Bio(graphical)

A backstory of words, writing and wo/andering as I “teach to transform”

I have always appreciated writing as a process for intentionally choosing words in order to make sense—and I have always enjoyed sharing information to help others learn. The path combining  these two passions in my life work has been a journey; one that has taught me much about myself, others and my commitment to “teach to transform” in support of a world where connecting with compassion, respecting and valuing identity differences is a foundation for how we live, love and thrive.

Writing while witnessing…

As journalist—my “first career”—I did a lot of ‘writing as sharing’ as a newspaper reporter in my hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois—a small town where, for decades, race and income disparities have been a part of everyday life for most of the Black residents. During my time as a journalist, I was continually looking for ways to shed new light on a city that suffered after White fight of the late 1960s—a city that was struggling to survive but would never again thrive. In the mid 1980s a national news story on East St. Louis compared it to “war ravaged Beirut.”  When I left the newspaper to take a position in hospital public relations in this same town “disparity” was not a word widely used to describe the differences and deficiencies low income Black patients received across health care settings. But I recognized the injustice of it thanks to my undergraduate education at a Jesuit Institution and I knew I wanted to understand more so I could do more to make a difference. I ended my “first career” and decided to pursue graduate education where I hoped to study how the everyday interaction and practices of people across communicative contexts create such circumstances.

Language, Black womanhood and self-care...

In my graduate programs I discovered there were words, in fact, an entire language for the socio-cultural realities I had witnessed throughout my life in my hometown. I also learned how to research them, write about how they influenced and impacted my life as a Black woman, and also research the experiences of other Black women like me who had to navigate ongoing race, gender and socio-economic challenges in everyday living! Along the way I discovered the mandate for Black women’s strength is built on a myth we now need to retire in the 21st century and repurpose for a commitment to self-care and survival to sustain us as if we continue to be “de mules of de world” as Zora observed so long ago. A highlight of my academic career was the joy I found conducting a study with 150 Black women who shared insight about the socialization of strength and discussed a much-needed new mandate for selfcare. You can read more in my book The Language of Strong Black womanhood: Myths, Models messages and a new mandate for self-care, published by Lexington Books in 2017.

Dialogue in the classroom and beyond...

In my journey to learn more and to share information I discovered the concept of “dialogue” as a form of communication that can lead to connection and compassion. In my very first year in the front of a classroom I realized how teaching dialogue across identity differences as a communication process could build better understanding especially for racial divisions—and I committed to a path that would help that happen. Here in the United States we do not know how to talk about race, specifically anti-Blackness and systemic racism because we never have done it. We have tried to ignore the pain, horror, shame and even privilege that resulted from dehumanizing enslaved Africans brought to this country centuries ago as product for profit.  But if you can learn to talk about race, you can identify how it looks, it works and how to eliminate racism in your own personal behaviors and in larger communities.

I am a trained dialogue facilitator and have 30+ years teaching in the area of human communication studies. In addition, I have conducted workshops and professional development sessions for numerous universities and non-profit organizations with a curriculum designed to build capacity to dialogue across and about racial differences and divisions.  After decades of doing this work, there is one thing I know for sure:  This is difficult work and there are no hacks—it requires mindfulness, and the ability to be intentional and aware of both yourself and others. I look forward to an opportunity to share this work with you and your community.

Yoga on the path…

I have also learned that same attention to intention is an important part of my yoga path and find the philosophy, meditation and asana that are yoga can help restore me when the social justice work of transformation depletes me.  To be aware of your body, breath and movements can bring relief, peace and joy needed to sustain the work of transformation. I would love to share yoga with you!

More to come …

As I continue my journey to “teach to transform” I hope we might find ways to walk together on the path at some point. Please continue to visit for more information and updates!