“I’ve endured a lot of challenges and adversities throughout life,” Dr. Shree Walker told the Los Angeles Sentinel. “I’m resilient. I’m a resilient woman. And that’s how Resilient Walker clicked.”
Resilient Walker is the title of all things – Dr. Shree Walker’s book, the name of her company, as well as the word’s the educator, motivational speaker, and CEO lives by.
To be a Resilient Walker is to walk through pain and heartbreak into joy and comfort, to proceed through trials and tears, to stop to smile and play, to withstand torment, to sing loudly, to be present, to show empathy, to withstand the evil in order to do the greater good.
To be a Resilient Walker is to realize the world is full of monster with friendly faces and angels full of scars. To be a Resilient Walker means never to be only resilient or only walking, but to marry the two so they can hold hands with one who knows the difference.
Dr. Shree Walker is a Los Angeles native who is changing lives through her dynamic work diversity and inclusion with education systems.
By emphasizing the theme of “school connectedness” (the sense of being care for, supported, and belonged at school), she has spent years trying to ensure that students get an education that can accelerate and support the rocket-launch of their lives.
“When I was younger, school was a refuge for me.” Dr. Walker grew up attending Los Angeles schools such as Ninety-Second Elementary and Charles Drew Middle School.
“I was a transient student, living a life with a lot of traumas, but I’d always known I wanted to be a teacher.”
She continued with, “To be a teacher, you start off with being connected with yourself, but you also have to connect to the people that you serve.
You have to navigate these worlds with the mindset of what drew you to become an educator, but then when you’re in the classroom how do you connect with students who don’t look like you?
How do you connect with students who don’t speak the same language as you? How do you connect with students who you know have the same invisible scars you have, however, there’s some type of barrier?”
Walker’s own experiences growing up and dealing with adversities is what led her to understand what works in schools and what doesn’t. She quotes the infamous Maya Angelou, mentioning, “people will forget what you said, forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.”
“People want to be seen, and it starts with the way [educators] connect with students in the short period of times that they’re in our classrooms, or with parents in the short period of time we speak with them on the phone.
How do we deal with these people as they’re navigating the adversities of life?” said Walker, “As a teacher, as an administrator, we have to look at perceptions and how we see people.”
With the differences that makes us our own unique individuals, one thing that we’ll always have in common is our resiliency.
Walker explains this in her professional workshops, where she’s able to educate teachers, faculties, and staff on how to properly cater to the needs of diverse learners.
She believes that it’s extremely vital for those within education systems to take note in how they look at the world around them—your attitudes, mindsets, and dispositions—because it affects one’s attitudes and performances towards their students.
Dr. Walker also discussed how a lack of school connectedness directly affects the mental health of students—especially those of color. With mental health often looked down on amongst some in the Black community, it is important that school is a place where Black students can get and seek help.
“We are free to heal ourselves, and we’re free to heal others,” explained the CEO. “Having the ability to empower others to know and understand their truths is the only way to inspire change.”
This ability to aspire to change is Dr. Shree Walker’s favorite part of her job.
“I’m a hope injector,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
With time, Dr. Walker hopes to see school systems do what they’re structured to do. She doesn’t plan to stop until her mission is accomplished.
“[School systems] are meant to challenge students, teach them how to critically think, teach them to be a vital part of the community, give them a voice and educate the whole child—mind, body, and soul.
This start with how we make people feel. We need to make sure [as educators] that we’re actually teaching students to be the best version of themselves, and have high expectations based on each individualized student.”
For information on Dr. Shree Walker, and her services, you can visit her website: https://www.resilientwalker.com. There, you can also get information on her book “Resilient Walker”, also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Audible, IBooks, and Walmart.
Last month, RISE and Under Armor launched their Building Bridges Through Basketball (BBTB) program in Los Angeles.
BBTB is a 10-week program that brings youth together with local police officers to improve the relationship and restore trust among civilians and law enforcement.
“Through those 10 weeks, we touch on different topics: identity, diversity concepts, privilege, bias, community building, leadership,” said RISE senior director of partnerships Jarrell Price.
Each session starts with one hour of RISE
programming and 90 minutes of basketball.
The youth will not only engage in tough conversations with law enforcement but will get a chance to play basketball alongside them with the guidance of coaches.
