Writings and Reflections: My Experience of St. Elmo Village’s Speaking Our Truth Workshop

On March 3rd and 10th, I had the privilege of attending the Speaking Our Truth writer’s workshop hosted by St. Elmo Village, a non-profit organization that fosters the arts in West Los Angeles. The event centered around topics such as social justice, cultural diversity, intergenerational connections, and community relationships, where writers from all walks of life came together to share their truths.

During the workshop, I was fortunate to participate in several classes that challenged my writing skills and sparked a personal transformation. The screenwriting class, led by the insightful Rene Rawls, was a revelation. I discovered new ways to build a character’s journey, forever altering how I view films. Dorothy Randall Gray’s ‘Buttons’ class was equally enlightening. Her unique approach to storytelling, based on random buttons, encouraged me to express myself more freely in my writing and life, leaving me with a renewed sense of inspiration and a desire for self-discovery.

The second weekend was just as impactful as the first. Poet and vegan chef V. Kali’s class focused on Poetry. She led an exercise on writing about the color blue, which helped me structure an entire poem, something I hadn’t done in years. Shonda Buchanan, whose work dissects her experience as a Black and Indian woman, led a class to analyze Luis J Rodriguez’s poem “Watts Bleeds” and inspired us to create poems or memoirs.

This workshop was a powerful testament to the transformative power of creativity. The vibrant energy of the talented and passionate participants rekindled my love for writing and reminded me of my initial spark. I left the workshop inspired, energized, and rejuvenated, with a renewed commitment to my craft. If you’re seeking a place to reignite your creative spark and connect with like-minded individuals, this workshop is a must-attend for the rejuvenation and reenergizing it offers.

The Speaking Our Truth writer’s workshop at St. Elmo Village was an unforgettable experience that inspired and empowered me. Through the classes and writing exercises, I was challenged to dig deeper into my writing and explore new ways of expressing myself. The instructors were knowledgeable and passionate about their craft, and their teachings will stay with me for a long time. Being surrounded by such creative and talented individuals was a transformative experience that rekindled my love for writing. I left the workshop feeling energized and renewed, with a newfound commitment to my craft. If you’re looking for inspiration and a supportive community to help you grow as a writer, I recommend attending this workshop in the future.

Poet and Singer Melaina Williams Shares the Highs and Lows of Womanhood

Barefoot, glowing and eight months expectant, Poet and Singer Melaina Williams, took the stage last Wednesday for her event, God Bless The Child at The World Stage Performance Gallery, nestled in Leimert Park.

Williams shared her written work that reflected the highs and lows of being a woman, wife, and mother. A major lesson that she grasped in her journey is that setbacks are opportunities to learn.

“…Whether it’s careers, relationships, waiting on inspiration – whatever it is that we are waiting on, remember that even in the things that seem to be the letdown, they are not the letdown. They are opportunities for you to learn, opportunities for you to keep going if you trust that, if you believe that. It’s a lot of things that we don’t believe in that doesn’t work for us, but if we believe it, there’s nothing that you will look back and say, ‘I didn’t learn nothing from that.’ You can learn something.”

“Domestic App”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8C0MgU-cso

Mother’s Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9OAFdf0wkc

“The Best of the Meat”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRowX6DLPg

“January 2019, Joshua Tree”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFqlYKcCkiY

“Laundry Day”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUxUnIhIMSM

“Keep Rolling On”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5DbKFVdNTI

You can read more of her work in her book, “Bless Your Sweet Bones.” Available on Amazon.com and The World Stage Press.

Mind, Body, and Write!

As writers, our job is to sit and write for hours to meet deadlines. But with the sitting comes the eating, and it’s usually grabbing the quickest and easiest meals or snacks so you can get right back to writing. Here at Ravishing Raconteur, we realize that incorporating a workout regimen and a healthy eating plan is good for our physical and mental health.

We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting workouts, so we were happy to come across @sydneycummings_, our lives have collectively been changed. If you want a damn good workout daily, visit Sydney Cummings YouTube channel. She’s a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and fitness nutrition specialist who gives followers variety, so the workouts are never boring. If you join her “Sydney Squad,” she gives you nutrition tips and more so you can be snaaaaatched all year’ round!

