Exhale

How to Release the Past and Make Space for What Matters

By Erica Fraser

When I discovered minimalism in 2015, I thought I found the path to freedom. I thought if everything important to me could fit in one suitcase, life would get easier and the heaviness that sometimes seeped into my limbs would disappear. I was preparing to relocate for grad school and wanted a fresh start, so I decided to get rid of most of my belongings. To downsize, I followed Marie Kondo’s advice and asked myself if the items I had stored in my childhood home “brought me joy”. Once I was finished sorting through my possessions, everything that meant something to me could fit in two suitcases. Everything else in my room was there because it had always been there.

With fewer items, and a lot of hope, I left for DC. Once I got to my new apartment, I felt a deep sense of peace and slept through the night for the first time in months. But, once the excitement of a new city faded and my schoolwork wasn’t enough to distract me, I felt heavy and this time I couldn’t blame it on a cluttered environment. I found myself plagued with the same feelings I had in NY: shame, guilt, regret, and heartbreak.

Everything I was running from lived inside of me. The baggage I was carrying was invisible, but it was incredibly heavy. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to do something different.

I think we all get to the point of being faced with the option of holding on to things that no longer serve us or letting it all go to live a more fulfilling life. If we choose to pack light, what do we do?

Surrender

Stop running. Finding the courage to face ourselves isn’t easy. Sometimes we avoid unraveling what we’ve kept hidden for years out of fear that we will break. But, being broken doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Bringing our pain to the surface can break us open in good ways. Shedding light on the darkness, sadness and pain we’ve been carrying helps us begin the process of letting it all go. it also helps us create space for new things.

Lead with curiosity instead of judgment

When I started working on my relationship with self, I didn’t know how to speak to myself with compassion. This made the process of change hard for me. I felt so much shame for my past actions and sometimes it caused me to shut down. When I learned to approach growth with empathy, kindness and love, facing myself became easier.

Instead of asking “what’s wrong we with me?” or “what was I thinking?”, we can give ourselves the space to observe patterns in our behavior. Statements like, “I tend to shut down when I get angry”, “I feel depleted after I hang out with this person” and “I feel envious of organized people”, allow us to be curious about our behavior and emotions. When our approach to self-discovery isn’t rooted in self-judgement, we have the space to explore and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. We may even realize that some of the things we’ve been telling ourselves about ourselves, and others, isn’t true.

Forgive yourself

Practicing self-forgiveness helps us feel lighter and live in the present. Some of us are holding on to anger and resentment towards ourselves for things we did in the past. Some of us are stuck because we have chosen to take responsibility for things we had no control over, like the way people treated us. The more we lament and ruminate over what happened, the longer we deal with the unpleasant feelings that arise when we attempt to control the uncontrollable.  The past is the past and we can’t change it. The only thing we can do is move forward and learn to trust ourselves again. Forgiving ourselves isn’t easy, but with grace and self-compassion it is possible.

Practice radical self-acceptance

I had to stop telling myself that I’d love myself when I fulfilled my own expectations or I’d love myself when everyone loved me. That was never going to happen.  We are all worthy of being loved for who we are in this moment. We don’t need to do anything to receive love because love is free. If we keep waiting to arrive at a certain part of growth to be at peace with who are, we prolong our ability to feel joy, to experience healing and to claim worthiness.

“Do more of what makes you happy”

As a child, I learned that my happiness was contingent on the happiness of those around me. If my parents had a good day, I’d have a good day. If my friends were in a good mood, I’d be in a good mood. If everyone had everything they needed, I’d have everything I needed. Except I never did. I felt neglected and depleted. Once I started to spend more time with myself, I realized I spent so much time trying to facilitate happiness for others that I didn’t know what made me happy. I also didn’t have a strong connection to my purpose. To start the process, I turned to childhood hobbies I loved such as writing, painting, drawing and playing the piano.

When we focus on doing more of what makes us happy, we invite joy into our lives. We give ourselves permission to live a life in a way that honors our deepest desires. Some of us have been taught that one of the main ways we practice being a king person and loving others is through selflessness. We devote so much time and energy to others and hope that people will deny themselves for us in return. It rarely happens. And, it shouldn’t be the expectation. We have to find the courage to choose ourselves and let others do the same. It’s okay to tell the people we love “no” so we can tell ourselves “yes”.

Give yourself permission to evolve

Giving ourselves permission to evolve is one of the ways we practice self-love. The things that define us today won’t define us forever. I’m not the same person I was five years ago, most of us aren’t. Change can be overwhelming and scary, especially if the things about us that are changing were once salient to our identity. Sometimes we feel pressure to stand in a decision we made or a belief about ourselves simply because we chose it. We may even feel like no longer making that choice displays failure or a lack of knowing who we are. The truth is, we are allowed to change our minds. We are allowed to re-think commitments if the commitments no longer reflect who we are and who we are becoming. We’re not lost, we ‘re honoring who we are in the current chapter of our lives. We are choosing to live in alignment and making space for what matters.

About Erica

Erica Fraser is a writer and content creator in the DMV. She creates content for people that are learning how to love themselves and need some encouragement along the way.

Erica has written two e-books, Lucid and Letting go: Your guide to releasing the past and embracing your future.

To read more of her work, check out her Instagram @ericacfraser and website: ericacfraser.com

HERstory: Our Pioneers

Honoring Black Women Who Paved The Way

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By Quintavia McKay

As we celebrate Women’s History Month it is only right to acknowledge those women who have paved the way for many of us. Whether it was through entrepreneurship, philanthropy or cultural impact, these women left an everlasting mark on society and our culture as we know it.

Continuously cultivating the minds of women within the African American and minority communities here are a few of those women who made HERstory:

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Madame CJ Walker (Sarah Breedlove) - The Mogul

Madam CJ Walker was a pioneer, first female self-made billionaire and activist that managed to make her living off the one thing that unites us all: hair. Starting from a problem of her own and creating a solution made her relatable and trustworthy to clientele. She was a fighter and with her strong minded will made progress to be a pioneer for the industry to come with her own haircare line. You can check out her limited series story on Netflix entitled Self Made.

