Eileen:

Hello, and welcome to Soul of A Leader Podcast, where we ignite soulful conversations with leaders. In today’s episode, Dr. Alicia and Dr. Eileen talk with Jamila Trimuel, to discuss, Every Day Is Saturday.

 

Alicia:

Welcome to Soul of A Leader Podcast. In today’s episode, we have Jamila Trimuel. From the south side of Chicago, she is the founder of Ladies of Virtue, an award-winning mentoring and leadership program that has empowered over 1000 girls, ages nine to 18, to become confident, purpose-driven leaders. 

Jamila started her career in strategic planning at Northwestern Medicine and has over 10 years of experience in strategic planning, and community engagement. Jamila also is on the steering committee member for the Greater Bronzeville Neighborhood Workforce Development Committee. She also is a member of the founding steering committee, for the Illinois Council of Women and Girls, which was just signed into law. She also is the co-author of A Status Report On Teen Girls In Chicago. Welcome to Soul of A Leader Podcast, Jamila.

 

Jamila:

Thank you for having me.

 

Eileen:

Thank you so much for being here. Well, Alicia did a great job introducing you. But did we miss anything that you would like to add?

 

Jamila:

You know, I think she did a wonderful job. I think the only thing that I would add, is that I’m just really, truly a servant leader at heart. Meaning that I lead by example, and I always listen and take into account the people who I am leading. Whether or not it’s my girls who I’m mentoring. Even their parents, or my staff. I always think about their needs first. I like to consider myself a servant leader.

 

Eileen:

Yes, and that is what Soul of A Leader is all about, is being a servant leader, authentic leader, and spiritual leader. You just said it, hit it right on the button when you said servant leadership. Tell me, or share with us, how you lead differently with young women, as they grow and become more confident in who they are. Because that is such a challenging age. I remember it. 

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Eileen:

I’m sure Dr. Alicia remembers it. I’m sure you remember it. All the different types of emotions that go through it. Share with us your story on that.

 

Jamila:

In terms of how I lead young women, I like to say that I meet our girls where they are, and patients as well. But just starting with that first point of leading girls where they are. Sometimes they aren’t going to display every action that you want them to display. I remember I’ve had mentees for the last 20 years, this actually marks my 20th year mentoring. I just realized that earlier today. 

 

Alicia:

Wow. 

 

Jamila:

Yeah. It’s so crazy, how time just flies. One thing that I can say is that sometimes the actions that you see, I could say a little story. I remember, one of our mentees in our program, on social media, wouldn’t portray herself exactly how you would like. Some people would call it to ratchet, some people would say it’s too much. 

But what I saw, because there were so many shares, there were so many likes, if you will, on Facebook, and I saw a marketing director. I saw someone who would use their creativity. Maybe in this instance, it was negative. But with the right direction, with the right resources and opportunities, that same talent could be a marketing director, a marketing guru, if you will. 

I ended up placing her in an internship. Shout out to True Star. They do a lot of media, and a lot of their interns are working on using their creative gifts. You think about podcasts, and videos, and all of that. I placed her in that internship. She just graduated from the army. But now she’s starting her own business.

One thing that she called me on recently was, “You know what? People are always calling me, to ask me for logos, and business name ideas.” I said, “You know what? Because you are a creative person.” Now that’s going to be another aspect of her business, utilizing her creativity in marketing. 

But what if five, ten years ago, if we would have said, “You know what? You need to get out of this program.” Or, “You’re not representing yourself accordingly.” Then more negative than on the positive end of it, she may not have tapped into that creative side that she did have. Always, as I said, we have to meet our girls where they are. We have to see beyond the surface, as that story really exemplifies. 

Then we have to be patient. Just because you share your words of wisdom today, doesn’t mean that they’re going to execute tomorrow. It may take a year. It may take three years. It may take five or ten years. When they look back to say, “Now I’m in my mid-20s. I remember those words of encouragement. I remember those internships. I remember the lessons that you taught me, and I’m implementing those now. I need some help,” of course. 

We have our alumni program that provides that guidance as well. I would say, just meeting our girls where they are. Seeing beyond the surface, and being patient along the way.

