>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST SHAWN THAT RICHARDS, A SOME TIME WRITER AND A LONG TIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME WHILE YOU EXPLORE AUTHOR AND THEIR TALENT.

EACH WEEK WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION IS BY CHRISTY LAUREN ADAMS.

GREAT WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I´M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> YOU ARE NOT THE AUTHOR, BUT YOU ARE FEATURED IN THE BOOK.

HOW DID YOU COME TO MEET THE AUTHOR, AND HOW DID YOU COME TO BE FEATURED?

>> I WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS BOOK VIA E-MAIL.

MS. ADAMS REACHED TO US OVER E-MAIL.

SHE HAD SEEN ME ON CNN.

I WAS FEATURED AS ONE OF THE YOUNG WONDERS IN 2020.

THROUGH THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO FIND OUR WEBSITE, REACH OUT AND MY MOM DID SOME VETTING AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HER AND IT´S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH REVEREND ADAMS.

>> LET ME BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT HERE.

YOU SAID YOU WERE FEATURED ON CNN AS A YOUNG LEADER OF 2020.

HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> AGAIN ANOTHER E-MAIL.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND A HUGE SURPRISE TO BE FEATURED BY CNN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS OVERWHELMING, TO SAY THE LEAST.

AND SO IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THAT THEY HAD A YOUTH VERSION OF THE CNN HEROES.

AND SO THE YOUNG WONDERS ARE YOUTH FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD DOING AMAZING WORK AND I WAS INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE ONE OF FOUR FOR THAT FOR 2019.

AND, SORRY, EXCUSE ME, FOR 2019.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THEY CAME TO FILM.

IN FACT, THEY EVEN FEATURED ME IN CLASS AS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND INCLUDING MY MARCHING BAND, AND IT WAS A TON OF FUN.

>> WHAT IS THE WORK THAT YOU DO THAT BROUGHT YOU NOT ONLY TO THE ATTENTION OF CNN BUT TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRISTY LAWRENCE ADAMS, THE AUTHOR.

>> I AM THE FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WE CAN SERVE MOVEMENT.

I FOUNDED IT WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD SHORTLY AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH NONHODGKIN´S LYMPHOMA.

I HAD NO IDEA WAS CANCER WAS OR WHAT IT MEANT UNTIL I HAD IT.

I JUST KNEW MY LIFE CHANGED COMPLETELY.

REGARDLESS, I WAS ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO GIVE BACK AND THROUGH THOSE EXPERIENCES AND REALIZING NOT ONLY THE IMPACT IT MADE BUT THE SUPPORT I HAD BEHIND ME, I FOCUSSED ON BRINGING HAPPINESS TO HOMELESS, SICK AND FOSTER CHILDREN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT HAPPINESS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT.

>> THAT´S AN EXCELLENT POINT, HAPPINESS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT.

BUT YOUR JOURNEY STARTED AT SEVEN OR BEFORE THAT?

WAS THAT YOUR FIRST ENTRY INTO SERVICE?

>> NO.

ACTUALLY, THAT´S A GREAT POINT.

I ACTUALLY STARTED COMMUNITY SERVICE TECHNICALLY WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD.

AND IT´S CRAZY.

HOW DOES SHE REMEMBER WHEN SHE WAS TWO?

IT IS THROUGH PICTURES AND STORIES FROM MY FAMILY.

I WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A SHORT WHILE WHEN I WAS TWO.

THE BEST THING TO DO WAS RIDE AROUND THE HALLS IN THE RED WAGON.

I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL I ASKED MY MOM NOT ONLY TO BUY A RED WAGON FOR MYSELF BUT ALSO AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOR THE HOSPITAL.

FOR MY THIRD BIRTHDAY, I ASKED ALL MY FRIENDS TO BRING GIFTS TO THAT SAME HOSPITAL WHEN I WAS TWO.

I SAW THAT THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK WAS RUNNING OUT OF FOOD.

MY INITIAL REACTION WAS, OH, WE´LL GIVE THEM ALL THE CEREAL WE HAVE.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, MY MOM SAID NO, SO WE DECIDED TO COLLECT CANNED FOODS FOR MY FOURTH BIRTHDAY.