The amount of youth outnumbers the amount of police officers in the sessions.
To promote a safe space during the sessions, law enforcement is asked to not be in uniform.
“It allows them to go out there and have these conversations, allows youth to have these conversations in a room that they feel comfortable in,” Price said.
“We do know that some of [the youth] have a different background or experience with law enforcement.”
The earlier sessions touch upon identity with the goal of participants finding commonalities with one another.
The last component is community building, which teaches participants how to observe different perspectives.
“We talk about service identity and deep identity and how we really want to be known for that deep identity,” Price said.
“Those deep identity pieces are how we connect with one another and how we build that trust.”
BBTB started in June with Project Blue, an after-school program that helps youth from six to 18 build trust with law enforcement.
To help further the conversation after the sessions are complete, RISE teaches coaches their curriculum.
“The great thing with these organizations, they feel empowered to help lead some of these conversations,” Price said.
“That’s how we make an impact, how do we continue to educate folks to then want to continue this conversation so they can educate others.”
The youth of Project Blue will engage in two 10-week sessions each year. BBTB will partner with Project Blue for the next three years.
RISE started BBTB in 2017 during the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans and continued the program in Charlotte, NC, Chicago, and the Bay Area.
After Under Armor partnered with the program, BBTB was able to expand.
“We’ve really grown from those three to now going into 10 additional markets,” Price said.
“We’re hitting 13 different cities across the country from the west coast all the way to the east coast.”
The name, Earl “Skip” Cooper, is practically synonymous with Black business and one reason is because he has devoted decades to ensuring that African American companies of all sizes prosper and excel in greater Los Angeles.
So when Cooper announced his retirement as president of the Black Business Association of Los Angeles earlier this year, he was met with raised eyebrows and concerned expressions because no one wanted or expected him to step aside as the region’s chief advocate for minority firms.
However, a huge sigh of relief emitted from many people once Cooper clarified that he will still be involved as chairman of the BBA Board of Directors as well as assisting Interim President/CEO Sarah Harris as she takes over the helm.
“It is and always will be a true commitment and my special purpose in life of serving African Americans and business owners, in addition to others,” Cooper said.
“I look forward to assisting the Board in whatever way I can with the transition to building a stronger organization with the commitment to service young African Americans entrepreneurs because they are our future.
My servitude will continue as I transition to the role of president emeritus and chairman of the board.”
The legacy Cooper leaves will endure for years to come. Under his leadership, BBA established strong and strategic relationships with many top U.S. corporations and key legislators throughout the nation.
As a result, the organization has developed into a significant influencer in policy decisions affecting businesses in the both the public and private sectors.
Cooper is also responsible for the range of programs, workshops and events that BBA regularly sponsors to help minority enterprises and companies grow along with spotlighting their achievements.
Some of the outreach events created by Cooper include the annual presentation of BBA’s Veteran’s Conference, which highlights businesses and services operated by former members of the military; Feed the Community Program, designed to support Black restaurant owners; and the Salute to Black Music, which recognizes vocalists, musicians, executives and people-behind-the scene in the music industry.
Although he’s not one to sing his own praises, others are quick to share their opinion of Cooper’s contribution to the Black community.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters are among those who expressed appreciation to the president emeritus.
“Skip Cooper, a long-time friend, has been the integral and leading voice of the Black Business Association in this region.
He has always believed that we should fight for our access to capital, that we should organize to defeat efforts to undermine our success, and that we should enhance and exemplify our rights as legitimate businesspeople to provide contracting services across California,” said Waters.
“Thank you, Skip, for your continued service to our communities and making sure our Black businesses are elevated, respected, and given opportunities to compete and be successful in our modern and diverse economy,” added the congresswoman.
Alluding to Cooper’s commitment to Black businesses, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., chairman of the Brotherhood Crusade and executive publisher of The L.A. Sentinel, noted, “Skip is a one-of a kind brother. The tireless work he has invested into promoting and advancing Black businesses throughout Los Angeles and throughout all of California is second to none.
“Whether it was at the Brotherhood Crusade or through my work in real estate or here at the Sentinel, Skip has always been someone who I have counted on, trusted to help advance the business of Black people and back the Black community,” Bakewell said.
