1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: This episode includes mention of sexual assault and rape. Please 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: take care while listening. 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 2: Hello Sunshine, Hey fam Today on the bright Side, we're 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: joined by doctor Nikola Mitchell. She's an award winning entrepreneur 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: and founder of Girls Who Brunch Tour, a nonprofit that's 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 2: inspiring and empowering young women. They're going above and beyond 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: to make sure the next generation knows their voices are valued. 8 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 3: It's Susey, February eighteenth. 9 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: I'm Simone Boyce, I'm Danielle Robe and this is the 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: bright Side from Hello Sunshine. This episode is brought to 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: you by Lareel Paris. We have a truly inspiring guest 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 2: on the show today. We're talking to doctor Nikola Mitchell. 13 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 2: She's the founder of Girls Who Brunch Tour, which is 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: an incredible nonprofit making a real difference in low income 15 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 2: communities by sponsoring girls in foster care, sponsoring teen mothers 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: and women who have survived the sex trade. Doctor Mitchell 17 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,279 Speaker 2: is also an executive producer, publisher, and writer. Her life 18 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: is a really powerful testament to perseverance, and she believes 19 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: that by exposing girls to diverse perspectives and empowering them 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: with different ways of thinking, they can all achieve success. 21 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 3: And if that weren't impressive enough. 22 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: She is a two time Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award winner. 23 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: She's earned the title of Forbes Change Maker, plus recognition 24 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: from several cities including Atlanta, Charleston, and Houston for the 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: incredible work that she's doing. We are so excited to 26 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:27,639 Speaker 1: talk with her today, So let's bring. 27 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: Her in, doctor Mitchell. Welcome to the bright Side. Hey, hey, 28 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: with the hay girl. 29 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 3: Hey, I'm gonna have to. 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 4: Call you Nikola me come on, baby. 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 2: Well you founded Girls Who Brunch to her nearly a 32 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: decade ago. Yeah, Simone, and I really want to hear 33 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: more about the program and the work you're doing. 34 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: So. 35 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 4: Girls Who Brunch is an organization that focuses on girls 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 4: ages minned through seventeen e bringing girls rest from the 37 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 4: sex trade, girls in group homes, girls of foster care, 38 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 4: and I've put them with girls from a better circumstance. 39 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 4: I use the format of like sororities, that they all 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 4: become sisters as soon as they walk in no matter 41 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 4: what city, what country, that's now their new sister. And 42 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 4: as of date, we've service forty eight thousand girls worldwide. 43 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 4: We focus on stem training, human trafficking awareness. I'm adding 44 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 4: on Healthy Body and Hearts initiative this year come and 45 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 4: going forward, and I just try to like, let them 46 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 4: have fun. I bring in DJs, celebrities, performers, Let them 47 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 4: have fun. They're dancing the whole time and we're sublimely 48 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 4: teaching them. 49 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: I love what you have on your Instagram, Nikola. You 50 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: say this is in your bio. On Igu say I 51 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: help young girls with a painful past find their purpose 52 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: and superpowers to change the world. Yes, ma'am, I know 53 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: that you come from a painful past too. How did 54 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: you turn that into purpose? 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 4: For a long time, I was super embarrassed of everything 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 4: that happened to me, and a secret that I just 57 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 4: start telling people a few years ago that I used 58 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 4: to hate being called pretty. I was raped the first 59 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 4: time at church when I was fourteen. I was raped 60 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 4: multiple times after that by people that were supposed to 61 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 4: protect me, and they told me that the reason why 62 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 4: this was happening to me was because I was pretty. Right, 63 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 4: So for a long time I hated for anybody to 64 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 4: call me that. But after therapy forgiving myself or because 65 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 4: I felt that I was the problem, and forgiving them. 66 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 4: I learned that me sharing my story and me putting 67 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 4: it out there and letting people see that I've been bruised, 68 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 4: but I'm not broken. It has helped so many people. 69 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 4: Right Because I'll come in, I'll make sure I'm dressed up, 70 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 4: makeup done, I'm dancing with the girls. They'll read off 71 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 4: this long bio everything that I've done, and then after that, 72 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: I'll say that was raped the first time at church. 