>> SO YOU BASICALLY DO A SERVICE EVENT LIKE EVERY OTHER YEAR YOU DID A BIG ONE AT TWO WHEN YOU GOT THE WAGON, WHEN YOU ADVOCATED FOR THE WAGON, WHEN YOU WERE AT THE FOOD DRIVE.

DO YOU COME FROM A FAMILY CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT OF VOLUNTEERISM?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXPOSED TO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT DEFINITELY PLAYS A LOT INTO HOW I WAS RAISED.

YOU KNOW, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN JUST THE CHILDHOOD THAT I WAS GIVEN FROM MY MOM AND MY GRANDMA GROWING UP.

THEY ARE A BIG INFLUENCE ON A LOT OF ACTIVITIES.

IN FACT, WHEN WE CREATED CAMP HAPPY, WHICH IS OUR FREE ON SITE SUMMER INTERNSHIP FOR HOMELESS AND FASTER CHILDREN, IT WAS BASED OFF OF A SMALL -- AN IDEA AND JUST DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT MY MOM AND GRANDMA WOULD POSE FOR ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD GIVING ME FUN SUMMER EXPERIENCES.

A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE BASED OFF MY CHILDHOOD AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH WHAT WE HAD.

>> WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU HAVE?

YOUR ORGANIZATION, WE CAN SERVE, WHICH BEFORE WE JUMP INTO ANOTHER QUESTION, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TELL YOUR AUDIENCE THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME WE CAN SERVE.

>> WHEN WE WERE -- WHEN I WAS FIRST THINKING OF HOW I COULD HELP PEOPLE ON A LARGER SCALE, I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

I HAD JUST STARTED FIRST GRADE.

SO I HAD LITTLE TO NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANT TO BE FOR PROFIT OR NONPROFIT, TO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION, WHAT IT MEANT TO BE INCORPORATED, ANY OF THAT STUFF.

THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH MY MOM AND GRANDMA, I WAS ABLE TO NARROW DOWN THAT I WANTED HELP HOMELESS AND FOSTER CHILDREN.

I WANTED TO HAVE A YOUTH BOARD OF ADVISERS BECAUSE I LOVE THE WAY YOUNG PEOPLE THINK AND I WANTED TO NAME IT THE WE CAN SERVE MOVEMENT BECAUSE THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON CANCER BEING IN THE SPELLING.

IT´S C-A-N-C-E-R-V-E.

LOOKING BACK OVER IT, MY MOM WAS WORRIED IT WOULD BE A WEIGHT ON ME TO CARRY MY ILLNESS WITH ME, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT AS MORE OF AN INSPIRATION AND A DRIVING FACTOR TO SHOW THAT I TOOK THIS AWFUL DIAGNOSIS AND WAS ABLE TO BRIDGE SOMETHING THAT´S ABLE TO HELP OVER 25,000 YOUTH TO DATE.

>> THAT IS AMAZING IN JUST THAT SHORT TIME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP SO MANY YOUTH.

SO YOUR ORGANIZATION IS BASED IN MARYLAND.

WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

>> YES.

SO MY MAIN CONNECTION TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS THROUGH MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER, WINSTON CALWOOD.

HE WAS BORN IN SAINT THOMAS.

I KNOW HE ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF SUMMERS.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO MEET A LOT OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HERE.

AND, SO, IN FACT ALI PETRIS AND MY FATHER ARE COUSINS.

SO BECAUSE THEIR GRANDFATHERS WERE BROTHERS I BELIEVE IS HOW THE STORIES GO.

I WAS ABLE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE AND THEN MY COUSINS KEYANNA AND ARIANA.

>> WHEN YOU WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, WHAT WERE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON BEING INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK?

>> I WAS EXCITED AND HONORED WHEN IT CAME TO BEING IN THIS BOOK BECAUSE I THINK THE ENTIRE IDEA OF BEING AN EMBOSSED BLACK GIRL IS INCREDIBLY EMPOWERING.

BEING INCLUDED AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE´RE ALL YOUNG CHILDREN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK AND YOUNG BLACK WOMEN ABLE TO DO OUR OWN PATHS.

