Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Post

Hello, it’s Dr. Sheila, your parent partner. You may have heard of the infamous "Helicopter Mom" - that's me, Momma Sheila. Being a "helicopter mom" means I was often criticized for being overly involved in my children's lives. And you know what? Guilty as charged. I'm fiercely protective, a tad overbearing, and admittedly, I can be smothering at times. But I prefer to call it "Love" or "Good Parenting," even though my sons might have different words, like annoying or aggravating. As an educator, I've seen firsthand how the odds are stacked against black boys from the moment they're born, especially within the school system. So, I vowed never to let my sons face these challenges alone. As the late Dr. Rita Pierson said, I became their biggest cheerleader, their unwavering champion, always ready to advocate for them and arm them with the tools they need to succeed. Now that my sons are older and doing well, I want to ensure that other black boys thrive. What better way to do it than to assist parents with tools and resources to support their black sons? My experiences as a mother and extensive knowledge as a teacher and college professor put me in a great position as an expert on the topic of raising Brilliant Black and Brown Boys. I am excited to share resources in my E-book, courses, and one-on-one with parents. Parents and educators, together, we can disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. Stay tuned to tomorrow's post, where I will share more insight on the school-to-prison pipeline and how it impacts black boys. In the meantime, click the link below to receive information on my E-book launch and other resources to support our Black Boys. https://lnkd.in/et7RjbqF www.drsheilathomas.com #SONshine #helicoptermom #lovingmother #advocacy #BrilliantBlackBoys

Massive round of applause to DJT and Family for their incredible resilience over the years... Thanks for your service, Donald. When you drain a swamp, where do you put all the snakes? The amusing thing is that a guy like Donald, is twice as effective the second time (The comeback kid) I am incredibly excited to reap the benefits of this mans hard work and so should you! He works for us, and when people work for us they should be benefiting U.S. - thats how it works. When you work for Burger king, you don't sell Mcdonalds cheeseburgers and if you did, you would be out of business. America is real close to being out of business. Name one society that did not crumble in the history of this planet? You cant - they all did. The only question, is when? Stop allowing our government, the media and its politicians to perform its poisonous acts on the behalf of Megadoners and foreign interests. You are being sensitivity trained to be slaves. Inch by inch, year by year - You will have the perception of more, but the reality of less until you have nothing and then you will give your life, for liberty. #AMERICAFIRST #TRUMP2024 #DRAINTHESWAMP #MEDIAREFORM #SPENDINGREFORM #SECUREBORDERS #TOUGHERONCRIME #EDUCATIONREFORM #LIBTARDS #LOBBYINGREFORM #SLAVERYSENSATIVITYTRAINING

In this world of advocacy you come across some pretty remarkable individuals like my friend Tansy McNulty, MBA, a huge CONGRATULATIONS on a recent article written in Essence by Rayna Reid Rayford “From Corporate America To Community Advocate: Here's How One Mom Is Working To End Police Violence” Dreaming of a better world for her husband and two children, Tansy McNulty founded 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4) to focus on preventing tragedies and help keep Black families intact. McNulty revealed the meaning behind the name. “I chose ‘1 million’ because I thought I needed a lot of people. It turns out I just need a lot of the right people ‘Madly’ is a play on the stereotype of the ‘angry Black woman,’ but we are saying ‘madly’ to mean intently and passionately. And then ‘Motivated.’ We’re motivated by our love for our children, for whom we are responsible.” The organization aims to eliminate police violence by 2038, with the hope that over the course of 20 years, the next generation will be able to tackle this systemic problem. “It is important that Black mothers fuel the work to end police violence since we have the greatest vested interest in truly ending this systemic issue. It is the lives of our loved ones that are most at risk and we are committed to protecting them through our innate resourcefulness and innovative thinking. No longer do we want to be ones called, screamed or cried out for during the last moments of life. We work to be at the table, literally and figuratively, designing solutions to prevent harm and keep families and communities intact.” #1m4 #JLHFundGrantee #mentalillnessisnotacrime #therightresponse #blackmen #blackboys #blackmotherhood #mentalhealth #friends #advocate #community #blackexcellence

This is a heart-wrenching read. The microaggressions and microinequities this black child had to endure and the harm to her are all too common and longstanding. The schools and the districts allowed this schoolgirl to continue enduring the daily indignities of being marginalized and treated as though she did not belong. Their efforts to respond to her and her family's complaints were so ineffective that they piled up to the point that the victim felt that being black was wrong and had suicidal ideations. The poor efforts to "protect" this child resulted in blaming the victim for being black to protect the white children who were inflicting her pain. It doesn’t have to be that way. At Diversity Training University International, we advocate and train people to use the R.E.A.R. Racial Equity steps. Step 1. Recognize microaggressions and microinequities when they occur. Everyone needs to be in agreement about what they are and know how to identify them. Step 2. Empathize with the victim. Believe their stories about their lived experiences, their experience with them, and what they need for relief. Don’t sugarcoat the problem or focus more on protecting the organization. Step 3. Acknowledge the damage that the acts have done to the victim, any bystanders, and the organization as a whole. Agree that they are unacceptable and damaging. Step 4. React positively. Take care of the victim. Let them know that you believe them and work with them and others impacted to protect them from further harm. Look at the organization’s policies, procedures and practices to identify how they contribute to the problem to address them. #microaggressions #microinequities #racism #marginalization #schooldistricts #teachingtolerance #blacklivesmatte #unconsciousbias #black #children #pyschologicalsafety #adoption.

