Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew.
Dr. Booker-Drew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved from Shreveport, Louisiana in the late 80s to attend the University of Texas at Arlington. I didn’t have any family here or knew anyone in the DFW area. I remember the first week on campus, I ran for President of Lipscomb Dorm against more than ten young ladies. I just spoke my heart and won unanimously. I became extremely involved in student activities on campus which included Traditions Chairperson my Sophomore year and even winning President of the Student Activities Board my junior year. I was President of the NAACP on campus and as a result of my leadership, our chapter received second place in the nation two years in a row.
Our focus was to ensure that there was more faculty of color and I was fortunate to co-author a research document (it was really a book) that provided data on the university’s recruitment efforts for people of color. I was very fortunate for mentors such as Zeb Strong, who recently passed away, and Walter Price who were always encouraging to pursue opportunities that would stretch and challenge me. I became a member of the Texas Coordinating Board’s Student Advisory Council with other student leaders from around the state. One of the most impactful activities for me was being involved in the Ronald McNair Program. This program was designed to expose first generation young people to graduate school. I was in the first class of the program at UTA. My internship was working in archives as a part of the program. This was life-changing. I was responsible for the collection of a famous Fort Worth socialite and photographer. I remember reading through her news articles and found myself intrigued by how this lady kept the clippings of her activities and gave them to the university. In her own way, she was preserving history. That stuck with me and I started to chronicle my days at UTA–the cover of the Dallas Weekly, the front page of the Dallas Morning News and a large article in the Dallas Observer of my efforts to change the environment on campus for racial minorities.
In 2016, I donated my papers to the university because I saw the value of changing the narrative by contributing to archives so that generations years later have my perspective.
I spent time volunteering with Zeb on weekends at a program called University Crossroads as junior and senior in college. On weekends, I taught classes on Diversity to high school students. This program was designed to target students from African American and Latino backgrounds to prepare them for college. I had no idea that my volunteering would open the door for me to become the Assistant Director of the University Outreach Center in Dallas at 21 years old. I was the youngest to hold that position at the time in the state. I was so thankful for the leadership of Michele Bobadilla who is currently a renowned educator in Dallas and Rita Gloria, who went on to become a Ph.D. impacting college students out of state. Michele is still in my life as a dear friend and mentor. At the University Outreach Center, an effort between UT-Austin, Texas A&M, and the University of North Texas at Dallas, my job involved working with middle to high school youth in DISD at targeted schools to prepare students for college. I soon realized that I needed to go back to school and I left Dallas after helping some of the best and brightest like Berenice de la Para who is now an attorney (and attended Georgetown) to continue my journey.
I attended graduate school at Oklahoma City University and while in school full-time, I worked full-time with an agency in Oklahoma City that assisted youth who were emancipated and in the juvenile justice system. That job taught me so much about the trials young people without support systems go through. Many of the young people we assisted were gang members and had been in trouble with the law. I saw so many challenges but I also saw resilience. I started the Master’s program in Fall 1993 and graduated Fall 1994. I went every semester because I wanted out of Oklahoma City. I came back to Dallas right before the Oklahoma City bombings and I’ll never forget that the Social Security building that was bombed was a place I frequented for work when I was a case manager for a healthcare company. I’ll never forget that morning calling my former co-workers and couldn’t get through. Amazing that Jan was supposed to be at work and she didn’t feel well, so she missed work. It saved her life. Another friend came to visit me in Dallas and says to this day that her visit saved her life. All of these experiences impacted my life and continued my desire to speak up for others through my work.
After moving back to Dallas, I got married and started working at the South Dallas Cultural Center. I remember meeting Erykah Badu at the Center. She was a teacher and a part of Soul Rep Theater Company with Tisha Crear. I remember Erykah going on tour and I was so proud of this extremely talented teacher. She was so great with kids! At the Cultural Center, I became introduced to the life of Mrs. Juanita Craft. I had the privilege of working in her home, learning about the amazing achievements of this national icon who happened to live in Dallas. My mentor and former professor, Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney was so instrumental in this as well as my subsequent work at the African American Museum. With an undergraduate degree in History (Pre-Law), a minor in English and an emphasis in Women’s Studies, I was so happy that I could use my education to assist in writing curricula and creating activities that could make a difference in the community. I left the Cultural Center and began my own consulting business working with a number of organizations initially in the Dallas area such as Dallas Historical Society providing workshops for local students on African American and Native American History and curriculum for Geo-Marine for the Freedman’s Cemetery.
My business, Soulstice Consultancy, was created to assist nonprofits and small businesses with strategic planning, program and resource development. I’ve been fortunate for more than 20 years that I’ve been able to work with so many wonderful organizations to help them build their capacity. My client list has expanded beyond the city and I’m speaking more across the country and even internationally.
