Latest article: Salon.com Re: DETROIT

August 4, 2017March 25, 2018

Two years ago, my parents sold our childhood home. I mentioned little about it publicly, but started writing something that I eventually had to put down because I didn’t have the rest of the story. I was in New York and hadn’t been back to Detroit for a while. I knew to finish telling the story, I needed to be in the city [Detroit].

This summer, things just kept happening… and we stayed…my kids and I, that is… A month later, I was able to experience the week of “Rebellion” events leading up to the 50th Anniversary on July 23rd and nearly 1500 photos later, we have this story that was published on Salon.com

The lesson here… PATIENCE.

I was dying when the house was sold and full of a lot of feelings, but with time, my feelings of angst were better articulated with the story of Detroit and while this is likely only the beginning of this story, I am so very happy I bugged who I bugged and pitched who I pitched.

Enjoy!

Read my article, “DETROIT”: Cleaning up the mess white people made or adding to it? on Salon.com, HERE.

THANK YOU, PATRONS!

June 2, 2017

There has been a lot going on in our world since April! Our next feature is coming up in June! We are excited to tell you about it and excited by your support!

We COULD NOT do this without you and your monthly support.

at the end of May, we did a 10-minute excerpt from “Shoppin’ for N.I.G.G.A.S” at Theater fie the New City’s LES Festival! It was exhilarating and left people asking for more! Your monthly support assisted with some of those artist stipends – so Thank You!

Weekly Inspiration #1: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

January 15, 2017March 14, 2018

When I was re-vamping my Patreon rewards this year I wanted to do something that really connected you to what my inspirations might be and who I am looking to in the world.

From that idea was born the Weekly Inspiration Post. For now, these are public, but eventually they will be for Patrons only. As my dear Patrons, you will have access to these posts via the patron-only patreon feed.

Plus, there is a level where I’ll compile each month’s worth of posts in an e-book for your e-reading device pleasure!

So let’s begin!

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January 15, 2017

Weekly Inspiration #1

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

1st Lady of the United States of America

What might feel like a cliché or redundant inspiration is where my mind currently rests.

This is a transitional week for the United States.

On Friday, Donald J. Trump will take office. ( ? that was hard to type… ) In all seriousness, I have a lot on my mind this week and last night, found myself in some deep nostalgic Obama moments, Michelle Obama to be specific. I watched the DVR’d CNN special on her legacy as a style icon and the 1st African-American 1st lady, I watched her last appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as The First Lady and the Oprah Interview last month.

I just wanted to sit with her. Hear her voice. See her… a black woman with hips and curves and arms that I saw my own in.

I cannot tell you how much it is going to hurt to see her replaced…er leave.

But why is she an inspiration?

Even though I’ve been busy with having and raising kids over the last couple years, every time I saw her or read something that included her, I felt I could connect to her in a way that was unattainable with other public officials at that level, so my little YouTube binge the other night maybe showed me some things I did not know.

She always remains familiar by connecting people from multiple backgrounds, and socio-economic levels.

That is a big deal.

She exudes a passion for what she believes in and follows through with her goals as evident by her successful White House initiatives.

She ignites in me a feeling of wanting to complete big projects and I bounce when I hear her speak….really. I found myself bouncing, on the tips of my toes or leaning forward to soak her up… I want to bask in Michelle Obama’s sun-rays because while she is not going away, the role will be different. It will not be a role and we cannot forget what she did.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because her words are careful and deliberate and when she chose to speak it had more meaning than 100 politicians put together.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because she is Black.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because she is Black —and it took me years to love and embrace my Blackness because I did not see anyone like a Michelle Obama the way we saw her in the world.

So this week as I put a few essays into the world, I am channeling Michelle Obama. Her drive to move beyond what was expected or what others thought she was going to do or could do in her life and her dedication to healthy eating, higher education, service members and their families and the education of adolescent girls around the world.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

from one mother to another

from one black woman to another

from one woman to another

The Moleskine Challenge

June 10, 2016May 12, 2017

My Moleskine collection is pretty extensive, at least for me. From the first time my dad bought me one at a Barnes and a Nobles in Metro Detroit to the mini mini ones I carried around during Grad School in New York City, observing the people and things in the city I love so much. Notebooks have always been my thing. There is never one very far away.