73 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 4: I've had my first daughter at fifteen, and it opens 74 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 4: up even the women in the world. There's even speakers 75 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 4: and whoever that was there that came up to me 76 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 4: and start crying or gone the mic and said what 77 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: they've been through. So I think it's healing and I 78 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 4: think it's a superpower. Right, once you figure out how 79 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 4: to turn your pain into purpose, nothing can hurt you. 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 2: You know, the work you're doing gives young women opportunity 81 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: to build business development and financial literacy skills. I thought 82 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: it was interesting that those were two of the ones 83 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: that you highlighted. What about those skills in particular do 84 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: you think makes them so crucial for young women? 85 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 4: A lot of times, girls, we're the forgotten ones. Right, 86 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 4: People put us in a little circle of what we're 87 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 4: expected to be able to do, and especially girls who 88 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 4: are from low income and disadvantage and situations. There are 89 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 4: sometimes a first generation people, girls who don't even have 90 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 4: parents who can tell them, you know, how to save 91 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 4: a dollar, how to start a business. Even myself, when 92 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 4: I first started my business, I had nobody I could 93 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 4: go to because I'm the actual, the first one who 94 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 4: started anything in this magnitude. So I felt that it 95 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 4: was important if I can give this to the girls 96 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 4: now right by the time they're my age, and I 97 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 4: always tell them, you're gonna be better than me because you're 98 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 4: getting all this great stuff. Now, by the time they're 99 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 4: my age, they'll be rock stars. And I have so 100 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 4: many girls who have businesses. On one of my babies 101 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 4: a Zobe. She has a doll line and Macy's and 102 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 4: Target Beautiful Curly Me. I have some girls who are actresses. 103 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 4: I have babies who are just cook chiefs. These are 104 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 4: some amazing rock star girls, and it's beautiful when some 105 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 4: of them started their business through girls who brunch. So 106 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 4: I think I'm just paying it forward and doing something 107 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 4: I think my mom wish she could have done for 108 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 4: me and some of their parents say it to me, 109 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 4: I didn't even know that they were good at this. 110 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 4: I think if we just expose them to these things, 111 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 4: they're become unstoppable. 112 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm so glad that you told me about Beautiful Curly 113 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: Me because I need to get a birthday from my 114 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:01,119 Speaker 1: friend's daughter. 115 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 3: And this is so perfect. I can't wait. 116 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 4: Yeah, she just started thirteen. She started with you as nine. 117 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 3: That is wild. 118 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: I don't even want to think about the things that 119 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: I was doing at nine, because it was not creating 120 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: a business. That is so impressive. I know that being 121 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: teenager is just hard wherever you come from. When you 122 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: think about connecting with these teenagers. 123 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 3: What do they need? 124 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 4: Comebody, just to listen to them. A lot of times 125 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 4: they're just so angry, and because it could have been 126 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 4: a physical abuse, it could have been mental abuse, it 127 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 4: could be some type of bullying that's going on. But 128 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 4: moms and parents in this society are so busy, right, 129 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 4: they're working, they're going to school, they're doing all these things. 130 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 4: And a lot of times girls, especially teenagers, are more 131 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 4: bussed that to help with the house right and help 132 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 4: with the family, help watch your sisters and brothers. A 133 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 4: lot of times I just sit down with them. I 134 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 4: picked the quietest one of them, or the meaning is 135 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 4: looking one in the room, and I just sit down 136 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 4: with them and I asked them, hey, what's going on? 137 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 4: How do you feel? And I'll get on their nerves 138 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 4: a little bit, and I'm like, hey, I'm the boss. 139 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 4: You know this is dictatorship here. Once you came through 140 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 4: the door and not a democracy, You're going to do 141 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 4: these things. And the meanest baby by the end of 142 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 4: the day is hanging on me. Girl. I have so 143 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 4: many pictures of me carrying kids, a teenmate, you just 144 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 4: holding on me throughout the event. And it's just because 145 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 4: I'm just giving them some attention, the right attention and 146 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 4: a healthy attention. And parents don't even know because I 147 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 4: knew that's what I was lacking. I just need somebody 148 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 4: to listen to me. So I just try to think 149 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 4: about what did I need when I was a girl 150 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 4: and give it to these babies. 