Faye McCray's Blog, page 2

Reflections on the CROWN Act

Like so many Black women, my hair journey has been a winding road. My hair has accessorized every phase of my growth from Jheri curls in Kindergarten (thanks again for that, Mom ) to long box braids in college to processed, straight hair in my twenties. No choice, however, proved to be as significant and polarizing as my decision to wear my hair natural.

I remember showing up to work for the first time after my big chop. I was hyper aware of how exposed my face felt without a fan of hair to whip around. My neck was cold. My gravity defying curls were being defiant and I couldn’t shake the feeling that with my new short hair, I looked just like my brother. Nonetheless, every time I passed a mirror I couldn’t help but smile. My hair, in all it’s defiance, looked beautiful, and I knew once I got my mind to cooperate, I would feel it too. As I settled into my desk, a former colleague (and now dear friend) looked at me and said, “I feel like this is you.“

I was speechless.

I wish I could say that one comment negated all the microaggressions (and straight up aggressions ) that came next or my own uphill battle to self-love and acceptance… it didn’t. Those battles were long and sometimes, incredibly lonely.

However, being seen in that moment served as a reminder of just how important it is to show up wholly – whether it fits neatly into someone else’s definition of beautiful… or capable… or professional or not. No one gets the best of you, if you are hiding the very best of you.

*The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a law that prohibits racial discrimination based on natural textures and protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists, and bantu knots. Learn more here:

https://lnkd.in/eR_VEFxb

Thank you, Judy

I walked into my first job interview holding a Sprite can. My hair was spray dyed blue, I wore shorts I cut with scissors, and I giggled before answering each question.

Judy, my prospective boss, stared at me over the rim of her glasses sizing me up. The look she gave me was a mixture of scold and amusement.

Judy told me to lose the Sprite can, go to the mall and stock up on clothes that were “business casual” for interviews, and always pause before answering a question.

I was 14.

She gave me the job.

And I proudly carried the title of camp counselor all four summers of high school.

Surviving vs. thriving in the workforce as women can be uniquely different experiences. Aside from the obvious markers of equity like pay parity and combating workplace discrimination, finding a support network can be invaluable to developing a sense of belonging and true inclusion in the workplace. Women who can provide a safe space for your honesty. Women who celebrate your wins like their own. Women who can tell you that you forgot to put down your soda can.

Celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day by reflecting on Judy and all of the other women who take that extra step to nurture, celebrate and uplift the women around them.

Sometimes equity means creating a seat at the table, sometimes it means making sure that seat doesn’t fall apart the minute you sit down.

What is Meant to Be, Will Be

When I was a baby lawyer, I had the honor of working with an intern who was attending law school at night. He was a father, a husband, and worked full time as a court officer. You only had to spend five minutes with him to know one day he was going to also be a brilliant attorney. He confided in me that his colleagues often questioned how he had allowed himself to dream such a big disruptive dream AND actually have the audacity to pursue it.

He said, “Why not me? If I’m lucky, time is going to pass anyway, so I just take it one step at a time. I’ll get there.”

His patience, his perspective, and his persistence have stayed with me ever since.

Sometimes it’s five minutes dedicated to your novel on your lunch break.

Sometimes it’s a quiet thirty minutes to work on your business plan before the kids wake up.

Sometimes it’s enrolling in a part time master’s program that may take you twice as long to complete.

One step at a time.

As long as you are still here, why not you?

Live deliberately, friends.

Value the Quiet Ones

I remember getting feedback from a colleague once that I was too quiet in a meeting.

I was new the team and the dynamics were even newer to me. I pride myself on listening first when I enter new setting because I’ve rushed to formulate opinions in the past and it frustrated my learning. This was – maybe – my second meeting with the team, and I was still navigating the expectations of my new role and formulating the basis for a strategic plan that would chart the course of my part of the organization for the next five years. Her advice felt urgent and somewhat frantic as if speaking – no matter what I said – was more valuable than thought.

I keep this quote close as a reminder of the quiet power of deliberation and intention.

Reflection is an action word. Value the quiet ones.

Hey, It's Faye!