Ravishing Raconteur, correspondent, @natdeneva had the pleasure of meeting Sydney. She got the chance to share with her how many compliments she received on her arm definition since doing her workouts.

We have in-house proof that her workout regimen works.

Check her out when you get a chance.

Teedra Moses Celebrates 15th Anniversary of “Complex Simplicity”

Ravishing Raconteur had the pleasure of joining singer-songwriter, Teedra Moses, along with her family, friends, and fans to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her debut album, Complex Simplicity, at The Resident in Downtown Los Angeles’ colorful arts district.

Released in 2004, Complex Simplicity received critical acclaim as one of the recommended must-listen R&B-Soul albums of the year. With all the success of the album, Moses didn’t make a dime on the album, only on publishing. 15 years later, this album still resonates with so many music lovers. During her Live Q&A, she shared highlights and intimate thoughts behind the 14-track album. Here’s what she had to say:

Be Your Girl

Moses said this song “sustained” her and didn’t know it would garner so much fanfare. Many DJs have remixed it all over the world. The (Kaytranada Edition is a fan fave.)

Be Your Girl Rex

Fun fact: this song was inspired by a crush she had on rapper Nas. She felt they could relate on two levels: 1. They made great music, and 2: their mothers passed away. The sweet deal out of this is that Nas sampled “Be Your Girl” for his song “One on One”:

You’ll Never Find (A Better Woman)

“He hasn’t found anyone better,” says Moses of ex-boyfriend and father of their twin sons, rapper Ras Kas. Moses continued, “I tried with him and believed in him.” On the spot, she asked one of her sons, who was in attendance, “Has he found a better one?” Her son responded, “Nope.”

Caution

“I was looking in the mirror the whole time when I wrote the lyrics,” said Moses. She revealed that she didn’t feel good about herself at the time, so she went into a character that inspired lyrics such as, “To date me must be hot.”

Rescue Me

“Still waiting on God 15 years later,” said Moses referring to the sultry track, an ode to finding her true love. “Being a single parent can be lonely, “ she said. At that moment in her life, she was busy honing her craft in singing and songwriting and taking care of her twin boys, so she wasn’t in a “position to play.”

Take Me

This track described her romantic relationship at the time. Unfortunately, it fizzled, but one great relationship she has is her friendship with award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Raphael Saadiq who lent his vocals and production to this dreamy track.

She said Saadiq was a significant encouragement in her musical journey by helping her to stay active as an independent artist. He told her that she was “a dope entity on her own.”

For a lifetime

Dedicated to her best friend, who is her stylist. She described her as being beautiful inside and out and wants her to experience the love that she described in the song.

Caught Up

This is the first song that she wrote, arranged, and recorded. After completing that song, she knew that she could continue to craft her songs from start to finish, and own the rights to her work, and make money.

Last Day

This eerily beautiful song was written after her mother’s death. She described this period of her life as “morbid and questioned her morality” and wondered if she were to die today, how she would want to die.

You better tell her/ Outta My Head

She said those are her most aggressive songs on the album. The energy in those songs exudes her personality.

On tell her, it was about telling her cheating lover to put a drama-filled side chick in her place. But Moses reiterated, “That if you need to have that kind of conversation with your man, you don’t need to be in that relationship.”

Complex Simplicity

Written and recorded after her mother passed away, Moses described this track as her “liberation song.” She said, “Life is not easy. We are all suffering through something; it’s just how you do it.”

I think of you (Shirley song)

This track is special to her because it featured her mom singing a gospel song “Bye and Bye (This Old Soul of Mine) by Marie Knight.” Moses sang this song live but became very emotional. Moses stated, “this why I never sing this song.” It’s so sentimental that it was hard to perform while on tour.

Backstroke

This track is one of her highly requested songs – internationally, nationally. Second after Be Your Girl.

Moses ended the event by sharing that she is happy, Even without the glitz, glamour, and advertisement. She encouraged the crowd to go for their purpose even if it looks like nothing is happening.

Complex Simplicity will be re-released on September 27^th.