Tag: youth
-
#INDICTVanDyke #J4L
Beloved, you’ve been living in the dark if you think that there’s not an active war on Black bodies across America right now. Laquan’s murderer, ex-CPD vigilante, Jason Van Dyke, is due to be released from his country club prison on February 3rd FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR? What type of asinine, ludicrous, bull …Nevermind, I’m too…
Tyra
African American, black America, black student union, blackbodies, blacklivesmatter, Chicago, children, community, community wellness, COVID19, crimes against youth, election, fathers, freedom, history, injustice, issues, justice, laquan mcdonald, mother, police, police brutality, power, public health, safety, Sincerely Tyra, solidarity, struggle, youth -
WVON Interview | “Uplifting Our Youth During the Pandemic”
Last weekend, I was invited to for an interview on WVON 1690AM – The Talk of Chicago’s Community Health Focus segment for “Uplifting Our Youth During the Pandemic!” It was a dope experience to have someone I respect asking about my work alongside some exceptional co-guests who’s work I follow. Shout out to host Dr.…
-
Chicago’s Pain.
We prided ourselves on productivityuntil “produce despite a pandemic”became our reality.Into the dawn like bird songs, nowpangs of insomnia beckon us.Mistaking insanity for invincibilitycausing us to be more recklessduring the day. “Black folk the new robots.” All the while paving the way,for heavier workloads.They’re writing the code on our souls.Imputing and uploading mixed messagesin our…
Tyra
African American, ambition, author, Black men, Black women, Chicago, community, crimes against youth, education, empowerment, families, freedom, goals, God, history, issues, justice, life, lifestylepoetry, mamas, men, motivation, national poetry month, parenthood, passion, poet, poetry, police, power, protest, relationships, safety, self-empowerment, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, SlayTheDream, so ncerelytyra, spirituality, spoken word, violence, womenpoetry, Writing, youth -
Send this poem to a Black Woman 🖤
Is there someone in your life you who could use a reminder about how strong/creative/blessed they are? If you are a Black woman reading this, what are you speaking over yourself this morning, Queen? Here’s a poem I wrote years ago to speak over myself when I needed an extra bit of encouragement. My only…
Tyra
African American, ambition, author, beauty, beauty standards, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, daughter, dear, dreams, education, empowerment, encouragement, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, history, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, love, mamas, marriage, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, relationships, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, spirituality, strength, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
🎙Our Clubhouse Debut
🎙🎙UH… HELLO!!! …IS THIS THING ON?! The talented Jackie Eadie, Executive Director of Project Increase and yours truly are hosting a Clubhouse talk on all things youth development TONIGHT @ 7:00! Join us and a few other dope youth practitioners from across the Chicagoland area, if you want to add to the conversation, network, or…
-
Make Us Better | Prayer
Dear God,Sometimes I wonderwhat You think of me.Am I pleasing You?When look at me,do You smile? Is Yourheart satisfied? Teach mehow to live out life like You.Hold my hand, ordermy steps, and set a firein my soul for Your ways.Consume me, filling allthe cracks and crevicesof my being with Your Spirit.Make Me Better,in Jesus’ Name.—Amen.
Tyra
African American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, Holy Spirit, husband, Instagram, issues, Jesus, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, writers, Writing, youth -
COVID & The Conference Call
We’re on these conference calls and you can literally hear the fear and angst in people’s voices. I know we all have obligations and deadlines (in spite of/during) this pandemic…. But I just want to remind you that it is okay to not dial-in or to dial-in and stay on mute if you are not…
Tyra
books, Community Issues, Entrepreneurship, family, goals, Health, hobbies, opinion, prayer, quotes, self-care, social media, spirituality, WellnessAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, covid, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, praise, prayer, protest, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
Go Vote—with Your Children!
