ELECIA JAMES BY KEINA KENNEDY
SIBILING TORTURE
W
FALL 2017
lock her in the closet daily and make her repeat she was ugly. As well, it discusses her battling depression, losing everything to a house fire, and being a stroke survivor. Elecia shares exclusive moments of fighting for her students and co-workers, while being a principal at a predominately Hispanic school. But, she never allowed her disappointments to define her! “I am determined, a risk taker and goal-oriented! My father always instilled in me to have a Plan A and a Plan B.” Elecia James now lives in Washington, D.C. and has been a resident for 28 years. She attended Michigan State University and has a bachelor’s degree in Music and Elementary Education, with a minor in Spanish. She holds two Masters of Education from Bowie State University and Trinity College. She has successfully educated 100’s of children, including taking 40 of them on a school trip to Canada… all while biologically unable to birth her own. She now spends her time doing empowerment sessions and facilitating workshops. Ms. James was just appointed Chief of Staff for the “National Council of Women of America.” Most recently a Keynote Speaker alongside Meagan Goode at the “BE U Girl’s Conference” in Lancaster, PA, Elecia accepts speaking engagements worldwide. She is the Co-Producer of “Black Girls Unscripted” and is known as The Girl Ambassador. She wants our readers to know: “If you look in the mirror, believe in yourself, and encourage yourself- you can be anything!” The super-multi-talented Elecia James can be reached at thegirlambassador.com. ▄
AUTHOR’S CORNER 55
T2T
ho accompanies their parents in church, listens intently to the music, then goes home to mimic the music on the piano?...4 year old Elecia James. When her parents took notice, they hired private piano teachers to develop Elecia’s gift. Born from parents who both sing, Elecia was bound to have musical genes. She recalls her mom and dad being great parents and remembers growing up in a beautiful upper middle class home in White Plains, New York. Elecia recounts wearing the best clothes and attending some of the best schools. In fact, she attended the Performing Arts Conservatory, Juliard School, for four years…while STILL in high school! At age 16, Elecia was selected out of hundreds to perform in Europe for 2 months with “America’s Youth In Concert.” She then went on to college to classically train as a musician. Unstoppable, Elecia’s proud father showcased his daughter to different churches all over, which led to her Music Directing career. So, what’s the deal with Elecia James? Elecia James struggled with a myriad of road blocks along her seemingly perfect home life and musical journey. She battled racism, marrying the wrong man, almost being blackballed because of her integrity, and coping with family dysfunction. These are all reasons why she is “More Than A Conqueror,” as her Chapter is so appropriately named. As Co-Author of “Artificial Beaute’: The BreakThrough,” Elecia speaks about how one of her relatives would