How did you become interested in this line of work? (tell us a little bit about your background)

I was born into an international, interracial, multicultural family (my mother is the daughter of Finnish and Swedish immigrants; my late father was Nigerian) of readers, storytellers and educators, so I’ve been doing this work from the time I could talk. After meeting my father and siblings in Nigeria for the first time, I left a career in nonprofit work as an immigrant rights advocate, community educator and diversity trainer. I went back to school to study creative writing. I still have the same concerns, but now I approach them through teaching and writing.

Please share a wellness tip or word of advice that relates to the workshop you will be presenting.

One of the things I’ve discovered running nonprofit organizations and finding family members on three continents and teaching writing around the world, is that personal storytelling is one of our most powerful tools. By telling your truth, you free yourself from the past and invite others into bravery and authenticity.

What or who inspires you? (This could be anything from your mentor to your favorite quote)

I’ve always been inspired by Toni Morrison, who taught me that “Writing is really a way of thinking — not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic, or just sweet,” and Maya Angelou, who reminded me that “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

I see teaching as a political and spiritual mission, so I am proud to have been selected as One of Five Women to Learn From by Maire Claire magazine and to get testimonials from students on a regular basis thanking me for changing their lives. As a writer, I am proud of publishing a memoir that continues to be recognized for innovating travel writing, spiritual narrative, non-traditional structure, and black women’s memoir.