Last night, I had the opportunity to share on a panel at the 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚-𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩, a UNCC sponsored event at Freedom Communities. This was the culmination of a study conducted by 3 UNCC professors (all Black women) over the course of many months. They provided guidance and support to black mothers in transition and created space for their voices to be heard through the power of #storytelling!
Research shows that Black women in Charlotte have the highest odds of housing insecurity in Charlotte. We, as Black women in Charlotte, also have the lowest odds of upward economic mobility. Yet, time and again, women that Hope Vibes serve weekly and the women represented in the room last night…. and I mean, honestly, the majority of Black women I know in Charlotte 🤷🏽♀️…. press forward with resiliency, even in our weakness! It was moving to hear women present share their stories… some who’ve already overcome and some still on the process of overcoming.
The 3 things I felt compelled to share with these ladies were:
⭐️ 𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘿 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘽𝙀. Housed or unhoused…. Overcame or overcoming… we all need community! Life can be hard… but it’s harder alone.
⭐️ 𝘼𝙎𝙆 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿. Don’t be ashamed to ask for guidance & support. Even if the person you ask can’t help you, they may know the person who can. My mom, Barbara Crumpler, always reminds me, “You have not because you ask not.”
⭐️ 𝙄𝙏’𝙎 𝘼 𝙅𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀𝙔. Where you are today, is not where you’re always be. Your present pain is not the totality of your story. Things will get better, so don’t lose hope. Don’t give up. Pastor Dana Blue asked the question in her message Sunday, “What is this pain trying to produce in me?” Even though it’s hard to see sometimes, all things work together for our good.
Thank you Dr. Janaka Bowman Lewis, Dr. Kendra Jason, Dr. Tehia Starker Glass and Dr. Michelle Meggs for creating such an empowering platform and sharing space with me 💜.
Give Hope Daily,
Adrienne Threatt
Comments