnancies. They beat the odds! According to statistics, teenage pregnancy results in 40% of teenage girls dropping out of school and doomed for failure. Both of these women have pursued their Master's Degree and have children who are quite successful. We bring Victoria: by Victoria C. Brady, edited by Dr. Vivian R. Jones, MS.Ed, DDiv.
The little girl, Victoria
Amazingly, I have the opportunity to write a story about my experience as the daughter of a teen mom. While I do not condone nor encourage teen pregnancy I recognize that we often hear stories about teen moms but not too often from the perspective of the child that was raised by teenagers. So I want to thank Jacqueline Miller for her work of providing the platform for people to share stories that can inspire and encourage others. This is also what I hope to do in telling the story of my mom and my experience as the daughter of a teenager.
My mom Vivian had me at the tender age of 15 years old in the year 1964. Unlike today, having a baby at that age was not widely accepted. In fact, teen pregnancies back then were often kept hush-hush and often ended in abortion or with the adoption of the child. According to my mother, efforts were made by my beloved grandmother to put me up for adoption. Back then the thinking was, having a baby would ruin a young girl’s life. Like any good mother, my grandmother was trying to protect her daughter and wanted the best for her. But as it would go at that time, my mother who was an A student at Dunbar High School was expelled from school due to the pregnancy. She was labeled and many people predicted that she would end up on welfare with a house full of babies. My grandmother arranged for a social worker to speak with my mother about the possibility of adoption. The social worker assessed that my mom would be very capable of raising a child and strongly recommended that she keep me. My mom insisted that she wanted to keep me and my grandmother reluctantly agreed.
Against all odds, looking back 46 years later I can see very clearly that my mom did a superb job of raising me. I am so very proud of her. These odds were significantly minimized as my grandmother, grandfather, and other family provided much needed support to my strong-willed mom and me. It is so funny for me to share that my grandmother considered having me adopted. As close as we were before she went home to be with God, one would never know this. In fact, even I did not know this for many years. Like my mom and I, my grandmother and I were joined at the hip!
My mom did end up on welfare, but not for long. She used the system the way it was intended; a means of support until she could sustain herself. She did get pregnant a year after my birth but she miscarried. Today, she is the mother of two, and my brother Eddie (Vance) and I are 15 years apart, as is she and I.
When I was about 8 years old I began to realize how my smart my mom was and I began to bug her about going back to school. I would say, “Rose you are so smart, you should go back to school.” I wouldn’t let up and eventually my mom, a former resident of Robert Taylor Homes (the projects) obtained her G.E.D. She went on to receive her Associates Degree, Bachelor of Science, Masters of Education with an emphasis on Counseling, and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree. This came with years of turmoil, hardship, sacrifice, but yet countless Blessings.
My mom was severely stereotyped and pretty much written off as a person who would not amount to much. I believe there were times that she may have felt she blew her chance at success (whatever that is). But I never felt that she would amount to nothing. She was just so smart and intelligent. But be that as it was, she poured her heart into teaching me to be confident and always believe in myself even when couldn’t do the same for herself. It is she who taught me a strong sense of self-confidence and I still carry it with me today. Admittedly, my dad also kicked in on this sense of confidence too.
My mother was (and still is) very nurturing and always looked out for me. She worked her way through jobs at places like Woolworths, Bon Witt Taylor, The Chicago Police Department, South Side Medical Clinic, Stratton Mental Health, and on to The Illinois Department of Children and Services (DCFS), as well many others. Most of this time, she was single and also working her way through school. Today, she is a minister and also the Founder/CEO of ABJ Community Services, Inc which is one of Chicago’s leading social service organizations.
As for me the daughter of this teen, I lived in the projects as a younger child. Because we lived with my grandparents I called them momma and daddy. I called my parents by their first names, Rose and Albert. I was almost always around family. Because my mom had me at such a young age my younger uncles felt more like brothers to me. We were a tight knit family. I can honestly say in my view of the bigger picture my mom did as well a job of raising me as a full grow adult could have. I was well cared for and loved. My mom saw to it that I had the best that she could offer and that was pretty darned good.
Tune in tomorrow and read the rest of Victoria's story as well as her journey as a "Dream-Girls".
Victoria will be the special guest on Rare Talk with Jacqueline, Tuesday November 16th @7pm. Topic is "Why Blair Holt". More about Blair.
As you can see, Blair's mom is giving and caring. She spoke about giving away his shoes.
Rare Talk with Jacqueline joined CHARM Mentoring & Outreach Service, Inc. in volunteering at Share Your Soles.
Here are pictures.
Together with CHARM, we helped to prevent approximately 100 children and adults from pasting tar on their feet!
Rare Talk with Jacqueline lands its first radio interview Saturday November 20th @11am! Stay tuned.
Thanks for visiting. Talk to you later!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Don't missWhy Blair Holt?
I believe one of the most devastating things is to bury a child, your child. Oftentimes, people respond to a tragic situation as the victim was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Blair was in the right place, at the right time. He was on a public bus after school. How can that be the wrong place, at the wrong time? None whatsoever. Guns are in the wrong hands. They are in the hands of our children. We are concerned about our students failing classes, dropping out of high school, criminal behavior. How about when they are doing exactly what they should be doing? Honor roll student, on a public bus after school, rose up to shield a friend while gunshots were fired and gets murdered while doing so. Watch this video to learn more about Blair.
Tuesday November 16th @7pm, Rare Talk with Jacqueline will speak with a "Dream-Girl" Victoria who has a taken on a role of peacemaker in both her theatrical and professional life. She will share her dream.
Remember Catrina Always (ARC)
OCTOBERshouldn't be just a month of awareness for Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer. Rare Talk with Jacqueline celebrates the connections we've made and facilitated!
