I got a testimony: Reflections from a Black Woman Practitioner

I grew up in the Black Church. And if you did too, maybe you remember that part of the service set aside for Testimonies.

It was the time when folks shared the ways that God had kept them that week, professed the ways that God was going to show up on their behalf, and affirmed how the Holy Spirit had been speaking to them—the victories, the visions, and the lessons.

As a child, I don’t think I fully appreciated the power of that space (beyond how long it sometimes made service run). But looking back, I now understand: there was power in sharing our stories, in bearing witness to others’ stories, and in being present enough—in any given situation—to be curious about the meaning or message in our experiences.

So much power.

Last week, I found myself in my own space of testimony, reflecting on the ways God, my ancestors, and my community have kept me through this entrepreneurial journey. I felt sentimental, reflective, and proud.

This month, I celebrate a full year of full-time entrepreneurship. Inasmuch as different elements of my “brand,” like Liberated Love Notes, have existed since 2021, this milestone feels significant. For years, like many of my fellow Black business owners and stewards, I’ve learned the delicate balance of employment and entrepreneurship.

As I reflect on this year, I am deeply grateful—to God, the ancestors, my village, and my client partners. One of the partnerships that has been most meaningful is with the Maryland Food Bank. This work has stretched me as both a practitioner and entrepreneur, especially in a moment where equity work (and Black womanness itself) is under attack.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through my photos and “favorited” almost twenty. Twelve of them stood out (twelve is divine number for me). A number that represents balance, completeness, and divine alignment.

These twelve reflections are not just pictures or lessons from this season—they’re evidence of alignment, growth, and leadership as a love practice.

Our Collective Ways of BEing. Our first step was naming how we need to be with each other to build trust and interrupt harmful power dynamics. Alignment matters.

Honor Lineage. This still shot—from a video on the history of the Arabbers of Baltimore—is an intentional reminder that Black communities have always tended to our own needs. Equity must honor lineage, story, and the wisdom of those we serve.

Defining an Equity Lens. Clarity is power. Equity isn’t a theory—it’s how values show up in practice and in systems that disrupt inequity. I enjoyed the process of getting clear on what this means for MFB.

Accountability Framework (Alignment → Embodiment → Accountability). My compass for this work. We must know what we mean, be who we say we are, and build structures to hold us accountable.

The Power of a North Star. Returning to purpose keeps us grounded. I’m not in the business of convincing people why this work matters—it’s just not good for my nervous system. I partner where the ground is already set.

Read the Room. My initial scope included recruiting a full-time equity leader. But as a partner in the work, I had to read the room...not just the organization’s aspirations, but its culture, transitions, and the wider political climate. Sometimes what a client thinks they need isn’t what they’re ready for. My role is to hold that tension honestly so the work is sustainable, not performative.

Clarity is Protection (and Kindness). Working near this wall has been grounding. As a Black woman and strategist, I’m clear about my sphere of influence. Some seeds I plant may never grow into trees I’ll sit under...and that’s okay. Clarity about my role, limits, and impact is key to both my effectiveness and well-being.

Possibility in the Pivot. What started as facilitation and strategy shifted into something new: Fractional Leadership. This wasn’t just responsive to need—it was divine alignment. It represents possibility: creating new ways of working that honor both organizational transformation and practitioner sustainability.

Trust is the Currency. Trust isn’t abstract—it’s the foundation of partnership. And it begins with me: being vulnerable, honest, and open. Trust is built in the small, consistent choices that move us beyond transaction into true relationship.

Sankofa Always. History cannot be erased from this work. We hosted a viewing of High on the Hog to honor how African American foodways have shaped American culture. As practitioners, we must always return to history—in the spirit of Sankofa—and bring its lessons forward, no matter the politics of the moment.

Powering the Black Economy. My responsibility isn’t just to bring equity frameworks into organizations, but to resource Black practitioners and entrepreneurs—not as subcontractors, but as true partners. We all can eat, and we all will eat (there's a Liberated Love Note for that). Shout out to Deddle’s Donuts and That Good Peace for partnering with me.

Black Stories Nourish. Launching the Food Stories Project was powerful. Chef Jurdaé shared how growing up in West Baltimore and “Nana’s Kitchen” shaped his craft as a chef. Story is not an aside—it’s central. When we honor Black stories authentically, we ground equity work in wisdom, beauty, and truth.

In the spirit of honoring lineage, I would be remiss not to honor Dr. Tara and Sage Wellness, who preceded my work with MFB . There is so much wisdom and expertise here in Baltimore.

 In the words of my elders, and as I continue to navigate this terrain as a Black woman entrepreneur and practitioner:

Please continue to pray my strength in the Lord.

Leadership as a LOVE Practice

In the spirit of testimony and lineage, I want to invite you into reflection.

Take a moment to pause and ask yourself:

• What is your testimony as a leader?

• What do you need to recall or remember about how you’ve arrived here?

• What lessons, perhaps even unlearned ones, have shaped your path?

• Whose prayers, sacrifices, or wisdom have carried you to this point?

Leadership as a L.O.V.E. Practice begins here... with remembrance. Before we strategize or set goals, we honor the stories, teachings, and trials that formed us. We listen for the divine lessons in the journey itself.

So as you read my wonderings, consider your own. What has this season taught you about who you are and how you lead?

Liberated Love Notes:

AFFIRM:

There is power in my story.

Power in remembering, and in telling.

Power in being still enough to hear what the lesson has been all along.

When I speak it, I heal.

When I listen, I learn.

When I witness, I honor the holy in us all.

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On The Horizon: Leadership as a L.O.V.E. Practice Learning Lab

I’m thrilled to invite you to an intimate, in-person gathering:

Friday, November 14th

11:30 AM – 2:00 PMBlank Slate | 1758 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD

Think lunch & learn meets living room conversation meets loving and healing space.

The Leadership as a L.O.V.E. Practice Learning Lab is designed for Black leaders who are ready to do leadership differently—rooted in lineage, integrity, and liberation.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to embody leadership as a love practice through reflection, storytelling, and community dialogue. We’ll explore the tensions of leadership (growth vs. alignment, care vs. control, urgency vs. integrity) and close with a Leadership Affirmation Cypher inspired by the Lineage & Legacy Recording Experience.

If you’re looking for a space to slow down, reconnect with your “why,” and imagine new ways of leading rooted in love,

RSVP Here