This week I had the pleasure of rocking for #DrEdithMitchell, the new President of the @NationalMedAssn!! Such an honor! CONGRATULATIONS!! #Detroit #NMAdetroit2015
THANKS NAACP!! WEST SIDE!!
THANKS again to the #Chicago #WESTSIDE Chapter of the #NAACP for having me speak this past Saturday about #DearFather!! The LOVE was immeasurable.#DearFatherLetters #OneMillionHeartsHealed @dearfatherletters
Dear Father Letters!
I can't begin to put this feeling into words. Thanks to the #Chicago #WESTSIDE #NAACP for implementing the #DearFather Curriculum!! To walk in and see a wall filled with #DearFatherLetters was beyond INCREDIBLE. It really touched my soul. Let's keep this movement moving!! #ThePowerOfFogiveness#OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed
Service Works!
A special thanks goes out to @pointsoflight @citi and @IAmServiceWorks #ServiceWorks for having me host their #Pathway2Progress @VistaBuzz Celebration in #Atlanta at the AMAZING @Ctr4CHR!! If you haven't been to the museum it is A MUST that you visit!! And to all the inductees CONGRATULATIONS & MUCH LOVE!! Your service is more than appreciated!!
#PhotoPoem
No trucks...
Just planes,
Ivy vines,
And the clouds that windsurf the sky...
So fly!!
Writer's Digest
MUCH LOVE @JessicaStrawser and @WritersDigest! #DreamBIG #DearFather #ThePowerOfForgiveness #DreamsDontComeTrueTheyAreTrue
BlackDoctor.org
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to @BlackDoctor.orgfor presenting myself and my company #IvyousEnt the #ChampionOfChange Award for the work we've been doing with #DearFather and #DearFatherLetters... @TarreyTorae I couldn't do it without you... We are both humbled and beyond grateful for the support you have extended and the light you have shined on this movement. MUCH MUCH LOVE!!! @blackdoctororg#Baltimore #ThePowerOfForgiveness #OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed #BreakingTheCycleOfPain
Dear Dad Dialogue
Earlier this year my younger brother Sergio Richardson aka Ser Rich captured this amazing photo at the 1st #DearFather #BookConcert in #Chicago. For me it was more than a DOPE DOPE shot of me and our Dad, it represented how far one can come when the heart and soul surrender to #ThePowerOfForgiveness. I can't tell you how AMAZING the #DearFather journey has been this far. This book has taken me far and wide and I've been able to have some very transformative experiences. Tomorrow, in celebration of the #FathersDay season, we will be having the 1st #DearDadDialogue in Chicago at @TheChiBureau. I would love to see you there as we continue this beautiful walk of healing and forgiveness. Tag your people, spread the word, see you there, and to the Fathers, Grandfathers, GreatGrandfathers, Brothers, Uncles, and Mentors #HappyFathersDay!!!#BreakingTheCycleOfPain #DearFatherLetters#OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed
Rocking w/ Slum Village!!
HYPED to be a part of this one!! Today make sure y'all grab @officialslumvillage @SlumVillage's new album #YES ft @black_milk @illaj @Bilal @BJTHECHICAGOKID @T3sv @IamthePHIFER and Yours Truly all produced by the LEGENDARY J DILLA!! #HipHop #NewMusic #Detroit #Chicago #Philadelphia
Steve Harvey Mentoring Camp
This past weekend I had the honor of speaking at @iamSteveHarvey's Mentoring Program for Young Men #SMHF #SHMP in #Dallas #Texas... I can't even begin to tell you how moving and transformative this camp was!! I've never seen 125 young men, amazing young men who have been troubled by their pain, turn around so fast. I had a chance to speak to them and perform for them. I had the opportunity to tell them about #DearFather #BreakingTheCycleOfPain and the #PowerOfForgiveness...emotions poured out, men, great men from the @USArmy, speakers, mentors, and leaders from around the country volunteered to pick them up, to build them up, to put an arm around them and let them know that they are loved, that they do matter, that they have value. This has been the most powerful experience I have ever been a part of and I want to thank #SteveHarvey and the entire foundation for extending the invite for my participation. This was life changing not only for them but for me as well. LOVE YALL!! GOD BLESS YOU!!
ESPN's National Spelling Bee
Today I had the pleasure of writing and performing the intro for #ESPN's #NationalSpellingBee!! LOVE what I DO!! LOVE seeing these young brilliant minds compete!! The future is looking BRIGHT!!
LOVE the LOVE!!
#tbt BIG S/O to #MountVernonHighSchool in New York!! This is from my visit to their school when I spoke to the Honors Society. The staff and students showed so much love. One of the best experiences so far during the #DearFather Movement!! Photo by #MVHSstudents.
#PhotoPoem #Misty
#PhotoPoem #Misty by J. Ivy
Dedicated to @mistyonpointe
#NationalPoetryMonth Edition
She dances like Ernie Barnes painted her,
Space bends for her,
Intertwines with her energy,
Density is released,
With ease she defies what can be done,
New framing is hung to fit her,
Grace lifts her,
Shifts her purpose,
Her poise makes noise like the sweetest music,
Her harmony is healing,
She's a flawless feather fearlessly floating in the art she makes,
Each step she takes is on point,
She tip-toes on the strings of our hearts,
She cold wit it!
