Quote #1 "I am loved, called, and chosen. I am rich in every way and generous on every occasion. I'm anointed, appointed, equipped, and enabled by the power of God that works mightily within me! No weapon formed against me will prosper and no enemy scheme against me will succeed. I live, breathe, and serve powerfully under the shelter of the Most High God. Amen." Quote #2 "I am my own. I am enough. I am rooted in love. My life is abundant. My heart is resilient. My happiness is important. Nothing has the power to break or destroy me. I am whole even through hurt." When I look at both of these quotes, I see myself becoming and adjusting to the chaos and the trauma I've endured throughout my childhood. As an African American woman in her 20's life itself has become wicked and dark. I'm judged already by the color of my skin but also by the perception that I'm already considered or classified as 'ghetto', 'loud', and 'angry'. While battling depression, and anxiety, life and the air that I allow to flow through my lungs become hard and questionable. What is the point of living? but I refer back to these quote's that remind me that I'm more then the given downgrading labels. I'm a strong black woman breaking generational curses. I'm a strong black woman serving her community. I'm a strong black woman that is an advocate for at-risk teens and children. I will continue to speak out as a Black woman about the unfairness that those of a different race continue to endure because they are silenced. The first quote gives me strength in the times I feel as if I'm crumbling and nobody is able to help. As a Christian I turn to pray and peace to help calm my mind and spirit and allow me to understand the path that God may have chosen for me. I think of the decisions and the outcomes of what might happen. When I was in a dark place pray never seemed to work for me, but peace and healing began to develop through meditation and painting. I used to get angry and frustrated because I felt as if God wasn't listening, but I began to understand that I had to make the effort and the change. I couldn't expect my peace and and prosperity to just fall into my lap. The second quote itself gave me confidence. Struggling with trauma and enduring the pain of my childhood, I closed myself off and began to hate my appearance, my spirit, my mind and energy. I came across this quote like affirmation and began repeating this to myself whenever I began to feel like I was fading into the dark place. It took me a while to gain confidence, and control but I'm still learning and growing each day with these quotes. I can say I've been able to protect my peace and energy for a while now.

When I look back and break apart my life, as a 21 year old I'm defining the odds, and creating a path of hope and peace that follows. Who has the been the biggest influence in my life, I have to say myself. If that could be an option. I amaze myself everyday continuing to fight and survive the many obstacles not only as a woman in this country but as an African American woman in this country. As a 21 year old still getting a hold of the ropes on life and adjusting to the ways of society, I have endured racism, homelessness, depression, anxiety, physical and sexual abuse, unspeakable trauma's that have all left a mark either on my mind or my skin telling the story of who I am. I'm a survivor. A survivor who is still battling to love herself, who is still allowing love and strength guide her through the narrow ropes of communication with everyone. I remind myself on the daily that as long as I continue to move one foot in front of the other, and keep breathing and protecting my peace I will survive. Through all this chaos I was never the type to speak up or reflect on my pain with other's. I kept moving and putting up a fake image of happiness to show my siblings and those around me that everything was and Is okay. I learned over time, that what I was doing wasn't healthy and I needed to find my personal outlet to allow me to keep moving. That's when I came into connection with Art. Art itself shaped and developed my peace and my surroundings of beauty within the world. Art saved my life more then I can ever recall. Each brush stroke on a perfect white canvas, each line work in a newly opened sketch book expressed my pain, showed my triumph through unique and elegant masterpieces. I allowed my work to speak for me and through me. The more that I continued to work and create pieces the more those around me could connect with each artwork. I began connecting my art through children. When I started working with kids it become a intermediate connection with those who have or are at risk. They began to express the same amount of pain and struggles the way I did. I new that in this moment working with kids through art was my calling. Allowing kids to finally be heard through beauties of artwork was the saving grace for so many people. I want to use my artistic skills to continue to connect with all kids who have been or are currently at risk, through art therapy. I plan on continue my art education as well as double majoring to receive a degree in Social Work which will allow me to also be hands on and in the field of kids. What truly makes my artistic skills different is my ability to connect not only with kids through art form but the ability to understands one pains, or victories behind the piece. Art was and is a saving grace in my life and I believe can help in a lot of people's lives, whether it's painting, photography, sculpting, etc. Art has the power to speak for those who have been silenced for so long. Art is the key to those survivors. If you were to ask me who or what has the biggest influence in my life, then yes I would say myself but in reality Art is the biggest influence & savior in my life.