Photo: CBS

Photo: CBS

Oprah Winfrey - The Media Tycoon

When we talk moguls let’s not forget to mention Ms. Oprah Gail Winfrey. An author, philanthropist, actress and TV producer; Who says women can’t do it all? Humble beginnings as a news anchor for CBS and a graduate of Tennessee State University, Winfrey continued to take the world by storm. Her daily talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show is the best of its kind, bringing together people and sharing those important and untold stories.

Photo: Miller Mobley

Photo: Miller Mobley

Michelle Obama - The Icon

Lawyer. Writer. Wife. Mother. Former and first African American First lady. Michelle Obama has done and continues to do it all. As a graduate from Princeton University (1985) and Harvard Law School (1988), she serves as a role model to the community and young women around the world. Michelle constantly advocates for poverty, education, healthy living and nutrition practices. Her recent book Becoming, is a memoir of the former first lady detailing her life, passion, roots, motherhood and finding her voice.

Photo: Matt Sayles/AP

Photo: Matt Sayles/AP

Cicely Tyson - The Grace

The late and great Cicely Tyson was a Hollywood icon pioneering the entertainment industry through acting and modeling. Working over seven decades her work to portrayed and exemplified the best of the African American woman. Tyson has sat among presidents, queens, kings and other dignitaries, where she left a mark in their hearts and minds. Being an Emmy and Oscar award winning woman is not a title to take lightly. Her esteem and presence are always felt in the roles she played on screen. In her memoir Just as I am, Tyson describes it as her truth where she is plain, unvarnished with the glitter and garland set aside.

Love Yourself First

A guide on self-love for women.

Photo by Rikonavt

Photo by Rikonavt

By Quintavia McKay

Self-love.

Composed of both a noun and a verb is the action in which one must display deep adoration unto themselves; but it’s not as easy as it may sound.

The necessity of self-love is heavily essential during womanhood when coincidentally the concept of burnout, social media usage and work-life balance are at an all time high. 

To say this hasn't been the topic of 2020 and 2021 is an understatement and social media has been flooded with ways to connect with one’s inner self and embrace the love you may be looking for.

We’ve found identified a few things that are both beneficial in establishing a daily routine based in self-love. As you continue to evolve, older forms of displaying self-love begin to shift though many stay the same. Here are some great forms of self-love:

  1. Self-care 

First and foremost self-love has to coincide with self-care because your body is definitely a temple from the inside and out. This is the time to focus on the mind, body and spirit.

2. Journaling

Do not think of this as a plain old diary, because this step is done with intention. The intention to reflect at the end of day/month on feelings of uncertainty or certain situations that have put a damper on your emotional health. Journaling should never feel like a chore but second nature on the path to unlocking emotional trauma that may be disguised in unhealthy habits (ie. laziness, insomnia, passive aggression, etc.).

Get fancy with your journal. Love it like you need to love yourself from the inside out. 

3. Spending time with who and/or what makes you happy

Time is something you will never get back, so make it memorable and enjoyable. Spending time doing what makes you happy can be a big stress reliever. It can be physical or mental activity that requires little to no effort such as a new hobby, watching your favorite TV show or a picnic with friends. That human interaction with one person can be just enough to get you through the week.

4. Exercise

It may not seem like the ideal thing to do but you would be surprised by its benefits. It can be as easy as a simple jog in the park or morning yoga to get your day going. Get up and get active!

5. Give yourself grace

If 2020 has taught us anything, it was to be easy on ourselves. Learning that you are both your biggest critic and biggest fan is really an eye opener. Work hard but do not overwork yourself and be sure to celebrate those small accomplishments because they matter too. You must learn to accept who you are and understand you serve a purpose in this world and how you choose to benefit from it. 

6. Address your fears

Recognize what your fears are and use it as fuel to be more positive. Learn how your fears affect you in your everyday life and think of different ways to combat against them. You can talk to someone about this or seek any professional insight if you feel it's too much or find a family member or friend to help you overcome it. 

7. Affirmations

The tongue is powerful! Saying affirmations in the morning when you wake up helps set the tone for your day and can be used as goal setting for the week. Learn to speak positivity over your life even during your darkest days. Affirmations plus hard work helps you to embody all of who you are and where you want to be.

8. Take a break!!

Whether it be a day to yourself, a small staycation or meditation time in the middle of your day, TAKE THAT BREAK! Give yourself the peace you desire. 

Self-love is a necessity for women in all walks of life. Self-love prevents burnout or doubts you may have, so make the time to do embrace who you are within. And if you don’t do anything else today choose to love yourself first. 

Our Bodies, Our Pain, Our Periods

To Bleed as a Black Woman


By Janice Miyoshi Days

It’s 3:15am on September 24th and I can’t sleep. I’m tossing and turning in bed, trying to find a comfortable position. My mind is reeling, ridden with shock and disbelief as I reflect on the grand jury’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case. Breonna’s face swims in my mind as I think about her family and those who knew her personally, mourning her life. I think about the protests. The petitions. The calls to action. I think about everything, yet still, there is no justice.

As tears stain my face, I can’t help but draw parallels between my life and that of Breonna Taylor’s. She was a young, vibrant, 26-year-old Black woman, emerging on the cusp of her life. I think about the fact that none of the officers involved were directly charged with her murder. The wanton endangerment charges were not because of Breonna’s death, but rather for the shots fired into her white neighbor’s apartment, damaging property. 

The property was more valued than Breonna’s body. 

There is a history of devaluing Black women’s bodies in this country. 2020 has violently and bluntly reminded me (and the nation) that Black women are among some of the most disrespected and vulnerable people in the world. 

Black women’s lives, bodies, and health are literally at risk every day at rates higher than our non-black counterparts. Here are some statistics: 

  • Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. 

  • Nearly a quarter of all black women ages 18-30 have fibroids, compared to only 7 percent of white women.

  • Black women and white women get breast cancer at about the same rate, but black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women.

The areas in which Black women are at risk go beyond life and death, and seep into our everyday lives. For example, one area in particular of black women’s health that concerns me is our menstrual periods. 

As writer Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez recalls in her article: Period Taboo and Menstrual Cups in the Black Community, [In the black community] “menstruation wasn’t something you celebrated. At the same time, it wasn’t something you ignored. It was simply a fact of life. As a Black woman, I was taught that it’s like any other trial — you deal with it, push through the pain, and move on.” In 2017, research showed that black women spent about 54 million dollars on feminine hygiene products that year . That’s 16 percent more than any other racial group.  Yet, black women are more likely to be ashamed of our periods. Why is that? There seems to be a disconnect. As a society, periods are still considered a taboo topic, but there is an added layer as a black woman. Our periods are shrouded in stereotypes and pain instead of their purpose. 

