We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaleesa Washington a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaleesa, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was sitting in my room one day watching Property Brothers and I just heard God say “I want you to get 50 women in the same room.”. None of that made any sense because I don’t know of 50 women that would use their time coming into a room with me. Outside had just opened back up and I knew that women wanted to enjoy being outside, traveling, brunching etc and not sitting in a room with me. I had a sketch book next to my bed (I always have something to write with near by in case God speaks to me or I have dreams that I need to remember) and God just started downloading what the room should look like. I knew that He didn’t want it to be labeled as a church event but the exact opposite. He told me to make a point to let everyone know that this is open to every woman regardless of religion, education, social or economic status. Within an hour that sketch book was full of everything I needed to do what God asked me to do. I knew what speakers I would use, the area it would be in, the flow, the caterer. It was crazy.

The purpose was to dispel any myths or false truths that women can’t be in the same room, grow heal and GET ALONG. The goal was to initiate the possibility of wholeness into women that life has broken. Regardless of where we come from or what or who we believe in, we have one thing in common- BROKENNESS!! And it was time for us to learn from one another’s experiences and HEAL!!!

I got the vision August 17th and the first Gathering was in October 29th & 30th. Originally I was planning for the following year but I sensed an urgency to do what God said. I assembled a very small team and God made it work. There were 82 women in attendance. Exceeded my expectation. Even though I had no idea what to expect. Lives were CHANGED!!!!!!! Women were empowered to believe in themselves for the first time. Tall brick barriers that many women had around their heart were torn down. Sisterhoods were formed. For the first time in any of our lives, women came together and supported each other.

My fear honestly was that no one would show. Who am I?? NO ONE!! I am not a big name in Baltimore and my speakers weren’t well known either. But they had a story that needed to be shared!!! Although it was my fear, I never doubted that God was going to work everything out. I have learned how to obey God even if I am afraid. The Gathering served as the catalyst of 82 women’s healing!! I am forever grateful for the women who entrusted me with that moment and continue to for the last 3 years.

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

I was born with a disease called biliary atresia and received a liver transplant at the age of 2. I have been fighting for my life my entire life. I been through mental, physical and sexual abuse. I have experienced church hurt. I have been betrayed by friends. I have been through a lot but I have always believed that God had more in store for me. I don’t think He spared my life for me not to be able to LIVE my life. And so I started The Gathering Experience so that other women could see that healing is possible. I wanted my story to empower someone else NOT to give up. I wanted to create a safe space for women to be vulnerable but also be given the proper tools to heal physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes people just need to be surrounded by possibilities! There is something so powerful about being in the room with a miracle.

What I am most proud of is what happens to these women AFTER The Gathering is over. The Gathering is just the beginning of a life long journey of healing that women are choosing to embark on. They are choosing healing over being married to their pain. We have created a community of women who just want to grow and be the healthiest version of themselves. I get so full when someone says “Since attending The Gathering I am now about to…..” or “After I left The Gathering I made some changes and set boundaries to ensure that I will continue to heal and be progressive.”. It’s not about ME or even the speakers, people speak well of the ENTIRE EXPERIENCE. It’s just being in the room that makes the difference. Women have started business because of The Gathering. Women have started going to therapy because of The Gathering. Women have become exactly who they were always meant to be because of The Gathering Experience.

Any advice for managing a team?

The first Gathering my team consisted of three people. We took a minute to debrief after the first event. We looked at our strengths and areas of opportunity for the next one. I released the date for the second Gathering at the first one without even checking my calendar. lol. I heard God so I was obedient. My team threw a whole tantrum when I announced the date out loud because we hadn’t even gotten through the first one.

I knew that preparation and execution was A LOT for my three musketeers so I needed to grow the team. So I opened an invitation for whoever wanted to join the planning committee. Even though God had already revealed to me who needed to be added to the team and what their role was. However, I was “doing it afraid” again so I still opened the invitation. The additional five team members jumped right on board. I knew that in order to manage the team effectively I had to maximize on their strengths but still challenge them to grow. As a leader I had to hear where they felt comfortable serving/helping/supporting but still push them out of their comfort zone. I got a lot of eye rolls but they all went with the flow cause they trusted that it was for their greater good. In order to manage a team you have to give your team room to grow. Two of the people on my team grow so much helping me that they were able to create their own rooms for the people they are called to. A lot of time leaders are intimidated by the growth of their team and never want them to “be above” or “surpass” them. Which is crazy. Good leaders develop other leaders.

I managed the team through delegation. We listed what we needed and I delegated according the the gifts/talents/ability of those on the team. And I didn’t micromanage because I trusted the team to pull their weight. I always emphasized the fact that this was OUR event because this event wasn’t about me. Never was! Never will be. It was important for me that my team understood their value in helping create the room. People are more inclined to give it their all when they feel as though they have “stock” in what you are asking them to do. This room was for us to heal!! This was OUR event.

Maintaining high morale was honestly natural because my team was the turn up crew. They were excited to participate because of what they experienced the year before. We did have meetings to discuss logistics but the morale was a given!!!! They were ready to just GET IN THE ROOM!!!!!

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

This year’s Gathering Experience was very hard for me. I honestly wanted to cancel it because life had got the best of me and I was so broken. I was who the room was created for. However, as the visionary, I didn’t want to come into the room busted, bruised and too vulnerable. My mom was in ICU on 80% oxygen with no progress being made for days. My relationship of almost 10 years with my partner had abruptly come to an end. My friendships were CHALLENGED almost to a point where it couldn’t be repaired. Mentally I was in a very very dark headspace. I was participating in self harm. I was physically here but mentally I had checked out. How do I create a room for someone else when I needed it for myself. I never wanted to be a hypocrite and preach and teach one thing but believe the opposite.

I had called the resort and asked what would the financial loss be for me canceling. I wasn’t looking for any money back, I just wanted it to go away. At that point I would of had to pay $5,000 to cancel cause we were getting too close to the date. I was frustrated, embarrassed, broken, hurting and so lost. But I also didn’t have an extra $5,000 just laying around. So I had to see it through.

I came to the event bright eyed and bushy tailed. Or so I thought. This years theme was “Uncensensored”. I literally had to be vulnerable enough with the women and express that I probably needed the room more than they did. I had to push through and still make sure these women left aware of the possibility of wholeness when I was in a million pieces.

There were many times that I snuck out and went to my room to just CRY!!! At that point, I was below E!! I was in a room full of people but still felt alone. I was who I called into the room. I had become the purpose for the room.

However, the last day of the event I had the opportunity to share with the ladies. I did a presentation with me in an orange jail suit. on the jumpsuit I had written words that represented how I felt.
Broken. Tired. Scared. Alone, Abandoned, Isolated.

Then I also wrote a couple of my experiences on there as well. Abuse. Rape. Molestation. Church Hurt. Heartbreak. Sickness. Suicide. Self Harm.

I was candid with the ladies about how I really felt. Yes the visionary had lost her strength and drive. However, I learned in that moment that there is so much power in fragility. There was so much power in being honest about where I was. The blessing was I was no longer alone in the room. There were other women who were also just as broken and detached. Sometimes people don’t need a well put together speech; folks just need authenticity. I was strengthened in that moment. Initially I was broken and just over it but then I realized how resilient I was. I pushed through how I felt. I didn’t allow life to stop walking in who God has called me to be. I realized that as I pour out each year, I have to be intentional about pouring back into myself so that I’m not pouring from an empty cup.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/655728872369623
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq8i56ljyfw&t=26s

Image Credits
Graced Productions Ben Johnson