I try to be measured in my responses to most things, and to not be reactive. This post has been sitting for a minute, being read, reread, edited, and in “draft” mode since Friday, May 29, 2020, as I watched the world’s skeletons (systemic racism and notions of white supremacy) continue to spill out of…
The Beenie, Bounty Collab: 7 (Epic) Lessons Learned
Anyone who was born, raised, has heritage, is vaguely familiar with, or has an affinity for Caribbean culture witnessed what can be described as an epic collaboration between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer on Saturday May 23, 2020. I intentionally will not categorize it as battle because it truly epitomized what respect, camaraderie, and unity…
Trauma: People-ing, Professional-ing, and Parent-ing in the throes of a global public health pandemic
…Youth: I applied to almost every grocery store (Context- he was furloughed from a job at a University, a job he started 2 weeks prior to the pandemic induced shut down). Me: You’re willing to risk it? Youth: I need another job. Yesssss! Me: I mean, I do get it. Youth: I don’t have no…
Life as we know it…
Life as we know it has come to an indefinite halt. That planned flight? Cancelled. Brunch? Cancelled. Daily work routine? Changed. Never would any of us have imagined that the year 2020, the year of 2020 visioning (lol we can honestly laugh at that predictor now) would have our lives at what feels like an…
Education…to what end?
I recently had yet another, and ongoing conversation with one of my freshman students (15 years old) that, when coupled with my professional development course work in Educational Leadership and Management, has really made me think. I can slowly and visibly see him becoming disengaged with the educational process. His profile- a young, Latino male,…
Legacy building…
On Sunday January 26, 2020, I was mulling around the house watching mindless television and casually scrolling through social media. Soon after wishing one of my closest friends a happy birthday, I received a message on my phone that made me do a double take and subsequently make me question the validity of the text…
A Response to Brand Barbados: Convening Our Nation, Our Family
As we embark on a new year and a new decade, there is a nostalgic goal setting, mapping out, ambitious, vision-boarding, affirmations, and strategic planning auras in the atmosphere. The likes of this coming recently from Prime Minister Mottley, who spoke candidly about her plan and vision for Barbados over the next 7 years. Her…
My top 3 wishes for the Gem at 53…
You know that ONE family member who finally gets their stuff together, only to do something disappointing and end up back at what feels like square one again? Or the other family member who you are proud of who they’ve become, but aren’t too enthusiastic about some of the things they do? Or the family…
Barbados…52 up, 53 on deck: so many things going right and wrong, all at the same time
Many times and like clock work, as a milestone year rolls around- whether it be a birthday, anniversary, or **insert other annual special event,** it is time for reflection, resetting, and reassessment. It’s where we usually evaluate what is really going on, how we have done, and how we can be better moving forward. For…
Part III: the years of discovery, self-direction, direction, redirection, independence, and self-determination, ages 18-24 years old
In Part I and Part II of this 3-part series, we discussed what some of the developmental needs and stages of our youth are from ages 11-18 years. As our youth grow and develop physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, mentally, etc., their needs change. The ages of 18-24 are no different, and are a unique moment…