Frankly Speaking with Tyra G

JAIL is a result, event-driven, choice involved, power stripping, a visible shift.

However, within the jail cell inside each inmate is the power of transformation. Transformation is process-driven, choice involvedand resides internally.

Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources, (OAR) is missioned to rebuild lives and create a safer community with opportunities, alternatives, and resources for justice-involved individuals and their families.

OAR is a local non-profit restorative justice organization providing human services since 1971. Its history has its roots in the highest principles of human rights, and the most practical applications of a community’s enlightened self-interest and citizen action. Its origins can be traced to a 1968 prison strike at the State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia. In response, several local churches convened a conference on Churches and the Correctional System. Following that effort, Jay Worrall, Jr. founded the OAR movement, which at the time stood for Offender Aid and Restoration. It was his vision of citizen visitors helping jail inmates that formed the original premise for the creation of OAR organizations around the country.

My conversation with Brandon Cosby, Director of Development at  OAR is story-rich, informative, and hopeful. He answers questions you may not have known to ask about this space and its residents.

you will want to know more.

When Tears Have Voice

With fifty years of Nursing experience, 43 in Nursing management, Nora exudes profound, compassion, and, deeply cares for the hearts of those experiencing loss through the death of a husband, parent, child or divorce!

Nora exemplifies a story of total transformation! Just imagine the caterpillar… how it is transformed from an ugly blob -into one of God’s most beautiful creatures!  Nora can help you transform your current state of mourning, sorrow, pain, and grief into hope and eventually joy!

If you have experienced loss and/or are having trouble navigating grief, you will feel empowered, encouraged, and inspired by author, speaker, and coach Nora Neal-Daggett at the Frankly Speaking virtual table.

Click below and take a listen.

You exercise. You eat right. You’re in pretty good shape for someone your age.

Still, getting older can bring on health problems as our bodies change. Not everyone will get them. But some medical conditions become more common or more serious after we get a few decades under our belts.

Getting older can be a triple whammy. You lose muscle as you age. That makes it harder to keep the pounds from creeping up. You also become less active. At the same time, your body burns fewer calories for the same physical activities as when you were younger.

You probably know that being overweight or obese raises your chances for many conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. But the extra pounds can pose an even bigger burden for older people. Everyday movements like walking and getting out of chairs get harder. Obesity and arthritis often go together.

So, whether your 50 or 80, ask your doctor about smart ways to fight weight gain. Every bit helps.

Dr. Gloria Ivey Crowe returns to Frankly Speaking to discuss these and other generational specific health issues for women as well as some potential social and cultural implications.

Tune in and learn stuff.

We all know everyone has a story. However, I like to say everyone is a story.

This month we are taking a closer look at our personal stories and the stories of those who have supported our becoming more. And, we are going to recognize the power of the stories that we tell ourselves.

Author Richard Kearney says in his book On Stories “Telling stories is as basic to human beings as eating. More so, in fact, for while food makes us live, stories are what make our lives worth living.”

Isak Dinesen says, “To be a person is to have a story to tell. —"

Author  David Denborough, Ph.D., writes  “Who we are and what we do are influenced by the stories that we tell ourselves…There are many different events in our lives, but only some of them get formed into the storylines of our identities. Whatever storyline we have about our lives makes a difference in who we are and how we act.”[1]

Through a story, we can pretend to be somebody else or go somewhere else, without taking on the risks or expense ourselves. We can even do the impossible, like travel through time or explore the universe. Kids play pretend from a very young age, and through various kinds of stories, we never really stop.

The stories we love to hear, read, and watch and the ones we tell ourselves, shape our lives. These stories shape how we interact with others, and even how they interact with us. They shape how we feel about ourselves and what we think we’re capable of.

[1] https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-power-of-our-personal-stories/

This week do I have a treat for you!

My guests today, Naomi and Asa Nero, sister, and brother are delightful! To receive their gift to you tune in below and experience the current chapter they are writing, hear their song, feel the joy of their youth and know our future is in good hands.

Contrary to the belief that this is a male-dominated world, women provide the foundation of power, grace, wisdom, justice, creativity, and hope. Throughout history, the world has witnessed many great women of strength who managed to tap into their Everyday Power to leave an indelible mark on society. However, it is important that there is a transfer of empowerment to the next generations.

Actress Audrey Hepburn said, “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.”

The goal of the She Believes in Me organization is that every girl knows there is someone who believes in her. They partner with individuals and organizations to make a difference in the lives of young women through fundraising, development, strategic collaboration, events, and volunteer engagement. Join us!

My guests today believe passionately in the gift of encouragement, the power of self-worthiness, and the fact that love does! Join the conversation!

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This month we have been exploring the diversity found in the space called legacy; more specifically the legacy of caring and loving. We themed it “Were it not for Those Who Care and Who Have Cared”.

Ever stop to think about those people? You know the ones… who especially encouraged you to keep on going when you had decided to stop; who gave when you couldn’t ask, who dried the track of your tears… and who said, “Yes you can!” They planted seeds for you to harvest immediately or later in your life.  They have magical timing…some stay for a season or some stay for many seasons. Some live in a surprising comment. Memories of them are tattooed on your heart. And sometimes that memory of them is like a do-over of their impact on your life.

