We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Froswa’ Booker-Drew. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Froswa’ below.

Alright, Froswa’ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents taught me so many valuable lessons. My parents had no idea that they were teaching me to become a philanthropist. I witnessed my parents feeding the homeless, visiting the elderly or the bringing cards and money to those who were sick. I saw them volunteer for causes that were important. I had no idea at the time that they were planting the seeds of giving in my life. This made such a difference in my life. It wasn’t that giving was something outside of the norm or something special. Giving is a part of who I am and being a part of my community started as a kid. I saw that I didn’t lose anything by sharing. I have gained so much by sharing my time, talent, testimony and treasure with others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my business in the mid 90s right after leaving a job I had with the City of Dallas. In my 20s, I was blown away by the opportunities I was presented to share my experience. Despite going back to work full-time throughout my career, I never stopped my business. So often, my full-time roles funded and fueled my passion. I started Soulstice Consultancy not just to serve as a transactional business–I wanted to do something that used my skills, spirit and expertise to create transformation. Just as the summer and winter solstice is a change of seasons, I hope that when individuals encounter me or my work, they, too, experience a change in their souls, spirits because of the collaboration.
I am a Network Weaver who believes relationships are the key to our personal, professional, and organizational growth. As the founder of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC, I provide consultations, training, and coaching to individuals and organizations focused on making a meaningful and measurable impact in their communities. I provide a number of services focused on nonprofit management, philanthropy, change management, leadership, DBIE and capacity building. With more than 25 years of experience, I am both a scholar and a practitioner. My lived experience along with research informs my work and perspective. I’m so proud of how the business continues to grow with clients that include Methodist Health System, The Strategy Group, Futures without Violence and many others across the country. I am also an author of four books. My latest book, Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy, is currently on the top 100 books in three categories on Amazon. Lastly, I love to give back through teaching. I am currently an adjunct in the MPA program at Tulane University and a research affiliate at Antioch University.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Our house caught a fire when I was in high school, and we moved in with my aunt and uncle. I lost not only my home, but my clothing and my hair began to fall out as a sophomore in high school. We finally moved back into the house that was really not in the best condition to return to. My dad dealt with his pain by drinking which resulted in a lot of yelling and fights. I remember so desperately wanting to leave Louisiana to go to college so I could get away. I loved him but I was frustrated because his decisions impacted our lives. I moved to Texas to start my new, adult life and our relationship remained strained.

As the years went by, I was determined to use my education so that I would not have to depend upon anyone for anything. My mother pushed me to pursue my degrees because she felt had she finished college, her life would have been different. She would not have had to depend on my father.

I knew my dad was proud of me, but what transformed his life was the birth of my daughter. Daddy loved and lived for her. He had given up smoking for her. My dad started smoking when he was 11 years old and tried to stop when I was a kid but could not kick this habit.

I remember my father and I were both coughing in the winter of 2005. I remember calling a friend who was a nurse practitioner feeling weak and unable to breathe. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and was in bed for two months.

My father in Louisiana was given the same diagnosis shortly thereafter. By June, I had recovered. My dad had not. He was admitted to the hospital. After waiting in the lobby for hours, we were informed that his entire chest was lined with nodules. My dad who had been smoking since he was eleven was now fifty-six in stage 4 of cancer. I could not believe that my only child was going to lose her grandfather who was so amazing to her. Even though he had stopped smoking, it was too late. I still believed and prayed he would beat it. I did not realize the two months I spent in bed was a blessing in disguise. Little did I know that God was preparing me for dealing with the turbulent times to come.

As Hurricane Katrina came through New Orleans, chaos was occurring in Northern Louisiana as well. I remember visiting my dad and helping my mom get a break. He was so weak. The 6’6, strong man I knew as a kid was rail thin and needed my help going to the bathroom. My mom told me he was on the critical ward of the hospital and even then, I held on to my faith believing he would recover. The pills and chemo never worked and yet, me and Daddy held on to this idea that he could beat this like he did everything else. This disease brought my father and I closer. He apologized to me for everything he had done and for my dad to admit his wrongs was huge. Even though I had forgiven him, his admission freed me. This was the beginning of several gifts I received from this experience.

My uncle was ill–his older brother–and he passed when daddy was released home to hospice care. My uncle could not be funeralized due to the back log. I quit my job in the midst of this to start a new position. Hurricane Rita had just come through Northern Louisiana, and I was terrified to leave for Minneapolis knowing the possible danger for my parents–I was aware that mom was home caring for dad during this storm. I talked to him the night before I left. He was having a tough time talking but he joked with me and wished me well on my new role.

As I was leaving for the airport, mom called saying the paramedics were trying to resuscitate my dad. My husband decided to drive me to Louisiana while our 5-year-old remained with friends. I thought my visit would be brief and daddy would be fine. Little did I know my call the night before would be the last time I spoke with him. On the way to Shreveport, he died.

A few days later, we had my uncle’s wake at 6 pm and my dad’s at 7 on the same day. At the cemetery, a friend walked up to me and whispered, “This is a gold mine filled with dreams that were not realized. Will that be you?” Initially, I was horrified by the comment but immediately it resonated with me. It was at that time I began my quest to live life to its fullest. My dad could have been the next Emeril. He was a well-known restaurant owner. He was charismatic and a beautiful man whose smile lit up a room. That possibility died with him. It was because of his life and his death, I vowed not to let my passion and dreams waste away. My dad’s death allowed me to take risk that I might not have otherwise done. Years later, I am still moving forward. In 2008, I participated in a documentary that took a group of women from Dallas, Texas to India entitled, “Friendly Captivity”. This film not only exposed us to the poverty in India and how women were making a difference despite their circumstances. Leaving my eight-year-old daughter for almost two weeks was difficult but I knew this experience would be life changing and it was. It compelled me to help women because I began to see my own value and I want others to have that same experience. I graduated with my PhD in Leadership and Change in August 2014 after years of dismissing the idea. I published my first book, Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last in 2013 while working on a PhD. Since that time, I have published three more books along with so many other wonderful blessings. There have been so many good things that have happened despite of this tragedy in my life, and I continue to persevere. I think of my father often and I miss him. In some strange way, I believe he is here with me, cheering me on and I know he is proud of me and his phenomenal granddaughter who will be graduating from college in December 2022.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I always would tell my staff to put your head down and do the work. I think so many spend time trying to build an audience without focusing on building a body of work that is meaningful. For some people, they are seeing the results of decades of work but are unaware of the time and effort that it has taken. There is nothing wrong with desiring success but success without significance is fleeting. I have been committed to making a difference in the lives of others and my work continues to demonstrate this belief.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drfroswabooker.com/
• Instagram: @DrFroswa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froswabookerdrew/
• Twitter: @Froswa

Image Credits
Nitashia Johnson Kazai Drew