As an African American woman living in the United States, has been a test of my survival and willpower to grow mentally and spiritually. My skin color alone already faces a never ending world of judgement, however, my dark melanin complexion brings meaning to my life. My dark complexion is not a threat but a beauty of melanin sunshine. My eyes are strong and courageous for capturing the traumatic wicked moments of hate & pain in this world we call freedom. As a Black woman I'm feared by the color of my skin but I accept that I am strong & moral by nature. My ability to keep fighting and moving with life's current rhythms and art to continue to survive despite the disregard for my very existence means I'm truly extraordinary and powerful. As a Black woman I'm a survivor. I have defined the odds of depression, homeliness, anxiety, stress, physical and sexual abuse, as well as being a suicide survivor. All because I stood strong as a Black woman and fought back against the choses this world had to offer for me. Sometimes as a Black woman I feel like I'm failing my community, those who have died, those who live without loved ones, those who constantly fear death. So many people I look up to are walking on so much emotional work. As a Black woman I can never forget the pain of Black death. I will never need to be reminded of of African American brothers and sisters who lives are constantly taken because of a simple complexion that God gifted us with. Being a Black woman means that I will be expected to keep a brave face, no matter what. I'm expected to be my strongest when I am really at my lowest on some days. I'm supposed to preserve no matter what comes my way because I have to. However, being a Black woman has allowed me to smile and endure the hate from the wicked tongues and project positivity to others. As a Black woman I have been able to educated myself alone about my ancestors. About the community of other resilient women fighting for their community as well as themselves. This has given me the chance to continue to help my own Black community and listen to their needs and concerns, whether that involves volunteering at community events, church events, school events, as well as shelters. Growth within the community itself can awaken the silenced voices of all our diverse brother's and sisters. As a Black woman I want to continue to reach out and educate at-risk families and children of color and all diverse backgrounds. Our stories, their stories matter. We should not silence those who are apart of the community. Our community has been withheld hope and strength for a long time, and all it takes is one individual to be able to speak out and be the voice. I want to continue to be that voice.

As silly as it may seem my "everything" is my paint & paint brushes. As an African American dealing and facing a battle of never ending judgement and the world of wicked assumptions deciding my fate, life has been extremely hard. You don't get a pamphlet when your born telling you this is what your life is going to be like. For me it has been extremely hard. Growing up I was introduced to depression, anxiety, stress, sexual and physical abuse. As a suicide survivor I wanted nothing each year, each moment to throw in the towel and call it quits. I choose to rise instead. Art saved my life. Art is poetry which brings meaning to the world survival that I had endured as a child. I continue to rise because the color of my skin brings meaning to my life. My dark complexion is not a threat but a beauty of melanin sunshine. I rise to define my survival, to continue to share and tell my story to the world. I was silenced as a child, afraid to voice my opinion, my pain and struggle. When I picked up that paint brush however, I was able to escape and allow all my trauma, and triggers to escape on a single blank white canvas. That canvas continues to reach and speak to me through all forms of understanding and peace. Painting has allowed me to to continue to not only share my story but as well as connect with at risk children whole have endured the same traumas as me. Giving children that sources of ability to communicate through art has been very important to me. This song, called Famous For by Tauren Wells. Speaks and flows through me. That ability to close my eyes and feel the beat and the rhythm flow through my body and mind allows me to connect with my paintbrush and smile. I know that everything will be okay. This song also connects with God. I haven't given up yet because God allowed me personally to connect through art instead of suffocating in pain and chaos. Many people have different beliefs and forms of communicating and expressing their emotions when it comes to trauma, and I struggled with speaking with counselors, or adults. However, art was and became my safe place. My surviving grace. Because of my 'Everything' changing my life and leading me down my career path. I've been able to find the calling of helping other's, volunteering at homeless communities, church events, school events, etc. I have become more passionate and determined to even purse a degree in Social Working as well as Art Therapy to connect with families and children who are at risk. Art itself holds the key to so many things. Art is the definition of life itself. Art saved my life, and I believe it can save other's as well.

For so many years women of all types of diversity were looked to only be considered as full-time homemakers. Their responsibilities were to take care of the children and the family. Women didn't have any role in the household of earnings. Over the years, those roles have changed drastically. Women are now getting literature and they are pursing higher educational degrees. Creating an opportunity for women to work, and accomplish goals or visions that they love. Women have now begun to echo their voices, sharing their stories in order to be heard. Like men, women now stand against dowry and domestic violence. Even in the workplace, they fight against sexual abuse and equality. But, their is still work to be done. As a women we still feel pressure, anxiety, stress, etc. Whether that be in the work environment or at home. We seek the respect and the ability to be treated equally like men. Women have always been capable of being able to handle the same loads, or the same requirements as men. Many years ago there was an image created that women supposedly fall in the category of weak and withholding. As a society however, we can change that and we should change the way we view and treat women. Women showing up and supporting women is ancestral and very much tribal. It speaks to, and nourishes, one of the most foundational aspects of who we are as feminine begins. We gather and sustain one another by nature. And while we are each a powerful force alone, we are all the more powerful when we're united together in sisterhood, lending a helping hand. I believe some ways that we all as a whole can continue to empower women in this society are very quite simple and resourceful. As a whole we can start by validating women's self-expressions. Women's narratives have been vastly underrepresented in the media and popular culture. If you see a women brave enough to allow herself to be vulnerable and share her personal story on social media, simply let her know you see her and you honor her truth. If you see another person putting down her personal experience or bullying her, step in and gently remind them that this is her truth and you applaud her for speaking on it. Another, way is to start complementing women on their mind and soul not just their body. Women already get a lot of commentary about the way they look as a whole. Try to compliment on something other than their looks. I believe we should as well start investing in women -run businesses. Women who own businesses are constantly shortchanged. Many female entrepreneurs lack adequate support in the form of funding or sweat equity. Invest your time and/or money in competent, capable women who are making an impact. In order for just some of these things to be met, we need to start listening and bringing our women to the table, allowing our ears to open up and listen to their personal stories. Bringing women to the conversation can change a lot of things. Their are many things that men can't understand or see the perspective through because they aren't females. Just like it doesn't hurt for women to allow men to speak and voice their opinion on certain issues and topics. It just as well doesn't hurt as well to allow women to speak up and voice their issues and certain topics together. Women have always been on the front lines supporting any cause and any issue. Its time to do the same for them.

