We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Folami Irvine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Folami below.
Hi Folami, thanks for joining us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?
I am a folklore Healing Artist which includes a multiple of life long healing modalities. Today I teach multiple life long tools including, herbal remedies, iridology, and various other folklore healing arts. I do Sister Circles, Coming of Age ceremonies, Spiritual baths, and Herbal walks, to name a few..Our community needs a place that is small and intimate, where they can communicate. Africans always had intimate circles and rites of passages. The penal systems has become a rite of passages for our young brothers. The number of young ladies who are incarcerated increase daily. There are so many factors involved and million of dollars are given to the penal systems to house or devalue our youth. A Cultural Circle operates out of the principle that is time we help families in our community to understand their values and traditions. I learned how to be a a part of various circles from childhood to adulthood. A circlekeeper is often time called by various elders to do task in the community. This comes with time and many other assignments. There is so much you learn outside of the circle that prepares you to be a Cultural Circlekeeper. The elders recognize the gifts and they know how to develop those gifts within. There were so many people from my family and community that provided me with apprenticeship and experience in becoming a Folklore Healing Artist. I am honored, that I am chosen as one of the keepers of this culture. This role is critical to me, although it has not been easy. I am passing on this torch, and Cultural Circlekeeper is one my life calling.
Folami, 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?
The Precious Jewels Prevention Program started over 30 years ago as a volunteer mentoring service for at-risk girls, and has since expanded to servicing young children and adults. We have been part of many solutions addressing health disparities, educational barriers, and social injustice among African Americans. We have volunteered with over 1,000 youth within Sister Circles with our students having a 95% high school graduation rate. We have provided Baby Empowering Showers since 2012 with 98% of our women having full term birth outcomes and their children having a healthy birth weight. In 2019 we provided free herbal workshops to over 300 young children in the Philadelphia area. This was a mentor apprentice opportunity called each one teach one where participants received stipends. With our services we have seen a decrease in Black infant mortality rates, juvenile detention rates, and increased cultural-awareness throughout our community. One of our 2009 PJPP “I learned a lot so far in Sisterhood if it wasn’t for Sister Circle I would still have a lot of anger and problems”(J.T.) We are working to end the cycle of disconnection and isolation in our communities of color and replace them with words and actions of value, respect, and admiration for one another.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I have learned to know my value. There has to be a balance when doing business. People often want you to volunteer and pick your brains. They will pay someone else for the same services you provide for free. It is important to have invoices and contracts.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Have a love for what you do and have balance. Find time to have some fun. I enjoy getting out in nature, invest in coloring books, keep moving, drink plenty of water ,get on swings/sliding board if you can find time to do something for yourself everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://folamioasis.company.site/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/preciousjewels.llc
- Other: rosine_2.0 artist at rosine on there instagram -Pew Foundation Leeway foundation website Velocity Grant medicine grows
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