 

Alicia:

One of the things I heard you say as Dr. Eileen said, we all are young ladies, so we’ve been young ladies before. The age group that you focus on, I tell you, it is the most precious moment. I can remember when I was nine, 10, 11, 12, 13. I never understood what I wanted to be. Or you have some idea, “Oh, well, you know. I want to be a model.” As you get older, you’re like, “Well that’s not going to really work, because I can’t be that tall. I’m only 5′ 5”. 

But you took something that most young girls really needed at that time, to recognize in them, their ability. Sometimes people miss that, so you are correct. We focus a little bit on the negative part. But you saw a little deeper than that. Which means that’s very valuable. 

My question to you, when you think about leadership. Because you instill in some of your values of being a leader, in your girls. Especially that young lady, because look what she’s become. How do you instill them to be productive leaders, or effective leaders, when you work with them in your program?

 

Jamila:

Yeah, so the best way to see if they are productive leaders, and what type of help they may need, is to see how they would be in action. We have a program, where our girls identify topics that they’re passionate about. Then we partner them with community organizations that pertain to that particular topic. 

Then our girls are taking what they learned from those community organizations, and then going out into the community. Going out into their schools. Even on social media, and spreading the word. Creating a marketing awareness campaign, or even a workshop, about that specific topic. Then they have to present their impact to community leaders, and top executives, and so forth.

We also have prizes. Pre-COVID, we would be taking them, last year we took them, or 2019, we took them to New York. Those groups that went above and beyond in the spirit of excellence. What we’re able to see throughout that three-month process, of where they are leading those different projects, and then each group has a project manager, a budgeting manager, a marketing manager, and so forth. 

In a three-month timeframe, we’re able to see, “Okay. You were delegated. You were … Yeah, so your project manager delegated a specific assignment to you. It was due two weeks ago. Where is it?” In those moments, those are teachable moments. We’re able to say, a strong leader would have said, “You know what? I know we’re coming onto a deadline that’s due in two days. You know what? I really need an extension, because there are some things going on at home. That would really benefit me right now, to have that extension.”

Of course, that would be no problem, right? We’re teaching them at the moment, what it means for your word to be true. People like to say, “Your word needs to be your bond.” Your word is everything that you have. Whatever you say you’re going to do, you need to do it. We talk about that. 

We talk about being respectful. When you’re a project manager, and you’re trying to manage a variety of different personalities and all of that, you can’t be disrespectful. You have to be respectful. You have to ensure that you have a clear vision. That’s really how we’re teaching them, that’s one component, one way we’re teaching leadership, is through their actions. We’re able to intervene at the moment, to say, “Here’s how you could have done that differently.” Or even just how they could have constructive criticism. 

We also use that as a time to highlight positive traits and positive things that they’re doing. Because many of our girls are so creative. They’re able to create videos at 10 years old. I was not, I’m still not able to do that on my own. 

 

Alicia:

Yes, I can’t either. 

 

Jamila:

Exactly, so we also take the opportunity to highlight the things that they’re doing really, really well. Then those areas that they have to improve upon, we work on that. We know that that’s a process. That’s how we are ensuring, that’s one way that we are ensuring that we are also, that we’re mentoring productive leaders and leaders that are going to …

We always say our girls are not just leaders of tomorrow, but they are our leaders of today. They’re going to take this, and go out into their schools, go out into their communities, and even in their homes, to change the world.

 

Eileen:

With that, I had a question. As you shared, you’ve been doing this for 20 years. You give these young girls a foundation, and then they go out into the world. How have you seen those seeds be planted, from your work, over your years? What values have you instilled, and what lives you have changed in this, by your work?

 

Jamila:

Yes, and so as you mentioned, I have mentored for 20 years. I started as a sophomore in college. As I think about one of my very first life on life mentees, I like to say that because, a lot of times there is group mentoring, and you may have a drop in mentors, and things of that sort. I really like to consider my style of mentoring, a life-on-life mentor. If I consider you my mentee, I’m in your life forever. You can’t get rid of me.