I´M A STICKLER FOR TECHNICALITY.

I LOOKED IT UP.

TO BE EMBOSSED IS TO NOT BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A BOSS.

THAT MEANS YOU CAN´T TAKE DIRECTION.

I THINK IT SIMPLY MEANS TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN MORAL CODE AND REALLY HAVE YOUR OWN INSPIRATION AND DRIVE.

>> YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THE PHRASE ON BOSS WAS IN RELATION TO THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND HER SLOGAN WAS THAT SHE WAS UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED.

IT AUTOMATICALLY MADE ME THINK OF THE GREAT LEADERSHIP EXHIBITED BY, YOU KNOW, SHIRLEY AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED IN HER PATH.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN THE BOOK?

WHAT PATHWAYS DID THAT OPEN FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO BE FEATURED IN THE BOOK, ESPECIALLY IT´S GOTTEN ME GREAT INTERVIEWS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS LIKE THE ONES HERE TODAY AND ALSO OUTLETS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LED BY AMAZING BLACK WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE D.C., MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA AREA.

I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LUNCH IN NOT TOO LONG AGO AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO HEAR FROM UNBOSSED BLACK GIRLS.

SO THROUGH THIS BOOK I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF GREAT CONNECTIONS AND OF COURSE I DEFINITELY PLAN TO KEEP UP WITH REVEREND CHRISTY ADAMS ON WHATEVER SHE HAS COMING UP NEXT.

>> WHO ARE YOU INSPIRED BY IN YOUR NONPROFIT JOURNEY, YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY?

>> DEFINITELY MY MOTHER IS A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ME BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO STICK BY ME AND SUPPORT ME THROUGH EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE.

AND I AM ALSO VERY INSPIRED BY MARIANNE WRIGHT EDELMAN.

THERE ARE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MY ORGANIZATION AND THE CHILDREN´S DEFENSE FUND FOCUSSED ON PRESERVING AND ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN´S RIGHTS, HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH AND ESPECIALLY YOUTH OF COLOR.

>> SO YOU LEAD A NONPROFIT OR YOU LEAD A BOARD OF I BELIEVE YOU SAID 13.

AND HOW WAS IT FOR YOU TO HARNESS ALL THAT ENERGY AND THE OPINIONS OF YOUR BOARD TO ADVANCE YOUR CAUSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, SO, ACTUALLY IT´S FUNNY THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED, WE STARTED WITH A BOARD OF 13.

WE HAVE DOWNSIZED A BIT, BUT WE HAVE HAD VARYING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, SO MANAGING AN ALL YOUTH BOARD OF ADVISERS IS A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE I WAS SPECIFIC IN WANTING TO PICK CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGE OF 8 AND 18 BECAUSE I BELIEF THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT ON SERVICE.

THE WAY YOUNG PEOPLE THINK WE´RE SOLUTION ORIENTED AND VERY PROBLEM SOLVING MINDED.

AND, SO, I THINK THAT WITH ADULTS THEY RIGHTFULLY SO ARE VERY CAUTIOUS AND THEREFORE SOMETIMES HESITANT.

OFTEN ADULTS FIND OF FOCUS ON THE WHAT IFS AND ALL OF THE BAD THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT MAY PREVENT THEM FROM GOING FOR IT.

WHEREAS THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT OUR INNOCENCE AS CHILDREN IS THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF OR THINK OF THAT THEREFORE CANNOT STIFLE OUR WILLINGNESS TO TRY.

BECAUSE OF THAT, I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE THINK AND I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO LEAD A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AND HOW HAVE YOU LED YOUR CREW TO ADDRESS IT?

WE ARE VERY ADAPTIVE.

>> SOME OF THE ISSUES OVER THE YEARS ARE RELATED TO HAVING TO ESTABLISH OUR CREDIBILITY BECAUSE WE ARE A GROUP OF KIDS DOING THE BRAINSTORMING, THE ORGANIZING AND THE MOST INVOLVED.

WE HAVE ADULTS HANDLING THE E-MAILS, THE PHONE CALLS AND DRIVING US THERE.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE OFTEN HAD SOME ISSUES WITH PEOPLE KNOWING THAT THE KIDS REALLY ARE IN CHARGE.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE WILL GO TO MY MOM AND ASK, OKAY, WHAT DO WE DO NEXT?