The hypersexalization of our physical bodies has contributed to the generational spread of  “black mama myths” and taboos like “tampons aren’t for virgins.” According to research by Tampax Radiant, twenty-five percent of Black women said they made the decision to use pads only because they were never taught how to use tampons. 

Historian and author of The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-Century America, Lara Freindenfelds explains that African American mothers are quite concerned about their daughters handling their bodies. This comes from racist attitudes that black women are stigmatized over their bodies. Black mothers are very careful about helping their daughters do this in a way that would mark them as middle class.

Lack of representation in media, data studies, and socio-economic inequalities are also major contributing factors. 

It’s important to educate black women about their menstrual period, menstrual cycle, and reproductive health; because we’ve been fed so much misinformation for years. A huge portion is rooted in our inherent distrust of medical professionals; which is arguably warranted. 

For centuries, our black bodies have been falsely believed by scientists, physicians, and slave owners, to feel less pain, withstand more injury, and quite frankly; believed that our lives are expendable, to justify inhumane treatment towards us. In 1851, Dr. Samuel Cartright of the University of Louisiana, wrote in a medical report, “Diseases and Peculiarities of the Negro Race” that black slaves bore drapetomania, a disease making them insensible to pain when subjected to punishment”. 

From the U.S. military secretly testing mustard gas and other chemicals on black soldiers during World War II, to the Tuskegee Experiment studying the progression of untreated syphilis in black men from 1932 to 1972; there is a harmful narrative that the black body is unimportant and replaceable.

And decades later, a 2016 study showed that physicians were still more likely to underestimate the pain of black patients (47%) relative to nonblack patients (33.5%). 

These historical events minimize our physical pain and have subconsciously buried our emotional pain and trauma deep in our psyches which manifest through the way we view ourselves and openly discuss our bodies. 

5 years ago, Cece Jones-Davis, a menstrual advocate, artist, and thought leader, wrote an article entitled “Why Black Women in the United States Must Talk About Menstruation Now” which posed the question: Where are all the black women in the period advocacy space? 

Thankfully, since then, there have been dozens of black women who have raised their voices and are creating real change in the menstrual advocacy space. Women like Chelsea VonChaz of #Happy Period, Ileri-Oluwa Jaiyeoba of Code Red Collective , Lynette Medley of No More Secrets, and Zakia Haughton and Jackie Edouard of Our Periods Matter, and a plethora of other of black women who are providing necessary period products, period literacy, and advocating on the front lines for menstruators in their communities.  

As a black woman and the founder of Hate the Dot, a movement committed to turning menstrual cycles to self-care rituals, I am personally finding healing from repeated trauma by using my voice for good, for change, and for action now more than ever. In 2019, I co-hosted a rally on National Period Day at City Hall in New York City to protest the tampon tax in this country. I’ve partnered with various companies to host packing parties and to give away hundreds of period & hygiene products to benefit homeless and less fortunate women in NYC. This year, Hate the Dot gave away 5,000 tampons for free for menstruators impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Photo Courtesy of Hate The Dot

Photo Courtesy of Hate The Dot

At Hate the Dot, we want to encourage Black women to make time and space for self-care. In a country where our bodies have been so violently disrespected, it is an act of rebellion when we intentionally take care of them. When we dispel myths about our health and hygiene, we slowly chip away generations of physical, emotional, and mental trauma. 

Here are a few ways to create time and space for your menstrual self-care:

  • Tracking your Menstrual Cycle: In my opinion, your menstrual cycle is a vital sign. Some days you may have lots of energy, some days you may not. Some days your hormones are in one place, and a few days later; they are in another. It is so important to understand what phase of your menstrual cycle you are in and what happens to your body during each phase. When you are equipped with more knowledge , you can make more informed decisions about your health.

  • Starting conversations with women & menstruators in your life: Periods and talking about our reproductive organs should not be taboo. We need to have regular conversations to help normalize this. You can also examine what attitudes you have about these topics. Think about any negative feelings you have about your period and your body. Where did they come from? Were they taught to you? Did your momma & her momma have the same negative attitudes?

I believe our past impacts our present. The psychological and societal scars from racism, oppression, and classism have all played a part in the way that black women present themselves to the world and have pacified conversations about our bodies and menstrual periods for generations. 

I also believe our present will impact our future, and when we make time and space for self-care; we heal the past traumas and create a new narrative for our health and bodies.

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Meet The Writer

Miyoshi Days is a menstrual advocate, thought leader, and founder of Hate the Dot. Her mission is to help turn menstrual cycles into self-care rituals through education and advocacy.

Through her community-based online platform (launching early 2021), Miyoshi helps take the confusion out of the menstrual cycle by talking to menstrual education experts from all around the world to break down what's really going on with your body each month. She has a strong passion for educating, empowering, and helping women and menstruators alike prioritize their health and self-care.

Using her pain for gain

How the Plight of Megan Thee Stallion Is That of Black Womanhood in America.

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Image Source: Instagram/theestallion


By Kareemah Muhammad

In 1962, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X said:

“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” 

That statement by one of the world’s most prolific leaders, sadly, still reigns true today. Though much improvement has been made since then, we still have much work to do in protecting, respecting and uplifting Black women in America.

In particular, we see this when it comes to Rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose music career has catapulted within the past year. Though she has proven through her lyricism, talent, and of course record sales, that her career is ripe and ready to soar, she has faced a lot of mockery after news reports surfaced of her being shot this month. 

This includes social media posts from perusers and celebrities, making light of a serious event, which left Megan “hurt and traumatized.” She wrote,

“Black women are so unprotected & we hold so many things in to protect the feeling of others [without] considering our own. It might be funny to y’all on the internet and just another messy topic for you to talk about but this is my real life.”

This blatant lack of concern for the Black woman and her existence is nothing new. In fact, it is a deep-seeded issue that has been woven into the fabric of American culture.

When did this start? During slavery! 

In 1787, there was a clause added to the U.S. Constitution that considered Black people as three-fifths of a person, which was designed to enhance southern, congressional representation. Meaning, they simply needed us for votes!

