Reader, At Essence Fest over the holiday weekend, I moderated a panel, had a founder feature, and hosted a Soft Stories sensory session all in one day. In between, I kept noticing people wanted to be inclusive but almost nobody had a framework for actually doing it, especially in their content. Most of the attendees I spoke with, particularly other New Voices founders, admitted they hadn't considered captions or image descriptions yet, but they were very appreciative of the insight. That's...
3 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing. I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was powerful. And in both rooms, I kept hearing the same thought echo in my mind: we need more of this. We need spaces to belong, to rediscover ourselves, and to feel empowered to keep going. Here is the link to watch the 3 minute recap:...
9 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, I'm at Essence Festival this week — moderating a panel, doing a Soft Stories segment, and leading a workshop on inclusive entrepreneurship. Three activations in one day, which honestly is its own kind of access challenge nobody talks about: the cost of showing up fully in spaces that weren't designed for how your body or brain works. I'll have more to say about that next week. Social Media Day is June 30th — a reminder that the platforms we've built our voices, speaking opportunities,...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, ✨ BIG NEWS FIRST I'll be speaking at Essence Festival of Culture 2026 in New Orleans on July 4th!I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams and my blessings come in two folds. I have not one but TWO activations: 🖤 We Love Us Marketplace Stage — I'll be moderating the See Life Differently Panel at 10:20am CT. This is the room for conversation about representation, storytelling, and what it means to see yourself centered in spaces that weren't always built for you. Panelists are: Lisa C. Willis,...
24 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, Sometimes you're planting seeds long before anyone notices the garden. Progress may feel slow. Success often takes longer than people expect. The Knicks won in five games. Ivory Coast won in the 90th minute. Neither of them was supposed to be the story this week. Whether it's a sports team ending a championship drought, a nation representing itself on the world soccer stage, or an advocate continuing to push for inclusion, the principle remains the same: Keep showing up. Keep...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, A disabled, Black, Muslim woman walked into some of the most talked-about rooms in global media and tech — and noticing, as I always do, exactly what was there and exactly what was missing, and the conversations nobody was having — until I walked in. I spent time in London attending SXSW and Muslim Tech Fest. Here's what I brought home. The need for marginalized voices hasn't gone anywhere There is still a profound gap when it comes to fully acknowledging all disabilities. Not just...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, June is DeafBlind Awareness Month and Black Music Month, and it's also a month filled with conversations around accessibility, innovation, storytelling, and community. It was an honor to speak at the WITS Travel Creator Summit! I got to stand in front of a room of women and men who travel, who build, who advocate — and I got to be honest with them about what it means to move through the world as a Black, disabled, Muslim woman who refuses to be invisible in travel spaces. I talked...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 21. and as a woman navigating the world with one eye and hearing loss, accessibility is not a trend or simply a talking point for me. It impacts how I travel, communicate, create, and move through public spaces every single day. Accessibility also continues to shape the work I care most about:storytelling, tourism, disability visibility, branding, and helping people communicate their lived experiences more intentionally online. This is exactly...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Reader, Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about visibility—not just physically, but emotionally and digitally. I’ve been connecting with brilliant women who have years of wisdom and expertise but struggle to articulate their value in a world dominated by AI and the constant demand for content. I understand their struggle. I've been there when I first started doing all of the things 10+ years ago. Being an expert at what you do and speaking in rooms in person and being able to communicate that...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Reader, Greetings from Maryland! Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, Retinoblastoma Awareness Month, Star Wars Day and Met Gala Day.It’s my first time back in the Maryland area for a good 20 days since I lived here from 2012-2014, and wow, so much has changed. Back then, there was no Uber, no Turo, no Cash App or Zelle, or food delivery apps. There was barely a Google Review for businesses and no shuttle to take me from the MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) train to the BWI airport for...
2 months ago • 4 min read