WHEN A BIRD SINGS....

Someone I care about told me this...he said "Raven, just be!" I got frustrated at first and couldn't really receive the message. I'm just coming to embrace it. I have to live. I have to define my standard of living. I have to grow and shape myself into my truest form. I have to just BE! I share this photo as a friend caught me in action. Dancing in City Center, letting the beat of the drums move my body. Not caring about who is looking and not worried about my lunch in my hand...just feeling the music and the vibrations. Just BEING! What I've been working on is remaining positive. Focusing on the now. Paying attention to what's important in my life; for my personal growth and well being. Thank you to my loved one for always awakening some evolution in my being. I appreciate your presence. 

So the first book that I finished in 2015 is "sisters of the yam: black women and self recovery" by bell hooks.  I've been on a 6 month mission to regain control of my emotions.  My mom had been suggesting a self-help book for the longest.  I was anti-self help books and had been for a long time.  I'm like, no one can tell me how to live my life but myself.  BUT I took my mom's advice and stepped outside the box. I decided on a book by bell hooks, well because I am a trained academic.  I tend to give more respect to people who are also trained academically.  bell hooks is a well known Black feminist author.  I can say that I have read some of her work, but I haven't worship'd it.  I say that because people worship her and her thinking. lol. I guess I have never identified as a feminist.  Not that I don't believe in women rights or women equality, I just never identified myself as a feminist.  I've had some issues with owning my wo...

I have a friend Marisha Dixon.  This girl is a grinder.  Every time I turn around, she is creating something.  I love her drive, her motivation, her strength, her perseverance.  She has been inspiring me over the years to just go for what I want. The Authentic Me Campaign is to encourage young girls and women to purge their old beliefs, insecurities, self doubt, fears etc.  Find out more information here:   http://www.theauthenticmecampaign.com/the-authentic-me-campaign-epk/

People always have something negative to say about Oakland and especially Oakland public schools.  Although they are right in some ways, but they are also very wrong in other ways.  When I hear, "Oakland don't do nothing for their students"....its hella irritating.  Well first because I work for Oakland Unified, and I know that I am working really hard for my teachers.  So its just disrespectful to all of the hard working people that are working at the schools to transform student lives. And one way that is happening, that's been happening, has been through our career themed academies.  We call it Linked Learning.  Career themed academies provides a holistic approach to learning. Where teachers are working in teams, all subject areas are focused on a particular career industry, students are apart of a small learning community, students get extra support, students participate in career related experiences.   So me and 3 other women, Courtne...