151 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: It feels like we overcomplicate things so often it can 152 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: be as simple as listening to someone and how do 153 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: you think, how do you think these girls are misunderstood 154 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: either by their parents, by their classmates, or by the 155 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: world at large. 156 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 4: A lot of the girls at ten girls who branch 157 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 4: your girls of color, And the sadness of it is 158 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 4: that African American girls, a girl of color period are 159 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 4: usually over sexualized and over criminalized. So their first expectation 160 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 4: of people when they see them is that they're bad. 161 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 4: They're not gonna listen like they're going to fight. And 162 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 4: so if you're being told that's who you are, right, 163 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 4: You're going to start acting out as such. I just 164 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 4: started this movement called Protect Black Girls. I protect all girls, 165 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 4: but I protect Black girls first because I'm a Black 166 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 4: girl and I'm always kicking indoors and doing things trying 167 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 4: to save these girls. And I think if people seeing 168 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 4: what they're the girls everyday life this, then they'll have 169 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 4: some form of empathy. I wrote a book called What 170 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 4: Was I Supposed to Do? And it was in the 171 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 4: day of a life of some of the girls, the 172 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 4: fictional story of some of the girls who I have helped, 173 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 4: and people cry when book club readings, They're like, this 174 00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 4: is this is so harsh. I'm like, this is this 175 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 4: is their reality? 176 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: This is the truth. 177 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, this is their reality. What were they supposed to do? Now? 178 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 4: And that's just why God brought me here is to 179 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 4: be the voice of the voicelive. 180 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 2: We need to take a quick break, but we'll be 181 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: right back. Stay with us and we're back. You mentioned 182 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: forty eight thousand girls that you felt like the ripple 183 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 2: effects of that, you're changing generations and families, and I 184 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 2: know we don't have the opportunity right at this moment 185 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 2: to talk about all of the success stories. I'm wondering 186 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: if there's one in particular that you can share, just 187 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 2: to kind of exemplify what the organization truly does. 188 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 4: I have one. She is eighteen now. I got her 189 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 4: when she was eleven, and her and her mother had 190 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 4: a very tumultuous relationship. I was speaking in you, Indianapolis 191 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 4: at a library, and her mother brought her to this event. 192 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 4: It was a whole bunch of girls there, and she 193 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 4: stated that she didn't want her. So we fussed at her, 194 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 4: was like, what's wrong? You know? She was so hard 195 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 4: But that's all she needed again, that attention. So the 196 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 4: next time I was in Indianapolis a couple of weeks 197 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 4: after for an adult literary event, She's in the front 198 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 4: row and she had by the time we came back 199 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 4: again a month later, for girls to run. She was 200 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 4: there and she had a gift for me, and she 201 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 4: just attached herself to me. She calls me mom, y'all. 202 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 4: She even do TikTok saying I'm a real parent. And 203 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 4: I gave her a fad and she has been through 204 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 4: hell okay and again exposure showing her the right way 205 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 4: of how she's supposed to care for herself, why it 206 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 4: is important to go to school. And when she does 207 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 4: mess up, I was like, okay, because I'm so important 208 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 4: to you, right, I have to use me as weapon. 209 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 4: Oh are you safe? You're good? Okay, did you change 210 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 4: your attitude? Are you still doing the same thing? Okay? 211 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 4: All right, bye, hang up. She'll she talks about this 212 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 4: to this day. She's like, oh call it. She just 213 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 4: hang up over me, Like, okay, we'll get it together. Man, 214 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 4: it is a privilege to talk to me. But now 215 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 4: at eighteen, she's modeling full time. She graduated from school early. 216 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 4: She is the epitome of my success story because she 217 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 4: has been through hell and back and that baby is 218 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 4: still here and I am trying to teach her how 219 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 4: to now same thing as myself. Turn with the devil 220 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 4: memory bad and making it good because she has survived 221 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 4: so many things. She is my success story. She's amazing. 222 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: You're not afraid to show them tough love. It sounds like, 223 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: oh no, ma'am, she says with a smile. 