My paternal grandparents were the first to tell me that I was fearfully and wonderfully made as stated in Psalms 139. As a child, I survived being accidentally dropped headfirst down church basement steps. As a toddler, I was repeatedly taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, New York, by a mother who was suffering from a mental health condition later understood as Munchausen syndrome by proxy—at a time in the early 1970s when it was not yet formally recognized as a form of child abuse. Still, I survived. Throughout my life, my grandfather’s words echoed truth: the hand of God was always upon me. Born in Southampton and raised in East Hampton, New York, I was grounded in both African American and Native American traditions (Shinnecock Indian Nation), learning to respect and honor all of creation, which would continue to shape and sustain

The house of my paternal grandparents where I spent most of my childhood is where I learned the power of prayer, the importance of faith and the value of family and community. In this home I always felt safe, protected, and loved. It was a haven where I began to learn how to use my voice and intellect to stand up for myself amid racism and sexism. A habitat where my Native American heritage would fuse with my African American roots. A sanctuary where I would value my life and no longer seek to hear my body through eating disorders. A formative place of peace, joy and strength where there was nothing missing, lacking, broken or discarded. A safe space where the stillness of creation breathes greatness into unlimited possibilities.

At 19 years old, while driving to my grandparents’ home for a post-Thanksgiving gathering with extended family, friends, and community members, our vehicle was involved in a life-threatening car accident. As a result, I sustained multiple severe injuries, including a skull fracture, a broken leg, a broken nose, and external/internal eye damage. In the midst of the chaos, divine intervention unfolded; an angel appeared through the presence of a neurosurgeon, who guided my sister and other family members in caring for me and my passengers (my father and a close college friend). A tow truck driver later shared that he initially thought no one in this vehicle had survived. During surgery, I was on the verge of being pronounced dead. Yet, in that critical moment, an image appeared, and my heart began to beat again. Doctors predicted that I would struggle to walk, lose my sense of smell, experience impaired vision and have limited cognitive functioning. But God! Five years later, those expectations were defied as I walked across the stage to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University, being named to the Dean’s List.

For over 35 years, I championed causes as a leader dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. The scope of my work encompassed leading forensic interviews, developing programs, and presenting on issues of child sexual exploitation and trafficking, exploring how race, culture, and ethnicity shape experiences of abuse and neglect. Traveling to countries and provinces inclusive of South Africa, Jamaica, and Mexico, I supported communities by strengthening ecosystems for youth and families in orphanages, schools, dwellings, and neighborhoods. These experiences deepened my understanding of multidimensional health and well-being. Presenting at hospitals, churches, primary and secondary schools, universities, children’s advocacy centers, and children’s justice centers were key elements of transforming burnout into power and strength.

Soaring Courageously is more than a title of a podcast or newsletter; it is a way of life. After experiencing multiple head surgeries due to trauma, I came to fully realize that life is a gift. This realization led me to step boldly into a new space as a Health Strategist. During quiet contemplation, Holy Spirit gave me a vision of seven pillars of health that transformed my life.  With spiritual health at the core, we create balance by nurturing our emotional, mental, physical, economical, intellectual and relational well-being. Navigating life through wisdom and willpower, rooted in the truth that we are created