AND MY MOM SAYS ASK GRACE.

ASK THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE KIDS IN THE GREEN POLOS.

ASK THEM.

THAT´S ONE ISSUE WE HAVE RUN INTO MANY TIMES.

ALSO WITH COVID-19, WHEN THAT HIT, WE HAD TO THINK ON OUR FEET QUICKLY BECAUSE WE CAN SERVE AS VOLUNTEER BASE AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED.

A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

THAT´S WHY PEOPLE LOVE TO SUPPORT US THAT MUCH.

WHEN THAT BECAME UNSAFE, WE HAD TO THINK OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGED WITHOUT PUTTING ANYONE AT RISK.

SO THE PROJECT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, CAMP HAPPY, WHICH I CREATED AT THE AGE OF 10 FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH AS WELL, WE CREATED A VIRTUAL CAMP HAPPY SO WE COULD MAKE VIDEO TUTORIALS OF THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR YOU TO ENJOY FROM HOME OR FROM WHEREVER THEY WERE, WHETHER IN A HOSPITAL OR SHELTER.

IF THEY HAD INTERNET ACCESS, THEY WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE VIRTUAL CAMP HAPPY.

>> HOW CLOSELY DID YOU WORK WITH THE AUTHOR?

DID YOU CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE WRITING YOU SAW OR DID YOU JUST SHARE YOUR STORY AND SHE PUT YOUR WORDS INTO WRITING?

>> YES.

I JUST SHARED MY STORY, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A BOOK OUT OF IT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE CALLS OVER ZOOM JUST DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, MY STORY, MY THOUGHTS.

AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TALKING TO HER BECAUSE OFTENTIMES I AM HESITANT TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, HOW IT FEELS TO BE A BLACK GIRL DOING THIS WORK AND ALSO MY FAITH IN GOD IN DOING THIS WORK JUST TO AVOID OFFENDING ANYBODY.

BUT WITH HER I KNEW I COULD BE OPEN AND HONEST HOW I FELT COMPLETELY BOTH ON THE TOPICS OF BEING A BLACK GIRL AND BEING A CHILD OF GOD DOING THIS WORK.

>> SO MY QUESTION TO YOU: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A BLACK GIRL, A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN DOING THIS WORK?

>> I THINK IT FEELS AMAZING, I GUESS I COULD SAY, TO BE DOING THIS WORK, KNOWING THAT I THINK A BIG PART OF BEING A BLACK GIRL AND DOING THIS WORK IS THE PRIDE AND HAPPINESS THAT COMES WITH THE REPRESENTATION, I GUESS, IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LEARNING THAT THERE ARE KIDS IN LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BACK IN MARYLAND THAT ARE LEARNING ABOUT ME AS -- AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEY´RE LEARNING ABOUT ME.

ANY TIME OF THE YEAR THEY´RE FOCUSSED ON COMMUNITY SERVICE AND I´M HAPPY THOSE BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS WHO ARE OUT THERE ARE SEEING THAT ANOTHER BLACK AND BROWN GIRL JUST WITHIN THEIR AGE RANGE IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS AMAZING TO SEE ME AS AN INSPIRATION FOR WHITE KIDS, TOO.

ANY CHILD BEING ABLE TO SEE A YOUNG BLACK GIRL TO SEE ME AS A MENTOR AND A LEADER ONLY AT THE AGE OF 17 HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND SO I´M DEFINITELY PROUD TO BE A BLACK GIRL THAT IS UNBOSSED.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

AND FOR PERSONS WHO ARE READING YOUR STORY IN "UNBOSSED" WILL SEE THAT ONE OF YOUR -- EVEN AT AN EARLY AGE, YOU WERE CHALLENGED BY REPRESENTATION BY PHYSICIANS NOT TAKING YOUR HEALTH ISSUES SERIOUSLY BECAUSE, I GUESS, OF A LACK OF REPRESENTATION OR A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING.