I’ve worked for three national nonprofits–Partners for Sacred Places, Breakthrough Collaborative, and the Alliance for Innovation and one international nonprofit, World Vision as National Director of Community Engagement. I supervised a team across the country in this role. While at World Vision, I decided to go back to school and obtain my Ph.D. at Antioch University which transformed my life. I learned so much about myself and even more so, I was given a language for what I’ve always done–social capital. I am intrigued with relationships and as you can see through my narrative are the reoccurring themes of mentors, the power of our stories, networks, and relationships. My research focused on diverse women and their stories, social capital, relational leadership, and change. I started the program when I was 40 and graduated almost four years later while working full time with a daughter and husband at home while traveling quarterly to residencies across the country. Thank God for a family that was patient and supportive.
After five years of working in communities across the United States to address building the capacity of organizations working in Chicago, Seattle, DC, NYC, West Virginia, Los Angeles, and DFW, I left World Vision and accepted a role at the State Fair so that I could stop my crazy travel schedule. When your teen daughter wants you home, I thought it was not only a blessing but time to work in a role that is more locally focused. I have been at the State Fair of Texas as Director of Community Affairs/Strategic Alliances since April 2016. In my role, I am responsible for philanthropy in our local community, educational programming, and community initiatives. It is great to be in South Dallas again. Although my church is there–Cornerstone Baptist Church under the wonderful leadership of Pastor Chris Simmons, I am thankful that I had so many opportunities prior to the Fair to work at the African American Museum under the leadership of Dr. Harry Robinson, the South Dallas Cultural Center, St. Philip’s School and Community Center for five years learning from the great Dr. Terry Flowers as Director of the Community Center, and with a number of organizations through the years. It is full circle to be at the State Fair–the place Mrs. Craft integrated–and more than 20 years ago, I was working in her home.
I am the mother of a daughter who is 18 and just left for Seton Hall University after attending schools like St. Philip’s and Bishop Dunne (where she was in the top 10 percent of her class–proud momma!). I am the co-founder of the HERitage Giving Circle with Akilah Wallace and Dr. Halima Leak-Francis. I am the author of two books for women, Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last and Ready for a Revolution: 30 Days to Jolt Your Life. I am working on a 3rd book right now that is almost finished for young women transitioning to college that started as a letter to my daughter.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been a lot of challenges. I think all of those are in layers–there is first the imposter syndrome that many of us experience. We question if we belong and if others will find out that we are lacking. If you aren’t careful, this holds you back from moving forward. I know early in my career, my biggest issue was myself. I got in my way by thinking negatively about myself, not asking for my worth and second-guessing my decisions. Challenges came externally. I’ve had to deal with a lot of loss–either friendships that were no longer as strong as they had been or even death of loved ones. I’ll never forget 2005. I remember my father and I were both coughing in the winter of 2005. I remember calling a friend who was a nurse practitioner feeling weak and unable to breathe. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and was in bed for two months.
My father in Louisiana was given the same diagnosis shortly thereafter. By June, I had recovered. My dad had not. He was admitted to the hospital. After waiting in the lobby for hours, we were informed that his entire chest was lined with nodules. My dad who had been smoking since he was 11 was now 56 in stage four of cancer. I couldn’t believe that my only child was going to lose her grandfather who was so amazing to her. Even though he had stopped smoking, it was too late. I still believed and prayed he would beat it. I did not realize the two months I spent in bed was a blessing in disguise. Little did I know, that God was preparing me for dealing with the turbulent times to come. I am a person of faith and my faith has been instrumental in carrying me through good and bad times.
As Hurricane Katrina came through New Orleans, chaos was occurring in Northern Louisiana as well. I remember visiting my dad and helping my mom get a break. He was so weak. The 6’6, strong man I knew as a kid was rail thin and needed my help going to the bathroom. My mom told me he was on the critical ward of the hospital and even then, I held on to my faith believing he would recover. The pills and chemo never worked and yet, me and Daddy held on to this idea that he could beat this like he did everything else. This disease brought my father and I closer. He apologized to me for everything he had done and for my dad to admit his wrongs was huge. Even though I had forgiven him, his admission freed me. This was the beginning of several gifts I received from this experience.
My uncle was ill–his older brother–and he passed away when daddy was released home to hospice care. The coroner in Shreveport died and bodies from Hurricane Katrina were being shipped for autopsies to Shreveport. My uncle could not be funeralized due to the backlog. I quit my job in the midst of this to start a new position. Hurricane Rita had just come through Northern Louisiana and I was terrified to leave for Minneapolis knowing the possible danger for my parents–I was aware that mom was home caring for dad during this storm. I talked to him the night before I left. He was having a hard time talking but he joked with me and wished me well on my new role.
As I was leaving for the airport, mom called saying the paramedics were trying to resuscitate my dad. My husband decided to drive me to Louisiana while our five years old remained with friends. I thought my visit would be brief and daddy would be fine. Little did I know, my call the night before would be the last time I spoke with him. On the way to Shreveport, he died.
