What I want as an African-American woman is to be heard, be seen and be counted

By: Rev. Michelle Anne Simmons

“As the executive director of Why Not Prosper, and wearing the hat of someone who was formerly incarcerated, I often find myself evaluating where I am as far as values and priorities for myself and the population that I serve. In this column I want to ask, “where are you?”

Dear friends and readers, my name is Reverend Dr. Michelle Simmons, and in addition to serving as executive director of Why Not Prosper, I founded the program in 2001 from my own lived experiences around trauma, addiction and incarceration. It gives me great honor to be able to be on the front line with formerly incarcerated women because I know firsthand what struggles they endure.

When I ponder the same question I’m asking you —where am I? —  my mind goes one place and my heart goes another. Experience has taught me to follow my heart and because of that, I am 100% sure that spirituality — defined as being grounded and embracing radical self-love — is of great importance to me in times like these.”

Read the full article here.