No, but even before I started Ladies of Virtue 10 years ago, even before that, one of my mentees, Selena, I met actually when I was an identity team leader at church, mentoring the girls there. I look at her now, and she has her Master’s degree. She’s in her career as a college counselor. It’s really, I remember driving her down to school when her parents weren’t able to make it a particular weekend. I remember going to her graduations. I remember helping her in high school, completing those college applications as well. 

I remember even talking about, “Which school are you going to go to?” We were deciding between U of I, or Grinnell. She ended up going to Grinnell. I went to the U of I, so I was … But she was at Grinnell. Just seeing how, just being in their life, for whatever is needed. A listening ear, to college applications, to being there for graduations. Whatever it is. Just being able to see the fruit from that. It’s been beautiful.

Even with Ladies of Virtue, even though we’ve only been in existence for 10 years, we’re starting to have our very first graduates from college and graduates from grad school. 

One, in particular, Deidra, started off in our program 10 years ago. She was one of the six girls that were in our program. I remember helping, not just me personally, but her mentors, helping her with her college applications. Then she went to Mizzou. She found herself applying to graduate schools. Hadn’t even gotten to us yet. She was doing that part on her own and was denied from all three graduate programs. 

She reached out to her mentor in Ladies of Virtue. She would say, “I applied to these graduate programs. I did not get into any one of them. I don’t know, I didn’t have a plan B.” She said she did not have a plan B, because she knew she was going to go to grad school right after undergrad. She ended up coming back to Chicago and working. While she was here, she partnered with her mentor. Her mentor, Faith, in Ladies of Virtue. She was a doctoral student at the time. 

Faith was like, “Oh girl, come over, and you can volunteer at my lab, and get the hours that you need. Because that’s going to make your applications look a lot stronger when you apply.” Deidra did just that. I’m proud to say that she ended up getting accepted into a variety of different Ph.D. programs. She ended up being so inspired by the mentor in Ladies of Virtue, Faith. 

Now Faith is Dr. Faith. She was so inspired by Faith, that she ended up pursuing her doctoral program as well. Now Deidra is in her second year of pursuing her doctoral program, which is school psychology, at Ball State University. Just –

 

Alicia:

Oh, good. 

 

Jamila:

… so proud. I love the fact that our program doesn’t just revolve around me. That we have so many strong mentors within our program, and our girls are benefiting from being associated with their mentorship.

 

Alicia:

One of the things I like, you guys seem like you have such a good structure around helping the young ladies. This is phenomenal, because they need that, once they leave the program and go do their things. She felt secure enough to call back or check-in. This is good, because like she said, she didn’t have a plan B. 

Part of your program really, to me, seems like it helped them to think, “Okay. I need to call my mentor.” That connection, and how they call back, is great. Because you want to keep that closeness with them. 

One of my other questions is when you think about what you are instilling in your young ladies, how do you help them think about being servant leaders in their own way, as they continue to grow? Is there something that you instill in them? Is it a process, to think about servant leadership or spiritual leadership?

 

Jamila:

Yeah. We are definitely all about service. We have monthly community service activities, every month. April in particular is our service month, where all of the sessions pertain to doing something out in the community. We have gone out, and packed lunches for the homeless. We have cleaned the community. 

This year, it’s really exciting. They’re going to be learning about human trafficking. This is for our middle school girls. They’re going to be learning about human trafficking –

 

Alicia:

Oh, great.

 

Jamila:

They’re going to learn how to sew. They’re going to sew these beautiful dresses, and they’re going to send them to victims of human trafficking. That’s just really exciting. But we teach them about some of the issues that are affecting girls. Not only in the city of Chicago, but across the country. So that they can truly understand what is going on, and how they can help, and then be able to tap into their own passion so that they can then go out into society and make a difference. 

As it relates to April, the service month, and then their leadership project, where they’re learning about their passions, and how they’re going to benefit society based on their passions. But we also talk to them about mental health, and how there are so many mental health concerns that are going on in today’s society, and so how can we show empathy towards others? Then how can we get help ourselves, if we feel like we need that support?