224 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 2: It sounds like the more that they've been through, the 225 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 2: more help you want to give them. I know a 226 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 2: lot of organizations do the opposite because they're like, oh, 227 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: this person's just too far gone. 228 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, that was me. I was too far gone. I 229 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 4: was too angry. I was everything. I had two kids 230 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 4: at nineteen, I first started at fifteen. I was far gone. 231 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 4: And my mentor didn't give up on me. So because 232 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 4: he never gave up on me, I never gonna give 233 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 4: up on any of these girls. Did you ever ask 234 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 4: him why? I always did because I know I was 235 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 4: a mess. I was Oh my goodness. He used to 236 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 4: fuss at me, cuss at me everything right, and I'm like, 237 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 4: why are you leave me alone? Sir? But he's seeing 238 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 4: something in me. He put me an oratory classes at 239 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 4: a young age. So now I'm being paid to speak 240 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 4: full time now right. He invested in me in so 241 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 4: many ways I did not know was going to still 242 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 4: unpack me at my big age. So I feel like 243 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 4: every time one of these jokers do something, I'm like, okay, 244 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 4: II Lord, what is the lesson I'm supposed to get 245 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 4: out of this? And again, they just need some attention, 246 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 4: They need somebody to hear them and then also help 247 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 4: them get through it. On just because this happened to 248 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: you, you can't stay in it. So we got to go 249 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 4: to therapy and we got to do all these things. 250 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 4: We're going to get it so you could be a 251 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 4: functional adult. 252 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: How do you talk to these girls about anger? Because 253 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: you have every right to be angry over what happened 254 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: to you, And I believe that anger can serve a purpose, 255 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,719 Speaker 1: and I believe that anger can be righteous. So how 256 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: do you talk to them about that emotion? 257 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 4: So everybody calls me mother Teresa because I have like 258 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 4: a soothing voice, I guess, and I'm always so nice 259 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 4: and so quiet, and even when I'm angry, this is 260 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 4: my tone. And I just show them a different way 261 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 4: to display your anger. I show them that it is 262 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 4: easy for people to tune you out if you're yelling, 263 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 4: if you're aggressive, right, But they can't tune you out 264 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 4: if you're matching them with the same energy, right, or 265 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 4: even if they're if they're in a high angry situation. 266 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 4: Some of these parents are cussing, yelling, whatever now is 267 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 4: the first thing you want to fight back? Right, No, 268 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 4: you gonna mess them up if you stay calm. And 269 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 4: I show them through myself how being calm have changed situations. 270 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 4: And I think sometimes leading by example is the best teacher, 271 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 4: because I show them all the time I'm angry. I'm 272 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 4: still angry my mother. I was angry at her for 273 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 4: a long time, but I had to learn how to 274 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 4: forgive her. And when you learn how to forgive people, 275 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 4: then the anger goes away and you'll have a sense 276 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 4: of peace. I teach them that allowing somebody to keep 277 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 4: you angry allows them to have the power over you. 278 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 4: So showing them that you are peaceful and that you 279 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 4: are amazing, Like I the what's the song called He's 280 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 4: a fan. He's a fan. They're not like us. I 281 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 4: go into the jails to girls who are sentence as 282 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 4: adults and there's a video of me krip walking right, 283 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 4: and I'm like, Okay, the people who got you here, 284 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 4: they're a fan. They're a fan. They want you to 285 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 4: stay here. They're watching you. So what's the best way 286 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 4: to revenge, showing them that you are better than they 287 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 4: show them. When you get out of here, what you do, 288 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 4: You're gonna get your GD you're gonna graduate, You're gonna 289 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 4: go to college, You're gonna do all these things right 290 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 4: because they're a fan. And so I have the girls 291 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 4: screaming at the top of their lungs. They're a fan. 292 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 4: They're a fan. All your hairs are fans, right, But 293 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 4: you just have to show them a different way how 294 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 4: to display the anger. 295 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: I think what you said about showing them a different 296 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: way to fight is such a good lesson. There is 297 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: a twenty twenty three Lifetime movie that is based on 298 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: your life. Yes, it is called Giving Hope, The Nikola 299 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: Mitchell Story. Tatiana Lee plays you in the film. How 300 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: surreal was it to see this film come together? Child? 