Faye McCray is an author, playwright, poet and essayist whose work has been featured in the HuffPost, Parade Magazine, Little Patuxent Review, AARP Magazine, Madame Noire, Black Girl Nerds, and other popular publications. She is the author of Dani's Belts, a collection of horror short stories, Boyfriend, a full length novel about a troubled college student struggling with love and fidelity, and I am Loved! a collection of positive affirmations for kids.
Faye is a digital publishing executive, and a board member of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society. She is the co-founder of Weemagine, a website devoted to celebrating and inspiring all children and the people who love them.  Faye is former attorney and proud graduate of Binghamton University, Howard University School of Law. and the Johns Hopkins University graduate writing program. Faye is also a married mother of three beautiful boys. You can find Faye on Twitter @fayewrites, IG @heyfayemccray and Facebook at facebook.com/fayewrites.

Hey from Faye

Hi, folks!
Boy. It has been awhile, huh?
I want to start by sending big, fat virtual hugs to all my fellow artists, former students, friends and family. This has been a year. To say the least.
All is well on my end. My family and I have been riding out the pandemic at home. Although my husband experienced some job loss at the beginning, we have stabilized. We have been primarily working from home and our boys have been virtually learning.  I have a few family members diagnosed with COVID but thankfully, all have recovered. All things considered, we've been making it through which I know isn't the same for everyone. 
I am still working hard on new creative projects - three in particular I am SO excited about. I am hoping 2022 will be the year that I get to share this work that is so very close to my heart.
In the meantime, I am so thrilled to share that this January, I took a new job as editor in chief of a mental health website! Through that work, I have been able to work on amazing content that I am passionate about sharing. I also have gotten to participate in great conversations with really amazing humans. If you don't follow me on IG, please do! My handle is @heyfayemccray. You can find out all about my upcoming projects and conversations. If you do follow me, be sure to give me a wave! I miss seeing new faces at readings, workshops and literary events. I am hoping we can all come together soon! #getvaxxed
Love and (so much) Light,  Faye

All Dear Mama Recordings Are Now Available!

Last Saturday, a little dream of mine came true. Together with my former law school classmate and artist, Kamilah House, I hosted a day of events centered around Black womanhood, motherhood and maternity.

 

Sponsored by Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System and The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, in partnership with Worcester County Library, Kamilah and I curated a beautiful virtual exhibit produced by the Howard County Library. In addition, we hosted three panel discussions featuring experts in their individual fields. I am so excited that the recordings are now available! View each video below.

Opening Reception

Featuring:

Melani Douglass, Director of Public Programs at National Museum of Women in the Arts, Founder of the Family Arts Museum

View the opening here:

View the complete virtual exhibit here:

Session 1: What to Know: Advocating for the Health of You and Your Baby

Join us as we tell our stories about physical trauma and discuss how best to advocate for your health during pregnancy and post-partum.

Featuring:

Faye McCray (Host) & Kamilah House-Lewis (Co-Host)Briana Green, Director of Operations at Mamatoto VillageDr. Donna Marie Neale, M.D. Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine

View Session 1 here:

Session 2: Let’s Talk About It: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Join the artists as we tell our stories about the mental and emotional challenges that arise from pregnancy and childbirth. Learn to identify when you need help and how to find resources you need.

Featuring:

Faye McCray (Host) & Kamilah House-Lewis (Co-Host)Dr. Alexis Lighten Wesley, M.D.Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Children’s National HospitalBiany Perez, Black Latinx mental health therapist 

Session 3:  Healing through Connection: Black Motherhood in 2020

Join the artists for open dialogue about the unique challenges facing black mothers and parenting children of color in today’s volatile climate.

Featuring:

Sherry Samuels (Host), certified life coach, workshop facilitator and writerAna Rodney, MOMCares; Executive Director and founder Karen Pryor, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Queen Mother Magazine and the Founder of KMP Fashion Consulting, LLC 
View Session 2 & 3 here:

Love and Light, 

Faye

Dear Mama - October 24, 2020 at 10am

Three years ago, my dear friend, law school classmate, and fellow artist Kamilah House and I had a long and emotional conversation about motherhood and maternity. We were both survivors of traumatic birth experiences and were alarmed by rising U.S maternal mortality rates. We knew we wanted to turn our trauma into action but with demanding careers and motherhood, we knew it might take some time.

