In this ‘The Burnt Toast’ Episode, Rev. Raushanah Butler, opens up about going through the Trauma of abuse after abuse. 

My conversation is with her is rather intense but interesting and insightful. We focused on how she is living a thriving life now after many traumatic experiences. This Burnt Toast Episode will wrap up the month of May’s emphasis on Trauma Awareness.

Rev. Raushanah N. Butler is an ordained Itinerant Elder at the Cathedral of Turner Chapel AME Church in Marietta, GA, where she has been heavily involved in various ministries for the last 21 years and currently serving as the Minister of Online Engagement. 

In the Marketplace, she is the Associate Director for Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Kennesaw State University where she bridges the gap between the students, alumni, and the community. 

She also spends her spare time as a domestic violence and sexual assault advocate, while mentoring teens and empowering young adults. Rev. Butler is the proud mother of one daughter, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, cooking, and watching documentaries.

In the last Episode -Part 1,  my guest Dr. Carla Garvin and I started exploring what Trauma is. She gave examples and made illustrations that clarified some misconceptions surrounding Trauma.

In this Episode, Dr. Garvin delves a little deeper into Trauma. Weaving personal stories and anecdotes,  she uses her expertise to highlight how trauma impacts our lives.

Dr. Garvin has been empowering people to live their best lives, one thought at a time for over 19 years. She is the founder and co-owner of Creative Counseling and Consulting, LLC, in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

May is National Trauma Awareness Month. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan recognized the need for trauma awareness, and established May as the month to dedicate time and resources to increasing education and prevention activities.

In this first part of the two-part Episode, my guest Dr. Carla Garvin, and I  we delved into what Trauma is.  Dr. Garvin has been empowering people to live their best lives, one thought at a time for over 19 years. She is the founder and co-owner of Creative Counseling and Consulting, LLC. 

 It is necessary to sound a cautionary note. We will be discussing some things that might be triggering for some people. This is your heads up as you listen. Remember, leaning into our discomfort and doing the difficult work is an essential path to growth and purposeful living.

Following a rather dark situation recently, this Episode explores the complexities of life's circumstances when death is presented to us in vivid ways. It often forces us to face questions like what happens to our belongings after our transition from this Earth.

While a difficult conversation, leaning into this helps us to live wisely, and to prepare for the inevitable. You will be challenged to have a different outlook on life as you pay close attention to the message in this conversation. 

Following  the PBS documentary two weeks ago about the 'Black' Church, a two-part four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. exploring the 400-year-old story of the Black Church in the USA., Rev. Norman Dowe and I revisit what the Black Church is.

This primary important question, What the Black church is,  was not specifically addressed. So what exactly is the Black church? This question can be controversial. And the very idea that there is a Black church can be misinterpreted as a divisive in the body of Christ. This Episode addresses reasons for the term, the 'Black' Church.

In the previous Episode - Part 1, we started a conversation with my two guests, Pastors Stephan Bell and Rod Green, about the making of OneChurch ATL.  Starting out as  good friends, they decided to merge their two unrelated and autonomous Church organizations to form a new entity.

Now Co-Pastors, they share the Part 2 of their journey to becoming OneChurch ATL. 

When two good friends, decide to merge their two unrelated and autonomous Church organizations, a beautiful entity emerges that has been an exciting experience.

My two guests, Pastors Stephan Bell and Rod Green, in the first part of two Episodes, share their journey to becoming OneChurch ATL., a task that few dare to talk, about let alone take on. 

 February is popularly known in the US as 'BLACK' HISTORY month. But What exactly is that? How did this come about?  And How come there is no 'White' History Month?

In this Episode, the origins of Black History Month is explored. You will find out more about the month of February as it pertains to the US national calendar. Take the journey through the corridors of History and discover exciting information useful for today.