Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

There has been lots of talk and debate about the lack of experience that the Caucus of Working Educators will bring to the leadership of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). And it is usually followed by the fact that it is a contract year and that the case presented before court is still being deliberated and that a win is just around the corner. The best one yet is that this is a divisive move and the union needs experience more than change. And that is when I realized that it was time to share a story and not an article or an op-ed. It was time to recognize that no union member came straight from the womb knowing how to negotiate an effective and fair contract. Not one union member came out of the womb knowing how to listen, I mean really listen to the body language and the room when a teacher or staff member is in the midst of a dispute with administration. Not one union member ever came fully prepared to the table without first being given the opportunity to learn. We ...

This is a love letter. One written about something that surpasses the simplistic idea of what many of us limit love at. This is a new year. One that has come with some bumps and valleys, but mostly it has demonstrated the beauty of my friends, family, and even strangers. And my faith has been tested time and time again. But that is the definition of faith, the belief in the unseen and unknown. I promise to love this life more and more each year that I am given breath. And not to take any day for granted. I promise to look around me during my walks and to actually breathe during my weekly swims. I promise to be a blunt force of honesty when it comes to exposing the truth about every attack on public education and to provide solutions and pray that the right people hear it and respond in time before it is too late. I promise to take more time to simply be with me, away from the crazy, at least once every quarter instead once every 5 or 6 years. This letter is to remind me why I love ...

Dating used to be fun. When people actually communicated in person instead of texting, sexting, or swiping yes or no on an app. I used to get very excited about the prospect of a new experience and leaving disappointment in my rear-view mirror. Today, I find I have to actually take breaks or hiatuses each time it just doesn't work out...once again...for whatever reason. Just like an adult, I examine my side of it and compare and contrast what was said and what was actually done. Then I forgive myself and move past it. But, today I am realizing that I may no longer be able to handle rejection in my personal and professional life. Imagine entering a room of strangers once or twice a week, knowing that each time is an opportunity to be rejected or not considered. Then imagine the act of you rejecting others and you also being rejected for all kinds of reasons. And that is the reason that my breaks get a bit longer each time because my capacity for healing is growing mor...

I have had two moments, one before Thanksgiving, and one today to remind me that I am on the right path. I was sitting waiting to be seen for a small TV role when a man who worked at the office walked by in all of his CEO glory. I turned to the actress next to me and jokingly said, "At times I feel as if I chose the wrong career path." She quickly turned to me and replied, "I came from corporate and WE are in the best career. One where WE are actually chosen for who we really are." The next time was today. I had an audition and noticed that some of my peers were getting callback times and of course that feeling of rejection started to sink in, despite feeling joyous for my fellow audition buddies and fully understanding that I have booked gigs without the thrill of a callback. Then I remembered that when I got the email for the audition appointment I had $10 to my name. And before I knew it, thanks to the magic of the PayPal MasterCard, I had a train ticket. My dear...

Last week, a white male shooter fired into a crowd of peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protesters. A video was released showing what everyone already knew about the shooting death of Laquan McDonald; an  incident that occurred last year but resulted in the Magnificent Mile being shut down over the Thanksgiving holiday and a first degree murder charge for the police officer in question. These continuous murders of Black males and females that are unarmed at the hands of the police grow each day and week. Many continue to forego jail time and some are even still working. It is easy to get angry by countering each murder with the innocent Black bystanders that are shot and killed in Chicago by other Blacks. No one ever provides the number of arrests usually attached to Black on Black crime. Nor the fact that we spend more on Blacks and Latinos in prison then we do when they are being educated in the public school system. In other words, Black shooters will see the inside of a jail. I am...

Have you ever thought, "If I could just win the lottery, I would be set." Or, "If I could just book a national commercial or tour I could pay of my student loans or really save." Or, "If I could just get proper representation, I would be alright." All of us have had these thoughts run through our minds once or twice. But, this Lottery Ticket Mentality becomes a problem when you literally forget that work is involved in order to reach your goals. Work needs to happen in order for any success to manifest. If you have been sitting in the same spot for many years, the problem is not the missing "lottery ticket"  or that you have been bamboozled the problem is you. If you have the same 3 songs in your musical theatre audition book that you had 10 years ago or the same monologue than it is definitely and unequivocally YOU! When folks say, "You are so lucky that this and that has happened in your life," I want to slap the taste out of their ...

The idea of fear has been a constant conversation during the past few weeks. The fear of the unknown. Fear of crossing the right path. Fear of starting a new relationship. Fear of forgiveness. Or simply the fear that is constantly fueled by fear. How does one conquer fear once and for all? I truly believe that fear never leaves us. We simply find a way to make sure that it does not handicap us or stop us from achieving our greatest potential. When you feel stagnant or simply immobile. Stuck at a job that you despise or never truly discovered what you want to be when you grow up, that is usually a symptom of fear. In my life fear has served as a motivator. When I am the most afraid that is a sure sign that I am on the right path. The path that will take the most risk and will reap the greater harvest. When dealing with fear you must locate a belief system. Without God and my spiritual development, fear would absorb my very essence until I disappeared. When you don't believe in a...