I am so pleased to share - our time is now. 

Join us on October 24, 2020 beginning at 10am for Dear Mama, a virtual group thematic exhibit depicting pregnancy and motherhood through the eyes of emerging artists of color. The exhibition will be followed by a day of dialogue and healing featuring physicians, psychiatrists and other health care experts as we discuss the physical and emotional health of mothers and mothers to be.

Register and learn more here.
A deep heartfelt thank you to Rohini Gupta, the Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System, HCLS President & CEO Tonya Aikens, Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and the Worcester Library System for your partnership. 

Follow our event page on Facebook at Dear Mama and follow us on IG at dearmama_art for more info. On October 16 at 7pm on IG live, Kamilah and I will be taking some time to chat about what this important exhibit means to us! 

More on Dear Mama

When: October 24, 2020 10am-2pm

Register HERE.

Schedule of Events

Reception: 10 -11 am

Welcome Remarks/Viewing of Virtual Exhibit 

Keynote: Melani Douglass, Director of Public Programs at National Museum of Women in the Arts, Founder of the Family Arts Museum

 Session 1:  11:15 am - 12 pm

What to Know: Advocating for the Health of You and Your Baby

Join us as we tell our stories about physical trauma and discuss how best to advocate for your health during pregnancy and post-partum.

Faye McCray (Host) & Kamilah House-Lewis (Co-Host)

Briana Green, Director of Operations at Mamatoto Village

Dr. Donna Marie Neale, M.D. Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Session 2:  12:30 - 1:15 pm

Let’s Talk About It: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Join the artists as we tell our stories about the mental and emotional challenges that arise from pregnancy and childbirth. Learn to identify when you need help and how to find resources you need.

Faye McCray (Host) & Kamilah House-Lewis (Co-Host)

Dr. Alexis Lighten Wesley, M.D.Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Children’s National Hospital

Biany Perez, Black Latinx mental health therapist  

Session 3:  1:15 - 2 pm

Healing through Connection: Black Motherhood in 2020

Join the artists for open dialogue about the unique challenges facing black mothers and parenting children of color in today’s volatile climate.

Sherry Samuels (Host), certified life coach, workshop facilitator and writer

Ana Rodney, MOMCares; Executive Director and founder 

Karen Pryor, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Queen Mother Magazine and the Founder of KMP Fashion Consulting, LLC 

For more information on panelists & artists and to join the conversation, click this link.

Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.

Love and Light, Faye

Fall 2020 Upcoming Events

Hi, friends!
I hope you and yours are safe and well. Like so many families, things have been busy on my end as my family gets adjusted to virtual learning and working. I miss all of you and the wonderful creative spaces we created together!
I am writing to invite you to a series of events. This month, I will be moderating three conversations (9/27, 9/30 and 10/4 at 7pm) through the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society and Howard Community College's Art Collective on diversity and equity in the arts community. The conversations will be broadcast live on Facebook. Like the Arts Collective @HCC on Facebook to watch on Facebook Live at the time of the event! Each event will bring together various distinguished writers, actors, visual artists, artistic designers, and administrators connected by their present or past work with AC and HCPLS in our community. These powerful conversations, informed directly by current events, will question, examine, and offer strategies for socially responsible work and anti-racist practices in the arts. I hope to see you there! See below for more details.
I have few fun updates on the writing front too! My new one-act play, How to Make Banana Pudding, will be featured in the Brown Sugar Bake-Off Play Festival sponsored by Two Strikes Theater Collective and the Strand Theater on October 17. Learn more details here. Lastly, I am now writing television reviews for Parade magazine! Read my latest reviews here. 
I hope to see you around these virtual parts! Again, please stay safe. 
Best,Faye

Meeting the Moment Schedule of Events
Event #1: Sunday, September 27, 7:00pm – 8:30pmFocus: The Creative ProcessFeaturing: NJ Agwuna, Hayes Davis, Tara Hart, Nana Owusu-Nkwantabisa, Aly Tu, Sierra YoungAccess this event here.
Event #2: Wednesday, September 30, 7:00pm – 8:30pmFocus: InclusionFeaturing: St. Johnn Blondell, Jamar Brown, Teri Ellen Cross Davis, Tey Harper, Alan King, Laura YooAccess this event here.
Event #3: Sunday, October 4, 7:00pm – 8:30pmFocus: RepresentationFeaturing: Chania Hudson, Cija Jefferson, Julie Jones, Steven Leyva, Shawn Sebastian Naar, Michael WoodAccess this event here.