To me, being a servant leader is knowing your strengths. It’s knowing your weaknesses. It’s knowing how you can serve in the best way possible. It’s knowing your own passions so that then, that’s how you attract other people who are also passionate about the topic that you are passionate about. Yeah, so the service is at the core of what we do. 

 

Eileen:

With that, as you lead and you deliver service as a servant leader, what values are your core values of yours? That you display and live by. Because we have a values deck that we have, which has words on it. People can sort them out, and figure out what their core values are. But I’m sure you have some that you live by every day. 

 

Jamila:

Yes. I would say my two primary values would be, number one, love. I love showing love. I always tell the girls, “I love you,” and they probably think I’m crazy. If they came into the program this year, I probably would have only met them for three or four months now, right? I’m still like, “I love y’all. I love y’all.” I just love showing love to others. I tell my friends I love them. I tell my family I love them. 

I tell the girls I mentor I love them. Because I truly do. I really do, I don’t know, something God placed in me. Where I just have that love for others, and I like to show it. COVID is hard, so I can’t hug anymore. But I’m definitely one of those, my core value is love, for sure.

Then also, I would say dependability. From what I’ve been told, serving on different committees and so forth. They’re like, “There’s one thing I can always depend on. One thing I can always know is I can depend on you.” If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. If I say I’m going to be somewhere, I’m going to be there. That’s truly a core value of mine, definitely would be this. 

Then I would just say service. I love to give back. Regardless of, yes, you all know I’m very passionate. It’s really, truly part of my calling, in terms of mentoring. But I also really just love serving the community. I love, whether or not it’s serving lunches to the homeless, or cleaning up the community. Or giving out masks and hand sanitizer. Whatever it is, I really love meeting the needs of our community. 

 

Eileen:

Well, and what’s neat about it, Dr. Alicia and I wrote a book called Soul of A Leader Echoes. What I’m hearing is your leadership style echoes back out to the community. You may be the one seed. But then you touch others, and the wave just keeps going. What great values.

 

Alicia:

Oh my gosh, yes. I’m writing them down, Jamila, as you’re doing it. You can see it. Others can’t see it, the listeners. But it’s just all over you. You can tell that God has given you that true gift. Because as you were talking, I was like, “People don’t understand, you really had to have a love for serving.” 

There, some people can be in it for money, and you can tell the difference. You can see the difference when a person’s doing it for love, and because they know they’ve been called. Or they have the passion to do it. For me, I understand, other things come, when you put the passion first. It’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of dedication.

You talked about being dependable, and service is, your top three values are showing you what you exemplify in the organization. Which is phenomenal. Which is, like Eileen is saying, it’s going to echo to those other ladies. Trust me, they love it when you tell them you love them. They love that because I tell people, people just want support, and they just want love. They want a chance. For you to recognize all their gifts, and their talents, a lot of things have been taken away from our kids in schools. 

When you have an organization that allows you to, “Oh, this is what graphic art is?”, or, “This is what marketing is?”, then they can say, “And I can make money doing this? I can go to school.” Then they just begin to start flourishing. That’s what gives them hope. 

Here’s the other thing I was looking at, as you were talking. I noticed you did a TED Talk. Eileen did one. I have not done one. I love your topic. It says, “Make today your Saturday. Live a fulfilled life of purpose.” Tell me a little more about that. I like that word, purpose. 

 

Jamila:

Really, that first part is probably the most important part, because, “Make today a Saturday.” One thing that I notice, more so now than ever before. I’ve been full-time with Ladies of Virtue over the last, this year it’ll be five years. Because I went full time, July 2016. I remember, prior to July 2016, I was one of them. But everybody says, “Oh, it’s Monday. Oh my god, it’s Monday.” Then Friday comes, everybody’s so happy. 

But you really look forward to Saturday, because that’s your day. You didn’t have to work in the morning. You can just do whatever you want to do on that Saturday. I find that people really look forward to the weekend. Then when I did research in preparation for the TEDx Talk, I found that the majority of people say Saturday is their best day. 

What I noticed, that’s the day that they look forward to. That’s the day that they love. But I’ve noticed over the last five years, and I didn’t realize it until I was probably a couple of years in. That I no longer said, “Oh, it’s Monday.” I was no longer looking forward to Fridays. I wasn’t looking forward to the weekend. I believe, and I know now as I look back over my experience of doing Ladies of Virtue full time, is that’s because I truly love what I’m doing.