AND THERE IS A -- A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN YOUR STORY WHERE YOU WERE TOLD OR YOUR MOM WAS TOLD BY DOCTORS THAT YOUR HEALTH ISSUES WERE CAUSED BECAUSE YOUR BRAIDS WERE TOO TIGHT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CARRIES YOU FORWARD AS YOU WORK TO BE MORE, YOU KNOW, TO TELL YOUR STORY AND TO BRING THAT REPRESENTATION TO YOUR STORY?

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT MORE RECENTLY HAS DEFINITELY COME TO MIND.

AND I THINK WITH THE POPULARITY OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT IMPLICIT BIAS IS AND RACIAL BIAS IS IT´S DEFINITELY BECOME MORE PREVALENT IN MY MIND.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I HADN´T REALLY UNDERSTOOD FULLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE FIRST GRADE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT PART OF THE STORY IS DEFINITELY SPOKEN FROM MY MOM´S PERSPECTIVE.

BUT AS I HAVE GROWN OLDER, IT DEFINITELY HAS COME TO MIND.

AND DEALING WITH SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND RACIAL INJUSTICE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN PUT DEEPLY INTO WE CAN SERVE BECAUSE IT IS A PASSION OF MINE.

I´M PASSION ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH WHICH NOT ONLY INCLUDES HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH BUT ALSO BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH.

THE TWO PUT TOGETHER, IT´S SO INTERESTING.

IN THE MAGNET PROGRAM I´M IN, I´M WRITING MY HUGE END OF YEAR PAPER ON THE DISPARITIES FACED BY BLACK AND BROWN HOMELESS YOUTH.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT THAT INTO WE CAN SERVE AS WELL INTO TWO MAIN INITIATIVES.

ONE IS THROUGH A FUNDRAISER WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE -- IT WAS INSPIRED BY THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND THE FUND IS MADE TO PROVIDE MONEY AND RESOURCES TO HOMELESS AND FOSTER BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVICE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN MARYLAND, TO PROVIDE THEM FOR RESOURCES TO EVENTUALLY STOP OR LESSEN THE PIPELINE FROM FOSTER CARE TO HOMELESSNESS AND GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

ANOTHER INITIATIVE WE HAVE ARE THE WE CAN SERVE LITTLE LIBRARY.

THIS IS FUNDED BY THE YOUTH TO THE FRONT FUND BY THE WAY OF WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION.

AND THESE LITTLE LIBRARIES ARE SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY´RE PUT IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, AND THEY ARE FOCUSSED ON FOLKS THAT INCLUDE DIVERSITY ON THE BASIS OF RACE, GENDER, RELIGION, ABILITIES AND DISABILITIES AND SO ON.

SO NOT ONLY DOES IT ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BUT ALSO LITERACY TO COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

>> I AM PERSONALLY SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WE CAN SERVE IS SUPPORTING LITERACY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND, YOU KNOW, CAUGHT IN THAT CYCLE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS, MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

SO I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN RECOGNIZE THAT HOMELESSNESS AND SERVING THOSE, YOU KNOW, MORE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING AND FOOD BUT ALSO ABOUT FEEDING THE MIND AND SERVING THE WHOLE SELF.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOU READ AND SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE A PASSAGE FROM YOUR BOOK THAT YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, GIVES A FULLER STORY OF WHO GRACE IS.

>> WHEN GRACE WAS ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OLD, HER GRANDMOTHER NOTICED A LUMP ON HER NECK.

GRACE´S MOTHER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PEDIATRICIAN AND ASKED ABOUT THE LUMP.

TJ WAS WORRIED THAT THE LUMP MIGHT BE CANCER.

THE PEDIATRICIAN DIDN´T LISTEN.

SHE MADE A RACIST ASSUMPTION AND TOLD TJ SHE WAS BRAIDING GRACE´S HAIR TOO TIGHT.

SHE TRIED TO TELL THE DOCTOR SHE COULDN´T BE.

BUT THE PAID TRAGS APPLIED A CREAM FOR THE SWELLING ANYWAY.

TJ CRIED AS SHE DROVE HER DAUGHTER TO THE PHARMACY TO PICK UP THE CREAM.

AT FIRST SHE WONDERED IF SHE WAS JUST BEING PARANOID.

