| A Light Determined to Shine. |
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The Peace and Blessings of a Well Harvested Life; A LifeStory in Progress Read the journey told by the spirit that lives it… Cast of Characters: Davosha, The Children, The Deeds, The Mission, Life and other souls of the grand Creator Timeline: The past decade Community Service and My Experiences 1990-1992: Administrator –Organizing and implementing a structured program for a Children’s Church in Philadelphia. As administrator I was responsible for planning ongoing programs for youth ages 5-15, this included writing a hand book for parents, formatting lesson plans based on a monthly biblical theme, training the staff of teachers for five different classes as well as organizing field trips. 1992-1994: PTA President at Jacox Elementary in Norfolk, VA. My duties here were strictly organizing fundraisers, parent and student programs, assisting with parental workshops and attending district and statewide meetings. 1992-1994: Community Program Coordinator- I coordinated programs for the youth of Calvert Square Public Housing. They participated in Black History Month Programs which gave them the chance to demonstrate their musical and acting talents in addition interpretive dance performances (which I choreographed) and poetry recitals. I met and married Roberto A. Layne who was then a Specialist stationed at Fort Story Virginia. For the next few years I focused on being a wife as well as a mother to the four children we would later have. 1994-1997: I served in several positions as a member of The Officers Wives Club. While living on post for three years I found the opportunity to help single mothers who were active duty military, by providing childcare in my home which later turned into me being “Big Momma” to young mothers and their children due to their demanding schedules, overnight operations and deployments. "My heart was filled and both hands busy… but the journey would set my feet on a new path… " The Devine Deployment. In 1997 my husband received orders to move to Fort Bragg. This move changed my life forever. I was pregnant with my fifth son and immediately upon moving on post my husband was sent to Egypt. At this time he was exposed to living with Muslims whom he said, “were the best people he had ever met.” I began to study this way of life and was drawn to the practical knowledge and principle-filled way of life. I became Muslim on August the 18th, 1997. In 1998 my family returned to Virginia Beach, we were stationed at Fort Story Virginia. 1998-2000: Activity Director for VA. Beach Parks and Recreation middle school program and Senior Center Program Assistant at The Princess Anne Rec. Center 1998-2000: Administrator Assistant at Masjid William Salaam weekend school in Norfolk under the tutelage of Swiyyah Fareed; the Administrator. I learned how to operate an Islamic school, planned state trips for the school and the Muslim community at that Masjid. Our trips included The Blacks in Wax Museum and The Aquarium in Baltimore Maryland. 2001 : Summer Camp Director of Muslim Children. I organized and directed a summer camp for the Muslim children in Norfolk. It was called “Camp Salaam,” salaam means “peace.” This idea came as a result of having my own 4 and 5 year olds at home with nothing to do for the summer. I employed my 17 yr. old son as camp counselor and had another sister work with me as assistant. The location was ideal because we lived in walking distant of a huge park. Every morning we started games and outdoor activities there. A brother in the community donated a van. We went on trips every week and even had our own camp song. I would have continued but by the following summer I was pregnant again. "While my spirit ascended; intensified by both challenges and celebrations, so did the fruits inside of me… " The New Millennium brings New Joys 2002-2004: Most challenging and most rewarding service ever. July 2002: I became the mother of Twin daughters…..Finally, Whew! Two months after our daughters’ birth my husband was deployed to Germany. Neither the oldest twin nor I passed the overseas physical. She was born with a heart murmur and I suffered complications during delivery. Our duty station was Fort Eustis, VA, but decided to get a house in Hampton instead of living on post. 2004: I established “Muslim Women of Hampton Roads” This started out as a social group made up of sisters that I knew from Norfolk to Hampton. It evolved into our group preparing and serving dinner at The Friends of the Homeless Shelter during the month of Ramadaan and sponsoring a few activities for the Muslim community. 2006: Founder and President of The WORD Foundation. WORD is an acronym for “Women of Righteous Deeds” This is a grass roots non-profit organization that is dedicated to implementing projects and programs that foster self-sufficiency through educational ,social, economic and self development for women and families. This past March we received our first grant from the City of Hampton to fund a project involving neighborhood youth. I organized a group of teens together to start a school uniform clothing drive. Several high schools, middle and elementary schools are participating in this program. “The Women of Righteous Deeds” foundation is in the planning process of organizing a “Womens Wellness Symposium” for Hampton roads. The Beginning....... My special thoughts to you Beloved “Grow where you’re planted” I woke up one day and I was 4O years old with two 2 year old daughters, five sons ages 6 to 20. I had a marriage that had taken an unexpected turn and I lacked the necessary current employable skills that would support me as a new single parent with seven children. I found myself at a turning point in life. It was here that I began to apply the lessons learned from many years of service, dedication and love to others to MYSELF. If I could share one valuable lesson that has remained in my spirit from the beginning of this journey called life…I would share this “grow where you are planted”. Each of us have been given a special skill, talent and ability that is uniquely our own and it’s up to us to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave to develop that gift. Our purpose here is so much greater than we are …our gifts are for the universe, our communities, our families and for glorification of The Creator. Therefore, sisters and friends we can’t wait until we get the right job or the children grow up, or that perfect mate, or that next degree. We are only here for a season …and we know that seasons do change. We have rainy seasons, dry seasons, harvest season and pruning seasons. In spite of all the seasons in our lives if we get rooted in a true and good foundation we can rest assure that we will blossom and grow in the mist of it all. Peace and Blessings to you and your families. ---Davosha H. Layne Contact this Shero at: peacefulnubian@yahoo.com Davosha Layne; a Spirit, a Mountain, a Shining Jewel. |
| Davosha Layne |
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| Introducing Shero |
| Celebrating Women Everyday |
| BLACK PEARLS UNITED INC. |
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