301 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 4: Is still surreal because I'm alive. I'm young enough to 302 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 4: understand it, to see it, and I'm still living it. 303 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 4: It came from Laurel Paris, Woman of Worth. They did 304 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 4: media for us, right, and one of the outlets was 305 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 4: Reader's Digests, And as I was telling the story, like 306 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 4: I'm telling you guys, they stuck to the story of 307 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 4: my mentor so they did another interview about me and 308 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 4: my mentor, and so like any outlet, they'll take it 309 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 4: down and they'll refresh it. So when they refreshed it, 310 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 4: the producer from Lifetime found it like it was brand new, 311 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 4: and she loved the article. So she found me on 312 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 4: social media and stop me with no icon, y'all. So 313 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 4: if somebody reaches out to you with no icon, it's okay, 314 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 4: just you know, check it out. And she asked me, 315 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 4: can she make a movie about my life? And I 316 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 4: didn't believe it. I was so in shock. I did 317 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 4: not believe it. So one of my literary mentors, because 318 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 4: I'm a writer in real life, it's so funny when 319 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 4: I have to say that, Zane, she verified that production 320 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 4: company was Rial, and she was like no. So she 321 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 4: walked me through everything and obtaining my entertainment lawyer everything 322 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 4: to get the movie go to go to production. 323 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: What was the aspect of your story that you were like, man, 324 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: they got to get this right. 325 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 4: The brunch the premises of the story is why I 326 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 4: started Girls Wrough Branch and so we had nine scripts 327 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 4: that I vetoed that I was like, no, I don't 328 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 4: like this version. I don't like this version. But when 329 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 4: we finally agreed, and I'm also the executive producer on 330 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 4: the film, the only time thing I cared about to 331 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 4: be in Canada when they were filming was the brunch scenes. 332 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 4: And that's it because I wanted when any of my 333 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 4: girls from any country watched the movie, I wanted them 334 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 4: to say, that's a girl blatch and so they flew 335 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 4: my signs in that's all my signage. Everything rent was 336 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 4: authentic girls who brunch and they recreated the feel and 337 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 4: even the girls that they had as the extras who 338 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 4: attended the brunch, we made them feel like it was 339 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 4: a real girls who brunch because they didn't know who 340 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 4: I was at first. So when they were in their 341 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 4: dressing room, I went back there and I was like, hey, y'all, 342 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 4: I'm like, listen, we need to have energy. Da da 343 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 4: da da da. I was like period baby. When I 344 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 4: said it came out, it felt like a real brunch. 345 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 4: Tatana was dancing, and that was one thing I cared about. 346 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 4: After that, I can go home, So that's one thing 347 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 4: I cared about. 348 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 2: It must have really been a wild experience to see 349 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 2: your life portrayed on screen. Was there a part of 350 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: the film that was particularly exciting to see. 351 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 4: Oh all of it was particularly exciting, but it was 352 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 4: sad watching it. Oh wow, I really felt bad at 353 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 4: some points for her. Tatiana did such a good job 354 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 4: for trained me. We would be on zoone talking. We 355 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 4: actually look alike. We saw us sound alike. We have 356 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 4: the same family background. And seeing her become Nikola was beautiful. 357 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 4: And even Kiera the little girl played me as a 358 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 4: little girl. They did such an amazing job being me. 359 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 4: So it was more sad saying it. Proud of her 360 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 4: that she overcame a lot of things. And I was 361 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 4: embarrassed at first, why because I didn't know how people 362 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 4: were going to receive it. You know a lot of 363 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 4: times they blame you for being raped, they blame you 364 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 4: for things happening to you. You had a baby at 365 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 4: a young age. I was nervous about it. There was 366 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 4: one scene that I wasn't there for, but it was 367 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 4: beautiful that Tatsiana called me on the phone because she 368 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 4: did not like the way the producer that were still 369 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 4: there was trying to the direction they wanted her to 370 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 4: deliver it, and she didn't like the words that was 371 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 4: that were on the paper. So she was like, if 372 