Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexis Boyd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alexis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Women are multifaceted gems and we wear several hats, each one becoming more and more decorated as we get older. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, wives, career women, and most importantly, nurturers and providers for the next generation we usher in. However, as we get older, we go through several transitions that can sometimes be very uncomfortable and difficult to manage. We are faced with many cultural and political dilemmas that we are often unprepared to deal with. Having someone there to walk with us and guide us through these changes can make all the difference. It’s not a secret that Black girls face quite a few disparities due to race and gender. Overall, Black girls have become overpoliced and under protected and most certainly forgotten in several different movements and intervention plans. Although we excel at greater rates than any other subgroup, we still have a hard time carving out our own career paths, which is why it is important for Black women to take on mentorship roles for the Black girls coming up behind us. A mentoring relationship between Black women and Black girls encourages them to break through stereotypes and helps to create a pathway for them to be leaders in the future. Mentoring allows young women the chance to spend time with a caring and supportive woman invested in their success. There is even more of a need for this in urban communities. The statistics for teenage pregnancy (despite declining), high school dropout rates, and early sexual activity is high. Providing these young women with the support and education they need to prevent these hurdles from halting their goals gives them a better chance at reaching and finishing college as well as venturing into a career. As it’s not just our Black boys who fall victim to the school-to-prison pipeline, but our Black girls as well, mentoring is a great way to intervene to combat such roadblocks. Representation matters, role models matter, and my goal is to ensure every brown skin girl that crosses my path knows that they matter as well.

Alexis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At SHE Stands coaching, my goal is to walk hand and hand with your teen as they maneuver life’s curve balls. Based on the premise of worthiness and the accurate notion that we are born enough, SHEStands coaching urges young teens to identify the negative aspects of lacking confidence and guide them through a five-step process, ultimately providing them with the gems to create a place of acceptance. First, through a brief exploration of storytelling, you will answer questions related to past traumas, complete an identity audit and explore ways to reshape unconscious behaviors caused by internal and external influences. Then, with “self-care work” and other visualization exercises, the teen can reprogram their brain resulting in positive self-talk, forgiveness, and healing. Finally, by the end of your teen’s coaching experience, she will be able to identify and understand any triggers potentially causing a lapse in confidence and gain helpful real-life techniques to recourse.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn which was difficult for me (maybe it’s the Leo in me), is that I can’t do it alone. Growing up, I carried an “I can do it by myself” attitude which I know now came from unaddressed childhood trauma. I felt that people could not disappoint me if I never gave them the chance to do so. However, this mindset did not work as humans need connection. I had to learn that connection can be a good thing if done in the right way. Thinking and at times believing that I was solo in this thing called life was heartbreaking. It wasn’t until I accepted that everyone needs a “village” did I begin to really thrive in my own light. Having other women who created a “safe space” for me was everything to me. Having that space to just be me, learn and grow is something I vowed I would create for the next generation to come.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My Junior and Senior High School years were rough for me. I was the “new kid” in a prominently white institution which was something new for me. I was used to being around staff and students who looked like me and shared the same core values. But, at this school everything was different. I was looked at as the “welfare kid” or the kid that used someone else’s address to go to school because no way my single parent could afford homes in that area. Yet, my mother sent me to school every day and reluctantly I went. I’ll never forget my senior year, my Algebra teacher was determined to fail me thus I would not graduate. She had voiced many times her dislike for me and her distaste for me being in her class. I must have really pissed her off because one day she said ” Alexis why are you even in this school, you don’t belong here”. In shock, I knew that I had to prove her wrong. Not only did I pass the final exam with flying colors and graduate but I went on to earn my BA in Social Work and Sociology, MA in Counseling, and my administration certification. I proved my Algebra teacher wrong, but better than that, proved to myself I was right! I can do this thing called life regardless if others believe it or not.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: shestandsllc
• Linkedin: shestandsllc