Her image is frozen to the time she entices,
Reflecting the beauty of millions,
Mountains of mothers adorn her,
Her rhythm moves to the beat of those who have paved the way,
Each move is a movement,
She inspires,
Her elegance is electric,
She shines like the sun smiling at it's favorite star,
She's our star,
A beautiful reminder to dance to the beat of who we really are...
PROUD Moments
One of those PROUD moments!! Performing for and meeting the GREAT #GwendolynBrooks in #Chicago back in the day! #NationalPoetryMonth #throwback #NPM2015 #poet #poets #voice #storyteller #legend #respect #BornInChicago So amazing to have the chance to speak with and hang with one of the GREATS and have her critique my work!! #RestInPoetry
#PhotoPoem #StreetDreaming
#PhotoPoem #NationalPoetryMonth Edition #StreetDreaming
Photo by @noemadnyc #YouSNAPPED!! Poem by @J_Ivy
How high will your sky go,
How low will your low go,
Clouded ceilings,
Trying to find the right angle to catch that feeling,
If I were made of brick my first words would've been,
"I'm building,"
I scrape skies,
Tell them give me my high back,
Don't matter the terror,
My plane won't be high jacked,
We need to bury Murder Ave and Chiraq,
We done killed enough,
Let's project our feelings to where the love at,
Where the love at?!
Maybe they've conditioned our air,
Conditioned our minds,
Looking out of windows trying to position what's mine,
Some folks die only having one view,
I get it,
There's only one you,
You got a band of brothers,
But you only get once chance,
Can't get caught up in a romance with the hood,
It's real easy to forget your good,
Your worth is hanging off of the balcony,
Thoughts of suicide,
You and I can get pass the sickness,
The illness,
@wordspit said we the illest,
You right homie!
The healing comes when we see pass those clouded ceilings,
Victory is all in your perception,
Your depth of feel,
You got to feel every step,
Cause every step is real,
It's honest,
Every breath is life that you weren't promised,
A gift from the heavens,
Look up,
Thank GOD,
I smile filled with reverence,
I'm still pushing,
On faith I'm still leaning,
Knowing behind every cloud the sun is still beaming,
Eyes wide open,
I'm still #StreetDreaming!!
#PhotoPoem #StayOnPoint
#PhotoPoem #NationalPoetryMonth Edition
Photo by @chrisp1
Poem #StayOnPoint by J. Ivy
I'm on point like the sun saying high to sky,
Heat wave,
I see waves crashing,
I'm left asking,
What accidents were meant to happen,
What corrosion was needed,
What plants were seeded with love,
Guard up,
"Stick yo self Tony,"
Macs don't play fair,
Life don't either,
But I'm given hope every time I breathe new air,
Every time I feel the warmth of that flare up there,
I share this space because we weren't meant to be alone,
Homes weren't meant to be empty,
They were meant to be full of life,
Full of grace,
Rooted in love,
My blues won't be muddied like the waters of yesterday,
They'll be clear,
Crystal,
Sharp,
Still,
Calm,
Reflecting the light at the center of it all,
My depth is much deeper than the surface of my sea,
But sometimes you got to stick yo self in order to see,
Remind yo self to surf every tide,
Remind yo self to keep your guard up,
Stay on point,
And protect the beauty inside...
#DearFather Excerpt
Write your story with your #SoulsPen!! #DearFather #BreakingTheCycleOfPain #ThePowerOfForgiveness #NationalPoetryMonth #J_Ivy
#PhotoPoem Serena
@serenawilliams @voguemagazine
#WorkingIt by J. Ivy #PhotoPoem
#NationalPoetryMonth Edition
How poetic is this...
How poetic is She...
This Golden Brown Rose...
Pose...
Vogue...
Beauty froze for time to forever witness...
Admire...
Greatness for young beauties to aspire to reach,
Be like,
Be more like she did,
Serve Love like she does...
She's what is and what was...
The bar has been set,
Raised,
She's praised from the court to the cover,
With every swing at life she takes,
A new level of greatness is discovered...
SHINE ON!!
#PhotoPoem #SteppinOn
#PhotoPoem #SteppinOn by J. Ivy
#NationalPoetryMonth Edition
Taken@ #MountVernonHighSchool #NewYork
Every step taken builds character,
The climb isn't always easy,
So I lean on the values I've learned,
The stripes I've earned,
Knowing that I'm accountable for every decision made,
Every step made I've had support,
So it's important to me that I return the love,
Connect,
Strengthen the chain of our unity,
Together we're much more resilient,
When done right our leadership is brilliant,
I was born a leader so I lead,
I'm led by the gift of aspiration,
I always wanted to be somebody...
Special,
When it comes to the steps of life,
I always wanted to fair well on my stair well,
So I'm a keep on drivin',
Keep on reppin',
Keep on steppin',
No matter short or long,
I'm a keep on climbin',
Question is,
What are you stepping on?
The Apple Store Performance
I want to send a special thanks out to the #chicagoapplestore for having me out last night and to everyone who came out to support the event! AMAZING time!! #AppleStore #DearFather available on #iBooks!! #ThePowerOfForgiveness #DearFatherLetters #OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed #WhoDoYouForgive #CHICAGO #NationalPoetryMonth