What does "being strong" mean to you? To me, being strong is to be aware. I think leading with self-awareness while also having awareness of others, of your surroundings, of situations, etc., can contribute to a person’s strength. Additionally, having the awareness to know when to handle situations independently vs knowing when to lean into your network for support are also important contributing factors to being strong.
What keeps you strong in times of trial? Journaling has played a significant role in keeping me strong in times of trial. I also lean into my faith, family, and friends during those times as well.
How can you be strong and vulnerable? Vulnerability is a strength. It is not easy to be vulnerable, especially with others. I honestly struggle with vulnerability sometimes but I’m getting more comfortable with it as I get older and as I practice. I've realized that vulnerability is needed to improve relationships, to negotiate, to learn, or to simply express yourself, which allows one to have a better understanding of where they are strong and where they could use more support.
How do you encourage other women to be strong? I encourage women to know themselves. Understanding who they are as a person can unlock so many opportunities to find areas where they are excelling, where there is room for improvement, and help them figure out the next steps to becoming stronger. Self-awareness is the baseline, where they take it from there, is up to them.
If you could ask a question to other women regarding strength, what would you ask? What do you think is your greatest strength and what does your best friend or closest mate say is your greatest strength?
Latrice’s Intentional Act of Kindness
How did you use the $100? I used the funds to support two local, Atlanta based groups, that focus on providing safe spaces and resources to queer and trans people of color. I decided to use the funds this way for a couple of reasons. The first reason is because I'm a queer person of color. The second reason is because these groups had initiatives to provide blankets, socks, gloves, etc. to those affected by homelessness, which was incredibly important with the colder weather approaching.
What was the 'Intentional Act of Kindness' process like for you? The process was slightly difficult at first because my initial thought was to split the funds between people. Since I'm new to the area, I don't know many people but still wanted the money to be used for a great purpose. I've been personally involved with one of the groups because they host events, including volunteering opportunities, which has helped me meet more people. So, when their initiative to give back to the community via the donations was activated, I decided that donating the money to their initiative would be great.