When figuring out the summer and realizing that camps may not be an immediate possibility at the frequency I wished, I decided that an old fashioned planner would have to be the thing in order to have a good go at daily activities for my little crew!

Following my daughter’s pre-school graduation, I set-out to find a Moleskine. With at least 1 town bookstore in my surrounding towns, I imagined I’d stumble into a quaint space, be filled with enchantment, find the perfect 18-month Moleskine planner and be done with it.

No such luck – I called about 5 bookstores in the area (not Barnes and Nobles) and no one carried my coveted planner. I’m definitely the person who if she has her mind set, I’ll stubbornly do what I can. I may have tamed my am urges with age, but this was something I wasn’t going to let go.

My second to last call was to Manhattnville College, who did not carry the books, but did suggest the bookstore at S.U.N.Y. Purchase which wasn’t too far away.

The distance to the nearest Barnes and Nobles vs. Purchase was the same, so I set off for Purchase, someplace new, where I imagined I wouldn’t have to pay for parking.

Maybe because there was always a free parking option in the city, but around here, the parking lot life is still not something I have gotten used to :/

Purchase turned out to be a pleasant surprise – the grounds were full of large art installations and many people stopping to take photographs. It felt like such a welcoming place. We will definitely add the Neuberger to our Camp Garlia activities!

The bookstore was empty with school out and summer session not yet begun. We searched the racks and debated between the larger or smaller notebook, chose the latter and voilà!

Now for the planning!

What do you use to plan out your summer with the kids?

School’s Out for Summer… And Camp Garlia is in!

June 6, 2016January 12, 2017

On Friday, my 4year old “graduated” from Pre-school, and as this is our first summer as Westchester residents, I have decided to really give the county a chance. That and the $400-$500 a week for day camps is currently not in the budget.

So what is better than “Camp Mommy” as my friend, Alissa calls it. We’ll call this “Camp Garlia”.

One of the first publications I picked up when we moved here was both a “Westchester Parent” and a “Westchester Family“

There was even a copy of each in my daughter’s backpack from school. So this summer I will truly take them up on their bucket lists adding my own finds around the county.

Many of the events and activities are in the city and we have some serious museum mileage to make, so I’m looking forward this exciting adventure and hope I can figure out a few camps in between “Camp Garlia”, so I can get a little more done. If not, as always I’ll figure it out because as my friend, Rosalind says, I’m “scrappy”!

What are your summer plans? Do you find camps to be overpriced or about right? Are you doing your own “Camp Mommy”?

Why I’m #dyeingtomatch…

April 25, 2016January 12, 2017

I know what you’re going to say…

I don’t even know how long it’s been since my last blog post… but here’s another. No promises on frequency (which hopefully means I’ll be back more frequently).

Anyway…

After my Washington Post “On Parenting” article last month, I was floored by the response from dancers, especially dancers of color and former dancers who related to my words.

One of the people who contacted me was Denise from The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). IABD was interested in my taking part in #dyeingtomatch, their campaign to raise awareness around the lack of appropriately colored dance wear for dancers of color.

So this week, I am behind the scenes on their social media and the most exciting part is that I have been interviewing dancers and black dance wear companies for the last two weeks. There wasn’t as much time as I hoped, but I have a good feeling that this could expand… who knows.

I am giddy doing this work because I am doing what I have always done – I am telling stories. This time, a visual story and doing work that makes you feel good and helps others is vital in my book.

Follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @iabdinc or using #dyeingtomatch.

My first intro clip is below:

I feel proud of this work and hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by and spread the word if you feel so inclined! 🙂

Syncopated Breaths: My Literary Mama Writing Prompt

October 1, 2015January 12, 2017

Today, free write about what you are holding on to and what you wish to let go. At this time of new beginnings, what will you cast away? What will you keep? –

More Info HERE

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4:15 am

Awake, I listen to their breaths — peaceful in the dead of night, their bodies finally listless.

I snuggle close to her, my mini me, as they say.

Does our resemblance push me away?

Do I have what it takes?

I take a deep breath and let go of the doubt. Let go of the questions.

My insecurities are running my mind – crippling my hand – my pen held just over the paper… ready to explode.

I breathe in the courage to speak my mind… Write my mind.

Letting go of the fear and facing the truth that my words have weight for others.

Women like me, listening to the syncopated breaths from their nurseries or in their rooms.

Wanting to change, feeling a change and having the courage to put that pen to paper and just write.

