Not long after I had returned from L.A for the promotion of my book: The Survivor Story Of Arnelle A Girl From Africa, I saw on Facebook an event that caught my eye. It was an event called Black Girls Leadership Celebration and immediately my desire to attend grew stronger and I knew to attend such an event will means representing Africa.
Leadership has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. At a young age, I took on the mother role when my mother wasn’t around and most times she was never around so that role to become a mother became my fulltime role. Making sure my siblings were feed and taking care of. Now, this event wasn’t like the one I experience growing up, and I wanted to learn more so I bought my ticket through Event Tribute and it was time for me to get prepared.
Being a lady with many talents, I decided to sew my own outfit for the event. The outfit that I am wearing in the photos on this post was created by me except for the top which was bought. I did go to the African Store to get some African fabric to sew my outfit and there was much African fabric to choose from. I chose the color that was the most appealing to me and I bought it. After my purchase, I got home did my measurements decided to sew the flair leg pants my grandmother taught me how to cut, but later discovered that my butt was too big. Pants almost completed, when I found out the pants could not fit me at all. Didn’t want to start over, I had to do something to fix the mistake.
I had to cut two pieces of fabric and attached it to the front of the pants, this created a whole new look for the pants and allow it to fit. Did my makeup, got ready, and off to the event I went. Once at the event, I got the opportunity to meet with our Edmonton City Mayor, Don Iveson. He gives a beautiful speech on why leadership is important for our city and how we can all work together to build strong leadership within our communities. After his speech, I was given the opportunity to speak with him about my book: The Survivor Story Of Arnelle A Girl From Africa, give him a signed copy and tell him a bit about my story and my experiences with the war that happens in Liberia.
Black Girls Leadership Celebration was hosted by Black Canadian Women In Action and I had the pleasure of meeting the President of Black Canadian Women In Action Jeanne Lehman. She is beautiful, humble, with a heart that glitters with love and care, for others. We both bonded and the next thing, she got interested in my story and wanted to know more. I then give her a signed copy of my book and we made plans to meet after the event.
The food at her event was delicious, I ate till my plate got completely clean. Also at her event Black Girls Leadership Celebration, there was beautiful African music played from many African countries. Some of the songs, being played at her events, were songs I grew up dancing to. I got on the dance floor and dance the night away.
Leadership is not about who you got following you, leadership is about helping others grow, helping them discovered who they are, believing in their dream even when their dreams seem as though it will never come true. Remember dreams do come true, even when everyone seems not to believe, believed in yourself cause, your faith in who you are and who you are meant to be will start to shine brighter.