So how does one create a legacy? What’s the process? it may start with an idea, a dream, a challenge, a need. My guest today is in the process of waking a dream, harvesting an idea, and nurturing a promise living in the next generation of young boys and girls who are not routinely reminded of their worthiness and abilities to exceed expectations in the area science, technology, engineering, and math.

Join the conversation with Ethel Canty Bothuel, President and CEO, Youth Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, "Planting the Seed of Entrepreneurship". Dr. Bothuel breathes new life and promises into entrepreneurship legacy through a collaboration of parents, schools, churches, and businesses.

 

I love it when I get together, courageous enough to look and walk beyond words. Giving each other permission to expose gifts of imperfection without judgment.

Frankly Speaking is our time and space to help, heal, educate, and encourage each other into the best version of ourselves no matter where we are in our journey.

Our spiritual doggie bag this week includes a note from LOVE also known as God and as offered by author Glennon Doyle Melton and I quote:

“Stop holding your breath. Breathe. There is enough. I have created an abundance of acceptance, attention, recognition, joy, peace, money, energy, clothes, food. I will never leave you without enough. And there is nothing to be afraid of. No feeling, no circumstance, no person. These things come and they go, and you can live through them, without running, hiding, numbing, or hurting another one of my children.

And did you know this, my angel? There has never been anything wrong with you --- not one day in your life. You are exactly who you were meant to be, right now, as you are. You are not to be ashamed. You punish yourself, but you have no reason to be punished. You can stop now. You are FREE!

Our guest today, Tonia Oldham found her freedom as a young woman in the US Air Force, And boy did she soar!

Listen in and be inspired.

DJ KHALED, music industry megaproducer and recording artist was a part of your student group, he may take this young man out to lunch and  remind him as well as all of us in his book The Keys, and I quote:

“We The Best means exactly what it says. I didn’t say I’m the best. That’s an important distinction; I said we. That means me, Fan Luv, my team, and everybody who’s got love and positive energy. Let me ask you this: If somebody came up to you and asked, “Are you, the beat writer, chef, producer, director? What would you say? If you don’t declare that you’re the best, I’m disappointed. You are supposed to say that you are the best because let me tell you, you are the best. You need to own it with confidence and conviction. Say it to yourself first a thousand times, and then say it to others a thousand more. For real, Is somebody better than you? Nah. We The Best. You have to speak your success into existence because absolutely no one else will do it for you.

That’s why I started my first label, I called it We The Best. Were we the best yet? That’s up for debate. But did we have the drive and the passion and the necessary dedication to be the best? Without a doubt, Muhammad Ali, rest in peace, said, “I am the greatest, I said that before I knew I was.” DJ said, make your life about fulfilling your vision and dream big.” End Quote

Three published authors in middle school are successfully overcoming the pressures of a youth culture challenged by bullying, drugs, alcohol, and suicide.  They share why and how they are succeeding. It's compassionate and fun. Your heart will smile.

What's in a name?

“Nexters” or Generation Z (born after 2000) composed another 3% of the global workforce, but they make up more of the global population (25%) than any other generation. By 2020, they will be out of school, making up 20% of the global workforce right behind Millennials."

This is a maker generation, a far more pragmatic and practical generation who must architect and build the future we are all trying to imagine living in. The world doesn't need more foundational layers, it needs a generation to create.

Meet Generation Next

They use technology and the internet to connect with people in new and distinctive ways. Text messaging instant messaging and email keep them in constant contact with friends.

Nexters say they have either gotten a tattoo, dyed their hair an untraditional color, or had a body piercing in a place other than their ear lobe. The most popular are tattoos, which decorate the bodies of more than a third of these young adults.

One-in-five members of Generation Next say they have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic, nearly double the proportion of young people who said that in the late 1980s. And just 4% of Gen Nexters say people in their generation view becoming more spiritual as their most important goal in life.

They are the “Look at Me” generation. Social networking sites allow individuals to post a personal profile complete with photos and descriptions of interests and hobbies

But wait, let's not make hasty generalizations. This month you will hear some delightful conversations with members of the next generations. You will laugh, engage in hope, and feel pride that our future is in good hands.

When I walk daily, I intentionally “unplug”. There is nothing on my body to indicate how many steps I have taken during my four-mile walk. I listen to the birds singing and ducks honking as they make love to spring. I notice new flowers in bloom. I am at peace. Yet sometimes, today, for instance, unwanted thoughts insert themselves as a result of something I heard on the news. Today it was the concept of “Othering”. I don’t like it and I like even less the fact that it is being intentionally used in this season’s political lexicon. It is not good news. When do we begin to respond to differences as negative rather than positive?

What if we all could see and be seen as equal to - unique, not as part of a collective group - be addressed, and spoken about, by our name - be encouraged to be ourselves - be given enough time to be culturally competent… be given the time and opportunity to understand - to be listened to, and understood.”

What if we learned to be together, even though we are not the same? What possibilities would we uncover?

Seated at the table today is Ambreen Rizvi, a phenomenal woman who is also passionate about Inclusion and Diversity. Take a listen. Grade yourself.