This...I...Do...For...Me: Over 50, Black and Fabulous!

Episode 13 With Rose Sturghill

In this episode, I interview Rose Sturghill, who shares her story about her caregiving experience while her mother was on the Dementia journey. Rose, age 59, grew up in Sikeston, Missouri and following a fire, she and her siblings were taken in by various families and adopted.  Rose was blessed to be adopted by a loving family that showered her with care and love – because she was young at the time, she grew up calling her adoptive parents "mom and dad."  Once she turned 18, Rose graduated high school and began a habit of entering colleges and universities but not completing them in order to receive a degree.  She gave that up and began working health related jobs – all jobs that brought her job satisfaction.  Rose, finally made up her mind to return to school after many, many years, and in 2008, she received her Bachelor's of Public Health (BPH); in 2013 and at age 59, Rose received her Master's of Public Health (MPH).  She also hopes to secure a Ph.D.  Rose expressed that returning to school as an older adult was extremely challenging, and  the midst of all of this, Rose, along with family members were sharing in the responsibility of caring for their mother, whose cognitive abilities were declining. Rose shares that the most difficult time for her was once her mother got to a stage where she didn't know her children.  This was devastating.  Rose also mentions that despite major challenges with her mother's health, there were clearly days when it was a complete joy to attend to her mother's needs.  Laughter often got them through this ordeal.   She conveyed that it is most helpful when families work together and where the entire caregiving burden is not on one person.  Rose goes on to elaborate about the adjustments that have to be made when a new phase (decline) of Dementia is entered. She stresses the importance of the caregiver taking time to relax and care for themselves.  Rose can be reached at rsturghill@hotmail.com

Episode 12 WIth Yolanda Franklin

Yolanda Franklin, who has worked in the banking industry for 20+ years, is a phenomenal self-taught artist. At 52 years of age, Yolanda is ever-evolving her talent as a fiber glass and abstract artist.  She first began to develop her appreciation for the arts by observing her mother, who was very talented in sewing, knitting and crocheting.  Yolanda also credits her mother for encouraging her draw and create from her heart.  Yolanda's husband has also been a big influencer on her trajectory as an artist. As a self-employed IT Specialist, Yolanda's husband created the website yoyoartvine.com and yoyoartbiz.com showcasing her work, and he has even been instrumental in naming some of her art pieces.  Yolanda also credits the artist Penelope Brown, who is also a fellow church member for pushing her.  Yolanda shadowed Penelope at a variety of art fairs and gallery showings.  This played a key role in jumpstarting her wanting to really buckle down and create and develop her artwork.  The Embrace Collection (of which the host Robin Tillotson owns one of the paintings from that series) was first created 16 years ago, and this collection represents the first time Yolanda exhibited her work in a major venue at The Chicago Department on Aging.  When Yolanda was inspired by Eric Lee, a glass artist, who also creates artistically with furniture, and after being blown away by his glass work, Yolanda consciously decided to take on that medium.  She eventually moved to working with Plexiglass and Voila – the Embrace Collection was born!  Eight years ago, Yolanda was juried in at the annual Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) annual art exhibit, and in 2015 she won 3rd prize.  She has subsequently exhibited at this prestigious art event for eight consecutive years. That opportunity served as the conduit for being able to showcase her work at The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago. Additionally, she has won a number of ribbons and other accolades where she has exhibited. When asked what role does Spirituality and God play in her work, Yolanda responded simply by saying "He's everything, and the reason behind my passion and gift." Yolanda's current tour de force is a piece that she is working on entitled "Caribbean Queen."  This piece exemplifies her love for texture and learning to love figurative work, and Black culture really shines through this piece.   Yolanda's future plans include participating in art fairs and to land some gallery showings.  She also has a growing Paint and Sip Business where she trains groups.  Yolanda's work can be found on yoyoartbiz.com;for her burgeoning Paint and Sip sessions, you can email her at yoyoartvine.com  She is also on Facebook and Instagram as Yolanda Franklin.

