It’s been two weeks since i’ve posted. Two weeks of our country taking a stand against racial and social injustice. Two weeks of real change beginning to happen but we can’t let it stop here. This is meant to be a movement not a moment. so as our social media feed and news channels begin to broadcast less we still must continue to broadcast our voices. It can be through photography, marching, donating, volunteering, writing, singing and so on, you choose the medium, but just don’t stop.

The state of this country over the past two weeks had me in my head. It gave me a bigger sense of urgency to build a voice rather than fall weak to my lack of knowledge leading me to stay “silent but neutral”. I am not a silent person in general, therefore I should not be silent over matters that truly upset me and I believe need to be revolutionized. With so many thoughts swirling through my head I came to this question of “what does ‘nodefintion’ actually stand for?” like ACTUALLY stand for?? And honestly I wasn't sure. Yes, it has visions, purpose and heart, but i felt that there was something missing. Who and what is it actually empowering? I needed to add more substance to this brand. Give it more focus. That being said, I went back to the drawing board with a plan to build a stronger voice that can touch on more than just boy problems and personal growth. Yes, the site will still have those conversations, but it will also have fundamental conversations about our rights as human beings. However, I am not a political person nor do I want to make this site a place for political debate. I simply just want to give all people a place they can go to when they need a way to connect deeper with themselves, and gain new knowledge. 

Over the past two weeks I have attended multiple peaceful protests and marches alongside many of you. Unfortunately, these will begin to dwindle down as people start going back to work and shift their energy from what the ‘shelter in place’ lifestyle has allowed. So how do we continue to show our support and be allies? Like I said, you choose the medium. I am choosing to continue my education through articles, podcasts and more. I will also be advocating by donating to causes that i believe in. Anyone who has ventured into the meaning behind this brand knows that it’s about improving mental health and creating the best version of you to live a life that can be enjoyed, filled with self confidence and self love. I am not trying to tear anybody down with my journey of finding a voice. 

I am a white woman. I come from a family of cops. I have friends, coworkers, and roommates in the black community. I have people in my life who are a mix of all three, or two of the three. I have experiences of my own whether that be personally or as a bystander. Alongside that, I am exposed to first hand experiences through the eyes and ears of the people that I care for around me. I will not ever invalidate someone's emotions based on their experiences. I will listen, understand, sympathize, educate/be educated, and progress forward. 

So what comes next?

For me, for nodefintion, it was finding organizations that run parallel to what we stand for as a brand. After doing some research, I have chosen four organizations that nodefinition will donate to every year (the best that I can working a non-salary job) - with effort to to donate more than once. Those organizations are Embrace Race, The Loveland Foundation, the prosp(a)rity project, and Sista Afya. Embrace Race focuses on educating parents, teachers, and caregivers on how to facilitate the conversation about racism with their children in a healthy way. After all, children are our future. The Loveland Foundation and Sista Afya focus on the mental wellness of black women and girls who have experienced racial injustice. the prosp(a)rity project was created by my dear friend Briana franklin. Their mission is to equip black girls and women with the resources and knowledge needed to overcome obstacles financially and professionally to help lead a radiant life of success.

We all deserve to live a life of fulfillment and joy. My goal is to give (to as many people as i can) equal opportunity for success and to do it with their best intentions. THAT is what nodefintion stands for.