Oh NO They didn’t … Bashing America’s Working Mother

September 18, 2015January 12, 2017

Since becoming a mother in 2012, my life has been one of balance. From moments of chaos to moments of zen, the day to day realities of becoming a parent are those that I have dealt with both privately and publicly.

This added texture of becoming a parent and being an artist is also a balancing act that I continue to deal with in my writing.

So when the ad below was posted through my Real Estate Agency, with quite a few parents and a few new working mothers and fathers, one might understand the outrage…

Ironically, in my last post, I specifically touched on this struggle of working motherhood…and in a piece for Brain, Child earlier in the summer, I discussed the economic difficulties that made me even consider Real Estate in the first place.

It was actually an ideal move for me, I love people, love helping people and love homes – their details and history. Give me some crown molding, stained glass windows or a grand staircase and I’m set!

This ad just hit – right in the gut. Not only as a working mother, but specifically in real estate and even more specifically in New York, I have faced my own up-hill battle over the past couple months with children and justifying childcare and previewing, putting the client first and running myself ragged.

It is not easy and while mentally, I might feel like the woman on the left, it is so important to not resemble that with my clients.

The physical and emotional drain of motherhood is one that knocks me out in the evening – it also keeps me up, working for my clients just a little bit harder because I want to be sharp … efficient.

Surely this ad was not created by one person. Multiple eyes had to see it and so I question when someone thought it was a bad idea, was their voice overlooked?

How did bad judgement get so far in a nation of working mothers?

The social media accounts for Costello and Costello Realty Group seem to all be disabled.

Their yelp page is full of comments from dissatisfied mothers, and so it should be. There are just too many hard working women (and men) who juggle home life and parenting. While some, like my husband, seem to handle both with ease, it is still a delicate dance a balance of life that allows the focus on the work to be even more precise.

So to answer the ad, Who would you rather represent you?

I would rather the agent on the left who can empathize with my life and laugh with me about the crazy things our kids did. The agent who juggles and gets my needs and not two wise guys who are anything but professional.

My welcome to working motherhood…

September 12, 2015January 12, 2017

If you are reading this, then it is possible that you have read my piece that was published this morning on Brain, Child.

A few things have changed since I wrote that piece. For one, I am working… But not just any job. I am a Real Estate Salesperson with Bohemia Realty Group…

There is a framed quote at Bohemia that embodies my MO in this real estate business I have chosen.

Having worked at Gap Inc (Gap,Banana Republic and Old Navy) for nearly 10 years, I was trained in the best Customer Service around.

I can help my customers translates to I can help my clients in Real Estate, where articles of clothing and opening a store credit card to save you 15% is now hunting up, down and all around Manhattan for your ideal home and my 15%.

When I left Gap in 2009 to focus on theatre, I had no clue what was next in my life. I had recently met a man that I had imagined marrying and we did a few years later, although a city hall wedding was not what either of us had expected, and the daughter we had the next year thrust us into parenthood at a time neither of us had expected (me anyways).

Our life has been a list of unexpected events, which in telling other people is exciting and in living can be frightening.

Now a mother of two and back in a service position, I am floored by the exhaustion, both mental and physical, that has taken over my body.

On any given day I want to give up – curl into a ball and just pretend it all doesn’t exist or just wait until catastrophe happens!

Real Estate with kids is a new adventure for me! I am literally starting a new life and with dependents…

In a career built on speed, the first thing I note is that Everything takes longer, but I am held to the same standards. It is exhilarating and super scary!

There have been so many times where I have been pushed to my limits and filled with rage over uncontrollable circumstances.

But I have been inspired by the little things to push through, which is what I would tell any mom in my situation and so should YOU! I look forward to enjoying life the way I once did, because let’s be honest – I love this city and would really rather live no place else!

Sweet Potato, Squash and Kidney Bean Salad…?

April 12, 2015March 14, 2018

As a lover of sweet potatoes and squash, and a lover of trying new things, I made this dish the other night from pure inspiration. I’m sure it has a proper name, but I’m calling it “Sweet Potato, Squash and Kidney Bean…Salad ?”

It is great the next day and possibly a little chilled, if that is your preference.

You will need…
One Sweet Potato
Half of an Acorn Squash
1/4 to 1/2 a can of Red Kidney Beans
A drizzle of Olive Oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F

2) Peel your sweet potato and acorn squash.