When it came to Black women, there was entirely no agency over their bodies. They were raped, beaten, branded and more, in order to ensure the capitalistic institution of slavery thrived. 

Another moment that builds upon this notion was when James Marion Sims, also known as the “Father of Gynecology,” performed involuntary, vaginal experimentations on 11 female slaves from 1846 to 1849. After numerous, gruesome trials on these women without anesthesia, Sims found a treatment for vesicovaginal fistula, which he then used to perform operations for wealthy, White women. 

His acclaim within the medical profession came at the expense of those Black women, who were at the will of their slaveholders. Yet, in 2018, his statue was removed from Central Park in New York. Mayor Bill De Blasio made the decision to remove the statue after community advocates brought Sims’ atrocity to the forefront. 

The removal of the statue was a tremendous feat that shed light on the horrendous history of the abuse of the 11 Black women. And it set the stage to unveil current plights that Black women face today.

In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 64,000 to 75,000 Black women and girls currently missing. And like the 11 Black women before them, they have become merely an afterthought.

You see this with the media coverage, or lack thereof, of Black women and girls. When they go missing, the media often categorizes them as runaways. Thereby, in many cases, stifling searches that can lead to their safe return. This heightens the risk that they will become victims of sex trafficking and abductions without return. 

What we face now is the system failing to protect us, leaving us to be sold into modern-day slavery. 

We also see this with the cases of Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland and countless others, whose names have gone unsaid. We now have an even greater obligation to raise our voices for those who have been silenced or disregarded. 

We must also hold our community and the society at large accountable for any degradation of Black women. Like Megan Thee Stallion said on Monday as she held back tears in her Instagram Live video,

“What if your motherf------ sister got shot? What if you What if your motherf------ girlfriend got shot? What if you motherf------ best friend got shot? Would you be cracking jokes then?"

There is no room for us to perpetuate the same system of gain at the detriment of our Black mothers, sisters and daughters. 

We say no more to using our bodies for accolades, likes, shares and fame. Our suffrage will no longer be used for anyone’s gain!

Let us keep the momentum going and lift Megan and our entire sisterhood in love.

It’s Not About Reaching The Dream Once

The ever-evolving journey in mental wellness.

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By Glenda Lezeau

***This post might be mentally triggering due to factual descriptions of mental health symptoms. Please proceed with caution and stay in tune with yourself.***

The only important thing that you need to know about me is that I'm...Haitian! *drops mic* There’s nothing else to write. Of course, I'm kidding, but I'm partially serious. You have to know that I am Haitian American to know where I am going with this post. I absolutely LOVE Haitian music, more specifically Konpa music. I was listening to one of my favorite songs and was inspired to write about it. It’s called “Ti Bato” by New York All Stars. 

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Album Cover of New York All Stars

“Ti Bato” translates to “Little Boat”. The whole song takes place on a little boat traveling on water as a metaphor to describe what the pathway towards your dream can look like.

I have many dreams, but one of my biggest dreams is to achieve the greatest amount of mental strength needed for overall mental wellness. I’ve reached that dream before, but sometimes it's not about reaching it once: It's about reaching it over and over again as you experience life - especially when living with bipolar disorder. Yup, I have bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed after having my first mental breakdown.


My Mental Breakdown Was Like the Little Boat In Rough Sea Conditions


I thought I reached my dream after being hospitalized during my first mental breakdown in 2011, but six years later I was hospitalized again, this time twice in three weeks. This was my third mental breakdown and I realized that I had to reach my dream destination again. (Just to clarify, my second mental breakdown was not as severe, so I did not need to be hospitalized.)


Now, back to the song. “Ti Bato” is not about a well-built cruise ship that sails smoothly. It is about a little boat that was handmade, floating through big waters with people on it. There are lyrics in the song that describe the conditions going on as people were traveling on this boat. 


“The wind is blowing; thunder is roaring; it’s raining,” and someone tells the person paddling to make sure they hold on tightly to their paddles because someone on the boat doesn’t know how to swim. (That last part was written for me — just kidding, but I actually don't know how to swim. Don't judge me!) 

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Photo by Marios Kefalas on Unsplash


All of the inclement weather conditions happened back to back and all at once to those traveling on that little boat. It reminded me of what it felt like as I was dealing with two back to back hospitalizations in the span of three weeks. 


I was having intense delusions that made me lose perception of reality. I will spare you all the specific details of my delusions and other symptoms because they were pretty traumatic. Just to give you an idea, I actually thought that I was somewhere else when I was really in the hospital. I was having recurring delusions that made me believe that I was not at the hospital. I saw aspects of the hospital when I looked around, but I believed my delusion instead.


While standing on the hospital floor, I was convinced that I was actually at the edge of the Empire State Building about to jump. It was a really scary feeling. During this delusion, I remember trying my hardest to see what I thought was the truth, so that I could stop myself from jumping and attempting suicide. I remember sharing that to an amazing, caring nurse on my floor who physically showed me several times that the hospital floor was indeed real. 


It didn't hit me that the floor was real and that I was having a delusion until my parents walked in. Here's where it gets more interesting. That same angelic nurse told me to look up because my parents were here to visit me. My nurse was trying again to prove to me that I really was in a hospital. I was still experiencing my delusion, so I couldn't see my parents. All I saw was an empty hospital hallway in the area where my parents were standing. My nurse started pointing to my parents, but I was still seeing an empty hallway. I was staring and staring and staring and finally I saw them! My parents were really there! Seeing my parents and feeling my Dad's arm wrapped around me convinced me that I was not suicidal and that I was not on top of the Empire State Building. After that moment, it was easier for me to recognize when I was having a delusion and as a result, I was able to help myself heal.


After about four days, I was feeling well enough to be discharged from the hospital and the clinicians were amazed to see how well I was doing. I was looking forward to continuing the recovery process at home, but two days later I was back in the hospital. I relapsed and my symptoms came back, but this time stronger and more intense. The second time around, I was hospitalized at a different hospital and was admitted for TWO WHOLE WEEKS. Ugh! I was itching to leave, so when I was finally discharged I felt free. 


