The sting of rejection, whether from a relationship, family member or job, hurts. But we need not stay stuck.

My guest and I swap stories about being shy and what it means to be rejected. It was an impromptu LIVE event in our online community. Here is our conversation in raw form. ~

#rejection

#shyness

#introvert

"I saw the football field for the first time and spotted Coach Russo, the only familiar face. I jumped out of the car while it was still running and confessed to Coach Russo that my dad could NOT find out the lie I told about playing football. 

Today's guest, Kevin McLemore, President of RMK Productions and Network, author, speaker, and podcaster, has a storied history of surviving his teenage years with mentors and role models to guide him. It is this experience and more that helps us navigate the challenges to survive, especially when face with a system that is against you, particularly if you are black or brown. 

What are the challenges? McLemore has an answer about how to weather the storm and persevere. Listen - it can change your life.

#football

#FridayNightLights

#KevinMcLemore

#SundayMotivation

#TalkingwithWitKevinandSon

#juvenile

#education

Education and its leadership require a fundamental shift. This need for change is increasingly evident because it can be a challenging environment for educators. They often feel the weight of societal issues such as homelessness, child abuse, food and housing insecurity. Sometimes the village that is needed to help children is not present for the adults. 

What type of educational leader yields positive outcomes? Minister, author of "Prayers from the Principal's Office" and founder of Transformation Arise | Strategic Leadership and Solutions, Ivory Brown delves into the necessity to elevate the well-being of staff members and show empathy towards their personal challenges. Her alignment of innate talents and leadership style aligned with core values presents a holistic view of coaching teams and instructional design. This shift replaces enforcing compliance and maintaining control to an environment of trust and inspiration within teams. 

Aligned with her new book, a devotional for educators, listen to Ivory's special prayer for educators beginning a new school year. ~ 

#educationalleadership

#school

#instructionaldesign

#students

#ministerandeducation

#paradigmshifts

#mindsetchanges

#devotional

#journal

#teachers

#principals

Emmanuel reflects on the sacrifices and courage of parents who immigrate to a new country for the betterment of their children, leaving behind their own families and sacrificing the ability to be present for their loved ones in times of need. Through emotional experiences of his years growing up in a new country, Emmanuel learns the importance of family, sacrifice and recognizes the strength and resilience of ancestors that reflect their triumph. 

To what end is this sacrifice? Educators across the country teach in a system where education is not easily accessible for all. The weight of sacrifice results in a loss of ancestral connections leading to a different kind of struggle within schools. Our conversation about education leads us to an urgency to empower all learners and how breaking barriers is an act of social justice. ~

He acknowledges the legacy of boldness and risk-taking that has been passed down from one generation to the next. 

#immigrants

#education

#socialjustice

#sacrifice

#resilience

#multi-lingual learners

#teachers

#advocates

#learning

#schools

The rhythm and colors are on display during New York City's West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway. The beat of steel drums, colorful dancers and revelers line throughout the streets of New York draws a crowd of over 4 million annually. The Caribbean culture in America is alive and well. Andrew Maloney, Esq., Chairman of the Board of The West Indian American Carnival Day Association. Why does this annual celebration attract visitors from around the world? Maloney delves into the history and contribution of people of Caribben heritage and why it's so important to celebrate culture. ~

#West Indian

#Caribbean

#Eastern Parkway 

#Labor Day Parade

#NYC

#Andrew Maloney

#steel pan music

#Caribbean Mas

What if you defeat the odds of survival and succeed? Lean in to this conversation about a woman forged out of fire who shows that it is possible to live with joy. Jacqui's story is one of courage and determination as she gets to choose abundant life instead of despair. LISTEN. ~

Family is supposed to be a safe space for a child. But what if family members use you and inflict harm? A conversation with Kimmie speaks to how you can heal and have hope despite the odds against you. Trigger Warning: rape, incest, death

#shame

#rape

#incest

#faith

#forgiveness

#mentalhealth

Elijah Caldwell writes a captivating parable about the quest to find yourself and find a life filled with purpose. Through storytelling, we meet Micah, a timeless dreamer whose journey takes us on adventures with Mr. Heart, Miss Destiny, Master Mind and other characters in search of purpose. Every page has words and phrases that can be easily quoted as affirmations, every principle serves our spirit and increase our faith. In our conversation, Elijah gives us a glimpse of his genius and unveil some truths about the book. You don't want to miss this episode, it will change your life. ~ 

When you go about the process of updating your home, you find unexpected surprises. It is the same with life -- when you let go of mistakes and baggage that drags you, you create space for blessings to flow. Listen with me, your host Ann-Marie. 

Sunday Motivation with Kevin McLemore takes us inside the power of words. I was invited to be a guest on the podcast where ordinary people talk about extraordinary things. This week we look at how opposite statements can be true at the same time. We are changing our lives one day at a time. ~

#KevinMcLemore

#RMKProductions

#quotes

#powerofwords