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 4: this happened, what would you say? And we were on 373 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 4: the phone, I'm leaving my godfather's funeral, And she rewrote 374 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 4: it and she delivered it the way that I would 375 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 4: have said that well, And that was the beautiful thing 376 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 4: about that movie, that whole experience. Everybody from the sound 377 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 4: everybody took me to the side at some point and 378 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 4: told me how the movie made them feel. But even 379 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 4: meeting me in person and seeing that I'm really that 380 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 4: person made them feel And it just made me feel 381 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 4: comfortable to leave when it was time to go. 382 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 2: I'm so glad you didn't feel betrayed by the story 383 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: that was told, because that happens sometimes too. 384 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 4: I think that's why you need to become an executive producer. 385 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 4: I didn't know the power of it until I was 386 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 4: put into that position, even to the point of Tatiana 387 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 4: wearing braids for the first time in her life on TV. 388 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 4: You know, the integrity of me and the integrity of 389 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 4: the brunch was everybody's biggest focus, and I appreciate that experience. 390 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: You're a loreal Women of Worth alumni, YESA and Danielle 391 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: and I had the chance to attend the Women of 392 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: Worth Awards last year, and it was an incredibly inspiring evening. 393 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: We were blown away by all of the nominees and 394 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: we also got to speak to the president of Lorel 395 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: Paris USA, Ali Goldstein, about the power of this program. 396 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: We want to hear about your experience. How did it 397 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: becoming a Woman of Worth Honore in twenty nineteen impact 398 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: your work. 399 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 4: It was a beautiful experience when we got it, They 400 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 4: flew us into New York, they did all these things 401 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 4: we want to good more to America. It was just 402 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 4: like so beautiful and Ali was there when I got it, 403 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 4: and just everybody showed us so much love and care. 404 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:52,959 Speaker 4: And Loreel does such an amazing job sharing about our 405 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 4: nah profits and they just always showed us so much love. 406 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 4: And to this day they still give me products every 407 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 4: event for girls who brunch, both sized products for these girls. 408 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 4: So I just always say, look at this organization and 409 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 4: see that there's people out there that love black girls too, right, 410 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 4: and it's just allowing them to see it as a 411 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 4: different light, like this isn't my swag ban. Lrel did 412 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 4: the whole sponsor my movie premiere tour that they had 413 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,360 Speaker 4: us on with Black Girls Rock Las Vegas and Atlanta. 414 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 4: They've just supported me from the beginning. And I think 415 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 4: that love that I've gotten in a sense of family 416 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 4: is more important than the grant that we obtained at 417 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 4: that time, because they're still here in my life this 418 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:45,959 Speaker 4: many years later, and I just received the Karen Fonding 419 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 4: Award and the Louveni Award, and which blew my mind 420 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 4: when Mss Karen called my phone, and that was just 421 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,959 Speaker 4: another testament to me that LREL is really my family. 422 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 4: I belong with so many organizations and cohorts, I've never 423 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 4: experienced what I experienced with Loreel and anything else that 424 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 4: I've done. 425 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: Wow, it's beautiful considering that this program has been so 426 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: beneficial for you, What would you say to someone who's 427 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: thinking about nominating themselves or someone that they love you just. 428 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 4: Know when you come in because I get people all 429 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 4: the time they ask me to nominate them, but they're 430 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 4: not doing the work. Because this is the best of 431 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 4: the best, right the lineup of the women of this 432 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 4: program we're going into twenty years is the best of 433 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 4: the best. So just know whatever you're doing is not 434 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 4: too small, because sometimes we feel like what we're doing 435 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,120 Speaker 4: is not big enough. But just know when you get 436 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 4: in here and you're among the best of the best, 437 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 4: that you're going to be challenged to amplify even more. 438 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,360 Speaker 2: How do you live out the idea of because I'm 439 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 2: worth it in your day to day now? 440 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 4: Being an abuse survivor, you always have to remind yourself 441 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 4: that you're worth it. There are days I've wake and 442 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 4: I feel like I'm not worthy. There's days that I 443 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 4: wake up and I get a phone call or experience 444 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 4: and I feel like I'm not good enough. I still 445 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 4: suffer from anxiety and an aposter syndrome. So reminding myself 446 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 4: that I'm worth it is the biggest thing for me 447 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 4: to this day. And once I remind myself and I 448 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 4: start showing it in the way that I walk and 449 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 4: I speak, it's always therapeutic for other people because when 450 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 4: they hear what I've been through, but they see the 451 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 4: joy in me because I know that I'm worth it, 452 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 4: even when that weight is on your shoulders to try 453 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 4: to bring you back. It is the most beautiful thing. 