Life Esteem

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1700 Mountain View Road, Apt. 13

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Phone - 717.608.2302

Fax - 717.525.9489

www.WeReadLiteraryServices.com

Mrs. Patricia Gadsden Publishing Editor Women Connect

An interview with Suzan Abong Wilmot, Harrisburg resident, jewelry-maker, nonviolence trainer, and mother.

Having lived her entire life in Uganda, Suzan relocated to the city of Harrisburg in 2012 to be with her Pennsylvanian husband and experi-ence his world. We spoke with her to gather her reflections on the life of an East African woman in central Pennsylvania.

What was the most difficult thing about leaving your home country, Uganda? The immigration process was hard and stressful. It was very expensive for me and my husband. In order to come to the US, I had to first go to Kenya (where I had never been) for what became a month. The US embassy wouldn’t let me go back to Uganda to wait for my visa to be processed. I had to do odd jobs and sleep on restaurant floors to survive until my visa came through. It didn’t help that theft and robbery in Nairobi are common, so people are skeptical of everyone. Other-wise, the main things I miss about Uganda are food, family, and the moderate climate.

Have you connected with other Ugandans in Harrisburg? I have connected with other Ugandans in Harrisburg. We share some of the same values and morals. I love to be with people who come from the same culture or similar cultures because we share the same view of life. Being with them makes me feel like there is some part of Uganda in me that isn’t lost yet. I don’t want to forget where I come from or the languages I speak.

What is your favorite experience as an artisan in central Pennsylvania? I love leading jewelry-making workshops and teaching people about this kind of art. In Uganda,

my craft is considered normal and uninteresting, but people here are so interested in it. It encour-ages me to appreciate my own work.

You have a nine-month-old girl. How is caring for a newborn child in Harrisburg different

from nurturing that child in Uganda? In Uganda, I wouldn’t have to monitor the food my baby eats, but here the foods are very pro-cessed and filled with chemicals. I also choose to raise my baby in a certain way despite cultural pressures. I expose her to others and take her out with me. Parenting shouldn’t be a private affair.

The child belongs to the community. I also don’t want my child to be spoiled or demanding, which is a serious problem here.

You are internationally trained as a nonviolent action teacher and facilitator. What does that mean? How does that benefit your commu-

nity in the US and your community in Uganda? The US is a violent place, beginning with the government which takes most of the peoples’ taxes for military purposes. People who attend nonviolence trainings are able to equip others with skills to confront injustice and oppression. Some people aren’t willing to do the trainings because it takes time and energy. In Uganda, we started a nonprofit called Solidarity Uganda to facilitate nonviolence trainings. These trainings teach communities that guns,

spears, and arrows aren’t effective for achieving their goals, but there are other ways to solve their issues using nonviolent tactics. We work mostly on mass land conflicts where local peasants are threatened by big companies and government forces that have an interest in thieving the land.

Do you have any reflections on the immigration process? I hate thinking about the process because it takes me back to the dark past. I don’t think anyone should have to go through it. The people in charge of the process should be clear with those undergoing the process about the steps they need to take rather than charging huge fees and necessitating lawyer expenses.

What advice do you have for other East African immigrants coming to the US? Know what to expect. Talk to others about the immigration process and about life in the US. Don’t come unless you have a great reason.

In your view, what’s the funniest thing that Americans try to do? Seeing adults wearing Halloween costumes.

Do you find any American behaviors odd? The strangest thing they do is “start communities” and intentionally make time to “hang out and catch up.” These are natural things in Ugan-

da. People don’t try to do them in an organized way. It just happens.

So how do you react to Harrisburg residents’ view of time? Time here is valued too much. It has become a hindrance to peoples’ personal growth and the society they live in. Time has been made syn-onymous with money. Unless the time people use is self-beneficial, people don’t want to “waste it.”

Have you found any new hobbies or interests since you came to Harrisburg? I like going to the cinema. There are not many movie theaters in Uganda. I love Christmas shopping and getting gifts for others. I also like

going to parks and taking walks. Pennsylvania is hilly with nice views and forests.

What is your favorite thing about being in Harrisburg and your favorite thing about being in your country? People and people. You can learn more about Suzan’s organization at www.solidarityuganda.com. You can browse and shop for her handmade jewelry and oth-er Ugandan crafts at www.facebook.com/ugandanjewelry.

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Activism is the New Black: The Journey

of a Neo-Soul Activist

By: Christina Wood M.S. Ed.

