NOLA Black Girls Rock Literary Workshop "Still I Rise"

First Free Mission Baptist Church 

Rev. Melvin Collins III, Pastor

919 Adams St. 

New Oleans, LA 70118

504 861-4705

Please support our volunteer  authors  by  purchasing their books to the right of the carousel. Their books will also be available on August 1.

Clarence Nero, Organizer of the Bayou Soul Writer's Conference and Author, Keynote Speaker

Maggie Collins, First Lady of First Free Mission Baptist Church, Educational Diagnostician, and Literary Author, Organizer

Country roads of St. Landry, St. Martin, and Iberia Parish take me home where I can pen stories of forgotten roads, dusty headlands, murky bayous, and hidden secrets. Although I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, my heart and writing thrives in the country roads of Southwestern Louisiana.

I write fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. My focus includes the oral and cultural traditions of the Creoles of Southwest, Louisiana, but I am not committed to any particular style or genre.  My novel, Celestial Blue Skies, was shortlisted for the Earnest Gaines Award in 2014. It was the only novel from a small press written by a writer who is unrepresented.

An excerpt from my novel The Curse of the Mulatto which is based on a folktale was published in the spring 2009 edition of Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine. The novel placed on the short list of finalist in the William Wisdom William Faulkner Writing competition. My short story “Encounters on Facebook” appeared in the Winter 2010 edition of The Battered Suitcase, an online journal. The Last of the Traiteurs and Tea Men, an essay of mine, was published in Mo Creole magazine.

Celestial Blue Skies was chosen as the only small press novel to be featured at the Louisiana Book Festival in 2014. I am a fellow with the Center for Black Literature. I hold a Master’s degree from University of New Orleans in Special Education and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Maggie is a devoted mother to two sons and the First Lady of First Free Mission Baptist Church. She loves working with children and teaching them how to read and write. She has been in the education profession for twenty-one years. She has taught English and Special Education. Now sh is an Educational Diagnostician. Her favorite scripture is Psalms 121 "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.…" She encourages young people to read and write. 

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Vanessa J. Ross, Children's Workshop Portfolios

Vanessa J. Ross
I was born on January 11, 1956 to Jean Tophia Jones and Paul M. Jones Sr. I was the second oldest of seven siblings. My mother and grandmother were my best motivation and inspiration ever. I graduated from Walter L. Cohen Sr. High School. I have a degree in Child Development and also in Interior Decorator/ Design. I am a Licensed Cosmetologist of many years. I graduated from John Jay Beauty School. I am very devoted to the Lord. I am a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. I love singing, learning more about the bible each and everyday. I am a very unique and caring person. I am here to do God YAHWEH's will, for I know he has plans or me. One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I fear? My grandchildren are the joy of my life and believe me I wouldn't trade them for the world." Let the life I live speak for me !!!!!
 

My daughter was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The doctors there didn't know anything about what was going on with my child. At the age of three months old, my daughter had a stroke. We had moved to Los Angeles California. This is where it all began. I woke up one morning and my baby continued to cry and not stop. Nothing was moving on her body, so I knew in my mind something was really wrong. I brought her to Children's Hospital. I then discovered that she not only had a stroke. but the child had pneumonia. This is where my journey began. I would read the Jabez prayer every night because I knew deep down inside God, Yahweh, would see me through any situation. Psalm 23 says the Lord is my shepard I shall not want. As my baby started getting older, little did I know my journey was just beginning! One thing I knew was  how to get on my knees and pray for strength. 

Debbie Knatt Jones Workshop Leader, Books that Rock

Debbie Knatt Jones

·         Native of New Iberia, Louisiana

·         BA in Mass Communication from Grambling State University

·         Special Education/English Education certification from University of Louisiana @Lafayette

·         Fellow of the National Writing Project of Acadiana

·         Special Education teacher for over 13 years

·         Author of three books

·         Editor in Chief of Eating With Knatt Jones digital cooking magazine

Kimberely Noble, Presentation

I was born to write and create. I have been writing since childhood and I have been involved in spoken word poetry since about 2006. I've also written for The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge. You can find a few of those pieces at the links located below to the right.