454 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, that's so well said. 455 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: What would you say resonates with you most about Lorel's 456 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: Women of Worth program? 457 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 4: The sense of family is what resonates with me the 458 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 4: most with this program. I have sisters on every class 459 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 4: and just hugging off the new honorees, loving on them, 460 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 4: but they have a question being able to answer the 461 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 4: questions because somebody has done that for me. It is 462 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 4: a real life sorority because everybody has your back. Everybody 463 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 4: is rooting for you. If there's something that you may 464 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 4: need and you they don't have access to it, one 465 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 4: of them probably have done it and have figured it out. 466 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 4: They'll give you that phone number, they'll give you that contact, 467 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 4: they'll put you on a call, and so it's just 468 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 4: the best sense of community with the women of the program. 469 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 4: But then on the added bonus are the people that 470 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 4: work for Laurel and it's just still family. So I 471 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 4: think that's what resonates with me the most. 472 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,919 Speaker 2: It's so funny that it's like it's always about the 473 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 2: people no matter what. It's never the money that accolades 474 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 2: when it comes down to it, it's always. 475 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 3: About the people. 476 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: One question before you go, yes, ma'am, if some of 477 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: our bright Side besties who listen to our show want 478 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: to volunteer with Girls who Brunch, how can they get involved? 479 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 4: If you go to Girls who Brunchtour dot com. You 480 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 4: have to add the tour. At the end you can 481 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 4: go to connect with us. On that page, you can 482 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 4: click on being a volunteer, how to become a speaker 483 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 4: if you want to donate items volunteering. That's the most 484 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 4: important role the day of people that are helping, serving 485 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 4: the food, helping check the girls in making sure they 486 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 4: get to class, switching them from between the different sessions. 487 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 4: Those roles are the most important because you have direct 488 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 4: contact with those girls and that I think that's most 489 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 4: important than any speaker thing like that, because that's their 490 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 4: first sense of love when they walk in the road. 491 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 2: Doctor Mitchell, thank you so much for joining us on 492 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 2: the bright side. 493 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 3: You really are so bright. 494 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thank you guys. You guys are beautiful. This 495 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 4: was an amazing conversation. I am honor to be here. 496 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 4: So sweet, Hi, I just love seeing women do what 497 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:05,959 Speaker 4: they want to do. 498 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 3: Amazing. Thank you so much. 499 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:16,120 Speaker 1: Doctor Nikola Mitchell is an award winning entrepreneur, executive producer 500 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: and founder of Girls Who Brunch Tour, a nonprofit that's 501 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 1: helping young girls with painful past change the world. And hey, 502 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: if you know someone in your life that's deserving of 503 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: Lorel Paris's Women of Work program. Nominate them at loril 504 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: Paris USA dot com slash Women of Worth nominations clothes 505 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:35,959 Speaker 1: on International Women's Day, MARCHI. 506 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 3: That's it for today's show. 507 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 2: Tomorrow it's well On this Wednesday, we're breaking down everything 508 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 2: you need to know about microplastics with scientists and leading 509 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 2: expert in microplastics, doctor Heather Leslie. 510 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 3: You don't want to miss it. 511 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,959 Speaker 1: Join the conversation using hashtag the bright Side and connect 512 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: with us on social media at Hello Sunshine on Instagram 513 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 1: and at the bright Side Pod on TikTok Oh, and 514 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: feel free to tag us at Simone Boyce and at 515 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: Danielle Robe. 516 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 2: Listen and follow The bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, 517 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 518 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 3: See you tomorrow, folks, Keep looking on the bright side.