I thought I was on my way to mental wellness after being discharged the first time around, but clearly I wasn’t. I was shocked to have relapsed within a few days. Setbacks happen and sometimes you don’t reach your dream(s) when and how you expect to reach them. That’s part of the process. Even in “Ti Bato,” the boat was expected to arrive at its destination sooner than it actually reached. During their expected arrival, they were still at sea experiencing intense conditions, but in the end they reached their dream destination. And eventually, I reached my dream destination and was able to achieve mental wellness again.


My dream for mental wellness is my version of what’s described in “Ti Bato.” Throughout “Ti Bato” the main singer sings repeatedly, “my dream is my only destination.” I strongly agree. It might take inclement mental conditions and roaring symptoms for me to reach my mental wellness dream, but “my dream is my only destination.” As I mentioned earlier, I realized that achieving mental wellness is a process that I have to repeat over and over again. It is a process that needs to be achieved multiple times in order for me to experience lasting mental wellness - especially when living with bipolar disorder. Sometimes you have to go through moments of hardships to reach your dream. This is the only way I’m going to reach my dream and it might be the only way you can reach yours.


For more stories based on my journey with bipolar, check out my new book,  Letters to My Bipolar Self.

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About The Author

Glenda Lezeau was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011 after having a mental breakdown that led to her hospitalization. Since then, she has felt it deep in her heart to share her story with hopes of empowering and educating others. With that in mind, she became a mental health advocate and started Rising From Bipolar. Rising From Bipolar is a platform featuring inspiring messages about mental health based on Glenda's personal journey.











HOW MINDFULNESS CAN HELP YOUR 2020 VISION

A new year starts with a renewed mind.


Photo by Diana Simumpande

Photo by Diana Simumpande


By Driadonna Roland

Remember when 2020 sounded like the distant future? How we thought we’d have personal robots to do our chores and be riding in flying cars? Well, the future is now; the work is still on us to be done, and we can decide to kick off this new year — new decade! — by being fully in the present, with our feet planted on the ground.

Instead of starting 2020 with the customary urgency to overhaul our entire lives, try ushering in the new year with a sense of mindfulness. 

“The way I view mindfulness is increasing one’s self-awareness. That actually encompasses and ripples out to everything else. How self-aware are you?” says Karmay, the founder of Gloetry Assembly, which provides safe spaces for healing and community for women and girls.  “Ask yourself, how can I become 5 percent more aware this year and what kind of impact will that have on my life?” 

To Karmay, a 5 percent increase in self-awareness is a way of saying, how can you move the needle just a little bit and allow yourself to notice the difference an incremental movement can make.

Lauren Solomon, a yogi, reiki practitioner, and birth and postpartum doula based in Harlem, elaborates even further: “It’s just knowing what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, what you believe, why do you believe it. It’s moving and living your life in every area coming from a place of more integrity, but also being honest and aware when you’re out of integrity.”

With that said, the first thing you can do to be more mindful in 2020 is examine whether you need to place all that customary “New Year, New Me” pressure on yourself in the first place. “Mindfulness is also just the questioning. Be in the inquiry of everything — why is that significant, and why am I adopting it and choosing to believe that it’s significant? Is that true for me; yes or no? And then move from that place,” Solomon says. 

The truth is, we’ve all seen enough Januarys to admit whether we actually have the commitment to stick to our resolutions. In Solomon’s words, “Nothing is going to change in 2020 if you don’t.”

However, for some people, having deadlines is a helpful marker, and the sense of a fresh start at the top of the year carries an energy that encourages change. In fact, Karmay believes now is the best time to be more mindful. She recommends finding a coach, therapist, or local group class to facilitate honest conversations. “I think that coaches give you a fast track to enlightenment and help you connect those dots and make a complete story out of what’s happening where it might be fragmented,” says the Brooklyn-based certified Level II Reiki Practitioner, Life Coach, and Circle Trainer.

Ultimately, living a more mindful life requires you to look deeply inward. You want to examine your relationships to self, loved ones, intimate partners, coworkers; even your relationships to failure, finances, and sex, and simply ask yourself: Is this working? It’s not about judging your behaviors as good or bad, Solomon says. Once you’re aware, you can make a plan to optimize what’s working and acknowledge what needs to change. This inner work will manifest outwardly — especially for entrepreneurs.

“If you’re truly in that entrepreneur space where you eat what you plant, it demands this of you,” says Solomon. “When you have to do the work of creating something, of building something, of manifesting something, it demands this level of self-reflection and inquiry because the way you show up with you is how your business shows up or it doesn’t show up.” She explains that any self-sabotaging behaviors or limiting beliefs you hold will appear in your work. 

To that end, she says intention and discipline are the pillars of mindfulness. Discipline is how you train yourself to keep your commitments, while intention focuses your energy.

“When you’re holding that vision of, this is how I want that conference call to go, this is what I want to convey in this email, this is why I’m asking this person to lunch or to have coffee with me, you’ll begin to see how energetically, universally things will align to support you in that, by your doing it in advance and on purpose and from a pure place,” she advises.

As we ring in a new year, get your mind right and the rest will fall in place.

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About The Writer

Driadonna Roland is a multidisciplinary storyteller born in Detroit, Michigan. After earning a B.S. in journalism from Florida A&M University, she got her start as a newspaper reporter, then transitioned to digital media with brands including BuzzFeed, MTV News, and Complex. Driadonna loves to tell stories that center black women and help entrepreneurs with copywriting and branding. Currently, she is a freelance writer/producer/personality based in NYC who is available for hire!

How to Maintain Your Health Goals During Thanksgiving // Don’t Let Thanksgiving Ruin Your Health and Wellness Goals

A few tips to avoid holiday temptation.

Image via CreateHER Stock, LLC Photographer: Isha Gaines

Image via CreateHER Stock, LLC Photographer: Isha Gaines

By Driadonna Roland

Here come the holidays, to load even more onto your already-full plate! It’s a commonality that when our schedules fill up and we’re juggling too many balls, the first to drop can be the commitment to our health. 

This season, we want to share some helpful tips on how to maintain your wellness goals and manage your diet despite the indulgences of Thanksgiving. Whether it’s jingle bells or holiday hell, this is truly a time where if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

PRE-GAME

It all starts in the mind, so the first step is to determine to prioritize your goals over your feelings and circumstances. Fitness is a lifestyle, so fit it in to your life! As HuffPo fitness writer Penny Love put it, “I hate to bear bad news, but the reality is that if you have fitness goals, you've got to plan your life around exercise and dieting activities, not vice versa.” This might require you to be flexible and creative; don’t be so rigid that if you can’t stick to your exact routine to the tee then you count it a loss. After all, isn’t 15 minutes of exercise better than zero?