I wouldn't say the pandemic affected my life at all in a negative way. I would actually like to thank the pandemic in my opinion. This pandemic has allowed me to not only to grow within myself and continue to grow overtime. But, the pandemic has allowed me to find my calling into helping my community even more than ever. I went into the pandemic feeling clouded by depression, anxiety, stress, and so much bitter pain and trauma. I was afraid and lost that I was going to lose myself through all the chaos. I found myself planning trips and to get away and take time to myself. Focus on my mental health and my energy. The pandemic hit for me at the right time. I was able to take time off of social media for a few months, and work on my mental state of mind grow, understanding my traumas, and breaking those generation curses. There were times were I just wanted to give up and throw in the towel, but this was the cleansing that I needed to pick myself up and break those barriers. While I began gaining that strength and confidence back I continued to work throughout my community despite the pandemic. I could relate more than ever to the families in need of clothes, food, support. The pandemic caused a lot of families to be without support resulting in them losing their jobs and having to watch their children due to schools being closed. Families were being evicted and left to fend for themselves. I was able to understand their pain and their struggles. Growing up and moving from apartment to apartment, car to car, shelter to shelter. I understood that struggle and wanting just a little sense of belonging. I began volunteering during the pandemic, distributing clothes to families in need. 'Grab & Go' meals for students who relied on school lunches for lunch, and dinners. Despite the pandemic and the battle of Covid It truly inspired me to be out and about even more working hard and helping the community. I was growing with my community but also within myself. I was allowing my mind to find joy and peace in serving other's that have gone through the same traumatic experiences. The pandemic allowed me to find my deeper and more in loved calling of becoming a Social Worker for at risk children of all ages, and families in need. It has also allowed me to continue to purse a time of Missionary work after college to travel within and outside of the United States, working with those in need learning, about their culture, values, struggles, and teaching them a few copping or healing methods that allow them to continue to provide for themselves but also their families as well. I believe in my eyes the pandemic was blessing in disguise for me. I was able to break through my own barriers of trauma, and allow myself to sit down and listen to the silenced voices in my community that have been going through the same exact thing. This pandemic taught me a lot about value, grace, diversity, equality, strength, wisdom, peace, and protection. I was and still am able to learn and grow with new knowledge and information about how as a whole we can work together and grow within our community. I was able to see the beauty within the wicked walls of this pandemic. I was able to shape what was supposed to scare this nation into something that brought nothing but grace within me.

This Scholarship is a big stepping stone towards my career path. As a survivor I plan to continue to speak out and advocate for families and teens who are at risk in domestic homes. Growing up, at a very young age I was introduced to a wide range of racism, and depression, suicide attempts, physical and sexual abuse. These mental traumas can really reflect and leave an imprint on anyone's life feel as if they are hopeless or have nothing to fight for. I decided to change that narrative. I was breaking generational curses that have been long over due of destruction. Through it all I began working with children for over 6 years that have experienced the same traumatic experiences that I have. Learning their stories and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Over the time I began to connect with them through Art therapy. Art saved my life many years ago, when I felt silenced and judged. Picking up that pencil I began to draw my pain, the emotions that I felt. I realized that over time when I was working with kids and sometimes drawing with them, they began to do the same. Opening up through the form of art, trusting me with their secrets, past, and present concerns. I started listening. Each generation has a story that wants to be told. With that being said. I began to work all over my community with all ages and diversity. All the kids I can into contact with touched me so much, they were young but their minds had endured so many things that they were dying to let go of. I started to get connected with my community even more and visiting different homes and families of those in need, providing them with food and water, and simple conversation that many look away from. That's when I started to have a deeper connection and calling into working within the community. I want to purse the degree path of Social Working, and continue to provide and help those at risk. Our society is in a never ending pit of miss communication and trust from any form of adult. We have forgotten what it means to listen and protect those in need and value everyone no matter what race or gender you are. This scholarship will allow me to continue my education and not only work towards reaching my degree but in the future to travel around the United States as well as the country doing missionary work, advocating for broken teens, children, and families. Sharing their voices, speaking with them through art learning about their lifestyle, culture. Each person in this world holds a key to this environment and we are watching it all crumble because we are scared of the truth, we are scared of protecting and helping those in need. It's time for that to change.