My freshmen year in college, at Harrisburg Area Community

College, I witnessed one of the most beautiful acts of kind-

ness. Our theatre program used to sponsor a Goodwill Holiday

Party where we would collect gifts, solicit the support of food

sponsors, and put on a free production of A Christmas Carol

for families in local shelters. There was a woman that attend-

ed that year who had two small children and spoke very little

English. We noticed that she was wearing house slippers.

When we asked her where her shoes were, as it was nearly 50

degrees outside, she explained that she had left her abusive

husband with only her children and the clothes on her back. I

remember my theatre professor, Brenda Eppley, going into

our costume closet and bringing back a pair of shoes for the

woman to take home. This woman was moved to tears. I was

moved to tears….and action.

Witnessing this small act of kindness sparked a fire in

me because it showed me that small acts can make a huge

impact. It also taught me that if we are willing to share what

we have, no matter how insignificant we think it may be, it

truly can be enough. From that moment I knew that regard-

less of what degree I earned or career path I chose, the foun-

dation of my life would always be active service to my com-

munity.

Since I graduated from HACC in 2002, I have lived

throughout the central and southeastern Pennsylvania re-

gions completing my education and have now come full circle

back to HACC as an admissions recruiter. I don’t believe that

was by accident. God calls us to a place (literally or figurative-

ly) so that we can operate in His purpose. At the age of 30, I’m

blessed to say that I understand this “place” now. I’ve been

able to combine my passions for education, teaching, and

service, to bring information to my community about oppor-

tunities right in their own backyard that will help them to ad-

vance both socially and economically. I’ve finally found my

“sweet spot”.

Over the past decade, I’ve supported dozens of caus-

es, organizing and participating in various initiatives that have

impacted women and youth in my community. Every day I’m

inspired by the potential of movement and change and how I

can stretch myself to use what’s already inside of me to help

others. I’ve been able to do this through my writing, my thea-

tre work, workshops, seminars, public speaking, and more.

But as I look at the young people in my community, I’m, at

times, saddened by the lack of excitement and drive; the un-

certainty of direction among my peers who are just as gifted

and talented as anyone else, but are not living up to their full

potential. My generation is currently the parents who are

raising the “next generation”. We are the “NOW generation”

and I believe that if we want our babies to have a real shot in

life, it’s imperative that we live in purpose.

So in my work, I am targeting those who are in their 20s and 30s, to encourage them to pursue that degree, finish their education, seek out wisdom from those who have walked the path before them through mentor-ing, stop getting in our own way and not only invest in others, but choose to invest in ourselves first. And let me be clear. My work doesn’t only seek to inspire the seemingly downtrodden, but also the “suit and tie” professionals who may have lost their spark in the midst of corporate advancement. This is what inspired me to start 20/30 Enterprises. It’s a not-for-profit organization that pro-vides active, engaging, and relevant programming to this gen-eration of movers, shakers, and builders. My vision is to build a unified community of neo-soul activists who will think, act, and lead from their souls and be empowered to realize and actualize their abilities and talents. The intent is for them to channel their energy into work that will not only be fulfilling for them, but be beneficial to their communities.

We all have a voice and a vision. We all have some-

thing to offer. No thought is insignificant. For out of our

thoughts are born movements that have impacted and

shaped our world. And we have a responsibility to use the gift

that God has so freely given us, to uplift others. We were nev-

er called to a life of mere existence. We were destined for

greatness. My prayer is that as we make our plans for 2014,

we will do more than make empty resolutions. I’m going to

challenge us to make plans. There is power in a plan because

it goes beyond just declaring a destination that we hope to

reach some day. It actually puts in place the road map to get

there and makes attainment possible. So what is one thing

that you will do today to bring you one step closer to making

your dreams a reality?

Connect with Christina

Twitter: @ChristinaW82

Blog: www.twentythirtyenterprises.com

Facebook: 20/30 Enterprises

WE SALUTE WOMEN OF COLOR

Dr. Rita Smith Wade-

El Professor at Millersville University

Winnie Mandela

South African Human Rights Activist

Ruby Dee

Actress and Civil Rights Activist

Sonia Sanchez

Poet, and Civil Rights Activist

WWW.LIFEESTEEM.ORG Watch the Life Esteem Television Show, hosted by Nate and Pat Gadsden, any time you want to by

clicking on www.lifeesteemtv.com. The Life Esteem Show airs every Sunday morning on WHP-TV 21

at 6:00 a.m.

The Celebrating Families! TM curriculum is an evidence based cognitive behavioral, support group model

written for families in which one or both parents have a serious problem with alcohol or other drugs and in which

there is a high risk for domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect. Celebrating Families! TM works with every mem-

ber of the family, from ages 3 through adult, to strengthen recovery from alcohol and/or other drugs, break the cy-

cle of addiction and increase successful family reunification. Celebrating Families! TM fosters the development of

safe, healthy, fulfilled, and addiction-free individuals and families by increasing resiliency factors and decreasing

risk factors while incorporating addiction recovery concepts with healthy family living skills.

