We recently connected with Takiya Green and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Takiya , thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Although I came from a somewhat broken home, with both her biological parents struggling with Substance Use Disorder and Psychological issues, I vowed to create a life for herself that differed from the poverty I was birthed into. I credit my foster/adoptive mother, the late Claudes O. Williams for providing me with a loving and stable home environment, that truly nurtured my talents and natural abilities. I also, credit my mother Claudes for modeling what it meant to give back to her community; Claudes was a philanthropist and was active in her church home, which helped lay the foundation for who I am today. It was important that I follow in my mentor and Foster/Adoptive mother’s footsteps, by attending Morgan State as she did!!

Takiya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I currently works for the Maryland State Government and have devoted myself to strengthening the family institution as well as serving as a role model for other foster youth who may have come from similar backgrounds, and don’t believe they can still be successful. I believe that I am living proof that perseverance and self-willed determination will help you to achieve all your aspirations.

In 2005 I was honored to receive the Outstanding Supportive Counseling Award from the Challengers Independent Living Program and later went on to earn my master’s degree in Social Work from the prestigious Howard University in 2006.

Short stories, dancing, listening to music, cooking and spending quality time with my family and friends. I also meditate and chant daily in order to remain centered and focused on maintaining a peaceful existence.

I can’t speak about Don’t Ignore the Scars LLC without first speaking about my daughter Vee Green. She is co-founder of Don’t Ignore the Scars LLC and is co-author of our memoir Victimless Soldiers!! It is currently on sale on both Amazon and via our website www.dontignorellc. When Vee was about 16 years old I found her almost dead in her room from cutting herself; I would later find out that she had been engaging in Self-Harm/self-injurious behaviors (many refer to these individuals as cutters). I would also find out later that she had been cutting for several years without my knowledge!! In addition I was newly divorced and taking care of another child with special needs, as well as my grandmother who had stage 4 lung cancer and was on Hospice. She would later Succumb to her illness and passed away in our home the day before my birthday, May 14, 2014. At this point I have very little faith in anything, but somehow I could still feel my “Grammy ” telling me, “It’s time to put my steel boots on and do what you must do ”

So, after years of treatment for Vee we both decided to not let another day go by without parents/caregivers and our community knowing what Self-Harm and Self-Injury looks like!!! To not let another youth suffer in silence! More importantly we decided to start a business where we can teach, speak and bring about awareness of “Cutting ” We wanted to cultivate a safe space for “cutters ” to not only get support and understanding but also a place where the behaviors could be explained and better understood by parents, caregivers and society as a whole.

In 2019 we started Don’t Ignore the Scars,LLC!! The mission of Don’t Ignore the Scars, LLC (DITS) is to provide quality presentations, workshops and healing support groups that will inspire, encourage, educate and bring about a unique awareness of adolescent self-harming behaviors.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Yes, absolutely it is what I was born to do.
This answer should say No, I absolutely know that I am walking in my PURPOSE!!

Contact Info:

• Website: dontignorellc.com
• Instagram: dits_kv
• Facebook: Don’t ignore the scars