Bertha Rogers Looney in my grandmother's dress
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Embracing Legacy and Resilience: How to Honor Legacy and Foster Resilience Through Symbolic Actions

I'm not sure how I came to the realization of the importance of embracing legacy and resilience, but I have learned to love the power in journies of those who have come before me. Especially, because I am a black woman, I appreciate…
Mahal Burr
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Overcoming Odds: Mahal Burr’s S.O. What! Success Story

You never know what the next person has gone through, overcome, or still dealing with.  Last year I had the incredible opportunity to host the Women of Achievement awards. As a 2012 Heroism honoree, I had been introduced to a beautiful sisterhood…
Antonio Taylor
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Antonio Taylor Resilient Journey from Fatherhood to VP | S.O. What! Success Story

Be the Bag! Don’t chase it! Whew! Powerful words to live by from a man who eats excuses and uses them to make him stronger to help others. Recently, I had the opportunity to give a company-wide keynote and then a leadership training…
Summer Owens with mother and 101 year-old grandmother at the S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree
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The Success of the Inaugural S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree

One night about six years ago, I had a dream about an awards and scholarship program. I've been a part of several awards programs either as a recipient or helping to plan the event, and I knew I wanted this one to be special. On April…
Netisha Burnett takes the lead as the Executive Director of the S.O. What! Foundation

New Leadership Feels SO Good

You never know where your dreams can take you. In 2011, I started my speaking business, S.O. What! LLC, and the next year I founded the S.O What! Foundation. I had no idea how hard it would be to lead and grow both organizations simultaneously.…
LeWinfred Shack
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LeWinfred Shack S.O. What! Success Story

People who give of their time and talents have a special place in my heart.  LeWinfred Shack, best known as Shack, is one of those people. We met probably a decade ago at church, and I learned about his massage therapy business.  When…
regain control of your life
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5 Lessons I (Re)Learned in 2018

In less than a week, we will say goodbye to 2018 forever. But we say hello to 2019- a new year and another chance. As I reflect on the past year, I think about the roller coaster of emotions I felt (as I do every year). I think about some…
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3 Necessary Steps to Take to Level Up

Level Up: To make a move in your life or career for the better. Today I had the honor of serving as a panelist at an awesome conference held by my friend and visionary, Cynthia Daniels. The Level Up conference had everything a professional…
Life Changing Trip
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Going Places…A Life-Changing Trip

When we started the S.O. What! Foundation's STEP-OUT (Self-esteem, Teamwork, Exposure, Personal development-Overcome, Understand, Triumph) program, I knew I wanted to take the special kids in our program on a flight to Washington, DC. Why?…