INSPIRATION
INSPIRATION // DR GERMAINE SMITH BAUGH
WRITER CALIBE THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID I. MUIR
24
islandoriginsmag.com
INSPIRATION // DR GERMAINE SMITH BAUGH
NEAR THE CORNER OF SISTRUNK BOULEVARD AND 27TH AVENUE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, SITS THE PROMINENT RED AND WHITE BUILDING THAT IS HOME TO THE URBAN LEAGUE OF BROWARD COUNTY (ULBC). THAT’S WHERE WE MET WITH PRESIDENT AND CEO, DR GERMAINE SMITH BAUGH. SHE IS A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH CONFIDENT EASE.
21 YEARS AGO, bright eyed and ready to save the world, she
her parents’ determination that they could improve their family’s
began in direct service social work with the ULBC, coordinating a
lives, even with their meager resources, convinced her that she, an
science and arts program with a group of 50 girls. In her eyes at
island girl from a simple background, could some day affect lives
the time, she was inspiring major change. Just over a year later,
in a positive, remarkable way.
she was called into the office of the president and offered the
She recalls when as newly appointed President and CEO, she sat
job of VP, a position he thought was better suited for her obvious
with the board of directors, largely made up of titans of business
tenacity and leadership skills, and from which she, in fact, helped
and industry. It was early on in the Great Recession and she had a
exponentially more people.
hard choice, to move forward with a plan to build a new home for
Since then she has led the charge in building and soliciting $9
the organization, or do the ‘safe’ thing and remain satisfied where
million in financing for the construction of the ULBC’s state of the
they were. At a time when money was becoming more scarce and
art headquarters. She has played a role in improving the lives of
even the highly accomplished folks at the table balked at the idea
thousands of Broward residents, and currently controls a budget
of undertaking a multi-million dollar project for the non-profit,
in excess of $12 million annually, used by the organization to help
she remained determined.
African-Americans gain economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
“If we’re sitting around this table fearful about the economy, the people that the Urban League serves are already under the
To the work she’s now involved with, young Germaine’s life was
bridge,” she declared. Under her leadership, the ULBC would
very different. As the fifth and final child of a construction worker
build a community empowerment center that would prepare their
father and a homemaker mother, her resources were limited.
team and its clients for better times to come. The board chair
She recalls stories of her father working ‘off island’, away from
offered anyone opposed to the idea an “out”. No one took it.
Tortola in the Virgin Islands. He would send money to her mother,
The 27,000 square foot building is now home to a staff of 71 that
who would purchase a few concrete blocks at a time toward the
Dr G manages. Her office is filled with books on leadership advice,
construction of the family home which they built slowly, as the
information which she proudly imparts on every agent who joins
resources became available. From Tortola, to St Thomas in the US
her team. The organization she leads helps hundreds of Broward
Virgin Islands where she was born, and then on to Florida where
county’s minority residents, each year, in the areas of education,
she has lived since she was a teenager, her family made the most
jobs, health, housing and most recently, entrepreneurship. Dr
of what little they had.
Germaine Smith Baugh - wife, mother of two, daughter of the
Though there were times so tight that her siblings and parents
US Virgin Islands and of innovative and hardworking Caribbean
were split up, living with friends and family in multiple homes, she
parents, is a true example of where grit, smarts and a healthy
speaks with pride about never lacking in culture or education, and
dose of good old West Indian work ethic can take you in the USA.
never going hungry. According to Dr G as she is fondly known,
islandoriginsmag.com
25
FEATURE // BREASTLESS BEAUTY
EMBRACING
WRITER CARLA HILL
PHOTOGRAPHY JOE WESLEY
EVERY DAY I SPEAK TO MY FEARS TO LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE NOT REAL. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WELLNESS BEGINS IN OUR HEADS.
THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE I ever received was from my
barber to trim my hair into a close cropped buzz cut. Then I chose
surgeon, Frederick Moffat, at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer
a mastectomy without reconstruction - only the right breast. I was
Center. Before any surgery or chemotherapy began, Dr. Moffat
young, and I had just had the kidney transplant. I didn’t want to
would urge me to begin the healing process in my head - with my
risk my new perky breast becoming infected, and then possibly
thoughts. This is how I learned to think about and visualize myself
damaging my new kidney. For what? To fill out a Victoria’s Secret
back to wellness.
bra? In 2007, a mammogram helped me to find my second cancer.