Every day is the same. I don’t look forward to a specific day. Because on Saturday, I could be working an event. Or maybe I can be doing something. I’m always working. But it’s something that I love to do. I don’t look forward to having that day off if that makes sense.

 

Alicia:

Oh, that makes a lot of sense.

 

Jamila:

Yeah, so I did a TEDx Talk, just to talk about my journey, and how I went about finding my purpose and my calling. Yeah, so it’s been a great process, and every day is my Saturday.

 

Eileen:

That’s fantastic. I like that saying, “Every day is my Saturday.” When you are in a place where you work, you contribute, and you forget the time. You’re in the flow. 

 

Alicia:

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

 

Eileen:

For those people who can’t do that, I would say, make time each day for yourself, and pay yourself with that time as a gift. Right?

 

Alicia:

Mm-hmm (affirmative), yes.

 

Eileen:

So many blessings to you, for being able to do this, and make an impact on so many people’s lives. Just wonderful.

 

Jamila:

Thank-you. I really appreciate that. I’m definitely a firm believer that people need to, definitely can’t leave this Earth without knowing your purpose, and why you are here on this Earth. Then after you know why you are here on this Earth, it is so important to align your life to that purpose. Maybe it’s not, your job doesn’t have to necessarily be your calling or purpose like I have been fortunate enough to have. 

But even if it’s extracurricular activities, even if it’s an association or a club. Regardless of what nine to five you may have, you have to be in alignment with your purpose in some way, shape, or form. But yes, I’m a big proponent of living out your purpose by any means necessary.

 

Alicia:

What happens is, I really like, and I’ma dive a little deeper into this. Because people are working jobs, obviously some necessary, they have to because they have to make ends meet. But there’s a good percentage of individuals that are on jobs, that they’re just not happy with. They need to find the purpose, what God has given. Because everyone has a purpose. 

It could be like you said, something as simple as just creating your own time to just exercise. Or enjoy health. Whatever it could be, it’s just, you should know what your purpose is. I work for myself, and I don’t look for Saturday. Because I’m working on Saturday or a Sunday, it doesn’t … Because I enjoy working, because I enjoy what I’m doing. Because guess what? Most of the time, 99 percent of the time, if I’m working on Saturday, I’m helping someone. 

But then, that’s where I know that’s my purpose. My fulfillment. I can work all day, and be like, “Oh, what time is it?”.

 

Jamila:

Right, I love that. That’s me. 

 

Alicia:

Because I’m indulging something for someone else, and I’m helping, so their organization or their business can be better. I think this is something good that people need to understand. You have to spend the time to find your purpose. The key is, no one can tell you what your purpose is. You’ve got to find it.

 

Jamila:

That’s true. That is so true. I always say I love the book, Purpose Driven Life. That’s my favorite book in the whole wide world. 

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Jamila:

There’s a part in the book where it talks about, “Every single thing has a purpose. If you pick up this microphone, you know that you’re supposed to speak into it. If you have a banana, you’re supposed to eat it.” Everything has a purpose, so why do you think you don’t have a purpose? Even if, taking the spirituality aspect out, which I don’t, because I am a Christian woman. But if everything else has a purpose in your life, why would you think you don’t? You have a purpose. There was a reason why you were created on this Earth.

To your point, you have to find it. You have to be tapped into that. The book talks about too, pray and ask God. God will lead and guide you to finding your purpose. I read that book when I was 26, after grad school. I ended up moving to New Brunswick, New Jersey, for a year, to do a residency program. I only had one friend from college who lived in New York, so she was nearby, but not close enough. She was over an hour away.

It was my time to really find myself because I am a family person. That was my first time in my life, not being in the same area, city, with my friends and family, and so God led me to that book. I don’t even remember how I found it. But I read that book, and that is what led me to identify my purpose.

 

Eileen:

I mean, there is just so much good coming out of you. 

 

Alicia:

Yes. 

 

Eileen:

What’s happening –

 

Alicia:

Oh my, yes.