Let’s say you’re staying with family and can’t do your usual 6 a.m. hourlong cardio sesh in the living room. How can you modify it so you get your workout in without waking up grandma? Find a 30-minute pilates workout on YouTube — Fitness Blender has tons of free videos — or a serene yoga practice instead. 

Is there a way to make exercise a family affair? Convince your relatives to try a local fitness class with you, something fun or low-impact that people of all ages can do together. Another alternative is to gather everyone and pop in an old school aerobics tape while you wait for that turkey to bake! This way you’ll get in your sweat sesh and your quality time.

A CORNUCOPIA OF TRIGGERS 

Holidays are innately emotional. This can be true whether you’re with loved ones or alone. For those who are emotional eaters, this can be an especially tricky season. Some strategies here are to be mindful of your triggers. What gets you in your feelings? Use that self-awareness to acknowledge your feelings without indulging them. 

And as hard as it may seem, you should feel empowered to do what’s best for you. If home is uncomfortable and you stuff your mouth to avoid those awkward family conversations, you don’t have to place yourself in that situation. Some people opt for Friendsgiving, surrounding themselves with the family they choose; some make a special meal for one; others volunteer at soup kitchens to feed the less fortunate. 

We also expend a great amount of energy agonizing over food. How can you enjoy your meal when you stress over it? “If we're stuck in conflict, feeling like, 'Oh my gosh, I shouldn't eat any pie. I'm on a diet but the pie looks so good. I shouldn't have it, but maybe I'll have a small piece,' that's a tremendous amount of energy that's going into the pie," Dr. Alexis Conason recently told Good Morning America. Instead of beating yourself up, try this instead: Moderation over deprivation.


TURKEY DAY TEMPTATION

As this is the season for parties galore, willpower gets harder to practice with each invite. That’s why preparation must start even before you get to the table. 

If you’re traveling home, bring your own healthy snacks to the airport or train station so you’re not subject to the overpriced, not-so-fresh offerings they tend to have.

When you get to the event, get a layout of the spread first and make a game plan. Pace yourself by drinking a cup of water for every glass of alcohol or wine. And manage your portions; one spoon of those yams with the marshmallows on top is enough to savor the flavor.

Some of us come from cultures where we do feel pressured to eat, or we don’t want to offend Aunt Barbara by not eating her potato salad. Remember — it’s your waistline, not theirs, so stand your ground! 

And finally, if you do overeat, it’s OK... as long as you bounce back. Don’t let one cheat meal became a cheat month or cheat life. Show yourself some compassion, keep it moving, and pick right back up. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dria Headshot.jpg

About the writer

Driadonna Roland is a multidisciplinary storyteller born in Detroit, Michigan. After earning a B.S. in journalism from Florida A&M University, she got her start as a newspaper reporter, then transitioned to digital media with brands including BuzzFeed, MTV News, and Complex. Driadonna loves to tell stories that center black women and help entrepreneurs with copywriting and branding. Currently, she is a freelance writer/producer/personality based in NYC who is available for hire! To keep up with Driadonna follow her @DreeTV on IG.






RareMavens On The Move: Mitchka Herard to direct web series about millennial black creatives and their journeys with self-discovery.

Uncovering Boston’s rich culture with one street.

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Photo by Karalynn Ojeda-Pollard

By Kareemah Muhammad

Mitchka Herard is sharing her lens on millennial creatives of color with the production of Dudley Street, a series she wrote and will now direct. Dudley Street is a scripted web series about five friends who are finding out all it takes to actualize their dreams as creatives, while facing life’s pressures. Mitchka, who is from Boston, wrote the series after noticing there are not many stories on the lives of millennial creatives of color and wanted to showcase the culture within her city.

Directing the series will be a first for Herard, who has been writing since middle school and discovered her signature voice when it came to storytelling as a student at the University of Massachusetts Boston. With her newfound style of writing, Mitchka wrote a comic book story called Euphora in 2018 and shortly after wrote the Dudley Street series. With the series, Mitchka wants to address common misconceptions and social strains within the black community and believes there needs to be a lot more acceptance for us to grow as a culture.

Mitchka shared her journey with us when it came to writing the series and what the Dudley Street series means to creative communities of color.

Interviewer: Where are you from?

Mitchka: I was born in New York and raised in Dorchester (Boston).

Interviewer: What’s signature about Dorchester?

Mitchka: Boston is fairly small compared to other cities so, everyone kind of like, knows each other in a way. If you don’t know a person directly, you probably know them indirectly through someone else. I think it’s dope in a way because, I guess it’s more intimate. Dorchester also has a lot of culture to it that people wouldn’t know if they weren’t from here. A lot of people think that Boston is just like super white but it’s definitely more than that. Like when people come to neighborhoods like Dorchester and like other neighborhoods like Roxbury, they kind of just see all of that culture.

Interviewer: What is the Dudley Street series about?

It’s about a group of friends, five friends who are all creatives of color. One of them is a dancer, one’s a singer. Another one does spoken word. Another one is an artist. There’s another one who does comedy. They’re dealing with internal struggles and societal struggles as well. I use scenarios that I felt were relatable, that people of our age often go through.

Interviewer: Why the name Dudley Street?

Mitchka: Dudley Street is actually in Roxbury. That’s where a lot of the black culture is prominent in Boston. It had like a nice ring to it.

Interviewer: What are some scenarios that characters go through?

Mitchka: One of them is having trouble paying for her semester at college and she’s trying to support a (sick) family member that she’s living with. She can’t really juggle all of these things she’s going through. She has to kind of resort to an alternative source of income. There’s another character who’s like going through… he’s like seen as the funny friend but he’s going through depression.  He’s scared to voice that to his friends because he doesn’t want to be, you know, seen as anything other than the person who can make everyone else happy.

Interviewer: What inspired you to create the series?

Mitchka: I tried starting like a collective of artists and writers and I remember there was this one kid who was like telling us this random story. I kind of just thought to myself when we were all like vibing in the group chat, I’m like, why isn’t there a show about like just black creatives? I thought it would be like a super dope idea. And so I kind of just like sat down one day and wrote the pilot.