We must always remember! Catrina's mother tells her story. Catrina, at fifteen excelled at sports, was deemed a national scholar, and recognized as Who's Who Among High School students. After high school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She excelled as a TV News Producer in Atlanta. At the age of 25, she was very happy when she met her husband, a 23 year decorated soldier. He was cited by her as "a gentleman and a scholar." As a Sergeant in the United States military, she served honorably and received many awards and soldier of the year accommodations. She was on the brink of obtaining her Master's Degree in Spiritual and Clinical Psychology when she met her untimely death, a murder/suicide at the hands of her husband. Two hours before she was killed, she taught a standing room only bible class to women at her church. As she left for the day, she told the church's custodian, with a bright smile, "I am very happy today - I am going home..." Her mother and sisters expected to see her bright smile at the arrival gate, instead she arrived in the cargo section of the plane. May she rest in peace! Her mother, Gloria, commits to raising the awareness of domestic violence through her organization. Please visit her website at www.dddcgi.com.
S I S T E R S
Are you aware of the Sisters Network for breast cancer survivors, here in Chicago? Sisters Network Chicago Chapter is a community based organization made up of African American breast cancer survivors. Founded in January 2000, they saw an urgent need to unite with other survivors, communities and health care professionals in the fight against breast cancer. Visit their website for information regarding their upcoming meeting, Saturday November 13th.
RADIO INTERVIEW
Rare Talk with Jacquelinelands its first Radio Interview Saturday November 20th. Stay tuned.
More exciting posts coming soon including Clarissa Renee's Masquerade Moment Fashion Launch Affair; Victoria's story as the daughter of a teenage mother; PoetrynMotion;Share Your Soles with CHARM Mentoring & Outreach Services, Inc.; I've Always Dreamed of...; videos, fashions and much more!
Rare Talk with Jacqueline joins CHARM Mentoring & Outreach Services, Inc. for SHARE YOUR SOLES - Saturday November 6th @10:00am
NOVEMBER 16th is a new episode of RARE TALK WITH JACQUELINE
Don't forget about Catrina
Catrina, at fifteen excelled at sports, was deemed a national scholar, and recognized as Who's Who Among High School students. After high school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She excelled as a TV News Producer in Atlanta. At the age of 25, she was very happy when she met her husband, a 23 year decorated soldier. He was cited by her as "a gentleman and a scholar." As a Sergeant in the United States military, she served honorably and received many awards and soldier of the year accommodations.
She was on the brink of obtaining her Master's Degree in Spiritual and Clinical Psychology when she met her untimely death, a murder/suicide at the hands of her husband. Two hours before she was killed, she taught a standing room only bible class to women at her church. As she left for the day, she told the church's custodian, with a bright smile, "I am very happy today - I am going home..." Her mother and sisters expected to see her bright smile at the arrival gate, instead she arrived in the cargo section of the plane.
May she rest in peace! Her mother, Gloria, commits to raising the awareness of domestic violence through her organization. Please visit her website at www.dddcgi.com.
Ametra Self is the Producer, Screenwriter and Director of the award winning Novel converted to film, Battered Clergy. ThD Pastor Joseph B Howard Sr entered Infini Entertainment & Moopy Vision Movies Novels to Films competition and won 1st place. From this win, Mrs. Self, converted the novel into a feature film and her company produced the film.
Battered Clergy stars Harold Dennis as Pastor Gee Hayes, Tara Mayfield as First Lady Sydnee Hayes, Felicia Holt as Annie, Charles Hemphill Jr as Pastor Everett and Sharky as Big Gee. We have many more but those are the major roles in the movie.
Stay tuned for more on Battered Clergy.
Always Remember Catrina (ARC)
Her story is in the previous posting of Rare Talk with Jacqueline
Last Saturday October 23, 2010, I attended the SASS UNMASKED High Tea event in observation of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in rememberance of "Catrina." She was killed by her husband. Read about Catrina.
Catrina, at the age of fifteen excelled at sports, deemed a national scholar, and recognized as Who's Who Among High School students. After high school, she succesffully matriculated at Fisk University in Nashville, interned for the Nashville States of Attorney, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. During her professional career, she excelled as a TV News Producer in Atlanta she was a Vice President of Education for a global corporation and traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. At the age of 25, she was very happy when she met her husband, a 23 year decorated soldier. She married him after only knowing him six weeks citing that he was "a gentlean and a scholar."
Catrina was also a Sergeant in the United States military. She served honorably and received many awards and soldier of the year accommodations. She worked in the capacity of Software Engineering Systems Management, and as a Journalist for her brigade's newspaper. Catrina was awarded the high honor of recommendation by senior officers and accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS). she was deemed qualified and accepted in the prestigious Secret Intelligence Unit and Committee for National Security Internship program in Washington D.C. Catrina earned these enviable accomplishments in the United States military in just three years. Personally, Catrina was a founding board member of America's Time Out for Youth, Inc. Foremost; she was a Christian and loved the Lord. She was a Christian educator and taught Sunday School classes at her place of worship, served as a Pastoral Assistant, mentored youth, and was on the brink of obtainintg her Master's Degree in Spiritual and Clinical Psychology when she met her untimely death, a murder/suicide at the hands of her husband. Two hours before she left this earth, she taught a standing room only bible class to women at her church; as she left fro the day, she told the church's custodian with a bright smile. I am very happy today - I am going home..." On the day Catrina's mother and sisters expected to see her bright smile as she departed the plat at the arrival gate, she instead arrived in the cargo section of the plane...she received a letter of gratitude and given an honored soldier's burial. May she rest in peace!
Her mother, Gloria Daniels, is committed to the work of preventing domestic violence and raising the awareness through her organization. Please visit her website at www.dddcgi.com.
