She Stories Feature Friday - Alyssa Ibarra

MAR 2023 | ISSUE NO.13

SHE STORIES

EXCLUSIVE!

About She Stories She Stories is a community of women that promotes self wellness, empowerment and the value of supporting each other. You have overcome tremendous obstacles.

Telling your story brings healing for you and others.

There is empowerment in every story. We are Real Women with Real Stories. What started out as a storytelling night has transformed into a sisterhood.

From gatherings to giving back, we inspire and affirm the every day woman that she is brave and beautiful..

Our Founder In 2017, I decided to carry on the tradition of testimony service and share this amazing gift of storytelling from my elders to my tribe. I provided a sacred space for women to share their challenges and victories so they can not only be empowered but through each story women would find a circle of support and empowerment. Her story matters and the world needs to hear it. Ehmandah Ramsey

She Stories has always been about women sharing their stories through storytelling. (Yeah, that’s me with a box of tissue) We believe there’s healing that happens when we share our stories. We all have one!

By sharing our stories, we prove that it’s possible to shift change through another woman’s journey, struggles, and triumphs.

Elevating women of all ages is powerful.

Compassion and love speaks volumes.

And when they’re combined among a community of bosses, we ALL thrive!

XO,

Leilani

FEATURE FRIDAY You won’t want to miss this week’s Feature Friday! She’s coming to us from Southern Cali and has all the light and love the sun can hold.

I got to hear her sing years ago and was so struck by the soul in her voice. The notes would flow so effortlessly. It was amazing to witness! But then to learn that she’s also deaf!

She has an amazing testimony and continues to serve others by sharing it and showing others that believing is truly seeing.

Meet Alyssa, but you may also know her as ALI (if you’ve caught her on The Voice!) And yeah, she’s something like a big deal!

She shares her story, her family, and her faith with She Stories this week, and we’re here for it!

FEATURE FRIDAY

ALYSSA IBARRA

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There’s something about a single guitar and one voice that can shift the mood in a room. I remember hearing Alyssa share her story several years ago at church, but when she grabbed her guitar and started singing, I‘m pretty sure I cried. Her voice is melodic and the soul that’s poured into her songs is what stands out. Alyssa, or ALI, was raised in Southern Cali. She has a strong sense of family and the foundation they laid for her. Her earlier years are full of memories with her sister, their two cousins and the bond that has carried into her adult years.

Alyssa was also born deaf in both ears and this has given her a unique ability in her singing. Her father is a musician and this allowed her to cultivate a love for music and harmony. Life came with challenges that seemed impossible to escape and as she got older, this affected how she chased her dreams. Being a singer in a highly competitive field, she would question herself. “Is this what I want to do?” But at the age of 16, her father gave her a valuable piece of info. When asked “Why do you do it?” He simply replied, “I do it because I love it!” PERIOD!

“Do it because you love it!”

This taught ALI that if it’s good for your heart, you should do what you love. Do what makes you happy. So many people spend their days doing what makes others happy before they tend to the desires and needs of their hearts first. And this has been ALI’s constant reminder when it comes to her passions. She does it for herself first and it translates into her music and melodies for everyone else.

It's common to prioritize other people's needs over our own, but it's important to remember that taking care of ourselves is crucial for our overall well-being. We speak about self-love and self-care a lot here at She Stories and it’s important to never neglect ourselves. Girl, do what you love!

As a child, ALI was a skeptic, only believing in what was visible to her. But as she grew older, her perspective shifted, and she realized that believing in something could bring it into view. Now, as an adult, she understands that perception is subjective, and what one believes to be true can impact what one sees. By embracing this idea, she has opened herself up to new possibilities and experiences, recognizing that a closed mind can limit one's ability to truly see the world around them. “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing”.

We have to believe our dreams so that they come into view for us to see! So it was awesome that her father and the village that raised her instilled these beliefs within her.

And just like that, one of her biggest dreams came into full view. You can catch ALI on this season of The Voice on NBC. Her blind audition was enough to make Kelly Clarkson and Chance the Rapper turn their seats around. They were in awe when she revealed that she was deaf. But more importantly, this is such a great message for younger women who don’t see the value in themselves just yet.

ALI can identify with the young girl that hasn’t always seen her value, but she shares her story to show others that believing in yourself brings healing and restoration of how we see and feel about ourselves. It’s valuable to own your shine!

Despite facing the challenge of being deaf, she embraced her uniqueness and transformed it into her greatest strength. Her deafness did not hold her back, but rather fueled her creativity and determination. She learned to navigate the world in her own way and found innovative ways to communicate with others.

As she pursued her passions and dreams, ALI proved that being different does not make one less capable or valuable. Being different makes her dope. She is a symbol of her resilience and courage. She inspired others to embrace their differences and to never let any obstacle stand in the way of their success.