In the Black community, black people have been historically been negatively affected by prejudice and discriminations in the health care system within the US. And, unfortunately, many Black people within the community still have these negative experiences when they attempt to seek any form of treatment. What is very unsettling to me is that being apart of the Black community, like other communities of color, are more likely to experience socioeconomic disparities such as exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources. These can also result and contribute for worse outcomes for the Black community. We can all work together to recognize and address the challenges that we as a whole Black community faces on the daily when dealing with mental health, but to do so, we must understand where it comes from and why it is so ingrained in our culture. The root of mental health stigma can be rooted all the way back to slavery for the Black community. At the time it was commonly thought and assumed that slaves were not sophisticated enough to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. From those assumptions we as a whole community regarding color, learned to ignore those mental illnesses or call it other terms such as "stress" or simply "I'm tired". The Black community has since then adopted and passed on from generation to generation leading to underestimating the effects and impact of mental health conditions. All these have created a culture that is fearful and uniformed about mental illness. As an African American female. I personally know what its like to go through mental illness and crisis, and feel alone and trapped. Dealing with sexual and physical abuse, depression, anxiety, stress, and attempt of suicide can really take a tole on you. I never went to a counselor or spoke to any adult because I was afraid they would judge me, label me as weak and unfit. I know what it is like to hear whispers and get looks from peers, friends, and community when one person in your family has a mental illness. Its all about normalizing the conversation and showing people with mental illnesses that they are not alone. There is help and they are are never alone. My goal is to continue to not only share my personal experiences regarding mental health but reach out to the Black community which has a wide range of teens, and single parents feeling silenced during mental health concerns. People are allowing their children to feel like speaking up and speaking out about the mental health concerns that they face are unacceptable and that isn't the case. We want to continue to show and provide for our community and families especially the young minds of children. It starts with us as a whole, reaching out and interacting with the community, and getting to know their concerns and questions. We shouldn't judge. But listen, listen to their stories and advocate for their silenced voices. Mental Health Matters. Within helping and seeking a better way for the Black community when it comes to mental health. Each of us can really take steps to become better allies, better people as a whole to understand the trauma, or the concerns that the Black community face on the daily. Bringing awareness to the use of stigmatizing language around the mental illness. Also educating family and friends as well as colleagues about the challenges of mental illness in the Black community. Becoming aware of even our own attitudes and beliefs toward the Black community to reduce the implicit bias and negative assumptions.

As an African American women living in a world were the color of my skin determines my success or determines the fate of my life, my greatest inspiration in life is to help those who have felt or have been silenced for too long. Growing up, I have battled depression, anxiety, stress, sexual & physical abuse for 21 years. I accepted the fate of death my 8th grade year of middle school. I thought suicide was and is the only option for me to escape and feel at peace with the things I seen and felt. I was shown that the color of my skin was a threat, but instead I accepted that I am strong and moral by nature. My ability to keep moving with life's current rhythms and continue to survive despite the disregard for my very existence means that I'm truly extraordinary. I want those who have suffered in silence from abuse, neglect, stress, depression, suicide, etc. to understand that they matter. Their life is worth so much more than tears and regret. Now it's okay to cry and feel sad here and their, but once you have gotten that out of your system it's time to breathe and take life into your hands and direct your course. Don't let your pain turn you into a person that you aren't. It's okay if you're too loving or too cheesy or too caring or too soft. Look around you, how many people are actually this soft and loving and kind? You see treating others with kindness despite getting emotionally trampled on, loving people and seeing goodness in them despite the hurt in return, truly makes you and absolute goddess or god. The community has been my greatest inspiration in life. The ability to connect and talk with my neighbors about their concerns and help them with their setbacks has been my goal. The community I grew up in is my village of surviving warriors that have their own story. Each child holds the key to the community and It starts with one person willing to dive deep into the water's and help them. When I was on the edge of giving up I grew into a love for Art. Art saved my life. Connecting with my community through my art and through all the volunteer work is what drives me to become a better person. What drives me to want to purse a field in Social Work to connect more with the children and families that are at-risk in this world. Our community, our children, families are looking to adults for guidance and no longer receiving the answers, or the support or safety and trust and it's time to give that back. It's time to change the way we show our community that they matter. Your community is your village of survivors with amazing stories ready to be heard, ready to be healed, ready to be free.

