the leadership journal LET'S REFLECT Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
volume 2
THE LEADERSHIP JOURNAL Volume 2
LET'S REFLECT Compiled by Joy Lindsay
(c) 2021 Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-9961070-0-6 www.butterflydreamz.org
let's reflect
contents reflect
roses by joy guide by leah golden by auriel honor by daniela light by oyinwonuola greatness by amari novel by cristal perhaps by aleeya honey by jasmine rooted by bernice
affirm
reflect on the selected quotes and write an affirming letter to yourself
connect
attend a cocoon club event and reflect on the experience
inspire the corrupted game of life by janae untitled drawing by olsmael educated black girl v. society by youma
REFLECT Write down your thoughts by responding to the journal prompts.
roses Today, I will be...
r ooted in love o pen to possibilities s owing seeds e ncouraging others & s miling at me
What are the roses in your life? What are the thorns? The roses in my life are the people, things, and experiences that bring me the greatest joy—quality time with my family and close friends, designing and facilitating programs for Butterfly Dreamz, writing, reading a good book, growing in love. I think the biggest thorn in my life is my impatience. If I let my impatience take over, I often begin to doubt whether or not a vision is going to happen. Other times, my impatience can lead to me being insensitive to others or missing out on the joy of the journey because I'm so concerned with the destination. Some of the practices that help me be more patient are meditating daily, taking deep breaths throughout the day, and actively reminding myself that Divine timing is the best timing.
Joy Lindsay Founder & CEO of Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
guide Today, I am... g rateful for all things
that are and are not
u sing my gifts to spread love where I have not
i
ncreasing my self-love, the love I once forgot
d eciding to choose
patience over judgment
e ven when they don't deserve it
What beliefs guide you to greatness? The beliefs that guide me to greatness are those of kindness, forgiveness, and always gaining new and greater perspectives. In my past, I used to find it hard to be kind or forgive people who either weren't sorry or whom I felt like didn't deserve my grace. However, through my spiritual journey, I have found that people's actions are a reflection of their growth and understanding. Therefore, in order for me to continue to achieve greatness, I have to remain true to myself and my kindness because my actions will always reflect back to me, not to them. Being aware of my morals/beliefs is one of my top priorities. Without them, I could become easily affected/hurt by outside forces trying to jeopardize my character. Remember, we are loved, honored, and cherished! Our character is worth more than a response to someone vibrating on a lower frequency.
Leah Cleckley Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
golden Today, I will be... g iving to others o bjective to doubt l iberated by faith d iligent in effort e xcited to learn & n oble to faith
When do you feel golden? I feel golden when I am taking time out to care for myself and the people around me. I do this by checking in with myself, working towards my goals, offering support to others, or just by simply sharing a laugh. I believe it's important to know that every day isn't always completely golden. The majority of the time I feel golden, but there are also times where I feel exhausted. I’ve learned that in life you have to pace yourself. To pace myself I’ve incorporated new skills into my daily routines, such as time management and self-care. I've also formed new habits like creating weekly schedules, taking breaks, and diffusing oils. These practices remind me to find the golden parts of all things. I believe that by searching for the golden opportunity that exists in each day, we are allowing ourselves to evolve.
Auriel Pierre Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
honor Today, I will... h ear my body and soul o pen my mind n arrate my feelings o pen my heart r ise up to the challenge
How do you honor yourself and other communities? Honoring myself is essential and productive. I honor myself by acknowledging my small wins and prioritizing my mental health. I place myself in positive spaces where I am uplifted and valued. Storytelling is a powerful tool that produces change in society because it allows people to understand different group’s experiences and struggles. My sociallyminded business: Para KIDS!, honors the immigrant and bilingual communities. Through bilingual books, culturally diverse children feel represented and appreciated because they see characters that look like them and are empowered to learn a new language while still practicing their native one. I treasure my existence as well as the existence of those around me.
Daniela Palacios Founder & CEO of Para KIDS! | Write to Lead Intern
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
light Today, I will... l
ove unabashed
i
ncite positive change
g listen with happiness h onor life t
hrive, come what may
What flickers on the light in you? The biggest and smallest moments alike. For some time, my light seemed to be hanging onto its last wisps of energy, desperately grasping at any source to sustain it; and if it couldn't find one and latch on tight enough, it'd dim until someway, somehow, that cycle begun again. It took the combination of patience, self-reflection, and long nights of staring at the stars to discover that I could be my own source: unfiltered and self-sustaining in my own right. I could redefine what being happy, at peace, and satedly content meant for me and once the power of that realization settled in, the light in me began to flicker unfailingly. I began to appreciate every moment for what it was. Hanging out with friends became feeling a care that made my cheeks hurt and heart feel full. Holding the door open for the next person became feeling a love for humanity. Living and existing in this world became feeling a peace that whispered every day that it's worth it. My light might not be the brightest at times, but it's there and it spreads warmth, and provides clarity where it should.
