We recently connected with Gwendolyn Braswell and have shared our conversation below.

Gwendolyn , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

After my first husband died, I lost everything! Me and my children started with nothing. I found myself moving into a low income housing community. In this community, I wasn’t working at the time. I saw a lot of opportunities at this low state of my life. I told my children, we won’t focus on what we see out of our windows, but we we can imagine, see and dream. We all made vision boards of what we saw for our future. Moving in that neighborhood, I focused on the b words that I heard God speaking to me. “You are no longer Dinah, you are now Deborah! That statement changed my whole view of my situation! I learned more about Dinah and Deborah in the Bible. I realized that Dinah was the daughter of Israel who was raped and violated. Deborah was the Mother of Israel, a Judge who had a voice, unlike Dinah and she was also a writer! I was a Mother, a leader, and a Mentor in this impoverished community! I started the Dinah to Deborah event to honor women who overcome triumph and made a difference in their community! My first event started at with a donated building used by recovering addicts.. By the impression of the voice of God, he empowered me to begin to make a difference in the Adamsville community . I began to write, ask permission to provide services to the youth and adults of that apartment community, and by faith I started the We are LIT program in 2016 with no money and minimal support. I taught creative writing, and fed the youth of the Allen Temple residents. It’s now known as the Commons.The community has improved tremendously! God gave me Lipstick prayers, Eyelash prayers all Poetic Prayers! Now That formed the business Poetic Cosmetics, where the message speaks through the makeup! I had nothing but pen and paper with a VISION! I started with my organization Dry Bones Collaborative Outreach and from those services Poetic Cosmetics was birth along with Makeup Your Mind Workshops to teach abused women and women coming out of prison to experience this workshop to embrace the love of God through the elements of makeup so they can become free from the LASHES of their past and allowing God to be their FOUNDATION as they stop using the CONCEALERS that have weighed them down. The writing came to LIFE! Faith was increased to take numerous risks. Here I AM! The whys of life can hold you back, but if you focus on the WHATS, Stay on PURPOSE, you will land on DESTINY! I am now married again. I have tone children’s book released another one coming next month. A book for women entitled the Regimen: Makeup Devotional for everyday living. Unique Boutique the Grand Opening all available on Amazon!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

Most of my story is on the first question lol

We are LIT is my first baby Literacy Illuminated by Technology. I work with my partners Inspiredu who teaches th technology component
My nonprofit Dry Bones Collaborative Outreach provides teaching creative writing by me
My partner Blessings working together provides Career and educational resources for the adults. I believe my upbringing from my parents especially through my Mom taught me when you see a need, do what you can do. Writing has always been a passion of mine. Finally the puzzle pieces turned into purpose. The vision turned into victory for this community. Empowering youth through the lens of literacy has turned my passion into purpose. Our Christmas and the numerous events has afforded me the opportunity to put smiles on many faces, and plant seeds of hope for future generations. I create Greeting Cards as well for personal development and self care. Workshops for women who need that special push to become empowered. I am a Spiritual Makeup Artist who helps young ladies and women who love themselves from the inside out. My Dinah to Deborah event has opened many doors for women (Dinahs) coming out of impoverished communities to get the help and encouragement they need as they watch our (Deborahs).

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

I thank God for the gifts of vision and dreams. It sketched the way to navigate the journey of my purpose. It cropped the distractions of my vision. And it propelled me to “just do it” It’s so rewarding for women to be touched through my Makeup Your Mind Workshops. Childern to see someone in the neighborhood who has written a book, and can help them do the same thing. To see children grow and their minds are growing to realize that they don’t have to let so called limitations in their life stop them from achieving their goals.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. To know that every time I pick up a pen and paper, I can’t procrastinate because their is a boy or girl. There is a hurting lady waiting on my services. When God gives me “the GO” , I can’t take it likely.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Gwendolyn Searls/ Dry Bones Collaborative Outreach also Poetic Cosmetics
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFWDRL1W/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_27752DSTYVQ4HW815YYM_0?fbclid=IwAR0Sl4xy_4WkO4BF8Swm3SaGADtbPs2tqBgFu9w1hp-Hxvq059vl6eEGUUE. Children’s book on Amazon

Image Credits
Bobby Lee Photography and John Anderson Photography