by Patricia Terrell | Sep 20, 2014 | Podcast, Youth
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When many gave up on our troubled youth, Higher Hopes, Inc. gave them hope! Learn how Psychologist, Dr. Bruce Purnell and Educator Ronnie Blackstone are changing the lives of some of our most troubled youth by restoring their hopes for a brighter future and redefining what they believe is “cool.”
“I love the universal language of art. Anytime we give people a super-ordinate goal, they forget their differences, especially when they need each other to complete the tasks.” Dr. Bruce Purnell
Transformative Life Coaching is a program that allow young people to experience pivotal moments in their lives that ultimately influence the development of their self-identities, relationships, choices, goals and futures. It is crucial that our youth have the right support systems in place during these times. These support systems can influence decisions that may have life changing implications. With the right support, every challenging experience and dilemma can provide opportunities for our youth to make the type of decisions that lead to transformational outcomes and build resilience.
Higher Hopes defines resilience as having the inner strength to make the right choices, especially when these choices are not the most popular or “cool.” Higher Hopes has developed and tested an empowerment methodology called “MindSweep,” which is an engagement methodology (IDEAL) to build this type of resilience.
We have all heard of the Underground Railroad, but have you heard of the Overground Freeway? The OverGround Free-Way is a concept coined by Higher Hopes, which means that one cannot actualize physical freedom without mental liberation… So Let’s break the Chains!
Just as the Underground Railroad provided meeting points, secret routes, transportation, and safe houses for slaves to escape slavery, Higher Hopes, Inc. formed the “Overground Freeway” movement to provide meeting points, safe houses, but not so secret routes for our young people to escape the mental bondages of slavery that cause them to make bad choices, lose their self-identities, nurture destructive relationships, destroy their goals and hopes for bright futures. Today, each and everyone of us can play the role of the abolitionist sympathizers of the 19th Century movement by helping our young people “Break the Chains” of their enslaved minds.
Dr. Bruce is a Psychologist and the founder of Higher Hopes, Inc., a non-profit that provides transformational life coaching for our youth. Dr. Bruce comes from a background similar to the youth he is helping, but he was always able to get along with all groups, gangs, and individuals. He was called to do this work early in life and he answered the call. Someone took an interest in him and exposed him to the world of Psychology. He always had a grassroots approach to his efforts, which is what led him to move to Africa to help transform the youth there. Ronnie Blackstone is an Educator who works closely as Dr. Bruce’s right hand and backbone working tirelessly in the community with the youth, their families, advocates and more.
by Patricia Terrell | Aug 2, 2014 | Autism, Podcast, Survival
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Imagine bringing your beautiful child into the world and watching as he progresses normally with all milestones being met. Then somewhere between 1 ½ and 2 years of age……everything changes. Your precious child is kidnapped; not his physical body, but his brain. The doctor says it is Autism. Now what do you do? How do you prepare?
Shante Nicole and husband, Chris Superville will share the story of their beautiful son, Dylan and how learning how to get through to Dylan became their mission in life. It is truly a story of destiny, love, laughter, triumph, and the answer to a calling.
Learn how their journey led them to form the organization F.A.C.E., which gives the caregivers of all special needs children that much needed respite for several hours one Saturday each month.
How many times have you witnessed a parent who seemingly had no control over their child and think “If that was my child, I would……,” or “Why can’t they control that child?” How many times while flying or using public transportation did you throw that parent a certain look and think “Why can’t they shut that child up?” Would you believe that many people actually speak these words to the caregivers?
When it comes to Autism, it is not that simple. Neither does Autism have an obvious physical appearance that will allow the casual observer to see that the caregiver has an Autistic child.
Hopefully this episode will raise Autism awareness and increase the sensitivity levels of the general populace when witnessing what some deem as unruly children. Although this episode is about Autism, this also applies to all children with special needs and their caregivers.
Shanté and Chris will amaze you when they help explain Autism from their beautiful son Dylan’s perspective. You will be forever changed.
by Patricia Terrell | Jul 26, 2014 | Communicating, Podcast
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Why do people act the way they do? How would you like to improve your relationships with the difficult people in your life? According to Dr. Rick Brinkman you can improve even the most difficult relationships. In this episode, he will share strategies on how to effectively deal with the top 13 difficult behaviors that can literally destroy our relationships at home, work, and elsewhere. Can you identify which behavior best describes you?
1. Know-it-Alls 2. Think-They-Know-It-Alls 3. Whiners 4. Meddlers 5. Martyrs 6. Tank attackers 7. Snipers 8. No people (Negativity) 9. Yes people 10. Maybe people 11. Nothing people 12. Grenade Tantrums 13. Judgers
Dr. Rick Brinkman is the Co-Author of “Dealing with People You Can’t Stand” and “How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst.” Over 2 million copies sold with translations in 24 languages.
by Patricia Terrell | Jul 19, 2014 | Podcast, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality
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Are you in love with a Christian, Agnostic, or Atheist? Do you even know? Should you care? Could your mate’s ability to be faithful be linked to their religious beliefs and/or the strength of their faith?
Charlie, a confirmed Atheist shares his views that it all goes back to evolution. Men are not born to be monogamous and they are burdened
to respond to the biological call to have sex and reproduce. A biological call so powerfully intertwined within his DNA; making it impossible for most to resist.
Pastor Alfonzo Surrett shares God’s word about the problems and consequences associated with this view. He states that we are all spiritual beings regardless of our beliefs and that being unfaithful opens the gate for the enemy to enter into our spirit to begin the path of possession and destruction. He concludes that monogamy is not an issue of self-control, but more about the strength of one’s faith.
by Patricia Terrell | Jun 7, 2014 | Cancer, Podcast, Survival
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After having a persistent cough for two weeks Erica finally decided to see her physician. After receiving two Computerized Tomography (CAT or CT) Scans Erica’s doctor informed her that she had enlarged lymph nodes on her lungs.
As her health began to deteriorate and during a hospital stay, doctors performed another CT scan, which revealed the enlarged lymph nodes had spread from her lungs to her stomach and arm pits, strongly suggesting lymphoma. After a battery of tests, Erica was finally diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 27.
What followed was a grueling ordeal that included low blood counts, shingles, resistant staph infection (MRSA), blood clots, anxiety, happy days and sad days. Within 6 months of her diagnosis, tests revealed that her lymphoma had gone into remission!
Despite the cancer going into remission, Erica still had to endure chemotherapy for another 6 months, which created nausea and painful tingling throughout her body. It seemed as if the sickness lasted until the following chemo treatment. There was a point when Erica felt like giving up, but her doctor insisted that she remain strong through the last therapy session to increase the odds that the cancer will not return.
The road to recovery was tremendously hard for Erica. However, after six months of chemotherapy, transplants, transfusions and lots and lots of prayer, as Erica puts it, “I BEAT CANCERS BUTT… by God’s grace!”
Erica founded “D’zire2Survive” to improve the quality of life of patients and their families touched by the lymphoma disease by providing education and up to date information. Erica wants to pay it forward by inspiring patients with peer to peer comfort to help them continue to fight and overcome their battle with blood cancers.
To learn more about Erica’s journey, copy and paste the following links to your browser:
Website: http://www.ericasurvived.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beatcancersbutt
Instagram: @ericasurvived
Twitter: @ericasurvived
Lymphoma Research Foundation: www.Lymphoma.org