 

Jamila:

Thank you.

 

Eileen:

Well, when I see this, it’s just, I see the energy.

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Eileen:

Our listeners can’t see it, because we’re on video, and you’re hearing audio. There’s an energy that is driving this. My question is, what drives that energy? What drives it? I’ve heard, you said purpose. We all have days where there’s a lesson or blessing, right? Some days are a lesson, some days are blessings. But we always learn from it.

But the energy is from within, or from a higher source, or from somewhere else. I can just see the glow –

 

Alicia:

Oh, I feel it too. Yeah, it’s no question. I agree with you.

 

Eileen:

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

 

Jamila:

Yeah, that’s so funny. 

 

Eileen:

Yeah, I can see the glow. Is there anything you do differently, or a grateful journal? I don’t know, that you could share. Because I mean –

 

Jamila:

What is it? 

 

Eileen:

I try different things like that. A grateful journal, prayer, meditation. 

 

Alicia:

Mm-hmm (affirmative), yes. Yes. 

 

Eileen:

Stretching, yoga, exercise. Walking in nature. I definitely lean against trees to get their energy. I don’t hug them yet, but I can definitely see it. Share with me. Share with us. 

 

Jamila:

Yes. Some of the things that you mentioned, I definitely do. Then I’ll add to it. But just thinking back off of what you just said, I definitely, I’m always praying. I’m always, even reading the words, to see what lessons I need to learn from that. I’m definitely a big nature person. So happy we moved to the South Loop area, because, of course not too much in the snow. But I’m a frequent walker. I’ll walk for hours.

My friends think I’m crazy. I’ll walk for an hour or two, to just be outside. I love the Sun. I love being outside. I love nature. I don’t even have to have sun. I just love being outside, to be honest with you. 

But outside of that, going back to this whole purpose piece. I think when you just, without a shadow of a doubt, when you know that you know that you know that you know, that you were placed on this Earth to do something, and you’re actually doing it. There is something that comes from that, I believe. I believe that and I’m not done yet, so I’m not trying to leave this Earth yet. 

When you know that God has placed you in this world for something, and you’re actually doing it, and there’s a fruit that comes from it. Because you get mentees. For me, I get mentees to text me. I get parents to reach out to me, to say that they’ve really enjoyed their daughters being in the program. I get my mentees to say the same thing, about how being a part of Ladies of Virtue has blessed their lives. That’s important too because you do need to see the fruits of your labor. 

But I think when you know that you were placed on this Earth to do something, and you’re actually doing it, and you’re seeing fruit from that labor, I believe that there is some energy that comes out of that. There’s a peace that surpasses our understanding if you will. Where you just know that you’re living out the calling that’s on your life. 

 

Alicia:

Yeah. You know, one of the things –

 

Jamila:

Great question. I had to dig deep for that one. 

 

Alicia:

Yeah, I know, right? 

 

Eileen:

Well, you found the light. You told us where your energy is from, so that’s great.

 

Alicia:

Yeah. I was wondering what you were going to say. It really was, Dr. Eileen, I good question. Because I can feel that, and that’s a spiritual thing, I must say. It’s got to be. Because I walk a lot. Obviously, I can’t do it if it’s below 40 degrees, so I haven’t done it. Today I was like, “Maybe I should go for a walk,” because it was 42. I ended up not doing it. 

But one of the things I hear from you is that source of knowing that God is guiding you. It’s like you get that energy, and you get that purpose from him. Because he wants you to now deliver that to the young ladies, because again, we’re talking about, we’re all ladies. We all were girls, and we’re still girls. That inner part of us, you know?

 

Jamila:

Mm-hmm (affirmative), right.

 

Alicia:

There is a sense of accountability he’s given to you. A big, huge, which is a blessing, to be able to share, to help them. Because again, what you’re instilling in their lives is, they’re going to have the ability to steer in other girls’ lives. The fact that you’re teaching them about things, human trafficking, or what’s happening with other young ladies in other parts of the world, or states or cities. Or even just within their own neighborhoods.

 

Jamila:

Yeah, absolutely.

