I’m a 40-something year old Black woman; currently situated in the Cleveland, OH area. I’m originally from around Pittsburgh, PA though (go Steelers!). I also spent a nice chunk of my life living in Florida (thankfully I successfully escaped). Because of that, and the fact that my husband is from Alabama and most of my immediate family is in Florida or Georgia — I guess that makes me ‘Southern adjacent’.
I’m also a 1st generation American and a mom to 3 boys (yes, I’m totally outnumbered over here!). And I’ve come to embrace that I am a late bloomer (hence all the flowers all over the place). But my mantra is ‘better late than never’!
"Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible." ~ Mary McLeod Bethune
Growing up in an economically depressed steel mill town outside of Pittsburgh impacted me a lot. For as long as I can remember, education was a lifeline. I was the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree.
But that journey wasn’t easy. And I didn’t take it without seeing a lot of problems along the way. For example, even though Black women are the most educated women within their demographic; they also carry the most student loan debt, and command some of the lowest wages in their fields.
And I was all of the above. I had student loan debt, and even after I had earned all of my degrees — I struggled to make a living wage. That is when I discovered the treasure of networking and finding good mentors. Professionals that will give you the opportunity to rise and shine.
These professionals loved my work ethic, my calm attitude and my resourcefulness. I started to see a pattern (finally) — and my confidence grew in regards to where my strong points are, and where they are not. And more importantly, I am all about sharing what I learn because I firmly believe that it is silly to try to reinvent the wheel.
Dream
I was in graduate school when I signed my first client to make a website for his accounting firm. It wasn’t part of my contract, but I showed him how to use Google Analytics to tell where his website visitors were coming from and from where on the web they were finding his site (LOL, I’ve since learned to not make that mistake again).
That when I realized that my happy place is not in making websites (although I can do them); but rather in business consulting and process design.
Where did I study?
My experience
Creating websites since 1997; first with MS FrontPage (gasp!) — but then learned HTML/CSS/Javascript and really began having some fun!
My goals
To ultimately be a good human being who has made the most of this gift of life.
Professionally speaking, I would love to grown and become the professional mentor to young people that I so very desperately needed when I was growing up.
Creative
(Geez, you're a nebby one, aren't you?)
To take one grand trip to visit the UK, Ethiopia and India (the Taj Mahal specifically) — and then land in Israel where I can retire for good!
My family! My husband keeps me sane & my kids give me the impetus to do what I do each day.
I didn’t go on a date until after I graduated from high school (nope — didn’t even go to my HS prom!)
Public perception. Sadly when people hear that you work in the non-profit industry, they think that you and your work is expendable. I strongly disagree!
Listening to music — preferably from vinyl records (but I will not part with my Spotify subscription; no matter how expensive it gets!)
Sooo many! Jamaican food of course. Indian food; oh and sushi!