Oyinwonuola Fasasi
Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
greatness Today, I will be... g r e a t n e s s
enuinely g efusing xclusion nd orture ow and very day because I am trong and uccessful
What forms of greatness will you achieve? The forms of greatness that I will achieve in my upcoming years as a strong African American young lady is breaking the status quo and breaking free from all things I would have previously been scared to achieve. I will make sure that I help others with their goals—that anything a peer, family member, close friend, or myself may want to take part in, we do it with no doubt or worry in the world. While being an African American woman in this world is hard, we have to unite and stand together and break free from all militia and anger that's directed towards us. Therefore, my forms of greatness that I will achieve in my upcoming years are to unite everyone and be there for my people who will accept my help and want to change for all the good reasons.
Amari Ruffin-Augustin Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
novel Today, I will... n urture new possibilities
o verflow with optimism v alue adventure e xceed limitations l
ive in the moment
What does "novel" mean to you and your life? When I think of the word “novel,” my mind goes to its Latin root. The adjective novel is based on the Latin word Novellus, “new.” So to me, "novel" means new beginnings, new growth, and adventure. And the word pertains to my life because I am entering adulthood, a new chapter in life. For the past couple of years, I have been living for the future and did what was expected. It felt like my story was already written. As this new chapter begins for me, I want to embark on an adventure that pushes me out of my comfort zones and beyond my limits. I want to have fun without guilt and embrace the unknown, rather than obsessing over it being planned out. I need to rewrite my narrative— to live in the moment and for myself.
Cristal Davidson Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
perhaps Today, I will...
p ush myself e volve r emember who I am h eal a chieve my dreams. p ersonal growth is key s uccess is what I make it
What is your great perhaps? Why is it a perhaps? A great perhaps is about the future you create for yourself when you pursue those things you know would make a difference in your life. "I go to seek a great perhaps" is where I first heard of this quote from the book Looking for Alaska by John Green. "A great perhaps," I thought, "How can I make different choices to achieve my great perhaps?" Personally, my answer to this was to put myself out there as much as possible and to do what sets my soul on fire.
Aleeya Butler Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
honey Today, I will be...
h appy o ptimistic n avigating
opportunities mpowering
e y ielding success
How do you create honey in your life? I create honey by being the honey. When someone is in need, I am here to help. I like to bring sweetness to everyone's life because I appreciate it when others do the same for me. When it comes to my life, the honey is the success I manifest. I complete my goals and strive for more. There are many times in life that are not-so-sweet, but I like to focus on the sweeter side. Any time I experience the not-so-sweet parts of life, I reflect on them to learn from them and keep on going. Every day, I am embodying what it means to be a leader and learning more and more about what it takes to be one in my community. I make it one of my everyday goals to help and inspire people in any way I can. It takes someone who embodies honey like I do to make the world a sweeter place to live.
Jasmine Saint Louis Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
rooted Today, I will be... r eleasing negative energy and letting go of feeling trapped o pen-minded to new ideas and growing by taking risks
o riginal—creating a space that is full of possibilities
t
aking advantage of the time I have to achieve greatness
to try new things and e xcited expand my horizons to become the d etermined best version of myself
When do you feel the most rooted? I feel the most rooted when I am surrounded by my family and friends. I feel the most rooted when I am lying in a hammock reading my favorite books. I feel the most rooted when I am confident in myself. I feel the most rooted when I am basking in the sunlight, feeling the warmth from the golden sun. I feel the most rooted when I am taking a walk in the park, appreciating the glory of sweet Mother Nature. I feel the most rooted when I am riding a bike at the park. I feel the most rooted when I make others smile or laugh. I feel the most rooted when I bake a flavorful cake and tasty treats for others. I feel the most rooted when I am able to enact positive change, however little it may be.
Bernice Abanda Write to Lead Intern, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
@butterflydreamzinc
MY GOALS
MY MOTIVATION
STEPS TO TAKE
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important to me?
QUESTIONS FOR MY MENTOR
AFFIRM Read the selected quote, reflect on its meaning, and then write an affirming letter to yourself.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. —ARTHUR ASHE
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. —ARTHUR ASHE
I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’. —MAYA ANGELOU
Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision —MUHAMMAD ALI
You didn't see me on television, you didn't see news stories about me. The kind of role that I tried to play was to pick up pieces or put together pieces out of which I hoped organization might come. My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders.
—ELLA BAKER
Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you. —JOHN MAXWELL
The night is beautiful, So the faces of my people. The stars are beautiful, So the eyes of my people. Beautiful, also, is the sun. Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.