 

Alicia:

The power of understanding and knowledge is so important, for us to understand what we need to tell the young ladies, so we can protect them, and prevent that from happening to them. I like that about you because you’ve got to pull your power and purpose from God, to be able to do that. I love that about you. 

 

Jamila:

Oh, thank you. 

 

Alicia:

We could just talk to you all, for a long time. Time really flies when we are having great conversations –

 

Jamila:

[crosstalk 00:34:34].

 

Alicia:

Before we end, and you said a lot of good words of wisdom. But what are some words of wisdom that you want to leave with listeners? Those listeners perhaps have daughters, that may need a program like yours. Or may need to join it. But what are some good words of wisdom you would like to leave for our listeners?

 

Jamila:

I think about my own parents. My dad used to always, I remember he took me to Navy Pier one day. This was when I was young. It’s probably one of my earliest memories. But I remember specifically being at Navy Pier. There was a guy building this castle with popsicle sticks. He was showing me that this person is being featured for his passion. From the outside looking in, this is the weirdest thing. Looking at a house, a mansion, being built with popsicle sticks. 

But my dad took that as a lesson. To say, “If he could be featured building a castle using popsicle sticks, you could do whatever you wanted to do, as long as you are also following your passion.” I think that for those parents who may be listening, I think that those early stories that my dad and my mom instilled in me, is really, I was going to say something different for that question, but I’m just being led to say, to really talk about the parents. 

I remember my mom, she used to always give back … She’s an accountant, so she teaches financial literacy. Her give back was to go into the churches. They would be some of the oldest churches, the smallest churches. But she really was so passionate about ensuring that black people in the community knew about financial literacy. Knew how to save. I remember my dad, there would be young boys walking across the street, while he was mowing the lawn. He would stop what he was doing, to just say hi, and have a conversation with the young boys in the community.

Just from watching, I think, and being able to see my parents as that role model. They didn’t even know I was watching. I’m sure they didn’t even think I was listening to them. But I was. As I think back to those words, but more so their actions and their words, to be honest. It was really what has helped me become who I am today.

I would say to parents who, sometimes they may feel as though their child isn’t listening. I would encourage them to say that they are. That they are listening, and they’re also watching. Just ensuring that what they’re saying and what they’re doing is in alignment, because that’s one thing I can say about my parents. That especially with my dad, everything he said he was going to do, he did. I saw how he hired folks that came from the penitentiaries and so forth, the reentry. 

I saw how much my parents were involved in the community, and how they both tapped into their passions. So I just encourage the parents to know that their children are listening. They may not see the fulsome from their conversations immediately, but it’s coming, and so continue to pour into your children, and continue to live out what you’re saying as well. Because they’re watching what the parents are doing, but they also are listening to what they’re saying.

 

Alicia:

Yes, you are absolutely right. 

 

Eileen:

Well, thank you so much.

 

Jamila:

Thank you.

 

Eileen:

Thank you so much. This has been wonderful, and I know our listeners will enjoy that. 

 

Jamila:

Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. 

 

Alicia:

Yeah, we certainly appreciate all your nuggets. I have taken three pages of notes. Yes, yes, yes.

 

Eileen:

Keep leading with your soul. Again, spreading those seeds, and those waves. The echoes.

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Eileen:

Because people don’t know their impact on others. They really don’t. But with your energy, we can definitely see it.

 

Alicia:

Yes, yes, yes.

 

Jamila:

Oh, thank you. I –

 

Alicia:

Give your website too. 

 

Jamila:

Oh, yes.

 

Alicia:

Give your website, of your organization.

 

Jamila:

Yes, absolutely. If you would like to learn more about Ladies of Virtue, please go to our website at lovchicago.org. We would love to see where you can fit in. We are always looking for those who would like to volunteer or donate or girls who are interested in joining the program.

 

Eileen:

Thank you for joining us on the Soul of A Leader Podcast. We are igniting a new way of leading with your soul, and interviewing ordinary people with extraordinary impact. Thank you for listening to the stories of our leaders, who will help and guide you on your leadership journey. For more information on our podcast, please visit our website, at www.soulofaleader.com. Thank you for listening.