My Why

If it wasn’t for the Bronx-

I’m currently reading a book titled Real Boys’ Voices by William S. Pollack & Todd Shuster and while it was recommended to me, it’s exactly what I needed and when I needed it. I started blogging (this time) to share my story, which I love to do - hello IG Story, but also to rally some folks to get y’all to fight alongside me for this next generation and the generations to come.

Sidebar, if you’re not following @rubia115 on Instagram, you are missing out on out on some fun from a balanced Christian. Yes, I am referring to myself in that manner because while I am still a work in progress, I also know that I don’t put up a front so that I can look holier than thou. I love bringing people into my struggle, the highs, the lows, the in between and the praise worthy moments as well.

Okay, back to the book, it delves into the inner lives of these young boys across the nation. The young boys share their thoughts and their life on various topics; sex, violence, bullying, emotions, girls, etc. I’ve been sharing the gems I’ve come across on IG.

The reason I mention its perfect timing is because my main reason for returning back to NY, was for the youth. Hear me out, there’s a ton of non profit work, social service agencies, community based organizations, and advocacy already going on in New York but there’s a different sense of responsibility that I feel when it comes to the youth in the Bronx and in NY. Some of us call it PURPOSE. I want to not only amplify the voices of the youth here in the Bronx, as Dr. Pollack has done in his book, but I want to create a space for youth to share, for them to know that they have a safe space free of judgment, free of shame.

At such an exploratory age, there may be things they have done and need to share but are afraid to. My heart just cries out for youth who have no place nor anyone to turn to. And so, they turn to drugs, sex, violence, gangs, suicidal thoughts etc. My incorporation paperwork (for this org that I am working on) was sent to the state to make this official official so we are on our way, familia!

I mean, I did send it back in August but then it was returned due to their particularity and so I had to mail it out again! Mmmhmmm but I digress.

I believe it’s important to know why we do the things we do and I love to share this journey with you all because you have already shown your support in more ways than one. Especially if you’ve read through this blog post Hehe

My IG, my blog, my writing, my spoken word EP, my transparency, my life is meant to be shared - that is true ministry and that is what I endeavor to do here and in the spaces the good Lord allows me to inhabit. When you share my blog, share my instagram post, share my EP, share my poetry, share my newsletter - you’re doing it for the youth in the Bronx.

The more credibility I have and social capital, the more the resources will come for my Bronx youth. Yes I take ownership over them as if they were my babies! LOL

I also create safe spaces for others to release + heal + simply be, it comes very natural to me. People feel at ease when they speak with me + from that my #WritetoHeal workshops were born; to share that gift of listening, writing and acceptance with others.

Thanks for coming along for the journey! In my Tupac voice,

“you are appreciated’"