I am a graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor's in mass communication and a minor in English. I did not take the normal linear path through college. I completed an associate's degree in liberal arts at Baton Rouge Community College first. I decided to test the waters a bit and find a career. Nothing satisfied me if I could not be creative. Therefore, I returned to LSU and completed my bachelor's degree. The Manship School at LSU expanded my mind in how I connect words. I learned to write with precision. I learned how to write draft upon draft and became comforable throwing away words. I absolutely enjoyed the campus of LSU. The beautiful trees, architect and lakes helped churn my creativity and I still visit the campus regularly for a bike or to inhale to lake scents.

 I write in various forms: articles, short stories, books, stage plays, poetry and songs. I spent several years writing and composing full length scripts for my former church. Some of the titles were "Masquerade," "Battle Rattle" and "Free Because of Love." Those productions were born out of my passion to help connect the Living Word of God to real life situations. Oftentime, people view God's Word as archaic. But it holds eternal truths designed to help us live victorious lives today.

It is my desire to uplift the masses through this ever-evolving gift God has placed in my soul. I want my words to help stir the spirit of this generation for Christ through excellent delivery of every line.

I am grateful for every word of encouragement and for every accolade. However, the greatest words I seek to hear are yet to be heard: "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into my joy." 

To learn more about me, read some of my writings or to book me for your event, vista www.poetnoble.com

 Karen Doughty Overcoming Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Grief Workshop

Karen Doughty, “The Survivors’ Advocate” – consciously combined spiritual guidance with experience to pack a powerful punch. In her award winning book Empowered to Uproot the Seed of Abuse, and her newly acclaimed book, Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse, Karen breaks through communication barriers that silenced her to sexual abuse – and the result is a paradigm shift.

Since overcoming childhood sexual abuse, it is remarkable that Karen wear many hats: Author, Healer, Inspirational Speaker and Empowerment Coach.

Above all else, Karen's mission is to lessen the one in four girls and one in six boys molested before their eighteen birthday, confirming that her first encounter with molestation was at the tender age of 4. This horrific event, along with other instances of abuse, played like a broken record in Karen's head. Needless to say, it lent itself to a vicious cycle of entrapment; but, Karen broke free and, her recovery became the catalyst for promoting recovery for others.

Karen is a force with which to be reckoned – that is, experience coupled with training. However, sources relevant to sexual abuse help sharpen Karen’s skills (New Orleans YWCA Rape Crisis Center, the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office Rape Crisis Center, the Louisiana Foundation against Sexual Assault, Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children and, New Orleans Facilitator Training: Care*ageous Kids and TRUST). Most rewarding, Karen joined experts at Penn State First Annual Child Sexual Abuse Conference.

As an “on-air" radio personality, Karen launched The Lighthouse Rescue Radio Ministry - a beacon of light and source of inspiration for victims of sexual assault and, information and education for the community-at-large. She is a member of Louisiana Foundation against Sexual Assault (LAFASA), and Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Speakers' Bureau.

Karen has been featured in articles, magazines, and newspapers. She made guest appearances on television and radio programming deeming them platforms to increase awareness, hope, health, and healing. Her enthusiasm landed her keynote speaker for Sisters of Queen Esther, Domestic Violence, the Baton Rouge Children Advocacy Center and the Holocaust of Innocence Tour to name a few. These services, and others, awarded Karen a "Certificate of Honor."

Karen holds a BA degree from Southern University at New Orleans, Louisiana, in Social Work where she embraced "Advocacy, Empowerment and Transformation" and a Masters in Criminal Justice. She is currently pursuing Christian Education at The Don Bradford Bible College (DBBC).

Karen lives in Baton Rouge, La with her daughter. 

Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere, Books that Rock

In Trouble Comes in on Horseback and Leaves Out on a Snail, Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere-wife, mother, hell-raiser, and soul searcher-reminds us that the best lessons aren't just experienced, they are embraced. From her days as the feisty youngster in New Orleans's Seventh Ward to her trials as the older and wiser survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Gwen strings her pearls of wisdom into a necklace draped in triumph and lovely to behold. Funny, frank, and encouraging, these memoirs glide from the everyday to the extraordinary in an effortless ballet. When you are tired of your own pity party, look here to discover how true survivors are made.

Tonia Askins, Traditional and Self-Publishing

Tonia Askins – International Business Consultant, Author, Speaker, Publisher, Advisor and Philanthropist has serviced thousands of authors, emerging entrepreneurs, ministers, nonprofits, existing small business owners and corporations for over fifteen years.

As an author, Tonia collaborated internationally to write her first book, “You’ve Been Fired! Now What?” aimed to assist individuals discover options and opportunities through entrepreneurship despite economic conditions.  Her sophomore publication was released the same year titled – “Self-Publishing Like A Pro”, in which she shares vital steps, tools, and best practices for breaking into self-publishing. She states “With self-publishing on the rise, it presents an abundant opportunity, both personally and professionally for many to share their expertise and stories with the world.”

The latest addition to her publishing library is “8 Breakthrough Strategies for Virtual Assistants.”  With this book she plans to encourage and ignite creativity in highly motivated VA’s that desire to be more fulfilled in life and business.

Her publishing company Cultivate Press releasing professional, spiritual and self-help books from authors that span the globe.

Her God given purpose and mission is both evident and contagious. As a publishing consultant and speaker within just a couple years she has had the privilege of speaking to and encouraging both professional and spiritual leaders about launching and establishing professional platforms to impact the world for the greater good.

For this mother of 3 and wife for over 15 years, truly a no limits mind-set, diverse experience and passion for people are her main driving force. “I fuel people to do three things: be creative, sow and grow. Be Creative about how you go about achieving your goals, sow into purposeful projects that help others and grow by continually remaining a student of life.”

Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Publishing on online and Blogging

Maurice Carlos Ruffin is a graduate of the University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop and a member of the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance and the Melanated Writers Collective. His work has appeared in Redivider, the Apalachee Review, and Unfathomable City: a New Orleans atlas edited by Rebecca Solnit and Rebecca Snedecker. He is the winner of the 2014 Iowa Review Fiction Award, the 2014 So to Speak Journal Short Story Award and the 2014 William Faulkner Competition for Novel in Progress. He loves peanut butter and jelly; loud, but pretty music; and everything that Oscar Wilde ever said.

Recent publications: Callaloo, Massachusetts Review, Cicada and forthcoming in Kenyon Review, The Pinch, and The New Delta Review.

 

 

Developing Writing and Reading Clubs within Your Community

Jewel is the founder of Melanated, a writer's group in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

 

 Loving who You Are

 

Janice has traveled to Africa several times. She’s been to Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Nubia, and to Jamaica and Kingston. She loves to visit places of color. She loves her African roots and culture. She is an Educational Diagnostician with Jefferson Parish Schools. She believes that Black people should appreciate their uniqueness and Black people should not look elsewhere for people to validate us. She has worked within the Black community for thirty years.  

 

Portfolios

Francienne Simmons

Francienne Simmons is an exceptional educator who has taught for many years. She advocates for children especially those from low income neighborhoods. She will show parents how to develop at home portfolios for their children to keep a running record of what they read and write.

 

 

Aliya Rheams

Helping a Child with a Disability or an Exceptionality

 

Ms. Rheamss the mother of four children. All of her children were accepted to the advanced academies. One of her children is gifted. She has worked as a teacher and Educational Diagnostician and a teacher for fifteen years. She considers herself a child advocate. Children are first.