—LANGSTON HUGHES
Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself. —ALICE WALKER
...we are each other's harvest: we are each other's business: we are each other's magnitude and bond.
—GWENDOLYN BROOKS
I am the author of my life. I choose the characters. I craft the narrative. I write my story. —BUTTERFLY DREAMZ
CONNECT Join the Cocoon Club (cocoonclub.org), attend an event to connect with other leaders, and then reflect on the experience.
event reflection attend a Cocoon Club event & reflect on the experience cocoonclub.org/join
What did you hear?
Who did you meet?
What follow-up actions will you take?
Arayah Gordon Write to Lead Intern
"Leadership to me is being able to step up and take control of chaotic situations. It's being a guide for others who are trying to grow and be better versions of themselves."
event reflection attend a Cocoon Club event & reflect on the experience cocoonclub.org/join
What did you hear?
Who did you meet?
What follow-up actions will you take?
Nusrat Shormi Write to Lead Intern
"A leader takes things for the team. A leader should be strong, openminded, and be ready to understand different opinions and help people grow. A leader helps others achieve their goals."
event reflection attend a Cocoon Club event & reflect on the experience cocoonclub.org/join
What did you hear?
Who did you meet?
What follow-up actions will you take?
Jenna Keith Write to Lead Intern
"A leader is someone who leads a group of people to an end goal. Youth leadership is important because it can get young people inspired and ready for their future."
event reflection attend a Cocoon Club event & reflect on the experience cocoonclub.org/join
What did you hear?
Who did you meet?
What follow-up actions will you take?
Mekhi Addison Write to Lead Intern
"Being part of the Cocoon Club is a great reminder that I have a support system outside of myself! The valuable relationships and bonds that I’ve formed through this network will never be forgotten, and that is something I’m truly grateful for."
event reflection attend a Cocoon Club event & reflect on the experience cocoonclub.org/join
What did you hear?
Who did you meet?
What follow-up actions will you take?
Our motto at Butterfly Dreamz is "Live boldly. Dream Big. Fly high." Janae Wilson Write to Lead Intern
"To me, this motto is a reminder to not let anyone or anything get in the way of our dreams because it's our life, and we decide who impacts it."
INSPIRE View inspiring submissions from our 2021 scholarship awardees and then apply to at least one leadership opportunity at cocoonclub.org/apply.
Janae Wilson $500 Fly High Author Scholarship Recipient
"My submission is a short story of 'Life' being symbolized as a corrupted game that only benefits the upper class or people of a lighter skin tone. When other girls read my story in The Leadership Journal, I hope they can relate and/or learn about what it's like for a Black person in America and that they are inspired to create change."
The Corrupted Game of Life by Janae Wilson
Let’s play a game, the game of life. Life has different rules for the different cities that you live in. Let me tell you the main people you will come across when playing this game. They are the Guardians, the Protectors, the Rulers, and the Judges. Guardians are kinda self-explanatory. They are to guide you and protect you from certain things, and they help you make decisions while going down the road. Protectors are also here to help you during times of need; in dangerous times they have weapons that will help de-escalate all situations. And the Rulers are high class, they have money, power, and the resources to be placed at the top, and they are untouchable, no matter what. The Judges are kinda like the enforcement that keeps everyone aware, and anyone could use them however they want. But the cities where we play the game of life have different rules. At the start of the game, you will notice that there are plenty of roads to choose from, but you will not be the one to decide which road you will play the game on. The Judges will. You are just going to have to live with their decision.
