Mother Daughter Initiative Dream Team will meet on April 28, 2019 @ 2:00pm at the Panera Bread (by Graces).

Mr. Langston Washington, Investment Analyst at United Bank will speak to our team of mentees on the importance of making empowered financial decisions with our resources.

Bring your copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad and join us in the conversation. Registration is required. Email, mdidreamteam@gmail.com or call 240 838 9235.

#EachOneTeachOne #Educate #Empower #MotherDaughterInitiative

MDI: Tells us about yourself. 

JB: My name is Jeneba Barrie. I was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa. I am an attorney. I have a bachelors degree from the University of Houston and a J.D. degree from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. I am married and a mother of two sweet boys.

MDI: When, where, and how did you launch your line of shoes?

JB: I first thought of the idea for my shoe line back in 2011. My sister and I went to a graduation and had the identical pair of “nude” pumps, which were beige in color. I started thinking about why it was called “nude” when they did not reflect our skin tone. My journey began at that moment. My shoe line was officially launched in 2018.

MDI: Who is your role model?

JB: My role model is my husband. I have had a lot of self confidence issues. From applying to law school to launching my shoe line, I questioned myself every step of the way. But he believed in me and motivated me to put myself out there. If not for him, I most likely would not have launched in 2018.

MDI: What are you passionate about? What excites or motivates you?

JB: Helping others excite me. When I am able to sacrifice and give of myself to improve the lives of other people, that excites me. I am passionate about setting out goals and reaching them. That also motivates me keep going, even when I feel like I can’t keep going on.

MDI: What can you do to nurture these passions daily or weekly? Remember how and why they were your passion in the first place. Now that the brand is coming into fruition, I always remember how for years the thought of my own shoe line nagged at me. I thought about it every single day. I was passionate about my idea and just needed to step out on faith. 

MDI:  If you could lead a workshop on empowering girls, what ideas or suggestions would you recommend to moms to help empower their daughters?

JB: The first thing I will suggest is that they strive, fight and push for what they want. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. Secondly, not all criticism is constructive. For some people, you will never be enough—and that’s okay. You won’t be for everyone but the right people will encourage you and cheer you on. However, know when to take legitimate and constructive criticism and make corrections going forward. Third, your mindset is everything. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right. Lastly, have boundaries and never waiver from those boundaries.

MDI: If you could teach young women how to bring about bringing more happiness into their everyday lives. What would you teach them?

JB: Live one day at a time. Keep a running “to do list” to minimize stress. Never allow anyone to control you through your emotions. Always treat others with respect, yes, even those who disrespect you. But most importantly, know when to cut off toxic people and relationships from your life.

MDI: What words of advice would you give the next generation of girls/young women? 

JB: You can be anything you want. Never allow the naysayers to guide your path because chances are they are afraid that you might actually achieve your goal. Seek out leadership positions in school, in extracurricular activities, and in your community. Take “no” as a not right now. Give yourself permission to be happy and live your best life.

MDI: Tell us about your new line of shoes. 

JB: Our website is still under construction, but our Kickstarter Campaign is still going strong. You can pre-order a pair through the Kickstarter at a discounted rate here.  The future retail price is $295.00. Pre-order at a discounted rate here: bit.ly/True-Hue-Footwear. Contact Jeneba – jeneba@jenebabarrie.com

I had a wonderful time seeing author Jen Sincero of “You are a BADASS, How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” at Sixth & I on last Thursday.

TAKEAWAYS- Be selective and conscious of the people in your circle of friends. It’s okay to purge people in your life who aren’t cheering for you and encouraging you to win.
“Live each day as if it were you last.”

#MotherDaughterInitiative #LiveLifeToTheFullest

MDI: Tells us about yourself.

• 

BG: I was born and raised in Detroit Michigan as the eldest of three and the only girl. I am a “Woman In Progress”! I am a Human Resources Professional having worked in the field for over 20 years.  I attended Wayne State University in Detroit MI and studied Communications and Dance. I transferred to Howard University in Washington, DC where I studied Business Management and Dance/Fine Arts. 

MDI: What is your definition of success?

BG: I believe success means different things to different people at different times of their lives. Today, I define success as developing, growing and moving forward in “The Whatever” makes “YOU” truly happy and gives you Joy!

MDI: What top five values do I feel most compelled to instill in my children?

BG: The five values are:

Self-Love/Identity/Esteem

Relationship of Love with God

Importance of Managing Money

Life Survival Skills

Importance of Knowing When and How to Say “No”

MDI: Who in your life would you say has contributed to your level of self-esteem and or self-confidence?  

BG: It has not necessarily been a particular person as much as it has been life-experiences. Although my closest lifetime friends have supported me throughout my journey it has been my relationship with God and my belief in “Self” that has given me a strong and healthy foundation of confidence. Let me add, my father once told me ” I believe in you Britt and whatever you face in life, I know that you can handle it.” Sometimes, I am reminded of the moment he spoke those words!

MDI: If you could lead a workshop on empowering girls, what ideas or suggestions would you recommend to moms to help empower their daughters?

BG: For Moms, start with self-reflection through self-evaluation!  Realize that daughters are going to watch what you DO more than they are going to listen to what you SAY, therefore it is important to MODEL/LIVE behavior that you are trying to teach.  This requires self-sacrifice and selflessness for moms.  “Raising Daughters” is an act of EMPOWERMENT in and of itself!

MDI: What is the most effective way to teach daughters how to take responsibility for their decisions and actions?

BG: NOT AN EASY TASK!  I am the Daughter of a Mom who was not taught to share or to have REAL conversations around REAL issues when I was younger. As a result, I promised myself that if I had children I would talk to them about everything until they were sick of hearing me! And then after that, I would talk to them some more.  I starting developing relationships with my daughters when they began to speak. Yes! That young. With the age appropriate conversations it was imperative that I included my life experiences (decisions, actions – accountability, responsibility) and as well those of family, friends and others.  Having REAL relevant discussions opened up the world of accountability conversations. This was the segway to effectively teaching responsibility to my ladies.  I realized that waiting until they were teenagers to teach them how to grapple with and embrace their own decisions was unfair, too late and not an option.  Learning and failing and learning and succeeding during the experiences of their formative years was the key because this laid the foundation for their decision-making process, early.  I also had to include valued levels of rewards and consequences based on their decisions and actions.  It was breathtaking for me at times but then I remembered that it was my responsibility to do my very best to raise my daughters.  I decided that I wanted no regrets, put my big girl panties on and spoke life into them. This was a regularly applied practice in our household throughout their lives.  Now, as college students, they have an understanding through their own experiences, however limited that it is their responsibility to be accountable for both their decision making and actions which should be weighed and thought out with the end result in mind!  I bless God that they still call me for guidance.  

MDI: What words of advice would you give the next generation of women?  

BG: GLEAN, GLEAN, GLEAN!  Take from those of us who came before you to: Find your Path, Find your Strength, Find your Courage, Find your Voice and then Share them ALL!  There is no need to make the same mistakes we made. Learn from us. Hear our stories. Take what you need from them and spread the rest! Stand on our shoulders to reach your goals, reach your dreams and to climb beyond all that we could see or imagine.  Know, that we are here for you to help you get to your places of unimaginable and unprecedented successes! Remember as you have taken, GIVE BACK!  Believe, With GOD All things Are Possible!!!