I set out to start a leadership community after my experience leading through a difficult season. During that time I longed for a safe-space that could, in the words of author Kobe Campell “offer the tenderness the world and even those in our community refuse to give.” I knew that a community for black women would be received with mixed reviews. However, the support system I developed as a leader… Read More »The Paradox of Leadership
As I reflect on this season of exploring my dream through Goldenwood’s Dream Pod cohort I am most grateful for the introduction of new rhythms that are now becoming part of my practice. David Kim’s teaching, some of which has included combining sacred teachings from both Jesus and Rick Rubin (!), have been illuminating considering the creative work I’m pursuing trying to grow the Justice Film Festival. I am learning… Read More »The Practice of Dreams
As I reflect on the past 5 months, my heart is so full of gratitude. When I started this journey with The Dream Forum, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. The description of the program led me to believe that The Dream Forum was some kind of Christian business incubator where I would receive business coaching, tools to build a business plan and the possibility… Read More »Like a Seedling
My struggle with anxiety I had just landed (what I thought was) my dream job doing product marketing at LinkedIn. However, a few weeks into the new job, anxiety set in. I had never done product marketing before and felt I needed to prove to my manager and coworkers that I was capable. I worked until the wee hours of the morning to impress everyone with my energy and work… Read More »How Anxiety Led to a New Calling
Learning to be the recipient of good things has been a life-long challenge. In fact, when good things came my way, I think I was always a little scared. Unconsciously, I feared that they would be taken away again. I know that these fears were from wounds I’ve carried since my childhood. My upbringing haunts how I see myself, which inevitably interfered with the way I pursued my dreams. I… Read More »New Day Ahead
I was excited to be part of Goldenwood’s Dream Forum when I was accepted. Maybe things will begin to turn I thought. Yet in the past few months, I realized the dream that I believed that I have received from God isn’t coming to pass in the foreseeable future. After 3 years of working on it full time without pay, I feel stuck and need to find a job to… Read More »Reality Check
In cultivating my dream, I’ve learned that it takes more than just one dreamer to make a thing happen. I’ve learned the power of a community and regular rhythms to keep a dream alive, like oxygen and the fanning of flames to keep a fire burning when it’s just getting started. I’ve learned it takes discipline and commitment in order to not forget the need or feel overwhelmed and make… Read More »It Takes More Than One
I’m learning (again) the power of seasons. Things happen slowly and then all at once. I must be consistent and faithful in the “slowly” because that work is essential for the “all at once” to emerge. I am reminded of how my creative life tends to work; I ensure the Big Picture is very clear, then I duck down into the minutia and move inches each day. I don’t run… Read More »The Power of Seasons
“What happens to a dream deferred?” Langston Hughes once asked, a good and relevant question for us. How is a dream itself changed by lack of fulfillment, by waiting and anticipation? If it remains on journey and never arrives does it become more refined, more covered with grime and bruises, or a bit of both? What new forms might our dream take as we shape and reshape it on the… Read More »A Dusty Tongue Tastes Grapes
Photo Cred: Francesco Moretti I started off my Dream Forum journey excited about finally getting my dream off the ground. I’d been teaching time management workshops for a few years here and there, but it took the global pandemic screeching my musical touring to a halt for me to be able to bring this beloved endeavor to the front burner. Well, to a front burner anyway, since the life of… Read More »I Did Not Sign Up for This!