Some people say that corruption is just in the Darker Roads players' heads. If it’s truly in their head then consider this: a man from the Lighter Roads kidnapped and brutally beat a girl from the Darker Roads. He bit off a part of her face, scarring her for life. There was no trial because the Judges thought he wasn’t mentally stable enough to go to court. But when a little boy from the Darker Roads was brought to court for picking a flower, he was given a coloring book so he could stay still in court and await his trial. Yeah, but it’s equality in the game, right? You keep on saying “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” but Riders don’t understand that it’s not just the system that makes the game crooked. It’s the Riders playing the game that keeps the game alive. A game where you call your cities Protectors to come and help, but they end up taking your life—where Lighter Riders complain that their allowance isn’t big enough to get both the new iPhone 12 and the New J’S, while the Darker Riders cry and pray to their Gods to understand why these so-called “Protectors” took the life of their loved ones. It wasn’t because they made a bad decision. It was because their biggest life decision wasn’t one they got to choose. It was the decision this twisted game of life made for us—where the only way not to be treated wrong is to have a Lighter Rider walking down the same road as you. If you're still not getting the game, let's experience something that regularly happens to a boy from the Darker Road. “Please Protector become who you’re supposed to be. And let me go because I didn’t do nothing wrong.” But he didn’t say that out loud because the situation would move in a different direction. “Step out of the car slowly,” one of the Protectors said. So he did. He was going too slow for the Protectors, so they grabbed him out of the car and pushed him on the cold hard
ground. He screamed to get one of the Protectors off of him. The Protector kept saying, “Stop resisting. Stop resisting.” But the Darker Rider boy wasn’t resisting; pain in his back caused him to squirm. What the Protector saw was a criminal trying to break free, not an innocent soul trying to stop the sharp dirty rocks on the ground from digging into his spine. The boy could hear his Guardian's cries, and she walked toward the Protector to get him off of the Darker Rider boy, but the Protector didn’t free him. So, his Guardian tried to push the Protector off of the boy. When the Protector pushed her away, he lost his grip on the boy. The boy stood up and removed the sharp rock from his back. Tears slowly started to fall out of his eyes as he realized standing was a mistake. “Damn I fucked up.” He put his hands up, with the sharp rock in his hand, and said, “Please don’t kill me," as his final plea to try and make the Protectors understand what he was doing. Before he could fully put his hands up, he heard a loud BANG. As he fell backward, collapsing to the ground, he heard his Guardian cry for her boy. His eyelids were too heavy to open; he felt himself ascend towards the darkness. He was finally free of the dangerous traps and rules of the Judges that dictated his destiny in this corrupted game called Life.
How do you feel after reading "The Corrupted Game of Life"? What words, thoughts, and/or ideas come to your mind?
Olsmael Merisier $3,000 Fly High Author Scholarship Recipient
"Creating this drawing hurt a lot, especially for the year we are experiencing. It shows how racial justice is NOT being served in our society. Crimes against someone for their race are being pushed under the rug or getting excused, which is unacceptable. But when people of color try to speak out, they are silenced by incorrect assumptions and are offered counterclaims rather than the justice everyone deserves. Those are the things that are “choking” and “suffocating” people of color in our society, as seen by the hand and the mask. And it [justice] is my right given to me, not by the so-called founding fathers who wrote it on a piece of paper, but by birth. And there’s absolutely no reason for my rights to be infringed if I have not infringed someone else’s. That's what I want others to see."
by Olsmael Merisier
Is there an injustice in your school, neighborhood, or country that you would like to change? In the space below, create a drawing that illustrates the injustice and how you will use your voice and leadership to change it.
What does "justice" mean to you? What does it look like? How does it feel? In the space below, create a drawing that illustrates your definition of justice.
Youma Diabira $3,000 Fly High Author Scholarship Recipient
"This poem is about more than just the suffering that Black women endure. It's a poem to let people know that we are here and we will be seen and heard and understood. I want other girls to know that they don't have to hide their traumas or pain because they make us stronger and make us the beautiful leaders Black women are today."
Educated Black Girl V. Society by Youma Diabira
To be an educated Black girl It means seeing my skin before you see my intellect It means observing my body before you decide if you have any interest It means policing my outfits instead of insuring my safety Your Honor, hear my case please The Black woman is the most disrespected The educated Black girl is the most unprotected My feelings often neglected, Opportunities, I often find myself rejected Being in places where racism is infested Studying to get half as much, my time always invested In places that only have room for one of me Used on the front of college pamphlets and magazines To be bribed into places that only see me as a token, please Hear my case To be an educated Black girl is to be the backbone of every movement of every cause Then to have bandaids put over our bullet wounds and caskets and move on It means being gunned down in our beds and not hearing much chatter And the police that did it go free because educated Black girls don't matter It means coming into work with peers that are less qualified yet better paid Peers that touch your hair and pick apart the features on your face Telling HR about your experiences and being told you don't have much of a case because You're an educated Black girl, nobody cares what you have say
To be an educated Black woman is to be a leader and set the precedent To be the vice president of the united states, to be grammy winners, and teachers, and doctors To be an educated Black woman is to have skin so rich your age is a mystery To have culture so vast and so deep that they try to rewrite your history To be an educated Black woman is to be queens of lands that are full of riches Is to rub the back of your neck and feel your kitchen and have grandmothers that make finger-lickin chicken To be an educated Black woman is to walk into a room and know you deserve to be there I am an educated Black woman and my voice moves mountains I’ll tell my truth and feel the release of weights Your Honor, I rest my case
Why do your voice and your leadership matter? Write your response in a poem.
THANK YOU We are grateful for everyone who made this journal possible—our Write to Lead interns, our Cocoon Club members, our staff, our volunteers, our donors, the Source that fuels and inspires our movement, and of course, our readers. We love all of you tremendously.
www.butterflydreamz.org @butterflydreamzinc