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

Roxanne , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana and I was forced to evacuate with my then 12-year-old daughter to another location. Since we had never visited Atlanta, we decided to travel here because in our minds we thought we would be returning to New Orleans in a few days. Unbeknownst to us, the levies broke and what should have been a few days away from home turned into 17 years in a new environment with no family, no friends, no home, and no way of sustaining life. BUT GOD! Because of my faith, God placed strangers in my life that supported and encouraged me to get on my feet and start the next chapter of my life. When I knew Atlanta would be my home, my first order of business was to secure employment. Thankfully, I am an educator; so, acquiring a position was not difficult.

Thereafter, the wonderful people that I met as an educator opened doors and friendships that will be with me for a lifetime. After securing my teaching assignment, I then secured a church home. Hearing God’s promises was very instrumental in me being confident that I could rebuild and start again. From there, I enrolled in school and received my Specialist degree and then a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. I began to get promoted on my job, moving up the ranks from being a teacher to now a Principal of my own school. Life was going very well for me as it relates to my career and rebuilding; however, I still suffered with sadness and a sense of not operating in the purpose that God called me for. I was going through the motions but in my spirit, I knew I was destined for something greater. The question was, what was it and how will it manifest? Then, COVID-19 devastated our world, we were all quarantined, and I had nothing else to do but listen to what God was saying and penning it to my paper.

As I listened and as I wrote, the more I could hear the words “BE FREE BE YOU.” What birthed from me sitting and listening was my self-published book “BE FREE BE YOU 21 Letters to a Beautiful and Godly Lady”. The premise of the book is twenty-one transparent letters written to Beautiful and Godly Ladies all over the world. Each letter expresses an experience of empowerment reminding us that whatever we go through in life (mentally, physically, emotionally or financially), we have the courage and resiliency to get through it. After writing the book, God then led me to found the BE FREE BE YOU Movement LLC and BE FREE BE YOU Incorporated nonprofit. Both organizations are founded on the tag line: To be authentic. To be courageous. To be free. To be you.” Our overall mission is to “Release the stereotypes created by society of who we should be; Silence the voices that perpetuates the limiting beliefs we speak about ourselves based on the voices that have been spoken into our soul and to Know, accept, and love that God has created us in His image and likeness and therefore, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” BE FREE BE YOU’s goal is to work with young girls and young women in developing a mind of Christ by knowing who we are and whose we are. Our organization knows that everything starts and ends with our mindset, so God has provided opportunity for us to launch the BE FREE BE YOU Life Coaching Program and the Beautiful and Godly Ladies Mentoring Program, specializing in mindset changes, self love, and goal setting through biblical principals and tools we need to live in purpose and destiny.

For me, what initially started off as tragedy ended up being triumphant and I am grateful for the ride as well as the chance to serve others to make it through similar situations.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those that may not know us, BE FREE BE YOU specializes in Life Coaching, the Beautiful and Godly Lady (B.A.G. Lady) mentoring program, self help workshops, vision board workshops, educational consulting, and motivational speaking. Our ultimate goal is to have a Project C.A.R.E. (Changing Attitudes Raising Esteem) House that will allow us to host all of our programs and hopefully start an all girls school. We know that everything starts and ends with mindset, so we specialize in mindset changes, self love, and goal setting through biblical principals and tools we need to live in purpose and destiny.

We are set apart because our goal is to work with people through authenticity and courage. We have 5 pillars that we are founded on: Spirituality, Service, Self Love, Social Consciousness, Self Sufficiency. After completing any tenet of our program we want people to be better than they were when they started in every area of their lives.

Ironically, the dream of my business began because I wanted to be the person that I needed throughout my own personal journey. It is not easy starting a business or a brand. Between the mental, emotional, physical, and financial challenges you go through it is important to remain positive and encouraged. I am grateful that I have a circle of people that support and I want to pay it forward to those that may be struggling with a defeated mindset or need a Coach that can assist with guiding them to reach their goals.

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

LOL, it seems like resilience is my middle name these days. Well, considering we are a fairly new business, starting out can be an emotional roller coster. A lot of times I have the mental battle of is my business worth the work and energy that I put into it, See, I don’t just want a business; I want it to be apart of the change in someone’s life. However, sometimes I get caught up in my own thoughts that my business isn’t moving as quickly as I would like or I am not getting as many customers as I want. Then I have to remind myself that it takes time to build quality. I have to affirm myself daily that when God blesses me He has someone else in mind so keep going. With that in mind, I get up daily and post something, talk to someone, send an email, spend time in planning so that I can keep moving. In the big scheme of things, none of this is for me; but it is for my legacy and for all of the people that need the services and supports that we provide. So, just like I tell everyone, I tell myself “Keep going, Keep growing, and keep shining because the world needs my light.”

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Well, I have to say that I have not completely built my social media presence because again, I am just starting out. However, the current audience I have is due to me creating social media lives on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Additionally, I have had the opportunities to speak on other influencer’s platforms in front of their audiences. It wasn’t easy though. Even though you are not standing in front of a live audience, it is just the thought of the possibility of being in front millions of people that stirs my anxiety. But, to whom much is given much is required. I know that I have a message and I know that someone needs to hear it, If it is just one person then that is the one person I need to speak to that day. So, with that in mind I show up. Now, the advice I want to give is to not just show up; but to show up consistently. Never miss a day. Create a schedule of how you will post on social media daily. Also, it is very important to find your tribe or your audience. Find the people that need what you have to offer. Everyone is not your tribe; so, it can be very discouraging when you give your all only for it not to be received. It does not mean your product or service isn’t good. It just mean that they are not your audience. Lastly, I would say always be authentic. be courageous and BE FREE BE YOU. The world has a million carbon copies; but there’s only have one you. Let the world meet you. We need what you have to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: drrox.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com//befreebeyoumovement
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2944800442419833/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-roxanne-dixon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8G4s9P7hSaXgu_tkW9jnbA

Image Credits
Photography by: Ty Pleas and Cliff Robinson Photography