Listen, sometimes what looks like an obstacle is actually an opportunity! If you can, take the babies with you to vote today. It’s a reason they are out of school and we are off work at the same time! It’s the perfect opportunity for them to see the process and learn something. My Joy had…
Tyra
Art, beauty, books, Community Issues, Entrepreneurship, faith, family, goals, happiness, Health, history, hobbies, Literature, love, mental health, News, opinion, parenthood, prayer, quotes, Race and ethnicity, Relationship, religion and spirituality, self-care, Self-Help, social media, spirituality, travel, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, civic responsibility, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, oas sion, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, village, violence, voting, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
The Black Woman | Poem
This womb was created to create life These hands made to make magic These feet and legs, stand stronger than a pyramid, immovable during struggles This heart pumps blood of Ghanaian warriors and American freedom fighters This hair grows closer to the sun each day, vivid reminder of my royalty She sustains a legacy far…
Tyra
African American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
Support Your Friends (…Yes, for Free!)
Supporting your friends’ small businesses doesn’t require spending all of your money. Gotta a minute? …Yes?! Okay, awesome! There are two ways you can support…
Tyra
books, Community Issues, Entrepreneurship, faith, family, goals, Health, hobbies, Literature, mental health, News, opinion, quotes, Relationship, self-care, Self-Help, social media, spirituality, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, Drae ms, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
Promises to My Joy, The Princess
I promise to show you how extremely talented you are.I promise to listen before I say no.I promise to hear your point of view.I promise to make room for your heart’s desires.I promise to remind you that you are the princess (and yes, I’m The Queen—although it sounds softer when you remind me).I promise they…
Tyra
beauty, Community Issues, family, happiness, love, parenthood, Poetry, quotes, Relationship, religion and spirituality, spirituality, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, writers, Writing, youth -
Chicago Peace Project Revisited
(Politickin: The Chicago Peace Project participants discussing future goals, ancient societies, and their favorite cartoons while creating art in trauma-informed breakout sessions facilitated by the Teen Arts Council members.) (Drop Me Off at the L: Teen Arts Council members facilitate an icebreaker called Mr. Taxi Driver for The Chicago Peace Project participants.) Is it still…
Tyra
Art, beauty, books, Community Issues, faith, family, goals, happiness, Health, history, hobbies, Literature, love, music, News, opinion, parenthood, Poetry, prayer, quotes, Race and ethnicity, Relationship, religion and spirituality, self-care, Self-Help, social media, spirituality, travel, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
#SlayTheDream | A Catalyst Story
I realized a long time ago that when you start wanting better for yourself, people might want to tear you down or destroy your vision…
Tyra
African American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, Writing, youth -
Move on, Sis!
“If we both wanted the same thing, we would be in a relationship right now.” I had to explain to my friend that I knew this because he never made a deciding move. Don’t get me wrong now, we’re not on bad terms. We don’t hate each other. We simply aren’t meant to be committed…
Tyra
beauty, books, Community Issues, faith, family, goals, Health, history, hobbies, love, music, News, opinion, parenthood, Poetry, prayer, quotes, Race and ethnicity, Relationship, religion and spirituality, self-care, Self-Help, social media, spirituality, travel, Uncategorized, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, writers, Writing, youth -
You are INSPIRING | #GRWM
Dear Righteous and Holy Father, I’m sure You heard me say that I would close out this year on “Cloud Nine,” praising You and blessing Your Name for all this goodness that You have done thus far…. I think right as I was saying that the devil asked You if He could try me. There…
Tyra