HE WAS A MOTHER, AFTER ALL, ONE WHOSE MIND MIGHT HAVE GONE TO THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

BUT SHE KNEW IN HER GUT THAT SOMETHING WASN´T RIGHT, THE DOCTOR WAS MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

TJ TURNED OUT TO BE RIGHT.

ONE WEEK LATER SHE NOTICED A LUMP ON GRACE´S THIGH.

THIS DOCTOR DIDN´T LISTEN TO THEM EITHER.

GRACE AND TJ MET WITH A THIRD DOCTOR WHO FINALLY LISTENED TO THEM AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

A PEDIATRIC SURGEON TOOK ONE LOOK AT GRACE AND SAID SHE NEEDED TO GO TO SURGERY.

TWO DAYS LATER, SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

THAT MIGHT, GRACE AND HER MOTHER PACKED THEIR BAGS TO MOVE INTO THE HOSPITAL WHERE GRACE WOULD STAY FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS.

IT HAS BEEN TWO AND A HALF WEEKS SINCE THEY NOTICED THE LUMP ON THE NECK.

IF IT HADN´T BEEN TO DIFFERENT DOCTORS, THEY WOULDN´T HAVE CAUGHT THE CANCER.

GRACE HAD BEEN FAILED BY THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

WHAT IF HER MOTHER HADN´T INSISTED ON GETTING A SECOND AND THIRD OPINION?

WHAT IF SHE HADN´T BEEN SKEPTICAL OF THE DOCTOR´S THEORY AND ADVOCATED FOR HER DAUGHTER?

WOULD GRACE STILL BE ALIVE TODAY?

I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE A SMALL EXCERPT ABOUT RACIAL BIAS IN HEALTH CARE.

AFFECTS BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS EXPERIENCES IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS FACE ATTITUDES AND STEREOTYPES THAT AFFECTS THE MEDICAL CARE THEY RECEIVE.

GRACE WAS THE VICTIM OF A SUBCONSCIOUS STEREOTYPE THAT LED TO MISINFORMATION AND A MISDIAGNOSIS.

THIS IS REAL TALK FOR REAL WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR.

HOW MANY INSTANCES DO WE FIND OURSELVES IN WHERE WE ARE MADE TO SECOND GUESS OURSELVES OR OVERREACT TO THINGS LEGITIMATELY GIVEN AUDIENCE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

AND IN READING THAT, I REALLY FEEL THE ELEMENT OF BEING UNBOSSED AND BEING ABLE TO SELF-ADVOCATE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT.

AND KNOWING YOUR STORY, KNOWING EVEN FROM A YOUNG AGE THAT YOUR MOM WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHAMPION AND ADVOCATING FOR YOU, HOW DOES THAT GUIDE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING NOW?

>> I THINK KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, MY MOM WAS ABLE TO STICK TO HER GUT AND FOLLOW HER INTUITION WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE NOT ONLY ON WE CAN SERVE BUT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

MY MOM IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME JUST GOING WITH MY GUT AND KNOWING WHEN I JUST HAVE THAT FEELING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO TRUST YOUR INTUITION HAS GUIDED ME A LOT.

EVEN WITH STARTING WE CAN SERVE, I WAS VERY FOCUSSED ON CREATING SOMETHING REAL OUT OF THIS.

WHEN I FIRST HAD THE IDEA, MY MOM WAS LIKE, OH, THAT´S CUTE.

THAT´S NICE.

BUT LET´S FOCUS ON GETTING YOU BETTER BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDST OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

INITIALLY THE IDEA DIDN´T REALLY STICK, BUT I WAS PERSISTENT.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I WAS ABLE TO STICK TO MY GUT AND KNOW THAT I COULD REALLY DO SOMETHING AND WE ARE BOTH VERY THANKFUL THAT I DID.

>> HOW DOES THIS ADVOCACY AND SERVICE TRANSLATE INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?

YOU ARE CURRENTLY A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING A NONPROFIT FOR MOST OF YOUR LIFE, ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL AGE YEARS.

>> YES.

>> HOW DOES YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY TRANSLATE INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT I´M DEFINITELY -- I´M A NATURAL INTROVERT BUT I CAN BE EXTROVERTED.

