Checking In
Hello My Beautiful People! I have had an amazing two weeks! God has opened up doors and windows and shaken out a blessing that I cannot measure. Our last day of school with students was June 1. On June 2, my pastor, Rev. Dr. RB Holmes, Jr., the chancellor of our school called me to his office for a meeting. In the meeting, he asked me was I interested in writing for the weekly paper owned by him, titled "Capital Outlook." He also asked me would I be interested in producing a festival for the 40th anniversary of the paper, public relations & marketing for the paper, as well as hosting my own news talk radio show. Amazing, right? It doesn't stop there. He also said that I could produce a theatrical performance for the event, because I had asked him about producing a major production along the theme of the police deadly force issue. Hence I have a platform. We have set a tentative date of October 24 for the festival; which will also be my opportunity to introduce Tallahassee to Indaba Theatre. Magic, right? It doesn't stop there.
For my drama therapy internship, I have created two eight week, simultaneous drama therapy programs for the brand new homeless shelter here in Tallahassee. One is a women's group therapy session, the other is a coed domestic violence workshop. Through the grace of God, I started both of them this week. The women's group was very light. I only had one woman show up. However, that same woman and 5 other souls showed up for the coed domestic violence group. Six brave souls, two women, four men; showed courage and conviction in making room for change and removing obstacles from their life. I felt privileged and blessed to be there in their presence and watch God use me to bring about a shift for them.
I started my week with a text from a dear friend who connected me with a local business owner here who has a fitness training facility and runs a summer camp for kids out of the building. The business owner was in need of some academic support. He invited me to meet with him at his office on Monday at 1:30 pm. I brought my resume with me. He looked at my resume and his eyes lit up. He said, "I need someone with your skills and ability. I have been praying that God would bring me someone with your level of expertise." He hired me on the spot to be the education coordinator for his summer camp and to do some grant writing for his educational programs. I had a soft start on Tuesday, signed my contract and started officially on Wednesday. He has given me the flexibility to work part time; which gives me the opportunity to continue with my drama therapy programs, uninterrupted. The name of the business is called BFAAST-BFIT Summer Camp. For my teacher friends, I also get to teach an interdisciplinary unit on gardening; which I'm so excited about. We are going to grow vegetables for their end of the summer banquet and possibly sell some of the vegetables to friends, family and neighbors.
But, that's not all. On Wednesday, I got a call from a woman at my church. My pastor had asked her to call me to see, if I was interested in a project manager position working with Department of Children and Families to help children transitioning from foster care to an adoptive home. I met with her over coffee on Friday and I am in the running! She said she has to meet with some other candidates. The program is a pilot; which if successful will get fully funded for Calendar Year 2016. She said "I can't hire someone who is afraid of losing their job in January, due to lack of funding. The money is there, it just hasn't been appropriated, yet." Needless to say, she needs someone who lives by faith and does not walk in fear. Hence, the pastor told her to give me a call.
No need to worry, the position doesn't officially start until August and she is aware of the other things that pastor has asked me to do. She said, "If pastor asked you to do those things and asked me to speak to you; he is going to make sure that you can do all of it." Sure enough, when I saw pastor today, he said "Oh, we are still going to get you involved with the radio and the paper. Don't worry about that. We got you covered." Did I mention to you that I've joined the choir here, too, at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church? I love, love, love singing in the choir; something that I've never done. Blessings! :)
The church has been such a blessing to me. I remember shyly going to prayer meeting on the second Monday after I had arrived in Tallahassee. I shared my resume with the church secretary, she sent me over to the church school where I eventually became a teacher. At the same prayer meeting, I met Dr. Linda Fortenberry. She encouraged me to "stick with Leon County," because of my skill set. Dr. Fortenberry ended being my bosses, boss. She conducted my second interview. I'll never forget what she said to me in that interview. She said, "Whether you teach for a day, for a week or the whole year here at Bethel, we are blessed to have someone of your caliber in the classroom." The blessing has been reciprocal.
In closing, I want you to know that the work goes on with the book. I am so grateful for the patience of my publicist, Nicola Simpson. She kept telling me last year that I was still in my story. I see what she means, now. To that end, I have hired a ghostwriter to help me finish the book. She is a very dear friend and knows my voice. She has promised me that she will do everything in her power to preserve it. God bless you, thank you for sticking with me, having faith in me and having my back. <3