2020 taught me the real definition of grace and resilience. As an African American women, racism for me hit it's all time peak with all the unlawful killings, and people of non-color coming to light about how they truly feel towards African Americans or any person of a different race or ethnicity. I was able to not grow hate in heart but love and understanding for those actions. We were all taught different things growing up and it's our choice to continue on that given path or be willing to stray and learn new valuable information. I learned that we are all the complete same. We all struggle from the inside and out, those of us have and continue to deal with generational curses but its our job to stand up and say enough is enough. Instead of being spiteful and wicked to those who saw my skin color as a threat, I used that hate or that energy and turned into motivation, acts of kindness towards my community, friends, and family. I began doing research on issues that mattered that deserved second chances that other's would turned a blind eye towards. In the year 2020 I was dedicated and focused on giving back to my community. The city of Independence. I wanted to be and currently am, involved with everyone around me. I began to walk through the streets and talk with my neighbors, asking them about their concerns, their needs, and what they seek that benefits them in this community. Volunteering at school events, church events, clothes drives, homeless shelters, etc. Not only opened my eye's to the wonder and the life of Independence but I was able to listen which is very important in each round of society. I listened to those who were in pain, suffering, who were being silenced by the very School system, or the higher authority's who made it a vow to protect and serve the community. I will continue to remember the emotions and the truth that those shared with me about their concerns or their victories. Listening is extremely important and it's something that has been lacking in this whole entire society. When Covid hit I personally didn't stay indoors. A lot of people in the community suffered traumatically and being that strong, and helping women my mom raised me to be I stepped out and interacted and helped those in need. I did put my health and care on the line because that's what I wanted to do, It was something I felt like I was and still was called to do. I wasn't afraid of the pandemic, I was afraid of the people who went into the pandemic not having that support system or caring for children already on the edge not being able to continue to provide or make ends meet. That's when my volunteering went into high over drive. Creating 'Grab & Go' meals for families and student's who had no access to food or water. Teaching children virtually. Developing clothes drives for children and families who couldn't get clothes when everything was shut down. Its the little things in the community that allows everybody to understand that they are still valued and loved. With 2020 coming to an end and the pandemic still surfacing, I was able to develop an even more passion and love for serving and wanting to help families, and children of all ethnicities. It has allowed me to develop a calling into the Social Work field and help those families and children at-risk. This journey has been incredible and working in my community and learning the neighborhoods and the people within these beautiful walls has allowed me to want to also serve and do Missionary work outside and within the United States one day. Serving and giving back to the different families and children. I take the year 2020 as a blessing and a fresh start to an amazing chapter of my life. The year 2019 should have and I almost allowed it to take my life but God and the people within this community had other plans. Plans I seek to continue and work towards.

My mother, my twin brother and I were classified into the homeless community. See if you were to look at me now you would have never gotten that image or impression of that lifestyle from me, but I portray it through my different unique forms of art. I started capturing the real and authentic life of the Homeless population through film, and through my paintings. The homeless community are truly the traveling souls of the community that know everything and have been everywhere, they are always on the move never in one place. I've taken the passion and my personal experience to not only connect with my community but those within the walls of Independence Missouri. Their are many ways to get involved and help the community through event's, or just socializing with people. Getting to know the people in your community, in my community is very important to me. We are all important we make Independence thrive in our own way. I've have had the opportunity of being apart of so many events and organizations that not only give but show our community it's beauty and strength. On March 27,2020 I along with a few others came together and put on a Grab & Go for students and families in the community during the pandemic. We went around the Independence Community not only talking with the families and children asking them about their concerns and needs, but delivering meals to them each day. I was a very life changing experience and the most amazing thing I was able to be apart of with this community. You really get to connect and watch their faces change. Each family had a different struggle a different reaction to the amount of love and support that us few people would go out of our way to make sure they were okay each day during the pandemic. April 3rd, 2020 I wanted to put together a surprise Easter egg hunt for families in need during the pandemic as well. So a few friends and I were able to put that experience together. We ordered over 5,000 eggs, and filled them all up by hand with delicious treats, and began to deliver to families who weren't able to celebrate Easter for their little ones. Again this was another experience not only for myself but for my friends that really changed us. Really connecting with the community and giving them that sense of love and value can bring your whole community together. Another moment that really touched me was connecting with House of Hope Kansas City. A place for healing teens, restoring families and transforming communities. This is a Christian-based nonprofit organization providing comprehensive residential treatment programs for hurting teens. A few friends and I went out and not only spoke with the girls but bonded in a way that most people wouldn't. Getting the chance to actually sit and listen to the girls stories were so breathtaking. Walking into this I could relate to some of the teens traumatic experiences but giving them that feedback and encouragement not to give up was amazing. Each one of these moments for me were life changing and something I plan to continue to do in the future through Missionary work. I want to continue to volunteer and connect with all types of families, students. Especially the one's who feel as if they have to be silent or are silenced through all the pain and struggle. This community is my home, and it starts with one person wanting to make a difference.

