Fam, check out the love I got from my friend and sister recovering journalist, Nichole Christian. What an honor to be mentioned with these other great women on missions!
Perfect day to shine some light on a few of my many friends who are using their lives and their talents in service of important causes. Today’s roll call:Kim Trent Mahogany Jones Darci E. McConnellMonice Mitchell SimmsMitchell Simms] and a loud shout to Rhonda J. Smith J. Smith].
( Stick with this post til the end. You’ll finished inspired.)
Kim, Darci, Mahogany and Rhonda are each playing central roles in raising awareness and MONEY to erase the Detroit’s shameful backlog in processing rape kits. Kim and Darci have thrown their whole hearts and immense skills into the Enough SAID 490 African-American Challengert, raising more than $235,000 to date toward a $650,00 goal. Each kit costs $490 and just 1,134, of the more than 11,000 ,remain. Today, they join forces with Mahogany Jones, a powerhouse music and teaching artist forInsideOut Literary Arts, who’s also passionate about sexual assault awareness. She launched Detroit’s annual Denim Day, going down today at Wayne State University’s State Hall, 6 pm to 9pm. Artists and activists will be raising funds for 490. (A minimum $5 donation is suggested.)
And to show you the power of community and connection, Mahogany and Kim joined forces because Rhonda dedicated dedicated her birthday party to raising money solely for 490. She raised enough to process four kits. Kim and Mahogany, who is mentored by Rhonda, met at the party and the rest is now just beauty in action. http://www.aa490challenge.org/media.html
Meanwhile, way out in California, @Monice,another former journalist turned screenwriter and filmmaker is on a mission to republish her novel, “Address House of Corrections,” for teen girls in prison, a population she’s volunteered with for year. https://monicemitchellsimms.com/
Since, Kim, Rhonda, Monice and I were all raised Detroit strong, I can tell you that if Monice were in town today, she’d be on WSU’s campus in denim, raising her fist and her voice in support of the thousands od Detroit women whose lives were doubly victimized by assault and a criminal system seemingly determined to deny them justice. (Darci and Kim were two the Detroit News’ best and toughest city reporters together.)
This is what community in action looks like and how it LOVES. If the spirit moves you, and I hope it does, please support both efforts today and beyond. The most powerful change always grows up from the hearts of those of us on the ground.
See you at State Hall in DENIM & great gratitude!
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monice mitchell simms 