The Power of a Positive Voice

The thought that I most want to leave everyone with is to be a positive and powerful voice in the life of a child. I want to tell you a story about a special little girl. This was a unique little girl. Her life mirrored much of what the children (Court Appointed Special Advocates) CASAs serve are experiencing. This little girl's mother suffered with mental illness throughout her childhood, the family lived in what was described as the poverty level. Most folks couldn’t move past the mean exterior that she displayed. Every now and then she would smile. She had a beautiful smile too! Most people who didn’t take the time to get to know this little girl didn’t see that smile; they saw what was described as an angry and needy child.

They didn’t see this little girl as a special gift to the world but there was a special court appointed counselor named Vanessa J. Weaver who did. This woman worked with this young lady, equipped her with self-empowerment tools and showed her how to make a difference in her own life. (I’m that little girl.)

If I don’t do anything else, I want to dispel the myth that CASAs are serving needy children. Everyone needs something in their lives but as CASAs we can’t approach our mission with an attitude that we are super heroes, we have all of the answers, or that we have been sent from on high to help the needy children. I’ve learned to embrace the term "our children" instead of "those children" or "needy children". We are here to help our children because no matter what ethnic group, culture, religion or background, they are still our children and it’s up to us to make a difference in their lives.

I encourage everyone to recognize that we are powerful people. Our voice is the most powerful weapon that we can use to make a difference in the lives of our children. Do we know how to effectively use the power that we have? We can build or destroy a life with our power. Our power is our voice.

Say out loud "I got the power". Now for all of the English majors and school teachers, I know that it should be "I’ve got the power." But I’m a spoken word artist so I can get away with it right now. "I got the power" saturates my spirit a bit quicker, so say again, out loud (even if you're in the room with others) "I got the power"

It takes a special person to be a voice; Any and everyone can’t do this thing. Any and everyone don’t know how to use the power of their voice effectively. This is the kind of power that transcends the courtroom. The power—your voice must be used in the school, in the community, and numerous other places.

A CASA is not afraid to face the unknown. A CASA is often faced with the unknown that quickly has to become the known because typically within 6 months or less on case, you have become the veteran and it’s not an option. I would encourage us all to simply keep it real with our children and "know who they are". Particularly when we’re making decisions and recommendations that will affect the rest of their lives. We need to know who our children are.

I want to share an experience with you that happened to me. A few years ago I received a special high school alumni award, which I was excited about. However, I wasn’t made aware that I could have chosen the person to introduce me until after someone had already volunteered. I thought it was nice that the person offered to introduce me but what I didn’t realize was that the person who volunteered to speak for me (introduce me) didn’t really know me. So on that evening if you didn’t know me—you still didn’t know me after the introduction. I don’t fault the individual who introduced me. The person could only tell the audience what she knew about me and the reality was that she simply didn’t know who Annie Ruth is. She remembered what was described as an "angry girl".

I’ve shared that story to shake up every CASA, caseworker, or person who has a voice in the life of a child. I exhort you to "know your child."

• What my introducer didn’t know about Little Annie was that under the surface of Little Annie's serious demeanor was a heart of gold, a will of iron, and a dream of making a difference because she had to—it affected her very existence.

• The introducer couldn’t see past the rough and seemingly angry demeanor into the life, culture and background of a young girl who had to appear mean and tough to protect herself in the environment that she was raised in and exposed to.

Many of (our children) have come wrapped different ways—Some in colorful glistening paper, some in brown craft paper; some large and others small but none is better or worse than the other. None are more needy than the others are. All of our children need us; there is just a difference in where they need us.

I want to encourage every CASA, every parent, every teacher, every counselor, and others. "Know your child". Don’t just see the exterior and make assumptions or judgements based upon your own experiences or perceptions. You are a powerful voice in the life of a child. These are our children. Our voice is their voice. Will we use our voice to make a positive difference? Let’s not try to change our children or mold them into little replicas of ourselves. Let’s use our voice, not only to advocate for them but also let’s use our voice to motivate, inspire, encourage and build up our children. This is something that everyone can do. Use your voice where you are to make a difference in the life of child.

In closing, there have been numerous people who have helped to make a difference in my life. I’ve shared the story about my court appointed counselor. There have been people like my mother, who taught me the greatest lesson that I stand upon today. She showed me that no matter how difficult it looks that "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." My high school principal, Mr. Roger Effron, my high school guidance counselor Ms. Mary Boike, my commercial art teacher, who I won’t name but in this day of tension between culture and color lines, I’ll share that I had a teacher who was not exposed to being around black children (he was ignorant). He often said things that he shouldn’t have said but he taught me to the best of his ability and as a young black girl who folks thought wasn’t gonna make it, in high school I began my artistic journey—travelling throughout Ohio and the United States winning Commercial Art competitions and representing my school.

Finally, the power of a positive voice has changed my life tremendously. Since I am a spoken word artist, I thought it most appropriate to share a poem that best describes my journey and why I use my voice to make a difference in the lives of others. I was once a sister who hung her head down—but my change came through the voice of a jet-black sistah who I’ll never forget. She helped me to embrace being...A Black Woman, Nothing Else