BECAUSE OF THAT I´M ALWAYS READY TO BE A LEADER.

EVEN IN SCHOOL, IF THERE IS SOMEONE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK FOR THE GROUP OR LEAD A PRESENSATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I WILL DO SO.

WHEN IT COMES TO EXTRACURRICULARS, IN MY HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND I´M ONE OF THREE DRUM MAJORS.

YOU HAVE TO BE HYPED AND BE LOUD AND I´M A QUIET PERSON, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE BAND I TRY TO RAISE MY ENERGY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

I JUST JOINED SPORTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WAS SICK SO I WASN´T FULLY CAPABLE OF JOINING SPORTS.

AS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS THE AGE OF 17, I DID FIELD HOCKEY AND I´M IN LACROSSE NOW.

I´M READY TO BE IN CHARGE NEXT YEAR AS A SENIOR, EVEN THOUGH I´M NOT THE BEST IN THE SPORT.

SAME THING WITH MY MOCK TRIALS GROUP.

I´M HOPING THAT IF THERE IS AN ABILITY, I WILL BE ABLE TO HELP LEAD THAT TEAM AS WELL.

SO IT´S DEFINITELY SHOWN THROUGH IN MY ACADEMICS AND IN MY EXTRACURRICULARS.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING?

YOU ARE 17.

YOU HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON CNN.

YOU ARE RUNNING A NONPROFIT.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALL OF THIS?

>> IT IS A LOT, BUT I ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL ASK ME, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

I´M LIKE, COMMUNITY SERVICE IS FUN.

THAT´S WHAT I ENJOY TO DO BECAUSE ALL IN ALL I LOVE MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY.

THAT IS THE BIGst THING.

THAT´S WHERE IT ALL STARTS, WHETHER IT´S MAKING A FRIEND LAUGH, COMPLIMENTING MY MOM, A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS.

SO DOING THIS WORK TRULY IS FUN.

AND I TEND TO TRY TO STAY GROUNDED AND FOCUSSED ON WHAT MATTERS, YOU KNOW, MAKING TIME FOR EVERYTHING THAT´S IMPORTANT TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO TAKE A TRUE BREAK ON MY SPRING BREAK AND COME HERE.

I´M EXCITED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL BE PREPARING TO GO TO PROM THIS SATURDAY.

SO TRYING TO BALANCE EVERYTHING.

YES.

JUST TRYING TO BALANCE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT I´VE HAD A LOT OF HELP, SO IT´S BEEN GOOD.

>> SO WITH EVERYTHING ON YOUR PLATE AND WITH ALL THE AMAZING FEATURE ED FEATURED, YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE THAN OTHER 17-YEAR-OLDS.

YOU HAVE HAD A CHALLENGING JOURNEY BUT A BRIGHT ROAD AHEAD.

SO WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> RIGHT NOW WHAT´S NEXT IS MOVING WE CAN SERVE INTO OUR SUCCESSION PLAN.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS FOR WE CAN SERVE SO WHEN I GO OFF TO COLLEGE NEXT FALL, WE CAN SERVE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE ON WITHOUT MY DAILY INVOLVEMENT.

SO THAT LOOKS LIKE US MAKING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS AND GROUPS WHO ARE WILLING TO MAINTAIN PARTNERSHIPS YEARLY.

WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ALL GIRLS SCHOOL BACK HOME.

THE SCHOOL HAS TAKEN ON OUR INITIATIVE FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

SO WE´RE LOOKING TO MAINTAIN THAT.

WE ALSO SECURED AN M.O.U.

WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM BACK AT INITIATIVES WILL LIVE ON AND STAY PLANTED.

SO I´M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT ALLOWED WE CAN SERVE TO LIVE ON AND CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY I CARE A LOT ABOUT WHILE ALSO ALLOWING ME TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE AND FOCUS ON COLLEGE.

>> AMAZING.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR ENTIRE AUDIENCE WISHES YOU WELL.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, GRACE, WHO IS FEATURED IN THE BOOK "BLACK GIRLS UNBOSSED."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX´S BOARD, STAFF OR THEIR UNDERWRITERS.