Joanna Grace Farmer

Liberating One's Self: Healing and Helping Others Do the Same So that Together, We Can Reach Our Highest Potential

Category: encouragers

Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels 2

Australia / Bangladesh / collective wellbeing / communication / conflict resolution / diversity / encouragers / global citizens / good memories / insight / listening / reflections / wisdom

Brian’s retirement

Brian’s retirement Today is a sad day for my wife and me. Our long-time gardener Brian is hanging up his boots. He is up for hip surgery in two weeks and has a long period of rehabilitation in the coming weeks. After recovering fully, he is up for ankle surgery and then a knee replacement. And so, Brian retiring at 71 is completely understandable. At the end of today’s visit, Brian returned the key for the backyard gate. The handing over ritual was a moment of muffled emotions, laced with poignant undercurrents. Over a period of 15 years, Brian bonded...

areas of expertise

Building Community Capacity / changemakers / collaboration / collective wellbeing / empower / encouragers / focus / highest potential / Indigenous / information / initiatives / insight / listening / resources / strengths-based / success / wisdom

areas of expertise

Services Goals 30 to 45 minute maximum listening session Discuss ideation and goals Proposal and contract design and discussion Ensure that work is uniquely designed for projects and initiatives Applied research Create knowledge base of information and resources Identification and feasibility of best practices Increase ability of individuals and organizations to successfully implement initiatives and programs Strengths-based inventories Focus on individual and community strengths Collective impact strategies Focus on increasing collective well-being Technical assistance and capacity building Focus on growth, development, and sustainability Empowerment and engagement strategies Increase participation and membership Intrinsic motivation, life mapping, and action planning Increase individual...

Building Community Capacity / collaboration / collective wellbeing / empower / encouragers / Indigenous / ubuntu

we’ve got to be team players…

What I am most proud of right now are the people who can show, in word and deed, that they can partner with other individuals and organizations. They will make it to the next level because being able to collaborate and create win-win situations is a reality in the 21st century. We need teamwork and leading is more than being at the top, telling other people what to do. You’ve got to be a team player with your boots on the ground. Engaged. Empowering others to reach their highest potential. Congratulations to everyone who’s worked so hard to get to...

ancestral legacy / changemakers / daughters / educators / encouragers / fathers / good memories / hope / insight / love / mothers / musings / wisdom

Happy 57th Anniversary, Mama and Daddy! Rest in peace…rest in power.

Reflection ~I’m celebrating my Mama and Daddy today. Here they are…my Father giving my Mother a surprise birthday party, bringing out her amazing dimples and sparkling personality. I remember that day and so many others…filled with good memories of life, love, and laughter. I cherish these times because my parents were good people. They left quite a legacy of faith, hope, and love…doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. They were united in their belief that “we the people” could and would form a more perfect union. Observation ~Memories can bring pain especially when tragedy is...

activists / advocates / best practices / Building Community Capacity / changemakers / collaborate / collective wellbeing / commitment / communicate / connect / empower / encouragers / information / initiatives / projects / resources

initiatives + projects

We’ve worked on numerous projects over the years. Our ability to successfully support initiatives and help with project implementation is based on our core strategies. Connect. Communicate. Collaborate. Our favorite and best initiatives are grounded in teamwork. Lived Experience Video for Psych Hub https://psychhub.com/ 2021 Lived Experience Council, Healthy Brains Global Initiative https://www.hbgi.org/lived-experience-council-joanna-grace-farmer Global Community Impact Leaders Consortium, Thought Partnerships Feminist Parenting: Perspectives from Africa and Beyond Authored Chapter 17: Liberating One’s Self: Healing and Helping Others Do the Same Reflecting on Empower Missiouri and a Lifetime of Service: Conversations with Mary Kay McPhee M.A.G.I.C. (Midwest Afro-American Genealogical Interest Coalition)...

Black women / children / communication / connect / daughters / encouragers / Faith / good speech / gratitude / insight / inter-generational / joy / listening / love / mothers / musings / quality time / self-care / stress management / wellness / wisdom

reaching out…asking for help

Reflection ~It’s so important to reach out…to ask for help. I was feeling some kind of way today. Being an activist is hard work and I definitely needed a break so I took it. Glad I did…it was a blessing because I know I’m standing on the shoulders of greatness but I’ve got to take a step back sometimes. Remember who’s really in charge: GOD.  Observation ~Who answered my call for help? The one and only, my amazing, incredible, phenomenal woman, my very own Faith, my daughter. Her wisdom is a balm to my Gilead. Thank YOU, Faith. I needed...