A native of Oakland, California, Cooper’s journey as the BBA’s top leader actually began as a youngster. From the time he was in the third grade, he realized that enjoyed helping people and sincerely believed that God would use him to serve others in a big way.
By the age of 19, Cooper was convinced of God’s “special purpose” for his life and even while serving in the U.S. Army and fighting in Vietnam, he maintained his belief that God had a plan for his life.
After the military, he earned A.A and B.A. degrees, and then relocated to Los Angeles in 1972, where he enrolled in graduate school at USC.
“While at USC, I worked as a student intern on 85th and Broadway and that was when I knew my ‘special purpose’ involved helping Black people and I told God that that I really wanted to help Black businesses,” recalled Cooper.
And certainly, he has worked to fulfill his ‘special purpose,’ advocating for Black business enterprise from City Hall to the White House.
In addition to persuading decision makers in all arenas to do business with Black companies, Cooper also mentors young entrepreneurs and shares his knowledge and resources with others whenever the opportunity arises.
While he has retired from leading BBA, Cooper still fulfills his ‘special purpose’ of serving others, especially youth and young adults.
“Our future is young people and we have to do all that we can to develop young people and help them take advantage of new opportunities,” insisted Cooper.
“We must help them with the acquisition of land and property, not just residential but also industrial, commercial and rural property in terms of really being a voice in America.”
As part of bringing that pledge to fruition, Cooper has promised to assist BBA Interim President Harris in engaging a new generation of business owners.
“It is my intention to offer all support to Sarah in a way that affords her the opportunity to lead without encumbrances,” Cooper said.
“I look forward to assisting the Board in whatever way I can with the transition to building a stronger organization with the commitment to service young African Americans entrepreneurs because they are our future.”
Damien Carter, better known as SlaCienega, loves Los Angeles. He’s dedicated many waking moments to uplifting the collective community as a whole.
In honor of the L.A. Sentinel’s Black Men’s History Month celebration, SlaCienega shared his process and vision of what it means to lift as one climbs in an exclusive interview.
Los Angeles holds significant weight in SlauCienega’s heart, he stated, “For me, Los Angeles means the world. It means everything to me. it's spread out--which allows freedom.”
He continued, “I grew up in Los Angeles, I'm from here. Freedom allows you to sort of express yourself, it allows you a space to create, and it’s also inspiring--the city (L.A.) in itself is inspiring.”
SlauCienega said, “From the people to the landscape, the weather and everything that comes with it--is just being here. It's a special place, I feel like no two days are the same.
And again, creativity is how I see Los Angeles. There's so much to aspire to here.”
The multi-layered curator also focuses on uplifting the community.
He has examined his habits and journey to reflect on what is possible for those who are inspired by his accomplishments. “
On the day of the Foot Locker grand opening, SlauCienga connected Dreamers Youth Foundation to the shoe expert company.
As previously stated, Dreamers Youth were welcomed by Foot Locker Crenshaw for a photography contest, partnering with the acclaimed L.A. visual artist.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Foot Locker Crenshaw organized with Dreamers Youth and renowned Crenshaw-based artist SlauCienga and had many young artists display their artwork around the store.
“I teamed up and brought in Dreamers Youth Foundation and had a photo competition for the youth of South Central--to express themselves, to give them a different aspect of life and creativity,” SlauCienega said.
The L.A.-based artist began by simply shooting pictures and posting on Instagram with his iPhone.
His name and recognition grew with the popularity of his work. “What I'm most proud of is that I've stuck to the script I've been on for years and years and years,” SlauCienega shared.
SlauCienega has worked with Foot Locker and is currently immersing himself in a project with Adidas.
Reflecting on the legacy that he would leave behind, the artist stated, “I want to leave behind that you can be authentically you -- without forcing yourself on people.
I want people to know that you can get the job done by being quiet, you don't have to be loud and boisterous and throw yourself on the people and force them to support you.”
In closing, SlauCienega said, “I feel like I want people to know--I want to leave behind that I did the work, before anything, I did the work.
And as a result of that, great things happen. I truly believe that hard work does not always pay off. But in this case, it is paying off.
“So, I just want people to know that you can do the work and it doesn't pay off -- I hate to say it and I hate to be that guy. But again, it does not always pay off,” he noted.
“I just want people to know that --do the work and then see where it takes you. It's better to do the work and try than not do it and fail indefinitely.”