Interviewer: Why do you feel it’s important to share stories that represent creatives of color?

Mitchka: It’s important for them to continue to pursue these dreams that make them happy because at the end of the day I think we’ve been through a lot as a culture and we deserve to put ourselves first. I think a lot of us feel like we have to put others before ourselves a lot of the time but … I like that right now there’s this big thing about self-care. I think that it’s important for us to continue speaking about that and continue producing that message about self-care and just being happy…doing what you love.

Interviewer: What excites you about directing the series?

Mitchka: I’m excited about being able to – help the actors evolve and have each other help to create this. Just being able to connect with them in a way that will help build the story and… add more meaning to it.

Interviewer: What are some things you’ve done to help you with your directing?

Mitchka: I feel like me just watching more movies and watching more shows and just studying the way that they were filmed. That definitely helped me more to get different perspectives about different filming techniques and what I could do.

Interviewer: What are some shows you’ve watched that helped you?

Mitchka: Shows that are similar to what I’m aiming for like Insecure and Friends … those are definitely helpful.

Interviewer: Why do you feel it’s important for millennial women of color to share our stories?

Mitchka: I feel like society often tries to shut us out. Even now it’s still like the people in this industry who are like at the top are like the you know, white males but there’s definitely a lot of power in black women. I think that it’s important that we see that there [are] more relatable women out there. We need a lot more of the positive so that we can positively influence the next generation and show them that they can accomplish what the set out to [do]. Women of color can make it in film and are more than what society paints us out to be.

Interviewer: What are your hopes for the Dudley Street Series?

Mitchka: I plan on submitting it to different networks. If anything, I’ll still continue making episodes. I do feel it has the potential to go far.

Interviewer: What’s one thing you would tell millennial black women who are creatives?

Mitchka: It’s hard out here, it’s a struggle but as long as you’re willing to do what you love, it’s worth it.

 

To keep up with Mitchka and the Dudley Street series follow @dudleystreetseries_ on Instagram.

 

RareMavens On The Move: Ruth Jean-Marie designs limited edition Nike sneaker that encapsulates the Haitian Revolution.

Her quest is to evoke change.

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Photo by Lamar Cato

By Kareemah Muhammad

Ruth Jean-Marie is the designer of Uprising, one of the limited edition Nike sneakers released in the We Are Cultivator x Nike by you Initiative. She is a change-maker in her own right. The Haitian-American writer and founder of the The August Project, hails from Brooklyn, NY and designed her sneaker to mirror the uniforms of Haitian Revolutionaries.

The name of the sneaker itself, Uprising, is what Ruth describes as reminiscent of change and the need for it.

The sneakers serves as a reminder of the Haitian Revolution when African slaves revolted against the cruel conditions inflicted upon them; ultimately gaining their independence from France on January 1, 1804.

Photo by Lamar Cato

Photo by Lamar Cato

The light-weight and supportive sneaker features colors ranging from black and deep blue to luminous green, red and gold. These colors are found both in the uniforms of revolutionaries like Toussaint Loverture and in the Haitian flag.

Painting of Toussaint Louverture

Painting of Toussaint Louverture


“These are meant to be revolutionary--they’re a restarting, a rebellion, a reminder of the power of a thought.”

- Ruth Jean-Marie

Ruth’s goal is to continuously remind us of the power of thought and that she knows much is possible due to the success of the Haitian Revolution.

Jean-Marie was selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates for the Give Thanks Drop as part We Are Cultivator x Nike by you Initiative. She is one of 37 creatives that have their sneakers featured in the program and proudly represents the Haitian-American community in Brooklyn with this opportunity.

“Brooklyn has the highest population of Haitians in NYC; we have colored the city with culture and joy,” states Ruth (Nike by you x We Are Cultivator website).

Jean-Marie knows that while she takes great pride in being from Brooklyn, there is still work to be done in Haïti.

In fact, what inspired her to work on the sneaker is her mission to alleviate poverty Haïti. To build on that purpose, she plans to use 50% of the Uprising sneaker proceeds to support the outreach initiatives of her organization, The August Project.

The name alone pays homage to the Haitian Revolution since it began during the month of August. The organization strives to work on alleviating poverty in Leogane, Haiti by igniting imagination through literacy programs that leverage volunteer power to create change. To date, one of the most successful endeavors at the organization is their project on gathering stories of Haitians around the world.

Like Ruth, countless other guest designers have joined We Are Cultivator x Nike by you Initiative to share their stories of gratitude and what ignited their creativity.

To Ruth, “It is the imagination of what’s possible that matters more than the movement.”

Ruth’s limited edition Uprising sneakers are available until Sunday, November 10th 2019.

To learn more about the Uprising sneakers visit We Are Cultivator x Nike by you Initiative.

To learn more about Ruth follow ​@theaugustprjct​ and ​@lesocialnomad​ on social media.

Know of any RareMavens on the move in life & business? Send an email to hi@raremaven.media

Bloomed In The Dark

A short story on intimate partner violence

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Photo by Daniel Spase


By Shannae Heywood

Please be advised that this story may be a trigger for those who have endured trauma.

Fear is just a friend that is simply misunderstood. What requires strength is courage and you have it within yourself. This piece is dedicated to you or anyone you know that is currently, used to, or has passed away, due to being in a domestic violence relationship.

Have you ever felt afraid?

Well… that’s how I felt ever since I got with Michael.  See, what some may not understand is that I love him. Our relationship is not to be understood by anyone but us. My family is fake as f*** though, because they used to love Michael in the beginning now they hate him. Might as well hate me too.

it wasn’t always like this.

Approximately six months ago, I met Michael through a mutual friend of ours. The moment I seen him, our eyes connected like magnets. He looked like an untamed beast with a long jet black beard. His smile was as bright as my future. His persona was infectious but not harmful. I was feeling him. We exchanged numbers and started dating.

Michael filled the void in my heart like a body without a soul. He was the missing part to complete my puzzle. Everything all changed after those first six months.

He started to become possessive and controlling. One day, when I told him that I was going out with my friends he said to me, “You don’t need to hang out with them babe. I’m all the friend you’ll need.” It’s nice to see a man get jealous over me. It showed me that he cared. I said, “okay” because it wasn’t a big deal. My friends will understand.

