6 minute read
SPRING | SUMMER 2021
contents
A Gentle Nudge 8 by Natalie Rudd
What Happens When You Have Already Died a Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts? 9
by LaShon N. Sawyer, MSSA, PhD, LISW-S
Black Women in Crisis 15
by Cassandra Hill
Black women are paving the way to the future.
No One Said It Would Be Easy 17
by Rev. Heidi L. Barham
COVER STORY Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm: Visionary + Change Agent 20
by Jennifer Coiley Dial
The president and chief executive officer of Step Forward is a change agent, author, mentor, visionary, community activist, wife, mother, and grandmother!
SPECIAL FEATURE Executive Profile: Deborah Riley Draper 28 Award-winning and critically-acclaimed filmmaker and advertising executive.
A New Book 29 Leah Berdysz, MSSA, LSW, authors a new book Conscious Empowerment: A Guide to Helping Girls Build Self-Esteem and Confidence
Book Suggestion 31 Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert
Gourmet Safari: Kenya 35
by Kareem George
Take a gourmet tour of Kenya!
career +lifestyle
Spring|Summer 2021 • Volume 7• Issue 2
CL Magazine Team
Publisher and Chief Editorial Officer Alexandria Johnson Boone
Creative Director Jennifer Coiley Dial
Senior Copy Editor Michelle E. Urquhart
Business Manager Paula T. Newman
Assistant to the Publisher Bernadette K. Mayfield
Senior Strategist, Subscriber & Community Development Simone E. Swanson
Database and Information Coordinator Cheretta Moore For advertising information please contact us at: advertising@CL-Magazine.com
Subscribe free online: www.CL-Magazine.com
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C L Magazine is published digitally on a quarterly basis by the Women of Color Foundation (WOCF), a 501 (c) (3), tax-exempt organization, for the benefit of women and girls of all colors. Our offices are located at 4200 Warrensville Center Road, Medical Building A, Suite 353, Cleveland, Ohio 44122. Toll Free Phone number: 866.962-3411 (866.WOCF.411). Copyright © 2014-2021. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be distributed electronically, reproduced or duplicated in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. Readers and advertisers may subscribe for free at: www.CL-Magazine.com Magazine Production: GAP Communications Group
SAVE LIVES.
LETTER from the Publisher
Revisiting and Reinforcing the Women of Color Covenant!
To My Sisters of All Colors,
This message is especially for you. In light of the many changes and challenges facing all of us today, we must reinforce our commitment to love, honor, respect and support each other.
So please adopt and share this covenant silently or publicly, with a group of women in your personal and professional networks:
I regard myself and you, as being created in the image of God I see your beauty and I sense your power I celebrate your potential I support your prerogative to sing your own song I share your pursuit of a high quality of life I will tell you the truth and I will have your trust I will listen to you with my heart, and I shall speak to you with my smile I will care enough to confront you and comfort you In you I see God, and in God I see you You are my friend and I love you!
At the end of the day, it is our turn, and our chance to turn things around for the elevation and empowerment of women and girls of all colors around the globe. And yes, white is a color.
Please feel free to visit our website at: www.womenofcolorfoundation.com to learn more about our training programs, career and leadership development events, conferences and celebrations of the vision, wisdom, brilliance and accomplishments of women. You may also visit us at www.cl-magazine.com to subscribe to our free digital publication.
In the spirit of the greatness in us all,
Alexandria Johnson Boone Publisher/Chief Editorial Officer, CL Magazine and Chairwoman/Founder Women of Color Foundation
>>>a Gentle Nudge
One day, while walking my dog, I noticed a tiny bug on the sidewalk. Somehow the little guy had gotten turned over on his back and was desperately struggling to turn back over, with all his little insect legs flailing in the air. It appeared to be a hopeless case. As I glanced down at the tiny creature, I thought to myself, “Oh, that’s too bad” and kept walking. A few moments later, I started thinking, “Perhaps if I just turned him back over, he would be okay.” I knew if I left him alone, he would eventually die.
With that thought in mind, I turned around and went back to the spot on the sidewalk where I had seen the tiny bug, and found him right where I left him – still struggling to right himself. I gently extended my foot and, giving him a gentle nudge, turned him over, right side up. Immediately he started slowly crawling, then to my surprise, he flew away. I just stood there smiling as I watched him disappear in the air.
Don’t we often have a similar experience as that tiny bug?
We find ourselves seemingly turned on our backs struggling with a situation, not sure how to ask for help, but secretly hoping someone will come along and give us a slight nudge to get us going in the right direction. We need that person to give us a gentle nudge rather than ignore or judge our struggles.
What does a gentle nudge look like?
It could be words of encouragement, a smile from a passing stranger or the offer of a helping hand. It could be a short text message saying, “Hey sis, I was just thinking about you! Have a great day! Or even an uplifting post on your social media. So often we miss these opportunities because we are consumed with our own thoughts, problems and struggles. We turn inward and focus so much on ourselves that we don’t see the pain or needs of others. We walk past each other as if the other person doesn’t exist.
No matter how different we seem – we are connected, and because we are connected we are to encourage our sister when she is discouraged, feeling unloved or hopeless.
Think back over your life. Do you recall a time when you felt alone? Was there a time that your life didn’t seem to be working out as you had hoped or expected? Did you find yourself struggling with your finances, a deteriorating relationship, a health issue? Were you depressed, suffering from anxiety or shame from past mistakes?
Whatever the situation, did someone come along and give you the gentle nudge you needed to encourage you, to walk alongside you? If your answer is yes, then pay it forward and do the same for someone else.
Take some time out of your busy schedule and smile at a stranger (still wearing a mask? Pull it down and smile!), engage someone and take a genuine interest in what’s going on in their life. Slow down and examine your relationships, have you been missing, not paying attention to your loved ones? Take advantage of each day and make a difference and give someone a gentle nudge and then you too will be able to smile as they fly on and soar above life’s difficulties, feeling as though someone cares. Someone did – it was you!
