Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

A few days ago marked a month in the Trump Presidency. In a month, there have been travel bans, lies, false terrorist attacks, LGTBQ threats, and more lies. Not to mention a cabinet that traded in their white sheets for a suit and tie, but did not trade in their beliefs. There have not only been daily and weekly protests, but the media has banned White House staff from speaking. Now this may appear as if I describing an episode of the Twilight Zone, but I am describing actual events, reality. The problem is the constant shock at how this happened. This is a problem because it is time for a crash course in karma. Trump being President and all of the crazy that comes with it, is simply "The Chickens coming home to roost," as Malcolm X said so eloquently. When an entire country is built on the construct of racism and hate mongering, then the truth of that will manifest itself in leadership. And that is how we got here. We can always blame poverty and the unemployment rate. Tha...

Watching This is Us, I am struck by the line, "I have lived a life of almost and could haves." What also struck me was the contentment that the character felt in saying the line. Maybe contentment is the wrong word. He felt okay and had clearly forgiven his choices so that he could move on or better yet, so that he could live in the present. These conversations that we have with ourselves usually occur when we are evaluating the life that we have lived in order to make our next steps. I needed to see this. And more importantly, I needed to hear this. Life as an artist is one filled with hills and valleys. It is also filled with fear and uncertainty. Unlike most career choices, this is one that is seldom understood by the majority and even worse it is only fully seen by other actors and performers. How does one continue in this life with no fear? How do you conquer your internal demons? You don't. The answer is that the fear will always be there. And if you have faith, t...

This is the time that most actors dread. The hiatus between gigs. Or even worse, a long break between gigs. You are pounding the pavement going to audition after audition, Callback, put on hold, interested and then NADA! Back on the grind you go. This is when you become easily annoyed and you start looking at regular jobs as if they could be your salvation. Mostly because you begin to doubt what you are trying to do in the first place. And of course, I am grateful for the work and the opportunities. Blah Blah Blah! At this moment, I just want to bitch and moan about my unemployment as a professional actor. Thank you now back to me. What am I going to about it? Recenter myself through prayer, meditation, laughter, and quiet. Learn some new music. Memorize some new monologues. Update my voice over demo. Stop bitching! And remember that I was completely miserable at those soul sucking "regular" jobs and none of them brought me "magical" financial security. And ...

Two weeks ago, a group of educators in the Caucus of Working Educators sponsored a Black Lives Matter week in Philadelphia. The initial idea for the action was inspired by Seattle Public School teachers who wore Black Lives Matters shirts in support of their Black and Brown students. An action to lift these students up and to highlight the systemic racism that continues to exist and pervade every aspect of American society. I want to talk about some of the lessons learned from the week. Lesson #1, not everyone is prepared or ready to face their own privilege and racism. Lesson #2, the voices of the youth are always honest and on point. Lesson #3, studying movements provides the words necessary to change hearts and minds by dealing in truth rather than lies and conjecture. Lesson #4, organized labor unions and school districts continue to battle with the intersection of race and teaching and learning. Lesson #1 I have been doing this work for a lifetime. Ever since I discovered tha...