Tickets are free!
No registration is required. Just visit the following link at the time of the event: https://www.facebook.com/artscollectivehcc/live_videos/And coming up...Join Faye on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 7pm for the now virtual Wilde Readings series with guest authors Vonetta Young and Mathangi Subramanian as they read from their latest work. Visit Wilde Readings Columbia on Facebook for more details. Hosted by Ann Bracken.Join Faye and her co-curator, artist Kamilah House, for a day of dialogue and healing as we view motherhood through the eyes of emerging female artists of color. Sponsored by Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System and The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County. In partnership with Worcester County Library. Register for this event here.

Fall 2019 Workshops & Events

Hi!
Long time, no speak! I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing summer. My family and I stayed local. However, at the beginning of the summer, I found out one of my ten minute plays was selected by the Rep Stage to share with the audience of their 2019 Women in Theatre Conference! I spent the months leading up to the conference rehearsing with an extremely talented group of actors. The conference was a success! I spent an absolutely wonderful afternoon with other writers, actors, set and costume designers and other folks aspiring to work in, or working in theatre! At the encouragement of the audience, I am looking forward to transforming my short play into a full production.
I have a number of great offerings in the pipeline this fall! First up, the Columbia Art Center's Student/Faculty Art Show! The exhibition runs from September 12-28 with a reception on September 14 from 2-4pm. I will have a few pieces of short work on display. In addition, two students have agreed to join me in reading work at the reception! I hope to see some familiar faces.
Below find a quick run down of what's to come. This fall, I will be working as an adjunct writing instructor at Howard Community College so my workshop schedule is limited! However, I will be offering tween and teen workshops at the Columbia Art Center!
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions!Happy Writing!
Best,FayeWriting WorkshopsDo you have a story to tell? Join Faye in learning the basics of storytelling, including how to develop dynamic characters, exciting plots and engaging dialogue. Writers will also learn how to navigate getting “stuck,” how to provide useful feedback, and how to revise.MONTHLY TWEEN WRITING CLUBFor ages 8-11With Faye McCray
Wednesday, September 25, 5:30-7pmWednesday, October 23, 5:30-7pmWednesday, November 13, 5:30-7pm
$10 per session$25 for all three sessions
For more info, click here.MONTHLY TEEN WRITERS CLUBFor ages 12-18With Faye McCray
Wednesday, September 18, 5:30-7pmWednesday, October 16, 5:30-7pmWednesday, November 6, 5:30-7pm
$10 per session$25 for all three sessions
For more info, click here.Upcoming EventsCA Student/Faculty Art ShowJoin students and faculty in celebrationof their art and spirit at the annual Columbia Art Center Student/Faculty Show. Artworks range from writing, tiny sculpture, fine art paintings, photographs, fused glass, ceramics, jewelry, and printmaking.
Exhibition: September 12-28Reception: Saturday, September 14 2-4pmJuror: Karen Isailovic, Root Studio
For more info, click here.Wilde ReadingsWilde Readings in back! Faye, along with Laura Shovan, LindaJoy Burke and Ann Bracken are gearing up to host the fall season of Wilde Readings!
Wilde Readings is a free monthly literary reading series that provides local writers — poets, fiction, non-fiction — a chance to share their work with the community. The format showcases featured authors from the DMV, as well as an open mic for ALL ages.
Fall Lineup
09/10: Yao Glover and Venus Thrash10/15: Cija Jefferson and Joelle Biele*11/12: Ned Tillman and Abdul Ali12/10: Jona Colson and Danuta E. Ksok-Kosicka

For more info, click here.
*Hosted by FayeMark your calendars!
Upcoming Book Signings and Readings
National Book Month Literary TourThursday 10/3 7:00pmWine BinEllicott City, Maryland
Harlem Renaissance SpeakeasySaturday 10/5 7:30pmHoward Community CollegeColumbia, MD
Poe Author StageSunday 10/6 1pmPoe HouseBaltimore, MD
Details to come.