Everything here.
EVERY.
THING.
@iamivyfelicia Thank you.
I am happy you exist.
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This never gets old.
While you’re fighting for the world, remember to take care of you, because you’re one of the most important parts of it. °
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Remember that self care IS a form of activism and resistance too, particularly for women who are guilted for practicing self-care. In a society that does not care about our health, our bodies, or our emotional well-being it’s imperative that WE prioritize those things ourselves. °
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Burn out IS a tactic. If we are all exhausted, ill, and weakened then who will fight? The oppressor knows this and we have to remember it.
TAKE CARE OF YOU. đž: @annmariebrok
#MeMyBodyAndLove #BodyPeace #selflove
#takecareofyourself #takecareofyou #loveonyourself #restandrelaxation #PositiveEnergy #sensitivesoul #empathsbelike #activism #activist #socialchange #socialjustice #socialjusticewarrior #trustblackwomen #agentofchange
How she manages to find the time to be anything else while being in the dissertation stage of pursuing her Ph.D is beyond me… I can barely walk and blow bubbles at the same time…Â I kid, of course!
But she is, she is doing everything while completing her Ph.D in Sociology from the University of North Texas. Her work is focused on African Immigrants in the United States and Identity Formation and or Retention. How do they navigate the immigration process? What is it like being an immigrant of color? How do they identify or continue to identify? Is their identity defined by ethnicity, nationalism, or race? Very interesting work on navigating the process of immigrating and how it shapes identity… Although I’m not an immigrant, I am relative to more than a few and that whole process… Just whew! And identity, Listen Lindas and Lonnies! People of Color, don’t we know something about that identity…Or we learning.
Giovanni, Scholar (photo credit: Quinn McGowan)
Giovanni Wife and Mother
And while she is in pursuit of her continued advancement in academia she continues to foster and model friendship, parenting, and love gracefully. Married for 2 Âœ years to her best-friend and prom date (it really is one of the sweetest real-life love stories) and mothering 3 teenage boys– one in public school, one in charter school, and one being homeschooled… YAZZZ! Wipe your brow honey, she is doing that, seemingly with ease (and it’s not always easy, but she makes it look that way). Her career, scholarly pursuits, and family oft overlap as she lives out her politics and very full and colourful life. One awesome overlap is Co-Ownership with her husband, Quinn McGowan aka The Mighty Quinn of Iron Mic Coalition(but this ain’t about him, I’ll do that another time…) in Legends Press Comics. Her role as Business Administration means keeping the business end of thing in balance… And if you hadn’t figured out by now… This Libra woman knows something about balance and keeping it together… Can you say âIn touch with your star player…â
Which brings us to the business woman… As Owner and C.E.O of Zenzile’s (pronounced Zin. Zee.Lay) Way Consulting, Giovanni is leading the way in Public Speaking, Writing, Editing, Coaching, Diversity Training, Workshops and Corporate Communications with creative magic and keen insight. Through her company and aligned with her astrological nature, Giovanni will be launching her Luxe Libra Lifestyle brand (Coaching) in the upcoming month, which promotes âBetter living through balance.â And has already embarked upon a partnership, The Scoop Divas, with Black Opal Media– a division of Harkins House Productions– offering on-site social media management and public relations… Meaning they can take our local events, GLOBAL! Somebody shout Gloowwwwray with me!!!
Giovanni Activist
And just when it looks like her plate could get no fuller, Giovanni adds just one mo’ thang! Community Service, again the GioD lives her politics and she does so seamlessly: The Activist Mother, The Business-Partner Wife, The Student and The Educator… Giovanni has currently picked up the mantle and is working on several projects in Memphis, including Memphis TEEN SUMMIT, a live series based on BET’s popular nineties TV Show that launched the career of Ananda. MTS is also part of an effort of supporting and welcoming the Cutting Edge Youth Summit , a project she’s been involved with for several years, to Memphis (February, 2015) And at the same damn time she has partnered to organize a push to bring FREE Yoga classes to under-served areas in and around Memphis through the Memphis Urban Yoga Initiative… Oh did I mention, she’s a YOGI! Yazzz! That too!
Yeah!!! She is the GioD an amazing, magical womb warrior!Â
Doing it with #AbundantFaith and #winning because #theUniverseIsHerHomegirlÂ
Watch as Giovanni answers the 7 Questions I ask Everybody and we totally NERD out about Office Supplies!Â
I’m up early in the morEning, but I refuse to wear the clothes of the mourning! Because today I arose early thinking about what next… Thinking about celebrating. Thinking about how many of the elders, the sages at whose feet I sat literally and metaphorically, have transitioned recently… I think about Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Fannie Mae, and M. Bennett Hooper aka Mikii Hooper, Nini, Gran.Gran. All gone in just the last 5 months… So much loss… it seems and writing memorial pieces seemed the hardest thing to do… Until today , when the thought that’s been plaguing me,‘What next?“ woke me from my sleep extra early and I had to put pen to paper fingers to keypad and #WRITE! Scream out my words to the these pages in the grand tradition of the Griots who came before me and paved the way…
(Gran.Gran)
Loss is such a sad place to write from… A void, something is missing. And while I will not enjoy the physical presence of my elders on this plane during this time anymore. I am writing from a place of gain and celebraion because they have transitioned to ancestors, leading and guiding from the other side and that my beauty.full ones is a cause for celebration!
I celebrate because I know the impact that each had on me, in my life, and that part of their spirit live on here, in YOU and me. I celebrate because I know that they held on leading and guiding from this side to the very last breath. And I celebrate because I know what next, they left blueprints, designs, and plans. They lived their lives, their love, their politics. It was on display in a myriad of ways for us all to see… In doing that they were always teaching. They were always sharing the secret.Â
(Gran.Gran)
No there will never be another Maya, Ruby, Fannie, Gran Gran... Just like there wasn’t before them. There will be a YOU! and a ME! That’s what’s next! Their transitions sound a clarion call to all within their sphere of influence to pick up their mantle and go forth. And some are already doing it! Some are already working hard, committed, dedicated, active pressing toward the mark.Â
The transitioning of our elders marks the time in which we(I) show up in my power, with the gifts we(I) brought to this world to become fully your(my)self as they did before us(me). I am shouting now!!! Dancing around my desk as I type because today I am celebrating what’s next… My elders rest. My ancestors got my back. WE(I) ARE(AM) HERE! They taught US(ME) well and they knew they could trust US(ME) with #WhatsNext
(Gran.Gran)
What is your power? What gift did you come to bring to this world? What did the elders teach you? Who and what will you BE?! Because Baaaaaaybeeee! YOU(I) got Next and it’s NOW!
Giovanni N. Dortch
Purple Hair And Converse 