As an African American female my biggest artistic ambition is to allow my pieces to speak to all diverse people. Art saved my life as a women, and an African American to be correct. I'm an African American woman in a world that judges you the moment you are born. Therefore, art brought meaning to the word survival that I had to endure as a child. My dark complexion is not a threat but a beauty of melanin sunshine. My eyes are strong and courageous for capturing the traumatic wicked moments of hate and pain in this world we call freedom. With so many traumatic experience in my life I'm still facing or currently have faced I've allowed my hands to escape onto canvas, walls, streets, and paper creating the stories of the untold voices. Art has allowed me to connect with all diverse students that have endured traumatic events. While being a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual abuse I have allowed art to help me express my emotions as well as find my strength to speak out and help other's. This scholarship will allow me to continue to not only to reach out and help at risk families and students, but to travel and do different Missionary work, learning about the different beauties and the culture of different diverse families. I want to not only gain more knowledge and information but teach children and families how art can be another way to express yourself, whether that be through painting, sculpting, filming , music. Art can become your saving grace like it did for mine. I have the amazing chance to continue to share my art through murals, and events, and volunteering programs that speak to the community. Each smile and compliment allows me to continue to have the motivation and that determination of reaching out to those at-risk and looking for a new way to express themselves. One of the pieces I'm proud of was the work for the 'Black Lives Matter' Movement that was and still is going around to help protest and share the unlawful killings on African Americans with the police. I was asked along with a few other's to create 'Black Lives Matter' murals at different locations in Kansas City Missouri. My location was on 18th & Vine, this was an all day event that spoke volume and had a big impact on the city and myself as well. Being out their in the sun gave me that energy that I'm not only speaking for my black brothers and sisters but I'm fighting for this city for this country about something that has taken a tole or taken over for way to long and enough was enough. I became alive, and stronger than ever. Speaking out for myself and everybody I was alive. I want students and other's to have that courage, strength, and that feeling of doing something they love. Something that mean's something to them that other's can share and relate to. Art is so amazing and Art saved my life. Below is a link to my Pinterest board that documents the event of the amazing experience I was apart of for Kansas City Missouri. https://pin.it/2IplGEF

As an African American women my mental health is very important to me. At a young age I was introduced to physical and sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, stress, and even suicidal thoughts. I grew up feeling and believing based off of other's reactions that my skin color was disgusting that I wouldn't amount to anything because I'm an African American and we are already labeled in this society as disruptive, ghetto, lazy, loud, useless, worthless and the list goes on. Racism is taught and it is something that has been around for years. It's something for me that does mess with my mental health. However, learning and developing new ways and techniques to love myself, and find value in myself has been a journey. I have lost friends and family focusing on my mental health, figuring out what is best for me. I have always been the type to go out of my way and putting other's before myself. That has taken a tole on me each time. You see I was allowing other's to not only get comfortable with my support but they were taking my energy my positive vibes and not reciprocating the favor. When I started to notice those actions I immediately became aware that it's time to put myself first. Stop allowing those who don't support your visions or your dreams into your positive space. Focusing on my mental health has allowed me to grow a stronger relationship with my family. Being the oldest I never had time to reflect or process through traumatic events but now taking time for myself and meditating and relaxing through journaling or lighting candles and yoga, I have been able to express my emotions during family meetings, or family bonding events. I'm smiling and laughing, not so uptight or angry all the time. Focusing on my mental health has also allowed me to grow even more in love and devoted to my career in teaching students who have also been through traumatic events. Teaching student's through art has allowed me to connect and grow with at-risk students who are currently facing traumatic events throughout their home or anywhere. Student's now more than ever feel like their life doesn't matter, or they have nobody they can turn to and vent or even express themselves. The system of adults have failed each time when protecting and caring for the youth mental health and that's something I want to change. I want to purse the position of a Social Worker to continue to speak out and protect those student's who feel like they do not have a voice or can't express themselves. Everybody's mental health is important and it shouldn't be silenced or not valued. It's okay to cry, scream and shout. It's okay to tell someone "I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE". Allow yourself to express those emotions because they are your emotions. Bottling up my emotions have taught me that they will come back in the future to haunt you and playing your surroundings. As long as you keep moving, putting one foot in front of the other. Taking that morning first breath. Everything is okay, your doing just that. Your surviving, and thriving.