Each session begins with a family meal. Afterwards family members break into age groups for develop-

mentally appropriate activities led by the group facilitators. At the end of each session, all family members re-

connect in activities to learn how to apply these new skills and interact in healthy ways.

The model is developed for children of alcoholics/addicts COAs and their parents, many of whom have

learning differences or cognitive deficits. Celebrating Families! TM is based on recent research about brain chemis-

try, including skills, education, risk and resiliency factors, and asses development. Emphasis is also placed on the

importance of community service and individual spirituality. Celebrating Families! TM :

Explores the four aspects of healthy living: physical, psychological social and spiritual.

Incorporates healthy family living skills.

Integrates parenting skills with strategies to break the cycle of addiction.

Utilizes materials developed for COAs with the teaching and reinforcing of life skills.

Uses interactive teaching methodologies recommended by research on how the brain learns, especially

brains impacted in utero by alcohol and other drug use.

Session Topics

Healthy Living

Nutrition

Communication

Feelings and Defenses

Anger Management

Facts about Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs

Chemical Dependency is a Disease

Chemical Dependency Affects the Whole Family

Goal Setting

Making Healthy Choices

Healthy Boundaries

Healthy Friendships and Relationships

How We Learn

Our Uniqueness

Embrace life at any Age Is Fifty the new 30? Melanie Gaskins

My passion is creativity. I’ve been blessed with plenty of it. It intoxicates my mind, body and soul. I’m sure if creativity had a smell, I would strongly reek of it. However, I absolutely love that it consumes me. I have found ways to channel it through art, cooking, writing and organiz-ing events and parties.

Over the years I have planned and coordinated Baby Showers, Birthday parties, Corporate Events such as parades, picnics & plays, Dinner & Holiday parties, hosted “Girls Night Out” gatherings to review Tyler Perry movies, my own 20th Wedding Anniversary and Family Reun-ions. What drives me to be crea-tive? Simply put the blessing I receive. It truly warms my heart to see some one else being hap-py, laughing and enjoying their self because they participated in an affair I crafted and designed.

My talent has been tested on many occasions. For my daugh-ter Ashley’s 15th Birthday she had a “Favorite Female Singing Artist” party; son, Brad for his 13th Birthday a Yu-Gi-Oh Card Championship; son, Evan, for his 5th grade class designed a Posi-tive Change Campaign to show-case his class mates talents, re-viewed Black History and dis-cussed my artwork “A Man of Change” and how it was signed by President Obama. We pre-sented our Campaign at his ele-mentary schools assembly for the entire student body. Three years ago emy father turned 90 years old. I had to do something extraordinary and decided to have Roaring 1920’s Party. It was fabulous.

On October 7, 2013 I hit a mile mark in life and turned fifty. Everyone who has turned or about to turn fifty has their own way in which to celebrate or quietly let the day go by. Of course, it is your prerogative how you choose to cope with this age. Some become depressed because they may not have attained their goals they set for themselves. Well, I decided to embrace my fifties. Why not be positive and treat this age as an opportunity to hit the reset button. There-fore, I chose to celebrate and have my own 50th Birthday Masquerade Ball, October 12, 2013 with family and friends. My party theme was based on the movie “The Count of Monte Cristo.” Therefore, to get into my theme character I titled myself as “Countess.”

AGENDA Classes: Strengthening Families Focus: Parents with children ages 6 through 11 years. Class Description: The Strengthening Families program is designed to: 1. Decrease alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and discourage inten-tions to use. 2. Decrease emotional, behavioral and social problems in school. 3. Improve communication and academic skills. 4. Improve parenting skills and the family environment. 5. Increase children's ability to cope. 6. Provide information to parents about alternative ways to increase posi-tive interactions with their children.

Program begins with family dinner, then 11/2 hour of separate sessions for kids & adults. Child care is provided for younger children.

Agenda Ages 6-11

1. Introduction and Group Building

2. What Kids Can Do & How to Manage Stress

3. Rewards

4. Goals and Objectives

5. Notice and Ignoring

6. Communication 1: Better Relationships

7. Communication II; Family Meetings

8. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Families

9. Problem Solving and Giving Directions

10. Setting Limits I: Behavior You Can’t Ignore

11. Setting Limits II: Practice Setting Limits

12. Setting Limits III: Solving Behavior Programs

13. Building and Using Behavior Programs

14. Getting and Keeping More Good Behavior/Graduation