More and more he controlled how I dressed, who I hung out with etc. I didn’t think of it as anything because maybe I needed to be mindful of my friends and how I dressed. At the end of the day he is my man and my best friend. He knows best.

It didn’t matter at all to me. I thought it was cute.

At least not until one night. Michael came home drunk as a dog. I could hear him stumbling in the house and glassware shattering. I got scared and curled up in bed. The rage and annoyance in his face was different that night. He grabbed me tightly by my throat as I grasped for air.

My vision started to become blurry. Bang! My head got slammed and rammed into the concrete wall. The vibration caused the paintings to fall to the floor. Blood quickly gushed from my head as it flowed down like a river. I was in and out of consciousness as I drifted off into a utopian fantasy. A hard slap across my face put an end to my imagination. It didn’t hurt or at least I couldn’t feel it. I could just feel the impact of it as my head swung to left.

“You see what you made me do!” he screamed. “Get up and clean yourself up,” he said. “We are going to the ER, and you better tell them that you slipped and hit your head. If you say anything stupid, I will kill you.” At that given moment I felt like I was already dead, and it was all my fault.

The bruises were justification for me that it was more than I bargained for.

Shades of black and blue have become the colors that reflect who I am now. Lies converted into painful truths in disguise was the norm.

“leave him they say.” i wish it was all that simple.

Perchance, I deserve all of what’s happening to me. Everyone has shown disdain towards me. What is there to do, but deal with it on my own. I’m being held captive within myself. Do you know what it’s like to get everything taking from you? Your rights, voice, and insidiously your heart.

As I lay down on the bed, drowning in my tears, I prayed and hoped to God that Michael didn’t hear me as my body sinked in the mattress. Suddenly, two hundred and twenty pounds of strength and feasibly aggression fell on top of me. I cried an unbearable agony for help. I laid there feeling defeated and weak. I curled myself up in a ball; hoping my skin would miraculously appear as an armadillo.

Imagination is one hell of a thing. Mentally, I was ready to leave, but physically I wasn't. “I’ll be right back,” I said. “Don't do anything stupid because you will regret it,” he said. Sweating terribly with distorted thoughts, I frantically searched for my phone that he has hidden from me. Damn, I gotta hurry up before he gets back. Yes, I found it!

I smiled in relief. “Hey Mum, it's me. Can you pick me up around the corner from the building? Hurry, fast!” I said nervously. I grabbed what I could as quickly as possible. I have never ran so fast in my life as I broke the chains from the master of deception. This is my time for liberation.

I'm free as a bird but light as a feather. I finally did it. I kept saying it to myself.

Suddenly, I felt a hand vigorously pull on my hair. The smell of the tropics in my hair as I ran was quickly vanishing. I came to a halt as I felt the cold tip of a gun piercing through my temporal lobe, the pressure was intense with force. At this moment I knew what time it was…

They say pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.  Usually in the end, the villain dies and the survivor is triumphant.

The feeling of escaping is like a catch twenty-two. It’s like you walked into a hornet’s nest with blinders on. Sweet lies slowly became traumatic nothings. No one knows the emptiness felt inside.

That is who I became, but maybe there is hope. The desire of wanting to be reborn is still an option.

For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) . or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now, or log on to: http://ncadv.org

 
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About The Writer

Shannae Heywood is a writer and educator from the Bronx, NY. She gets her inspiration and creativity from teaching, mentoring, and everyday struggles. She is currently obtaining her Master’s Degree at Hunter College.

To keep up with RareMaven Media & Production follow us on Instagram @raremavenmedia.

So... What's a RareMaven?

Why millennial black women must own & celebrate what we create.

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Photo by Nick Owuor

By Kareemah Muhammad

Rare: Marked by unusual quality, merit or appeal Maven: An expert or connoisseur

RareMaven: When this unusual quality and expertise is sprinkled with a dash of top notch #blackgirlmagic!

Okay, so it’s not only THE time to shine as millennial black women, it’s BEEN our time. There’s no doubt that we shape the culture as we see it. From our coined phrases like “yasss” and “she did that!”, to our style and of course our ingenuity, we are a fierce force. We make awkwardness a thing to take pride in as Issa Rae has shown us and make one hashtag become the emblem of our power and beauty as #blackgirlmagic has done (Over 16.8 million posts to date). And with this, we deserve all the honor for standing in our truth.

What will we do next? I’ll tell you…own every bit of it!

And that brings me to RareMaven. We are here to discover, uplift and promote black millennial women who are in the arts & media, tech, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. We want to empower all millennial black women with the knowledge and resources to enhance their skills while harnessing their awareness and application of ownership. Thus building a collective sisterhood or what we call RareMavenhood.

With all this, we know that we must celebrate who we are & own what we create. We also know that the strength is found in all we can give to one another. And we have a duty as culture shifters to make an impact on the world.

Again, we must own what we create, especially due to the fact that some of what we create is taken as someone’s own and we’re left in the dust to pick up the remnants of who we are.

RareMaven Media & Production is here to help change that. Our goals include:

  1. Owning our messaging and content: At RareMaven we create content for and by millennial black women including our feature stories of the month, news and event coverage and RareMaven: The Podcast, our weekly series that follows millennial black women in business.

  2. Sisterhood: Our sisterhood or what we call RareMavenhood is how we celebrate one another and make it known that we are here for the success of all millennial black women.

  3. Sharing our stories: We are here to shed light on topics that affect our daily lives as millennial black women and be a voice for those who feel unheard, unappreciated and overlooked. It is up to us to share our narratives and feel free in doing so.

  4. Promoting, promoting, promoting!: We support the “glow up” of all millennial black women and want to offer services and support to keep our goals and visions alive. This will include event planning and productions for entrepreneurs and brands to showcase what their gifts are and excite their clients.

  5. Celebrating Us: All that we do and our journey in getting there is to be celebrated. We will no longer sulk in the process. We will celebrate, engage and feel connected in the process! RareMaven Media & Production will do all this and more with our curated events and content. This is a shared experience and if we don’t celebrate all that makes us thrive who will?

We are in an exciting time right and we must capture every moment and opportunity. This is not only about securing our futures, it’s about securing a legacy for the culture.

Welcome to RareMavenhood.

To keep up with RareMaven Media & Production follow us on Instagram @raremavenmedia.