A SERIES OF DEVASTATING DIAGNOSES
The first thing that crossed my mind was that if I needed another
As a young person, I did all the right things - I didn’t smoke,
kidney transplant, I’d have to be five years cancer free. I was only
I didn’t do drugs, and I took care of my body. One day in the
two years cancer free - with a second cancer! So in 2007, I had my
90s, my mother found me passed out on the bathroom floor after
second mastectomy.
exercising. Shortly after I was diagnosed with kidney disease. From
6
what? Too many ab crunches? This led to a host of medications and
DECIDING TO THRIVE
treatments, including dialysis, and by 2000, a kidney transplant.
Social media makes us feel that everyone is enjoying a perpetual,
In 2005 I was getting ready for a cousin’s wedding. After
bottomless mimosa brunch. While Instagramming can be fun, if
flipping my then middle-of-my-back, fresh-from-the-salon, blow
you’re not careful, it can make you believe that what you’re going
dried hair, I felt a lump in my right breast and immediately became
through is not the “brunch” of life, but a mere microwaved egg
frightened. Luckily, I lived in a house with a mother who was really
sandwich - from the gas station!
progressive, and encouraged me to be aware of any changes in
My kidney transplant and cancer journey (WHEW!) has forced
my body. By this time she herself was a breast cancer survivor of
me to be more bold about the way I approach life. I sat in a state
nearly ten years. I found out that this lump was stage two cancer.
of disappointment and “why me” for many years. I wish I didn’t
I knew I had to take control, and not let this new health
have to go through these illnesses, but they’ve forced me to find
challenge overwhelm me. I found a boldness in myself I didn’t
courage and strength I would never have tapped into, had my life
know I had. First, I made a private appointment with my husband’s
been “normal”.
islandoriginsmag.com
BEAUTY
islandoriginsmag.com
7
FEATURE // BREASTLESS BEAUTY
TO THOSE SURVIVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL BATTLES I SAY - YOU ARE MORE POWERFUL NOW THAN YOU EVER WERE BEFORE. CAUSE A BACCHANAL!
I’ve tried to put my experiences out of my mind so much that I’m
still girly, fashionable, sexy, without breasts or luxurious hair. How
always in shock to hear that someone is inspired by my story. Until
truly courageous am I to totally shun traditional beauty standards
very recently, I wanted to be unremarkable.
and define my womanhood in my way?
If you asked me how things were going, I’d reply that everything
Chemotherapy has left me and my husband without the
was great! In the Caribbean community you’re expected to push
prospect of having kids. We have decided aloud that WE are our
through all your challenges quietly, and with a smile. But anyone
family. If, how and when we choose to grow this family is no one’s
going through cancer or any other life changing disease isn’t and
business but our own.
shouldn’t feel happy about such a diagnosis. They deserve the
My carnival-loving extended family is from Trinidad and Tobago.
right to be upset, and to grieve their old body, lost hair and altered
Trinis like to use the word “Bacchanal”. This word can mean
sense of self, without judgement.
all kinds of things. Bacchanal can be a great time. It can be a
I’m a good Catholic girl, but I don’t believe that God punishes.
scandalous event. Somebody can actually be Bacchanal! I’ve used
I don’t think that I did something wrong and somebody up high
my culture to assess the events of my life and I’ve now embraced
is zapping me with cancer. I think we live in a world that’s filled
my personal bacchanal. I don’t alter my clothing or my carnival
with things that we can’t avoid, that aren’t necessarily good for us,
costumes to give the illusion of breasts. I don’t hide the transplant
and that we just have to deal with the best way we can. I have a
scar across my belly when wearing my scanty regalia at Trinidad
support system that’s fortified me enough to deal like a champion.
carnival. I now channel my bacchanal when I’m marching down the road there, and proudly parade in all of my breast-less glory.
EMBRACING @BRSTLSSBEAUTY After my second mastectomy, I made the decision to live a
To those surviving their own personal battles I say - you are more
breast-less life. I named my new alter ego and social media handle
powerful now than you ever were before. Cause a BACCHANAL!
