It is the Anniversary of my car accident on 12-14-17. So, I had no idea or could have imagined how much life can lead you into different directions. Before the accident, I was living in the DC and MD area looking for a new direction. I was working as a substitute teacher, working for Lyft and doing some events in the city on occasion. Then the accident!!! In a moments notice, I could have been gone but God's plan for me was not over. Life has changed so much from that time. Blessings upon Blessings!!! Some challenges but nothing earth shattering. Life is full of challenges and those challenges are the opportunities for you to either push forward or continue doing the same thing expecting different results that are not going to happen. God has a plan for us all and we must seek guidance and strength daily.

I have been blessed to work from home doing a few different opportunities. I have been working from home with Sykes Enterprises, Inc. mainly, also been working part time with DaDaABC teaching English to Chinese students and I have been doing events in the City of Pittsburgh. God has allowed me to come out of the accident and push forward and move towards the plan he has for me.

The first of the year, I am looking to get this book in print that I have been working on, I have my second grand baby coming in March. My daughter that is expecting now is also getting married in July of next year. Pray for me, I have a business I would like to get launched. One of my most favorite people is in the picture below: My Prince, My Grand Baby KiYon!! Where does the Time Go???The Cycle of Life Continues!!!.

Just reading all the threads of people asking for hope, needing work, or getting through interviews or hopeful offers. This is me wishing everyone hope and to be strong and you got it! Like If you agree or feel free to comment to give hope to others. #hope #interviews #offer #work

When they were raising money to take the kids to New York in 2014 and I volunteered and went with them.

Well I volunteered in it but I love how we encourage the high schoolers to continue to further their education!

I must remind myself that God is with me. In my job search, I'm s on frustrated. I believe God has a much better plan for me...not just a job, but something much bigger. Rejection after rejection, or take a really low paying job. Taking test for jobs, easy test, not passing, jobs I know I'm qualified for. Lord show me what your plan is for me, guide me in the direction that's in your will for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Allow me to share some inspiration for us all. Allow me to tell you about 12 hours I spent in a level-2 max security prison.

Do you think people deserve a second chance? No matter what? Cat Hoke of Defy Ventures does. She welcomes inmates with horrible past actions/mistakes to embrace the regret and remorse as catalysts of change, but to shed shame. Shame has no place in a productive today and tomorrow. Shed shame, forgive and accept yourself, and then do the hard, hard work of improvement and preparation. Good lessons for us all I think.

I spent a day with people who were in prison for some abhorrent past actions, including murder. I spent a day with people who were vibrant, positive, engaged, optimistic, warm, kind, hopeful, scared, and hesitant. Many of them do not believe themselves worthy of a second chance. But Cat Hoke helps them see that they do.

Imagine being one of these inmates. Imagine being locked in a level-2 security prison with a few thousand other inmates – many of whom, needless to say, are not all remorseful regretful and looking for positive change. Imagine the intimidation of wondering how to figure out your worklife after lockup. Imagine how hard it must be to figure out how to apply to jobs, to present yourself and interview, or to give an entrepreneurial pitch to a panel of Venture Capitalist sharks, or to simply converse freely with people who have been active in business and life for the 15 years you spent locked in a cell. Now, imagine not just overcoming the fear and intimidation but also actually doing the hard work to succeed in all these challenges. Staggering challenges. And yet, the men with whom I had the pleasure to spend a day with at Valley State Prison did just that. Wow! Respect.

I judged a business pitch competition along with some Vc’s and other volunteers from Silicon Valley. We didn’t just judge. We bared souls too. And there was even some dancing. But mostly we humanized each other.

And they did great. They stood in front of a table of professionals waiting to judge them and they stated their business value prop, their competitive edge, sales/marketing plans, financial numbers, and asked (always remember the ask!) for what they needed – mentoring, investment, etc. They took questions well. They took feedback even better. In short, they impressed. Despite all the anchors to their past, all the challenges of the present and all the intimidation of the future, they impressed. I am so excited for those that get released and how they will succeed (graduates of Cat’s program have just 3% recidivism rate!).

SO HERES THE THING. The future of work is hard for everyone – everyone. But those who take control of their own worklife, keep up with new training, education and skills, and self advocates for better work – Those people WILL succeed. To be in this successful group, you need to let go of emotional anchors from the past, find the energy to do the work in the present and push through any fear and intimidation of the future. If felons with horrible past mistakes can find the path to self-forgiveness, can’t we all? If convicts with no freedom and resources can figure out new skills, can’t we all? If people who don’t interact in free society at all can push through intimidation and fear of the future – and of rejection, cant we all?

Yes, we can!

Yes, I am inspired to do more in my own life on all three aspects – forgive self, find time today, less fear of tmw. So, yes, I do believe in second chances, Cat. And I am inspired by a group of men who all wish they could go back in time and change things. But they cannot. So they don’t waste any more time looking back or dragging shame forward. They focus on being better today. They do the hard work. They don’t get discouraged. That’s a pretty good formula for us all.

I went to prison to help others. I came out of prison being the person who was most helped.

POSTSCRIPT FOR EMPLOYERS: Our society rightly demands punishment for crimes. But, parole is meant to be parole – not another phase of a life sentence. These aren’t just felons and convicts – they are people. And people change. If you do not consider people with past convictions in your hiring process, please consider changing. Not because it helps the 22 million Americans who have past convictions – but because these men and women are an overlooked valuable resource for your talent acquisition strategy. Think of the stamina, strength and passion to overcome these challenges. Now think of harnessing that for your business…

#Inspiration #secondchances #volunteer #hardwork #thankful #forgiveness #intimidation #success #hope

I think hope is a lot of what keeps people going. It's the hope that tomorrow will be better and the future brighter. Anyone who has a successful story and shared it, reminds us there is still hope. I believe in community, I believe there is still kindness, I believe we will all succeed if we choose too.

right now I just finally broke down crying because all of you had more hope in me than I had in myself..ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU

I have been so saddened by the news of the violence done BY police and by the news of violence done TO police that has so ravaged our country this past week. I have been really hesitant to write about it because I both feel very helpless and I also have a lack of confidence in my ability to write about it in any positive/constructive way. But then, I saw some amazing things this weekend that have really lifted my spirit - and I thought we should all pause to reflect that there are positive signs in our society as well.

Did you see the Olympic trials this weekend? Did you see Americans of all colors and background competing with and supporting one another? Amazing! Track and field was awesome and then the Women Gymnastics team awarded the 5 most deserving girls their ticket to Rio and it was so wonderful to see the natural diversity that America offers - all packaged with excellence and smiles.

I know a lot of Jobcasers feel the impact and challenges that these issues raise more than I do or admittedly, perhaps I even can (given my own background and life experiences). I suspect many of us were out protesting. I suspect many of us have run into echoes of these challenges, albeit less life threatening, in our own worklives. And these thoughts really weigh heavily.

I confess to not knowing yet how to write or address these issues today. But, I do know that there was a template for our better selves on display at the Olympic trials. And I am grateful for that reprieve from such heavy news. So while we continue a respectful and important dialogue about black lives and blue lives and all lives and what this all means and should mean; I choose to pause and be inspired once again by our young excellent Olympians. I hope their moment isn’t fully overshadowed – as I suspect they are shining a bit of light towards the path forward for all of us.