As an African American women I've battled adversity all of my life. I've survived and continued to find my self-worth and value through all the traumatic racism and the threats of one's physical appearance. The moment you are born into this world as a Black man or women you are already labeled as a threat, a failure, a waste of life itself. That alone give's me personally the motivation and the ambition to go after my dreams. purse and obtain my blessing and successes. On Friday, May 29th 2020 at 12:30pm I thought my life was over. I would have never thought this traumatic event would have happened to me. I have endured racism before but nothing quit like this. I had arrived at Go Chicken Go in Kansas City at 11:30pm to pick up my sister which I thought had gotten off at that time but actually she had gotten off at 12:30am, so I had decided to sit and just wait instead of driving all the way back home to Independence. I had been on the phone with a few friends that night because I was bored. At 12:11am I had gotten off the phone with one of my friends and just 5 mins later 5 cop cars (Kansas City Missouri Police Department) pulled up behind me with their bright lights. I immediately was worried as to what I did wrong. In this situation I began to start shaking because all the officers were Caucasian and after everything that happened with the George Floyd incident the day before my mind was racing all over the place. One of the officers instructed me to place both of my hands out the window, so I did that. Next, I was to open the door with my left hand, which I did ass well. He then instructed me to step out of the car and face forward. I asked "is their something I did wrong", I turned around out of fear and saw all the cops had their guns drawn at me towards my back & head. My heart in this situation dropped. The officer told me to turn around not answering my question and to walk backwards slowly and I did as was asked, as I got closer I was still asking what did I do wrong, no answer! They grabbed my arms and placed me in handcuffs. The Go Chicken Go employee's all came outside to witness and make sure I was okay, and to inform them that I had been here the whole time waiting for my sister to get off work. While one of the officers were talking to the employees the other told me, and with a complete shock to my face. The reason I was in handcuffs was because "just moments ago a Caucasian white lady was shot down the street from Go Chicken Go and the witnesses said a black female in a silver Ford Fiesta did it". In that very moment I began to cry. That night I had been racially profiled. Just because I was a black female who had happen to be driving a Silver Ford Fiesta at Go Chicken Go waiting for my sister. I began to hyperventilate and develop a panic attack. I told my sister to call mom and one of the officers began to say "no no that's not necessary", the officer himself told my sister not to call mom. I was indeed shocked. The officer who was speaking with the employees then came back over and took the handcuffs off and said I'm free to go. I received that night, no apology, just a shoulder shrug and my mind and body mentally and physical shocked. I had to endure traumatic therapy for a few months due to developing night terrors and panic attacks in my sleep. My mind was traumatized and I personally thought I could never come back from that moment but I did. I developed the strength & courage to continue and to learn and do more research of the different unlawful acts that African Americans have to face not only from cops but other people. This event allowed me to not only become stronger but fight for what's right. I became aware of public events and peaceful protests that demanded change in this community and world. This event taught me the courage to finally speak up and speak out for those who can't. The color of one's skin should never determine their fate.

As an African American women living in a society where my skin color already puts me in a category of failure being an Artist means the world to me. Art saved my life. At young age battling with depression, anxiety, stress and suicide I thought my life was officially over. Then one night after a very traumatic event I went to my room and instead of crying or screaming I recalled picking up a pencil and an old notebook and started drawing. I felt my hands escape to a whole different place. I felt my mind travel onto the paper telling the pain, the emotions through art. Art drives me like no other feeling before, along with being connected with art it has allowed me to express my emotions. It has allowed me to adapt a relationship with such a diverse amount of at-risk students who feel like their last option is to give up. Working with kids through art has allowed me to witness the aftermath of growth and trust that student lack from parents, teachers, or even friends. I have grown and been able to understand each chance I have working with students their amazing abilities and talents through art therapy. As a women of color who has experienced trauma all her life at a very young age. Art has not only saved my life. It has also allowed me to show children a new way of escaping or realizing their strengths. As I currently spend my time volunteering at community events working with children, I have grown fond of the life of and minds of children and families at-risk. I want to continue to purse that passion through Missionary work, traveling and teaching more children and families about art and the wonders of the mind and different mediums. I hope to purse a foundation that is currently in the works called 'PainttheWay', which is about connecting with at-risk families and children through art. They will endure different art programs, getting familiar with paint, charcoal, clay, etc. Mainly allowing their minds to release their emotions onto a canvas or any form of media. Their will also be an area where children who have no were to go can stay and receive the appropriate care and love and safety that our everyday services have began to fail or fall behind on through different generations. More kids are falling behind and running towards suicide instead of gaining that trust with adults or their peers, because it's extremely hard. I do believe however, art can help with so many of those things and I can't wait to allow my mind and motivation bring the best out in children.

My favorite Scientist is Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. She was the First African American woman to earn a medical degree. Which is such a big inspiration to the African American community. She also wrote one of the country's early medical textbooks, which is a guide for women and children entitled the "Book of medical Discourses." Dr. Rebecca is such an inspiration because she served a community of 30,000 people, many of which were freed slaves who otherwise had no access to medical care. She however did pass in 1895. I applaud Dr. Rebecca for all her amazing and brilliant hard work to her African American community and to this generation that continues to serve and help other's through STEM and Arts.