Community Issues, faith, family, goals, happiness, Health, hobbies, love, opinion, Poetry, prayer, quotes, Relationship, religion and spirituality, self-care, Self-Help, spirituality, Wellness, WritingAfrican American, ambition, Art, author, babies, baby mama, beauty, beauty standards, Black men, Black women, body image, books, Chicago, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, dreams, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, focus, freedom, goals, God, happiness, healthcare, history, husband, Instagram, issues, joy, justice, kids, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, Literature, live, love, lust, mamas, marriage, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, nonfiction, opinion, parenthood, passion, poetry, police, positivity, power, praise, prayer, protest, queen, race, relationships, safety, school, self, self-care, self-empowerment, self-esteem, self-love, self-worth, Sincerely Tyra, sincerelytyra, SlayTheDream, social media, sons, spirituality, strength, struggle, truth, twitter, unity, uplifting, village, violence, wife, women, womenpoetry, writer, writers, Writing, youth -
A Win for the Neighborhood
Spent some time with these sisters last night supporting an old friend with a new plan! Not only is she a NATIONALLY-known community organizer, but Jeanette Taylor @jbt_40, is a candidate that we can believe in. Her election as Alderman of the 20th Ward would definitely be “A Win for the Neighborhood!” Can’t wait to…
Tyra
Art, beauty, books, Community Issues, family, goals, happiness, Health, history, hobbies, Literature, love, music, News, opinion, Poetry, Race and ethnicity, Relationship, self-care, Self-Help, social media, Wellness, Writingambition, babies, Black men, Black women, childhood, children, community, confidence, crimes against youth, daughter, dear, education, election, empowerment, encouragement, families, family, fathers, goals, Instagram, issues, knowledge, letter, letters, life, lifestylepoetry, love, mamas, men, mother, Motherhood, mothers, motivation, parenthood, passion, poetry, positivity, protest, relationships, self-love, self-worth, sincerelytyra, struggle, unity, village, women, womenpoetry, Writing, youth -
A Sprinkle of Black History Magic
Dear Everyone: Biennially, I do a daily post during Black History Month (BHM) on my Instagram. I treat it like my own little 28-Day challenge. Perhaps next year, I’ll get my life together enough in January to actually create one of those cute, little calendars that mysteriously floats around the internets with a daily theme…
Tyra
Art, beauty, books, Community Issues, family, goals, happiness, history, hobbies, Literature, love, music, News, opinion, Poetry, Race and ethnicity, Relationship, Self-Help, social media, WritingActors Guild, ambition, Art, arts, aunts, author, Black, Black Babies, Black Girl Magic, Black History, Black Lives Matter, Black Love, Black Man, Black men, Black Panther, Black Presence, Black women, books, brothers, Carter G. Woodson, Chicago, children, color, colors, Comics, community, conversation, cousins, curation, current events, daily, data, Difficult Women, discussion, Distinguish Yourself, Dream Variations, dreams, Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, education, empower, empowerment, encourage, encouragement, engineering, ethnicity, evidence, facebook, families, fashion, fathers, FBF, focus, friends, goals, Golden Globes, griot, history, Hollywood, information, Instagram, issues, knowledge, Langston Hughes, legacy, letters, love, magic, Martin Luther King Jr, Marvel, Marvel Legends, math, MCM, Mike Brown, month, mothers, motivation, museum, music, News, opinion, passion, Paul Laurence Dunbar, poetry, power, pride, protest, race, science, Sincerely Tyra, sisters, social media, sports, St. Loius, stories, struggle, students, talk, TBT, teachers, technology, the color Black, titles, Transformation Tuesday, triumph, twitter, uncles, unity, vintage, WCW, writer, Writing, youth -
Dream Bigger via Facebook Memories
I love how growth comes and makes dreams expand and intensify. Two years later, my first book ‘A Smothered Scripture’ is on Amazon & Kindle for your reading pleasures! Check me out: http://www.amazon.com/author/tyracowens #HunnidStraightDays #SincerelyTyra #DreamBigger #MakeItHappen
Tyra
Art, beauty, Community Issues, family, Literature, love, News, opinion, Poetry, Relationship, Self-Help, social media, Writingamazon, ambition, author, Black men, Black women, blogs, Blurb, books, community, daughter, dear, Denison, education, election, families, God, healthcare, husband, issues, justice, kids, Kindle, letter, life, lifestylepoetry, love, motivation, passion, poet, poetry, published, relationships, Scripture, womenpoetry, writer, youth -
Past Passions?
I met an older man this week at a work event who was telling a few colleagues and myself about his foundation he started to mentor young men. Unfortunately, he did not continue (or took an extended break from) mentoring because of negative feedback and what he explained as “red tape” from the school administrators.…
Tyra
ambition, Black men, Black women, community, dreams, encouragement, letters, life, love, men, Mentor, Motherhood, motivation, negativity, passion, poetry, positivity, relationships, truth, women, work, Writing, youth