When I came to Baltimore in 2008, I was an Evangelical Christian Republican who had campaigned for Bob Dole, Tom Davis, and George W. Bush. Even though I had a degree from the University of Virginia that focused on Global History, I was pretty clueless about the politics of urban America. In addition, I was […]
Before 2025, mainstream mental health care in the United States largely ran on a diagnosis‑first model rooted in the DSM‑5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). This approach pushed clinicians to match symptoms to diagnoses—bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD—without always asking a deeper question: What happened to this person? For African American women, […]
Coupling Elon Musk’s decision-making principles and the concepts from “Atomic Habits” with a trauma-informed approach on a personal level can create a powerful framework for individual growth and resilience. Here’s how these ideas can work together First Principles Thinking + Safety and Trust Coupling: Establish a foundation of self-trust and safety by recognizing your fundamental […]
Day 3 of God and Gigs devotional challenge based on the book by Allen C Paul called Your Art God’s Heart , focuses on humility and staying close to God. (Click to buy here) When I think of losing my soul because of fame and fortune, my bank account laughs at me. Have I wanted […]
Day 2 of God and Gigs devotional challenge based on the book by Allen C Paul called Your Art God’s Heart , focuses on friendships (Click to buy here) Finding one’s tribe is a journey often fraught with challenges, but for a black woman growing up in a predominantly white and spiritually abusive environment, that […]
Doing the God and Gigs devotional challenge based on the book by Allen C Paul called Your Art God’s Heart and wow the question “Where are you ?” Opened up a deluge of questions for me. (Click to buy here) Spiritually I realized: I am tired of going to churches with arrogant, rude, know it […]
Introduction: As a pastor’s kid who in 2022 had quadruple bypass and then this year (2023) the loss of my stressed mom to ALS, I am compelled to explore the potential connection between spiritual abuse and these debilitating conditions. Drawing insights from Gabor Mate’s “When the Body Says No” (Mate, 2003) and Dr. Bessel van […]
Introduction: As a black female trumpet player, I have always found solace and inspiration in the world of jazz. The recent passing of Meghan Stabile, a visionary promoter and producer, deeply shook the jazz community and touched my own heart. Her story, shared at Winter Jazz Fest 2020, resonated with my own struggles with Post […]
Introduction: In the realm of jazz, where notes dance and melodies weave tales, neurodivergent adult learners embark on a unique musical journey. Drawing inspiration from Wynton Marsalis, renowned jazz trumpeter and advocate for music education, this blog post amalgamates his insights with practical tips to empower neurodivergent individuals in mastering the art of jazz trumpet […]
I grew up around people of all colors and backgrounds in Fairfax County. I sincerely loved everyone. However, I realize because of this I can be super naive about how bad white supremacy is. One day I would like to chat with my fellow Black Republican and former Youth Pastor Eric M. Wallace , to […]