I was born and reared in Penn Township, a rural area outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My family consisted of Mama, Poppa, seven brothers and one sister. After high school I was fortunate to attend Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama, then I went on to earn a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Presently, I am a retired widow, mother of five adult children, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. Since 1982 I've worked in Fayetteville, North Carolina as a children's protective service worker and a school social worker at E.E. Smith High School. I enjoy developing programs that encourage, educate and inspire youth. I use strategies that highlight African American heritage, boost togetherness and unity, and increase participation of folk (young and old) in their community. I believe the Wall of Honor project expanded interaction among neighbors and bolstered a more positive sense of community.