A few days later, we had my uncle’s wake at 6 pm and my dad’s at seven on the same day. At the cemetery, a friend walked up to me and whispered, “This is a gold mine filled with dreams that were not realized. Will that be you?” Initially, I was horrified by the comment but immediately it resonated with me. It was at that time I began my quest to live life to its fullest. My dad could have been the next Emeril. He was a well-known restaurant owner. He was charismatic and a beautiful man whose smile lit up a room. That possibility died with him. It was because of his life and his death, I vowed not to let my passion and dreams waste away. My dad’s death allowed me to take a risk that I might not have otherwise have done. Years later, I’m still moving forward. In 2008, I participated in a documentary that took a group of women from Dallas, Texas to India entitled, “Friendly Captivity.” This film not only exposed us to the poverty in India and how women were making a difference despite their circumstances. Leaving my eight-year-old daughter for almost two weeks was difficult but I knew this experience would be life changing and it was. It compelled me to help women because I began to see my own value and I want others to have that same experience.
My advice to young women is that life will have roadblocks and setbacks, surround yourself with mentors and a great support system that can be there through the good, bad, and the ugly. Our biggest struggle is in our minds–if you can begin to isolate those thoughts that are limiting and begin to dig deeper (not giving in to the thoughts or ignoring them–but using them as fuel for your foundation) you have just started a lifetime quest of being the master of your thinking.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your business story. Tell us more about the business.
I think my LinkedIn profile sums it up: I am intrigued by relationships, particularly building networks to address issues in organizations and communities. Because of my extensive background in leadership, nonprofit management, partnership development, training and education, I’ve been quoted in Forbes, Ozy, Bustle, Huffington Post and other media outlets around the world. As Director of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas, I manage a department focused on community initiatives, educational programming, partnerships, and philanthropy.
In addition, I have been asked to speak on a variety of topics such as social capital and networking, leadership, diversity, and community development to national and international audiences. This included serving as a workshop presenter at the United Nations in 2013 on the Access to Power. One of the most impactful life events for me was being a part of the documentary, Friendly Captivity, a film that followed a cast of 7 women from Dallas to India.
I consider myself so fortunate to be honored for my work which includes: Semi-finalist for the SMU TEDx in 2012, 2012 Outstanding African American Alumni Award from the University of Texas at Arlington, 2009 Woman of the Year Award by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Diversity Ambassador for the American Red Cross.
Graduating with a Ph.D. from Antioch University in Leadership and Change with a focus on social capital and relational leadership has offered me the opportunity to have a scholar/practitioner lens in all I do. I attended the Jean Baker Miller Institute at Wellesley for training in Relational-Cultural Theory and completed facilitator training on Immunity to Change based on the work of Kegan and Lahey of Harvard. I have also completed training through UNICEF on Equity-Based Evaluations. I am the author of 2 workbooks for women, Ready for a Revolution: 30 Days to Jolt Your Life and Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last as well as a writer for several publications around the globe.
There is a list of publications I’ve been quoted in on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froswabookerdrew/
I am really proud of my many years in nonprofit management, leadership, and education. I think what sets me apart from others is my live, real experience combined with my education and desire to go above and beyond to make a difference.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
There are so many opportunities that women are positioned uniquely for. I believe that we have so much to offer individually and collectively. There is a need for women in leadership–Corporations, Boards of Directors, Nonprofits, STEM, Media–and the list goes on. Although women may occupy roles in these companies and organizations, they are not typically in senior leadership and that is problematic. I think when we are at the table, we are often silenced or questioned for advocating for ourselves. The recent backlash for Serena Williams in questioning the decision of the referee is one of many examples of how women advocating for themselves is viewed differently than that of men.
I think for women of color, there are many opportunities but we can not ignore the challenges we face.
“Research has long established that Black women face unique and multiplying forms of oppression due to the marginalization of living at the “intersection” of race and gender. Intersectionality theory posits that simply by being both Black and female, a system of invisibility is created whereby their suffering and, perhaps, their very identity or value, is altogether ignored. And it has birthed a system that typically views Black issues as Black male issues (see MY BROTHER’S KEEPER, #SAYHERNAME, etc.) and women’s issues as white women’s issues (see literally every example of modern feminism). Consequently, Black women are largely encouraged to choose either their race or their gender, while their distinctive experiences continue to go largely overlooked.” (http://www.unbound.royalmvmt.com/things-they-carry/)
This research is compelling and although there are more conversations for women to move into roles because of the #MeToo Movement or Gemma Hartley’s work on Emotional Labor, we can not dismiss the load that women of color, particularly Black Women, deal with even to be positioned for opportunities.
Our stories are overlooked. Our narratives are not included. The conversations that I’ve been privy to are in isolation, also contributing to who we are and how we see the world. Perspectives like mine are left out, often re-written by those with a power to frame the story for their purposes. Whoever tells the story has the power to define the culture and impact the way we exist in personal and professional spaces–women, especially women of color, must share their stories. They are needed and important to the discussion on every level.
Another opportunity for women is through mentoring. I find that for those in positions, they typically continue to build others that are in their social circle. It is imperative that women begin to mentor others–especially younger women. I would not be who I am had it not been for several women who decided to take the time and pour into my life. If you haven’t identified your successor, you are in trouble. I am grateful to young women like Bemnet Meshesha (who has worked for me at both World Vision and the State Fair of Texas) and many others that have wanted to learn from me and I am dedicated to providing the space and time to help them reach their dreams and goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.froswasrules.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: @Froswa
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