@brstlssbeauty. I’ve claimed my “beauty”. I have decided that I’m
8
islandoriginsmag.com
U
islandoriginsmag.com
9
FEATURE // COOK, PRAY, DANCE
:+(1 ,u0 &22.,1* :+(1 ,u0 &+() 7+,$ ,u0 67521*(5 , )((/ /,.( ,u0 ,1 &+$5*( 025( 32:(5)8/ 025( &21),'(17 16
islandoriginsmag.com
COOK, PRAY,
DANCE WRITER &<17+,$ 9(51$ PHOTOGRAPHY 5,&+$5' /(&2,1
&<17+,$ v&+() 7+,$w 9(51$ ,6 $ 62&,$/ 0(',$ &(/(%5,7< $:$5' :,11,1* &+() %(67 6(//,1* $87+25 1$7,21$/ 7(/(9,6,21 6+2: +267 $1' ,1 +(5 0267 32:(5)8/ 52/( $1 $'92&$7( )25 6859,9256 2) 6(;8$/ $66$8/7 +(5 5$3,67 %(&$0( 7+( )$7+(5 2) +(5 %(/29(' ),567 &+,/' %87 6+(u6 )281' +(5 :$< 72 3(5621$/ 5('(037,21 7+528*+ 63,5,78$/,7< $1' )22'
COOKING, DANCING AND PRAYING HELPED ME HEAL :LWK P\ VRQ $OH[DQGUH MXVW D EDE\ , ZHQW WR ZRUN LQ D UHVWDXUDQW , OHIW KLP ZLWK D QDQQ\ ZKLOH , ZRUNHG EXW FDPH WR EHOLHYH WKDW VKH ZDV GRLQJ WKLQJV WR PDNH KLP VLFN VR , OHIW WKDW UHVWDXUDQW DQG RSHQHG P\ RZQ , ZDV DQG $OH[DQGUH ZDV DERXW QLQH PRQWKV ROG WKHQ 2SHQ LQJ P\ UHVWDXUDQW $WHOLHU /H %DPERRV $UW *DOOHU\ LQ WKH %DPERR DOORZHG PH WR DOZD\V KDYH KLP ZLWK PH DQG NHHS DQ H\H RQ KLP (YHQ EHIRUH , PHW KLP , IHOW OLNH , KDG IDLOHG KLP 7KH ELWWHUQHVV
PHOTO: &2175,%87('
, :$6 5$3(' ,uP JUDWHIXO WR *RG WKDW , GRQuW UHPHPEHU PXFK RI LW EHFDXVH , ZDV GUXJJHG ILUVW , ZDV DW P\ MRE DV D FRRN LQ RQH RI WKRVH IDQF\ KRWHOV LQ +DLWL DQG ZH ZHUH VLWWLQJ E\ WKH FRXQWHU +H JDYH PH D JODVV RI ZDWHU DQG DIWHU WKDW , GRQuW NQRZ , EODFNHG RXW DQG ZRNH XS WKH QH[W GD\ IHHOLQJ ZHLUG ZLWK EORRG LQ P\ XQGHUZHDU , FDOOHG P\ PRP ULJKW DZD\ DQG WROG KHU , ZDV SUHJQDQW , ZDV DERXW DW WKH WLPH 7KH\ QHYHU HGXFDWHG XV DERXW VH[ LQ +DLWL DQG ZH GLGQuW WDON DERXW WKDW ZLWK IDPLO\ PHPEHUV EDFN WKHQ VR LQ P\ PLQG LW ZDV DXWRPDWLF ,I \RX KDYH VH[ \RX EHFDPH SUHJQDQW ,W WXUQHG RXW , ZDV ULJKW , ZDV WKH ILUVW RQH LQ P\ ZKROH IDPLO\ WR KDYH D EDE\ ZLWKRXW EHLQJ PDUULHG ,W ZDVQuW DQ HDV\ GHFLVLRQ ZKHWKHU WR NHHS KLP RU QRW 0\ IDLWK LQ *RG ZDV DOZD\V VWURQJ $OO P\ JUDQGPRWKHU HYHU GLG ZDV SUD\ VR , WKRXJKW vLI , KDYH DQ DERUWLRQ LWuV D VLQ w %XW \RX KDYH WR IDFH WKH IDPLO\ DQG \RX KDYH WR IDFH WKDW SHRSOH DUH ORRNLQJ DW \RX OLNH VKHuV D VOXW , ZDV EDFN DQG IRUWK DERXW WKH GHFLVLRQ FRQVWDQWO\ 7KHQ IHDU JXLOW DQG SDLQ LQ P\ KHDUW WROG PH QRW WR WHUPLQDWH WKH SUHJQDQF\ , JXHVV \RX FRXOG VD\ WKDW P\ UHOLJLRQ VDYHG P\ VRQ 0\ PRP GLGQuW MXGJH PH 6KH VDLG ZKDWHYHU , ZDV JRLQJ WR GR ZDV P\ FKRLFH :KHQ , WROG P\ IDWKHU , ZDV SUHJQDQW KH DVNHG LI , NQHZ ZKR KDG GRQH LW WR PH , WROG KLP ZKDW KDSSHQHG DQG WKHUH ZDV QR UHVSRQVH , H[SHFWHG KLP WR EHDW PH RU WR JHW DQJU\ OLNH , ZDV IHHO LQJ , ZDQWHG KLP WR KDYH D UHDFWLRQ EXW KH GLGQuW , NQHZ P\ IDWKHU ORYHG PH DQG , NQRZ &DULEEHDQ IDWKHUV GRQuW UHDOO\ H[SUHVV HPRWLRQ %XW WKH IDFW WKDW KH GLGQuW VKRZ DQ\ DW DOO LW KXUW PH VR GHHSO\ $IWHU P\ VRQ ZDV ERUQ P\ GDG ZURWH PH D YHU\ ORQJ OHWWHU WHOOLQJ PH KRZ GLVDSSRLQWHG KH ZDV , EODPHG P\VHOI IRU WKH UDSH IRU \HDUV 0DQ\ WLPHV VLQFH WKHQ ,uYH WULHG WR WDNH P\ OLIH EXW , ZDV QHYHU DEOH WR JR WKURXJK ZLWK LW
GLGQuW VWDUW ZKHQ , ZDV UDSHG EHFDXVH , GLGQuW XQGHUVWDQG ZKDW KDG KDSSHQHG WR PH %XW WKH ROGHU , JRW WKH PRUH , XQGHUVWRRG WKH WUDJ HG\ DQG WKH PDJQLWXGH RI WKDW LQFLGHQW WKH PRUH , ZRXOG KDWH P\VHOI , GHYHORSHG DQ DOPRVW FULSSOLQJ IHDU EHFDXVH RI P\ RZQ DVVDXOW DQG , EHFDPH RYHUSURWHFWLYH , GLGQuW HYHQ WUXVW $OH[DQGUH WR EH OHIW DORQH ZLWK WKH PDQ , PDUULHG WKH IDWKHU RI P\ ILUVW GDXJKWHU 7KDÃ&#x2019;V /DFN RI WUXVW ZDV D KXJH LVVXH LQ RXU UHODWLRQVKLS DQG ZDV SUREDEO\ SDUW RI WKH
islandoriginsmag.com
17
FEATURE // COOK, PRAY, DANCE
&22.,1* :$6 /,.( 7+(5$3< )25 0( , :28/' $&78$//< /22. $7 7+( 0($7 $1' 7$/. 72 0<6(/) /,.( , :$6 5(&25',1* 0<6(/) 7($&+,1* 0( +2: 72 &22.
UHDVRQ ZH JRW GLYRUFHG 0\ ILUVW KXVEDQG ZDV DERXW \HDUV ROGHU WKDQ PH +H EHFDPH WKDW IDWKHU ILJXUH WR PH DQG WR P\ VRQ +HuV WKH RQH WKDW SXVKHG PH WR JR WR FRRNLQJ VFKRRO , KDG EHHQ FRRNLQJ SURIHVVLRQDOO\ VLQFH , ZDV D FKLOG EXW QHYHU ZHQW IRU IRUPDO VFKRROLQJ XQWLO KH HQFRXUDJHG PH WR , ODWHU PDUULHG D \RXQJHU PDQ DQG KDG D VHFRQG EHDXWLIXO GDXJKWHU (Q\D $IWHU P\ GLYRUFH IURP KLP DQG PRUH GLVDSSRLQWPHQW DQG KHDUW DFKH WKDQ DQ\RQH VKRXOG KDYH WR OLYH ZLWK , IHOW WKDW WKH ZRUOG ORRNHG DW PH DV D IDLOXUH , IHOW KXPLOLDWHG DJDLQ 3HRSOH VHH PH DV WKLV VWURQJ SHUVRQ :KDW PDQ\ SHRSOH GRQuW XQGHUVWDQG LV WKDW , EHOLHYH VXUYLYLQJ WKH SDLQ DQG VWUXJJOH LV ZKDW JDYH PH WKH JUHDWHVW VWUHQJWK ,W ZDV FRRNLQJ GDQFLQJ DQG SUD\LQJ WKDW KHOSHG PH KHDO , ZRXOG GR WKRVH WKUHH WKLQJV IRU KRXUV DW YDULRXV SRLQWV LQ P\ OLIH DQG ZRXOG QHYHU JHW WLUHG &RRNLQJ ZDV OLNH WKHUDS\ IRU PH , ZRXOG DFWXDOO\ ORRN DW WKH PHDW DQG WDON WR P\VHOI OLNH , ZDV UHFRUGLQJ P\VHOI WHDFKLQJ PH KRZ WR FRRN &\QWKLD ZDV OLVWHQLQJ WR &KHI 7KLD , VHSDUDWH WKH WZR LQ P\ PLQG 3HRSOH ZRXOG WKLQN ,uP FUD]\ EXW ,uP QRW FUD]\ :KHQ ,uP FRRNLQJ ZKHQ ,uP &KHI 7KLD ,uP VWURQJHU , IHHO OLNH ,uP LQ FKDUJH PRUH SRZHUIXO PRUH FRQILGHQW :KHQ , GRQuW KDYH DQ\ IRRG DURXQG PH , IHHO QDNHG 7KDWuV ZKHQ &\QWKLD ZKR LV UHDOO\ VK\ FRPHV RXW DQG , VWDUW GRXEWLQJ P\VHOI 6RPHWLPHV ZKHQ WKHUH DUH WRR PDQ\ SHRSOH DURXQG DQG , VWDUW JHWWLQJ VHOI FRQVFLRXV , RIIHU WR FRRN VRPH WKLQJ VR , FDQ FDOP GRZQ OUT OF DARKNESS CAME LIGHT 0\ VRQ LV D EOHVVLQJ (YHU\ WLPH , ORRN DW KLP , FDQ VHH KRZ VWURQJ , DP ,I , KDG OLVWHQHG WR IDPLO\ KH ZRXOGQuW EH KHUH %XW , IROORZHG P\
18
islandoriginsmag.com
KHDUW +HuV QRZ DQG HYHU\ WLPH , ORRN DW KLP , KDYH WKLV ELJ MR\ WKLV ELJ VSDFH OLJKWLQJ XS P\ ZKROH KHDUW ,uYH EHHQ YHU\ VWULFW ZLWK DOO WKUHH RI P\ NLGV :KHQ P\ VRQ ZDV DQG KDG MXVW JUDGXDWHG KH DVNHG v:K\ LV LW WKDW \RX DUH VR KDUG RQ PH"w , KDG WROG P\ VRQ KLV IDWKHU ZDVQuW KLV ELRORJLFDO IDWKHU ZKHQ KH ZDV QLQH \HDUV ROG %XW KH QHYHU NQHZ DQ\WKLQJ PRUH WKDQ WKDW 6R , WROG KLP DERXW KRZ KH ZDV FRQFHLYHG +HuV D FDOP NLG OLNH DQ ROG VRXO P\ VRQ +LV UHDFWLRQ ZDV WR IHHO SDLQ RQ P\ EHKDOI \RX NQRZ" /LNH v:RZ 0\ PRP KDG WR JR WKURXJK WKDW"w +H KXJJHG PH KH FULHG +H WROG PH LW ZDV RND\ DQG WKDW KH ZDV SURXG RI PH 7KLV NLG LV D JLIW IURP *RG +HuV WKH RQH ZKR WDXJKW PH WR EH FDOP WR KDYH IDLWK LQ P\VHOI DQG QRW FDUH ZKDW SHRSOH VD\ +H ZDV ULJKW QH[W WR PH ZKHQ , FDOOHG P\ ROGHU GDXJKWHU WR WHOO KHU DERXW LW WRR DQG KHU UHDFWLRQ ZDV v, UHVSHFW \RX 0RP IRU EHLQJ DEOH WR WHOO XV WKDW w , ZRXOGQuW KDYH ZULWWHQ P\ DXWRELRJUDSK\ 2UGHDOV ZLWKRXW $OH[ DQGUHuV SHUPLVVLRQ +H SXVKHG PH WR GR LW +HuV WKH UHDVRQ , VWDUWHG VSHDNLQJ RXW DERXW UDSH +H VDLG v, WKLQN LWuV D JRRG LGHD IRU \RX WR OHW PRWKHUV NQRZ WKDW WKH\ GRQuW 1((' WR KDYH DQ DERUWLRQ EHFDXVH WKH\ ZHUH UDSHG ,WuV QRW WKDW FKLOGuV IDXOW w :H FDQuW SURWHFW RXU NLGV QR PDWWHU KRZ PXFK ZH ZDQW WR NHHS WKHP IURP WKH EDG WKLQJV LQ WKLV ZRUOG )RU P\ NLGV DOO , FDQ WHOO WKHP LV WR EH VWURQJ WR NHHS WKH IDLWK WKDW , SODQWHG LQ WKHP DQG JR EDFN WR LW ZKHQ WKH\ QHHG WR OLNH , GLG ,WuV P\ ZLVK IRU P\ FKLOGUHQ WR ILQG WKLQJV WKDW WKH\ DUH SDVVLRQDWH DERXW DQG WR QHYHU VWRS OLYLQJ 5HDG &\QWKLD v&KHI 7KLDw 9HUQDuV HQWLUH VWRU\ LQ KHU DXWRELRJ UDSK\ t2UGHDOVu DYDLODEOH RQ $PD]RQ