Episode 11 WIth Yvonne D. Hawkins

Yvonne D. Hawkins is a mental health professional and certified professional coach whose focus is on faith-based tools and strategies to help black people recover from racial trauma. Yvonne runs a life coaching business called Healing for Black Folx where she helps black creative folks and professionals reclaim their courage to work their purpose with authenticity and power. She also is a PhD student in pastoral theology, personality, and culture at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Her research areas include developing creative, faith-based interventions for racial trauma. Yvonne firmly believes that all Black people have internalized racial trauma, and she shares how she therapeutically works with her clients in the healing process through modalities such as narrative therapy and body centered work.  Yvonne states that a common coping strategy is for Black folks to minimize their racial trauma experiences in order to survive day to day living. As a result, Black folks are harming themselves, and healing is what is needed to move forward healthily. Yvonne says that there are three things she has learned: The concept of white-body supremacy instead of white supremacy better        reveals how racialized trauma works; Collective, body-centered healing practices are part of the black tradition. There are culturally competent strategies available beyond Western-based, individualistic tools for our well-being;  3.   Managing stress well is not the same thing as healing. Yvonne says,  "racial trauma is exhausting. It leaves many black folx drained and discouraged. It leaves people confused about their individual or collective purpose. It leaves them overworked but underutilized in their workplaces, organizations and black community at large." Nearly 20 years ago, Yvonne learned firsthand how few faith-based tools exist to help the ongoing healing and recovery for the Black community. There are a few tools that are practical, accessible and culturally competent. So she decided to create some.  Yvonne shares, "while working as an award-winning, newspaper journalist where few black colleagues existed---within a whole state (at its peak, there were three of us)---I developed 5 essential mindset habits to protect my well-being and help me flourish within my purpose. Now, I combine my storytelling skills with coaching and counseling expertise, plus 20 years of ministry experience, to help black folx tell the truth to themselves about their own stories. I'm pretty good at helping black folx who are drained and exhausted to recover and flow in their God-given authenticity, purpose, and power."  In January 2020, Yvonne announced the 2020 Radical Love Challenge. Registration is still open. Yvonne is a native of Omaha, Nebraska and currently lives in the Rogers Park Community in Chicago, Illinois. She enjoys nature walks, jig-saw puzzles, and any beach anywhere.

Episode 10 With Beverly Colar-Credelle

Robin Tillotson Sun, Jan 5, 10:55 PM (3 days ago)       to me           EPISODE NOTES — Episode 10   Beverly Colar-Credelle is a fifty seven year old wife of twenty nine years and a mother of two sons — both of whom are grown men. As an entreprenuer, Beverly has successfully launched three home based businesses in the past seventeen years, which she continues to operate today.    Her first business was started in September 2002 after an abrupt unexpected layoff of her entire department. This rendered Beverly jobless. Within one month of being laid off, she launched Native Touch Natural Hair Studio. Beverly's strong passion for hair care and twenty five years solid work experience made for an easy transition. She created a niche for providing services to clients with natural hair only. In 2005 Beverly expanded her brand into Native Touch Natural; this allows her to where promote living a natural life in all ways possible.   In 2003, Beverly launched The Voice Trade. With this business, she assists other small businesses present a professional impression by utilizing her professional sounding voice for their phone greetings and other projects.   In 2006, Beverly launched Credelle Travel as a home based travel business. She was introduced to becoming a travel agent due to her love for travel. She is most passionate about helping couples and families plan the perfect vacation.   In addition to her home based businesses, Beverly has been a highly active member of Sigma Beta Xi Sorority, Inc. Since 2016. She successfully launched the first Illinois chapter. She serves as the Chapter President, as one of the National Dean of Pledges and as the South Regional Director. Sigma Beta Xi Sorority, Inc. promotes the needs of mothers, women and children.    In this episode, Beverly not only shares how she has created a variety of businesses, but she talks about how you can tap into those God-given gifts and talents that God has planted in you. Her story is quite compelling as she shares what the effects that sexual abuse caused her. She is pretty open about having overcome over-drinking and other things that were not healthy. She called on the strength of God and hasn't turned back. You will laugh uproariously at many of her comments and you will walk away from the interview knowing you, too can fulfill your divine purpose.   Beverly can be found on www.thevoicetrade.com and Her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/nativetouchnatural  

Episode 9 With Valerie Avery

On today's episode, Valerie Avery Hargrett shares how to turn a rental property into an AirBnB. She also shares and how she, along with her husband Melvin, plan to expand this business so they are not reliant solely on AirBnB. Located in Chicago's Pullman community, Valerie and husband launched their Bed and Breakfast through AirBnB back in October 2019, and they have been receiving constant inquiries leading to solid bookings every since. Valerie's role has been centered around building this new business through savvy marketing strategies and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing environment that draws new clients. She also shares how she incorporates other African American owned businesses into her business model.