BPM: The majority of your books are written to empower women. What does the word empower mean to you?Women are naturally powered; I try to EMpower by providing simple reminders – you are unique; you are worthy; your story is important; your voice matters; care for yourself because we need you to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

Starting today, walk confidently into your purpose. Your teachers, your parents, your ancestors, your mentors have guided you and left powerful footprints in the sand just for you. Rise up with a sense of purpose and as you embark on this incredible journey, remember to be kind, and treat everyone with dignity and respect. Finally, roar to your own beat - don’t try to be like anyone else because you are uniquely made. Be authentically you and your light of greatness will always shine.

Unfortunately, the mothers of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and many others have lost their children to racism; countless others live in fear every time that a child of color walks out into the world.

We are not as powerless as 2020 is making us feel. In this horrendous time, please remember that we can do hard things. You are strong, brave, vulnerable and resilient.

In the midst of the pandemic, our souls needed uplifting.  Thankfully, National Poetry Month gave us an opportunity to experience the power of poetry to heal and to give us a respite from the harsh realities of the world. This issue of our newsletter focuses on poetry, sisterhood and community.  I am pleased to feature a few of our sisters reading their favorite poems.   Continued blessings and safety to you and your family.

This year is a stark reminder that life is precious and unpredictable. In the midst of this pandemic, Easter reminds us that we are still loved and blessed. The poem, the Sacrifice is a message of hope and empowerment for anyone who has battled through very challenging times; your breakthrough has arrived. How to Live the Virtues of Easter moves us from empowerment to action because love in action is what will sustain us and all of humanity.

IN THIS ISSUE: Time Magazine corrects itself and features all the women that have been overlooked. Read their stories here. ‘ The Coronavirus has impacted life as we know if all month. This issue also provides some resources that will help us cope until we have flattened the curve or found a vaccine.

It is an incredibly stressful, anxiety-filled time for many of us. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance - financial, emotional or a helping hand. If you are feeling overwhelmed, call a counselor, pastor or trusted friend and take long breaks from the news. Consider giving mindfulness and meditation a try to calm the nerves and stay centered. Finally, be thoughtful, be prayerful, be hopeful, rest, recharge and lend a helping hand to someone. You are not alone. We are in this together.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described Marcus Garvey as the “first man of color in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny and make the Negro feel he was somebody.”