We want to show ALI our love and support for her future endeavors, so be sure to catch her on The Voice. I promise, you won’t want to miss out on her.

LEEEEET’S GO ALYSSAAAAAAA!

“SEEING ISN’T BELIEVING, BELIEVING IS SEEING.”

— ALYSSA IBARRA

You can check out ALI on IG: @alicanyouhearme And don’t miss her on this season of The Voice on NBC! Watch her perform HERE!

If you or someone you know would like to be a feature, let us know!

Her Shine MY FAVORITE SONG:

“As” and “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder HOW I CULTIVATE SISTERHOOD:

“Staying true to myself and sharing with others.”

MY LEGACY:

“It’s still in the making but to definitely do what I love.”

MY INSPO:

“My parents and grandparents for sure.”

P.O.V. In its most simplest form, perspective is your point of view.

It’s the way you see yourself, the world around you, and the lens through which you view your life experiences. Your perspective is shaped by your past experiences, your beliefs, and your values. It’s also influenced by the people in your life and the messages you’ve internalized from society.

It’s important to remember that perspective is just a point of view. It’s not necessarily the truth. And it’s not set in stone. That’s why changing your perspective can be so empowering. It’s a way to take control of your life and write your own story.

Keep reading to learn more about how changing your perspective can empower you to achieve anything you want in life!

1. Embrace the Power of Positive Thinking The first step to changing your perspective is to embrace the power of positive thinking. This means focusing on the good in your life instead of dwelling on the negative. When you choose to see the positive, you’ll feel more confident and capable of achieving your goals.

2. Challenge Your Negative Thoughts: Negative thoughts can hold you back and keep you from achieving your full potential. When you find yourself thinking negatively, challenge those thoughts. Ask yourself if they’re really true or if they’re just a reflection of your fears.

3. Practice Gratitude: The practice of gratitude can help you shift your perspective from what you lack to what you have. Take a few minutes each day to think about what you’re grateful for in your life. This will help you focus on the positive and keep you motivated to achieve your goals.

4. Surround Yourself with Positive People: The people in your life can have a big impact on your perspective. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who will encourage you to achieve your goals.

5. Focus on What You Can Control: One of the biggest obstacles to achieving success is focusing on things that are out of your control. Instead, focus on what you can control – your actions, your attitude, and your effort. This shift in perspective will help you feel more empowered and in control of your life.

Changing your perspective is not always easy, but it’s an essential step towards achieving success in life.

By embracing the power of positive thinking, challenging your negative thoughts, practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with positive people, and focusing on what you can control, you can empower yourself to achieve anything you want in life.

OUR SISTER ORG Transitional Living for Women and Children

Home Together We Are One home provides a safe, tranquil, structured sober living sisterhood atmosphere for the women and children to thrive.

We serve women that have become displaced or who are facing homelessness due to unfortunate circumstances such as divorce, health problems, loss of employment, addiction recovery, abandonment and other unexpected life circumstances.

Together we are providing a safe space for women to go from surfing to thriving.

If you and your child are in transition and in need, contact TWAO.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS MORE THAN EVER. IF YOU NEED CARE, PLEASE GET SUPPORT.

NAMI | National Alliance of Mental Illness Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 M-F, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., ET Or in a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling. https://www.nami.org/Home If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline The Lifeline is available for everyone, is free, and confidential.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Text 988 CHAT WITH LIFELINE Línea de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis 1-888-628-9454 National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 Call 800-799-7233 Text “START” to 88788 www.thehotline.org 211 | Essential Community Services Call 211 211 connects you to expert, caring help. Every call is completely confidential.

BE A FEATURE

Hey Sis! We have some news!!!!

She Stories is proud to announce the launch of new chapters: Inglewood, CA and Phoenix, AZ! We are dedicated to empowering women from all walks of life to share their stories and inspire a generation.

Join us in celebrating the diverse experiences and unique perspectives of women everywhere. Let's uplift and amplify women's voices together. Stay tuned for more updates on our exciting new chapters!

Find Your Community She Stories Claremont led by Ehmandah Ramsey She Stories Inglewood led by Rashunda Rene She Stories Phoenix led by Lei Bowers

BE A FEATURE

We absolutely love sharing the stories of everyday women just like you! Every woman has a story to tell!

In our community, we share our stories to uplift, inspire and empower women. Stories can be shared one on one, through social media and even through creativity.

Girl, we want you to know there’s healing power in sharing your story. Sometimes you may feel that there’s things only you could’ve experienced, until you hear someone else with a similar experience. You are not alone. Together we overcome.

Would you like to be a feature? Or do you know a woman who’d like to share her story at a live event?

Let us know! Let's change the world together one story at a time. It’s pretty empowering!

Email: hello@shestories.co www.shestories.co