in support of the Pan African Cultural Her-
itage Initiative.
PERSONAL BIO
Family is very important to me. I am the
mother of two of the most amazing wom-
en that I know and grandmother to two of
the most lovable grandsons in the world,
Eric and Darrell. My oldest daughter, Car-
olynn, is a social worker and lives on Long
Island. The youngest daughter, Tamika
(who is the boss of everyone), a retired
Army Master Sargent who still works for
the government, lives in DMV with her
husband, my adorable son-in-law, Cecil.
Also, of importance to me are my pas-
sions in the community. I serve as the BOD
Chair of Clarita’s House Outreach Ministry
(CHOM) which feed the homeless in Cen-
tral Florida. I also serve as the SE Regional
Vice President and board member of In-
finite Scholars Program (ISP), which facili-
tates free scholarship fairs for high school
seniors throughout the country. In addition,
I am the Vice President of the Women of
Excellence and Leadership (WOEL). I am
also a member of the Central Florida Asso-
ciation of Black Journalists (CFABJ) and the
writer/editor of several major magazines.
Whenever I can get a break, I love to travel
and just relax with a good book.
FAVORITE QUOTE/
INSPIRATIONAL SAYING
My favorite quote or inspirational saying
is PAY IT FORWARD. I did not achieve my
success all by myself. And some of those
people are no longer here for me to repay
them or just go back and say, ‘thank you’.
I will take the support that I have had and
try to pay it forward whenever I can as a
tribute to those that poured into me.
www.lauradorsey.net
Q & A
What was one of your biggest
professional or personal challenges
and how did you overcome it?
One of my biggest challenges as a young
woman was recognizing that my girls
were my most important priority and
that every choice that I made in life had
to be in relationship to their needs. They
helped me walk away from an abusive
relationship. They were the reason that
I married a man that was a better choice
for my children, than some fantasy of
what I thought that love should be.
What is a regimen you do with hopes
of maintaining a balanced life?
As I get older, most of the research tells
us how important sleep is for our body. I
try to get 8 hours of sleep. Depending on
the deadlines, my work schedule is very
hectic. If I work later, I get up later. Even
if I cannot do it every night, I try to work
a good sleep regimen in most nights.
I realize that I cannot be any good to
others if I am not good to myself.
What is your definition of
Women Empowerment?
As a writer, it is important for me that we
know the definition of the words that
we use. Empowerment is defined as
the process of becoming stronger and
more confident, especially in controlling
one’s life and claiming one’s rights. If
that is our definition, I suggest that we
substitute women empowerment for
personal empowerment. Each woman is
on a different path in controlling her life
and there is no one definition that will fit
each scenario.
What words of wisdom
would you offer another woman?
The words of wisdom that I have for
another woman is to not be afraid of the
‘test’. In order to have a testimony, you
first must go through the test (which is
the root word of testimony). You cannot
tell someone how you have overcome
and expect them to relate to you if
you cannot share how you have been
through the fire yourself and come out
on the other side.
"Pay it forward."
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