#ThrowbackThursday Take a moment to listen to this episode of PIVOT Towards Promising Futures from Futures Without Violence! I had a great conversation with Wendy Mota about primary prevention and anti-Blackness. "...reflects on the primary prevention inherent in Black families and communities that gets overlooked because of assumptions and biases, and calls on us to examine how we define primary prevention. She calls on us to listen to the stories Black families and survivors share about times when they felt safe and pay attention to the things that helped them thrive in those times. Implementing prevention strategies without the participation of Black families, survivors, or advocates will render them ineffective because those most directly impacted will have the best insights on what solutions will work. To succeed, prevention work needs to take leadership from communities and build strong connections across social justice movements." Feel free to connect with me at [email protected] if you want to explore some of the strategies discussed during our conversation. #antiBlackness #primaryprevention #thrivingcommunities #Liberation #BlackJoy #BlackLove #Resilience #Equity https://lnkd.in/e4Qh5VyP

“Remove the strings from the purse. Trust Black leaders to know what will move the dial for their communities. Take a genuine interest in the work of the organizations you fund, not just in counting widgets to determine impact and in 10-page reports to assure you they did what they were supposed to do with the money. Fund them early and fund them like you want them to WIN.” Check out our full conversation with Tides Advocacy Chief Strategy Officer Renita Francois 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/g2x_swut #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackFuturesMonth #Black365 #ProBlack #SocialJustice

Emmett Till: A Legacy of Resilience in the Face of Injustice Emmett Till's name is etched in American history, a constant reminder of the police brutality and racism that stained the nation's past. In 1955, this 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago was visiting family in Mississippi when he was abducted, tortured, and lynched for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Emmett's story is not just about one tragic event. It's a story about the enduring strength of a mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who chose an open-casket funeral to expose the barbarity inflicted on her son. Her courage sparked outrage across the nation, fueling the Civil Rights Movement. Emmett Till's murder became a rallying cry for justice and equality. A Legacy That Lives On. Today, Emmett Till's legacy serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for injustice continues. We must: Demand Accountability: Police brutality and racial violence continue to plague our society. We must demand accountability from law enforcement and the justice system. Emmett Till's story is one of unimaginable pain, but it's also a story of resilience and courage. Let his legacy inspire us to continue the fight for a more just and equitable world. #EmmettTill #CivilRightsMovement #BlackLivesMatter #NeverForget

THE MOTIVATION OF ANOTHER BIG SHARK Last night I watched Jaws 2- quite good as a sequel, although not in the Godfather or Rocky league for follow ups!- but engaging nonetheless. It got me thinking, trouble might not come in life or business in the shape of a great white shark (thankfully).. but it will come and we can USE it! When our boats get rocked and our plans ruined that’s when we grow and adapt. I would never have thought becoming disabled could make me stronger, but it has! Out of setbacks comes resilience, Disappointments bring fresh vision Great fear can lead to great courage And bad experiences might just bring you expertise Like Chief Brody, stick to your principles, never give up, learn from previous mistakes, lead by example, use everything in your toolbox- and soon enough “you’re gonna need a bigger boat”😋 #motivationalspeaker #inspirationalspeaker #resilience #tenacity #goagain #successjourney #justkeepswimming #inclusion #hope #storytellingforbusiness #creative #corporateevents #poet

Absolutely, I completely agree with the sentiments expressed in the linked message. Collective bullying of public figures is a pervasive issue that contributes to a toxic societal environment just as much as individual and group bullying in our personal lives. It is essential to respectfully share differing perspectives and engage in civil discourse to cultivate a healthy and thriving society. Character assassination and disrespect toward those who hold different opinions, lifestyles, or group affiliations is a dangerous trend that erodes the foundation of a tolerant and inclusive society. It's a slippery slope that can lead to a culture of fear, intimidation, and oppression. We must collectively take a stand against this toxic incivility and strive for a more understanding and empathetic approach to our differences. As individuals, we have a responsibility to examine our own behavior and refrain from engaging in or condoning any form of bullying or disrespectful discourse, whether it be directed towards those we know personally or public figures in the media. By promoting kindness, empathy, and open-mindedness, we can collectively contribute to a healthier and more harmonious society.