My name is Evelyn Neal, I am 21 years old and I'm a Survivor. Growing up I can honestly say my life wasn't the average American dream life. For starters I'm Black. The color of my skin already puts a target on my back to be labeled as the most weakest, ghetto, ratchet, annoying, etc. My physical features already stood out and allowed those of a different race to bully me throughout the streets or the hallways. Racism played a big role in my life but I survived. I am one of four siblings, that fought and survived through homelessness, trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, sexual and physical abuse, and suicide. At a young age you never know what to expect but these things, each took ahold of my life playing the part of who I have become today. I remembered countless nights wanting to end it all and wanting the man up above to take my breath, my life and give it to someone else who truly needs it. I look at myself today and reflect on each scar, each bruise and not cry but smile because I survived. These scars and bruises are what has made me stronger and more aware of the real world, of life itself. Art saved my life. I plan on using Art to connect with my community and continue to volunteer and reach out to those who have endured or gone through traumatic events at a young age, or who are still currently battling through trauma. I plan on becoming a Social Worker to help families and children in need and at risk. By connecting with my community I learn about the some new and some similar struggles that my community has faced. Each person I endure have shown the same face expression of defeat but survival, still fighting and still pushing to show either themselves or their families and children that they can make a difference in their lives, they can break these generational curses. Today I have continued to volunteer, and reach out to those in need. I'm currently in the process of putting together a community event, a BBQ for Independence Missouri to bring the families and the children as well as the homeless together not only to gain a relationship and connect but to have some great food, and take with them the necessities they need such as clothes, soap, tooth brush and tooth paste, etc. This event means the world to me because it's something I can tell that my community needs. Showing your community that love and support can really change their perspective on life. That's something I hope and plan to do.

My name is Evelyn Neal, I am 21 years old and will be a Junior in College during Fall of 2021 at Southern University in Louisiana. I'm a Survivor. Growing up I can honestly say my life wasn't the average American dream life. For starters I'm Black. The color of my skin already puts a target on my back to be labeled as the most weakest, ghetto, ratchet, annoying, etc. My physical features already stood out and allowed those of a different race to bully me throughout the streets or the hallways. Racism played a big role in my life but I survived. I am one of four siblings, that fought and survived through homelessness, trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, sexual and physical abuse, and suicide. At a young age you never know what to expect but these things, each took ahold of my life playing the part of who I have become today. I remembered countless nights wanting to end it all and wanting the man up above to take my breath, my life and give it to someone else who truly needs it. I look at myself today and reflect on each scar, each bruise and not cry but smile because I survived. These scars and bruises are what has made me stronger and more aware of the real world, of life itself. I grew up in an all white neighborhood called Grain Valley in Missouri, a small little town. Everybody knew everybody, they new your story, your pain, your struggles. Nothing was truly private. It wasn't till I had my first racial encounter when I was outside my High School just a little Sophomore and the words "Nigger" slipped the mouth of a grown women. I recalled feeling absolute anger and rage. That day I didn't lash out or call her names, I simply went home and researched. I remember that night hearing those words that I have heard in different movies, tv shows, or even music I was curious as to what it really meant. They never really taught you those things in high school but at my all white school it was the lack of information we received about our history that started to reveal itself to me and four other African American students that didn't quite add up. We always questions why each year it was the same two African American role models we were learning about during Black History Month for just a week and then it was a new topic. Even why permission slips were sent out about African American slave movies but we had no choice but to sit through the traumatic life of the Holocaust. Each moment I spent in this town the more I didn't feel like my self, the more I didn't know about my history my own race. I moved to Independence Missouri around my Junior year of High School and attended Van Horn high school that fall. The atmosphere itself felt real, felt like family. I grew in love with the staff, the students, the acknowledgement they gave their students. I quickly learned that some of the student's their faced some of the same traumatic experiences that I did and still do. I began to get connected with Art. I was never big on art but, I remember sitting down one night from a traumatic event of abuse and drawing, and crying. I created a piece so outspoken and real. I found my survival kit. My paintbrush and paint, my pencils and paper were the keys to expressing and diving deeper into my traumatic past and creating the works of art to express my emotions, my pain. I allowed my life to be shown and understood through artform. That's when I developed a calling for serving. I began volunteering at homeless shelters, school events, and neighborhood events, to not only connect with families and children, but to help and understand what keeps them going and surviving. I later began working with at risk children at a young age. I started with teaching preschool bible study at church, and then working in the school district for before & after school care, getting that experience with all children, learning and loving them the way that I was never showed. I was involved in 'Boys & Girls Club', and 'UpperRoomKc' both great organizations that work with children and help guide them and teach them about not only the outside world but helping them through trauma and finding ways to express themselves, without harming themselves or hurting other's. While working with children I at first thought I found my calling of becoming an Art Teacher, teaching kids about the uniqueness of art because I like to say Art saved my life which is very true. However, I began to connect with students in ways I never imagined, I began listening and developing an eye & ear for children at risk who seek justice, love, protection and safety from those who seek to harm them. I then developed the motivation to become a Social Worker. I wanted to be in the field, be in the action of saving children, still volunteering and helping those in need. I hope to achieve that ability to help, and save as many families and children as I can as possible. This world is falling apart and adults are losing their touch in connecting with children, and showing them their value. I've been preparing myself for this achievement but continue to connect with my community, whether that is volunteering at events, speaking out against unlawful acts. I have kept my eye's & ears open and available for all opportunities to grow and to learn. To one day be able to travel and do Missionary work around the country helping and learning about the beauty and the different cultures of all children. Talking with organizations and other inspiring role models has allowed me to have a stronger connection and hope of achieving this opportunity.