Episode 9: Empowered by Joy and Intention with Tracy Weems

Tracy Weems is an experienced administrator who has served in higher-education, and nonprofit and government entities  for over 25 years. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D in Interdisciplinary Leadership, with a concentration in Nonprofit and Social Entrepreneurship at Governors State University and will graduate in Spring 2024.

Tracy also serves as a board member and treasurer for the domestic violence organization, Anew: Beyond Violence and Abuse, and is also serving as a co-chair for the South Side Giving, where she has been a member since 2019.  

In September 2016, Tracy lost her husband Christopher, after he suffered from a lengthy illness. Together they share a daughter, Kira Pearl, and two stepchildren from his first wife, Michael and Taylor. After losing her husband, she started attending her church’s grief and loss ministry, where she found a safe space to have open dialogue about her sorrow and losses and become a support to others dealing with care-taking and loss. She was eventually asked to become a co-facilitator in the ministry and continues to share her stories and experiences.

Tracy is looking forward to becoming a Grandma in December, as well as pursuing some travel in the near future. She also wants to develop a path where she can use her past experiences of dealing with loss and trauma to provide mentoring, encouragement, and inspiration to others Black Girls who have struggled to find their resilience.

Ways to Engage: Do you find that you’re most honest with yourself in a private situation like Tracy is? Do you ever take the time to speak to yourself aloud or write things down freely? Think of a situation or layer you’d like to explore and see if you’re more honest with yourself in private. It might not be for everyone, but you may discover a more effective way to embrace your layers.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:59 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 6:55 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:05 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 15:22 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 21:15 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 27:07 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 31:31 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 35:35 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 41:42 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 43:49 )

Original FEEL Podcast Theme Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis