The Poetry, The People, The Purpose By Nechelle Harris
An Introduction to The Village of Empowerment
Welcome to The Village of Empowerment — July 13, 2025 Super Powers where voices are honored, resilience was celebrated, and transformation was powerfully spoken into existence through the power of purpose , people and poetry. With every breathe unity, gratitude, compassion, emotions, celebration, inspiration, memories, leadership and creative cultivation was poetically formative in the Village
At the heart of this movement stands Nechelle Harris, the visionary founder and poetic storyteller whose words breathe life into the lived experiences of the Village. Her gift for crafting soul-stirring, descriptive poems transcends mere recognition — she captures the essence of every honoree, speaker, and community member, immortalizing their light through the rhythm of language.
The Poetry is more than words — it is the heartbeat of our celebration. Nechelle’s verses echo the strength, beauty, and legacy of those who lead with love, heal with action, and inspire with truth.
The People are the reason. From the trailblazing honorees to the youth rising from challenge to triumph, The Village is a home for those who dare to dream, to serve, and to uplift others while walking their own path of growth.
The Purpose is to affirm that every voice matters. That healing can be poetic. That leadership can be gentle. That legacy is built in moments — captured not only in deeds, but in the words that echo long after.
As we gather, we do so with a shared mission: to build a community where empowerment is not an event — it is a way of life. We are a sanctuary for those seeking not just support, but empowerment — a place where every voice matters, every story holds value, and every person is seen as a vital part of rebuilding the village. We are more than a community. We are a force of Superpowers.”
“The Walking Pen” James Holley
By Nechelle Harris, The Village of Empowerment
He walks not with footsteps, but with phrases—
Each stride a paragraph, each breath a revelation.
A distinguished, eloquent man carved from intention,
Clothed in grace, robed in reflection.
A walking pen of wisdom and lived truth,
Scripted in seasons, edited by fire,
He speaks in commas of compassion,
And ends with periods of power.
He did not ask for a seat—he built the table.
With a hammer of vision and nails of clarity,
He crafted space for voices,
That once were echoes in the margins of society.
An author of sentences inked with execution,
His words do not linger—they move mountains.
Not just spoken, but lived—
His life is a manuscript in motion.
Analyzed by his first formation—
Mistaken as ordinary stone.
But oh, he was being carved into a statue of proclamation.
A masterpiece formed in the shadows of transformation.
He is a declaration in flesh.
Legacy made language.
He doesn’t just write history—
He is the scroll it’s written on.
So when you see him,
Do not just salute the man—
Salute the movement,
The message,
The mission.
For he is not just made of bone and breath,
But of purpose and prophecy.
A man distinguished by design,
And divine by destiny.
Poetic tribute to Shelly and Yami, honoring their bold leadership, transformational spirit, and radiant impact:
“If Our Smiles Could Tell the Future” by Nechelle Harris
For Shelly and Yami — Warriors of Empowerment
If our smiles could speak prophecy,
They’d declare with thunder and transformational truth:
Shelly and Yami, you are no ordinary women.
You are the architects of a revolution
rooted in love, justice, fearless Empowerment and pursuit.
You don’t wait for the world to change—
You are the change.
You don’t whisper through systems— You are voiceful with wisdom.
You rebuild them with vision.
You don’t ask questions or permission .
You ascend with purpose,
and bring your people with you. The same Village that once empowered You
Where despair once lived,
you plant power.
Where silence swallowed stories, you shout legacy.
Where injustice held ground,
you carve space for equity and integrity.
Voice by voice, heart by heart
The Village of Empowerment will be a mark.
Monumental Mobilization—
You move communities like rivers shift land.
Unshakable, unstoppable.
You build not just movements,
but momentum so grand. Galently exemplifying God’s written plan
With authenticity as our armor,
and compassion as our command,
We unknowingly shape the future boldly—
not as a wish, but as a promise that We have for our Community
Shelly and Yami don’t just walk into rooms—
They shift the atmosphere.
They don’t just talk community—
They embody it.
Shelly and Yami don’t just empower—
They awake the divine SUPER POWERS in others.
So if our smiles could tell the future,
they would rise like a chorus and sing:
“Shelly and Yami, you are legacy in motion,
and the world will never be the same.
Tribute to Millie by Nechelle Harris
In velvet shadows, Millie stands,
A crownless Queen with weathered hands.
She climbed the ladder—rung by rung—
Yet still believes she’s just begun.
A woman of secrets, soft and vast,With dreams too mighty for her to past.
She wonders why she’s out of sight when she’s a glowing soul that dances in her own throne’s light.
A woman of secrets, fierce with drive —Wears courage cloaked in diligence pride.
Her courage, sculpted from her past,
A diamond forms, she bares it fast.
So rise, Queen Millie, claim your sky—You were never meant to merely try.
You are the crown, the throne, the lore—And you, dear Queen Super Power were made for more.
“She Is the Vigilance in Our Village” By Nechelle Harris
— A Tribute to Commissioner April Riddick
She walks not just in power,
But in purpose enhanced by her vigilance—
Turning trials into triumphs,
Legislating empowerment so meticulous.
In rooms once closed and silent,
She speaks so truth can rise—
Her voice, a call to justice,
Her presence, bold and wise.
She is more than just a leader,
She is legacy in bloom,
A blueprint for tomorrow
Crafted deep in Lehigh County Community’s womb.
Where others seek attention,
She seeks to build and teach—
With every hand she reaches,
She lifts another to their peak.
Innovation is her rhythm,
Empowerment her flame—
She turns connection into currency,
And never plays the game.
Ethical, relentless,
She moves with sacred grace—
Restoring faith in systems
And bringing light into dark space.
She is Allentown’s heartbeat,
A commissioner, a guide—
A sister of the struggle
With the whole village at her side.
So let us rise and honor
This woman brave and true—
April Riddick, the embodiment
Of what real leaders do
. 
When Art Meets Law — The Love of Shellie & Judge Rashid
A Tribute to the Power of Connection, Purpose, and Divine Design by Nechelle Harris
In a world where right and wrong are weighed on the scales,
And beauty is painted in quiet seamless details —
There emerged two forces from opposite frames,
One of the courtroom… the other of artistic flame.
Shellie — a soul of symbols and sacred letters,
A heart that bleeds color, compassion, and poetic fetters.
She crafts bookmarks in God’s grand design,
Sketching spirit in motion, one quote at a time.
Judge Rashid — robed in reason, anchored in law,
Yet never missing the heartbeat, the flaw, the awe.
With justice in his posture and purpose in stride,
He walks the line where fairness and empathy coincide.
Together, they are balance —
He, the gavel. She, the brush.
He speaks truth into silence,
She paints silence into hush
They met not in chaos, but in God’s calling —
Two souls divinely stalling… then suddenly soaring.
He read the laws; she wrote the prayers.
He built the walls; she adorned the stairs.
Love, for them, is more than affection —
It’s alignment, it’s protection, it’s resurrection.
A partnership where faith meets logic,
Where testimony is both spoken and drawn —
Where her softness challenges his storm,
And his structure makes her wings feel warm.
They are contrast and complement,
The ink and the seal,
The open verse and the verdict —
Both exquisitely real.
Together, they are the sentence and the scripture,
The ruling and the rapture,
The robe and the robe’s embroidery —
Justice and artistry in perfect harmony .So let this stand as evidence of love divine —
That when law and art are intertwined,
A village is uplifted, a story is told,
And the union of two souls becomes more precious than gold.
Shellie & Judge Rashid —
Not just a couple, but a collaboration of soul and mind,
Where love is the canvas, and purpose the frame,
And history remembers their powerful name.
Shellie Santiago A Living Bookmark in God’s Story by Nechelle Harris
She is not just a woman —
She is art in motion,
A mosaic of intention, inspiration, and devotion.
Shellie — the name whispered in cursive across canvas skies,
Ink-stained fingers, writing messages to God…
Never asking “Why?”
But simply breathing, believing, becoming.
Her hands are vessels —
Brushing symbolic letters into the margins of the moment,
Turning words into warmth,
Quotations into comfort.
Each phrase she pens is a spiritual key —
Unlocking hearts, unlocking healing.
Shellie is a marker of permanency in a world of pencil lines,
A signature piece etched in Divine design.
She doesn’t just write —
She engraves messages on souls,
A poetess of purpose,
Breathing life into blank pages.
A wife, a daughter, a mother, a friend —
But also a messenger,
A builder where once stood rubble.
From the cracks of her past,
She laid stone upon stone —
Faith the mortar, love the guide.
Where others saw brokenness, Shellie saw blueprints.
Her sensitivity is not weakness —
It is scripture wrapped in soft skin.
Her inner words are hymns,
Sung silently with every act of grace.
She incorporates faith like ink on linen —
Permanent. Purposeful. Pure.
Shellie smiles in intentional praise,
Thankful not just for what was…
But for what is becoming.
She does not wait for the light —
She illuminates it.
Her bookmarks within God’s plan
Are not just placeholders.
They are reminders —
That even when you feel forgotten,
Your story is still being written.
And Shellie… is helping hold the place.
Tribute to Judge Rashid — The Robe of Wisdom, The Smile of Purpose by Nechelle Harris
In a world often divided by verdicts and views,
Judge Rashid stands — not just on a bench, but in the village, in the truth.
A robe not just worn, but earned — like the wisdom of King Solomon draped in justice and grace,
Yet it’s not the robe that defines him… it’s the heart that sets the pace.
He brings the courtroom to the corner, the gavel to the grassroots,
Merging urban perspective with higher pursuit.
No judgment in his stride, though he sits on the bench —
Instead, he uplifts, he listens, he builds with intent.
With a smile that lights up like early dawn,
And eyes that carry the weight of every battle he’s drawn —
Still, they gleam with purpose, with promise, with plan,
A man of law, yes — but foremost, a man of the land.
For Allentown’s youth, he is more than immunity —
He’s opportunity, accountability, and community unity.
He doesn’t just rule — he mentors, motivates, and moves
With the knowledge that his success was rooted in the village’s truth.
“I treat each soul before me with dignity,” he says, “and I do it with care,”
Because fairness and compassion were values always there.
His temperament is steel wrapped in velvet respect,
And his words, when spoken, leave a lifetime effect.
Funny how a Judge can be without judgment —
But that’s Rashid: the rare alignment of justice and nourishment.
He doesn’t just wear the robe, he lives it,
And in doing so, shows us that real power is when you give it.
So here’s to the man, the brother, the king of calm fire,
Who rules from the bench but builds far higher.
Judge Rashid — our wisdom, our bridge, our shield —
Forever robed in purpose. Forever rooted in the field.
Tribute to Our Roots: Cumberland Gardens, Hanover Acres Terrace, 2nd Street, Center City, Little Lehigh and Beyond by Nechelle Harris
These were more than neighborhoods —
They were the concrete classrooms of life.
Cumberland Gardens raised us on resilience,
Hanover Acres Terrace taught us strength in numbers,
2nd Street pulsed with grit in every heartbeat,
Center City carved out character with every corner we turned,
and Little Lehigh whispered wisdom beneath the shade of the trees.
These places weren’t just roads,
they were paths of purpose,
paved in perseverance, lined with lessons,
and marked by the legacy of those who dared to rise.
We are the children of the Projects —
built from bricks, soul, and struggle.
We speak the language of survival,
move in the rhythm of determination within our arrival
We carry the weight of grit like a crown.We didn’t just grow here — we learned to lead here.
We projected our future from porches and park benches, We dreamt big from small spaces, corner stores,and street fences.
We took every hit as a reminder that we were built to last. No matter how far we roam or how high we climb,
we never forget where we started because these blocks raised kings and queens,
these housing projects hold volumes of untold triumphs.
Our stories deserve books.
With pride, we honor these grounds —
not just for what they were,
but for who they made us.
From concrete came courage.
From struggle came strength.
From the Projects came Power. We were all purposely meant.. Let our projection be our reflection that we learned, observed with knowledge preserved. We are not their Project We are a Projection!!
Founder of The Village of Empowerment Nechelle Harris
Nechelle Harris is more than a name—
She is a movement, a melody, a mission.
A powerful force wrapped in intuition,
She doesn’t just see you—she sees your essence.
Empowerment is not what she does,
It is who she is.
In every breath, in every action,
She weaves strength into broken places
And turns hesitation into purpose.
Her words? Poetic.
Her presence? Electric.
Her speeches?
Power-bound lightning bolts that make hearts rise
And feet move in alignment with destiny.
Nechelle is a divine rhythm
That doesn’t wait for the DJ to spin.
She dances when the music ends—
Because her purpose plays louder than any beat.
A walking testimony,
She lives proof that creativity heals,
That love leads,
And that community can be cultivated
One soul at a time.
She built The Village of Empowerment
Not with bricks, but with belief—
Belief in people.
Belief in potential.
Belief that every life, when nurtured with truth,
Can rise.
Nechelle Harris,
You are giftly amazing.
You don’t just empower—
You awaken.
AnTribute to a Walking Legacy Chuck Rockmore – The Man, The Mentor, The Monument By Nechelle Harris
He is more than a man—
he is a pillar,
a presence,
a quiet storm of strength
draped in all black,
walking with the weight of wisdom
and the grace of purpose.
To some, he is a father
when life left them fatherless.
To many, a mentor
when they were searching for a mirror.
To all, a friend—
loyal, grounded, real.
Humbled and observant,
he doesn’t speak for the sake of sound.
He speaks when it matters.
Moves when it’s time.
Plays his part in the game of chess,
never rushed, never rattled—
a king moving through life
with strategy and soul.
Known to do it for the community,
he doesn’t just talk unity—
he conquers it.
He transforms corners into classrooms,
struggles into strategies,
young men into legacy-bearers.
His leadership is not announced—
it’s felt.
It’s in the firm handshake,
the guiding word,
the silent presence in the room
that somehow speaks the loudest.
Transformative. Inspirational. Impactful.
Intentionally on Purpose.
He is not here by chance—
he is here by calling.
And in everything he touches,
he leaves a mark of dignity,
direction,
and devotion.
So today,
we don’t just honor him—
we remember him.
Because legends don’t fade,
they echo.
And his echo will live
in the hearts of the men he mentored,
the youth he lifted,
and the community he never stopped loving.
He is a Legend.
He walks in Leadership.
And his legacy will never die
Together we rise with you.
— The Village You Built
Tribute to the Fashion King George Efford – Seated on the Throne of Authenticity by Nechelle Harris
He walks with style,
but not just in fabric and fit—
in faith, in family, in fierce loyalty.
A man of fashion, yes,
but more so, a man of foundation.
Through every season—
whether dressed in storms or sunshine—
he remains true.
True to his essence.
True to his roots.
True to the love he gives without hesitation.
He is the thread that binds family and friends,
never unraveling under pressure,
never stitching false seams.
Even when life tried to wrinkle his worth,
he stood iron-strong,
creased in character,
tailored in truth.
Through good days and hard ones,
he never traded his identity
for popularity, position, or pretense.
Because this man—
this King—
sits on the Throne of Authenticity,
not because he crowned himself,
but because he earned it
through honor, heart, and humility.
Fashion is his language,
but loyalty is his legacy.
And every step he takes
tells a story of resilience,
of self-respect,
of royal confidence
not defined by trend,
but by truth.
To know him is to witness consistency
wrapped in charisma,
elegance tied to integrity.
Here’s to the Fashion Man—
unapologetically himself,
forever devoted,
forever real.
Long live the King
on the Throne of Authenticity.
Tribute to Bishop Jude Felix– The Gentle Watchman of God’s Word by Nechelle Harris
Bishop Jude—
a man not merely made,
but ordained,
chosen in the sacred stillness
before the world even called his name.
With gentle eyes,
he does not look at you—
he sees into you,
into the very depth of your spiritual need,
discerning burdens you haven’t spoken,
and offering peace
that only heaven can provide.
He walks in kinship,
not above, but with—
a servant of the people,
a shepherd of the soul,
washing feet not for recognition,
but as reflection
of the One who knelt before the cross.
In the pulpit,
his words are not just sermons—
they are spiritual navigation.
Each syllable pierces through doubt,
each truth silences the creeping chaos
of worldly demons
that dare trespass on divine ground.
He is covered.
Not by title,
but by anointment wrapped in honor,
shielded in righteousness,
and led by a Godly sleuth
who guides his every step,
even in shadows.
Bishop Jude—
you are a bridge between heaven and hardship,
a warrior of prayer,
a vessel of virtue.
Your presence brings both calm and command,
a reminder that strength
can come in stillness,
and that glory often walks in humility.
We honor you not just for what you do,
but for who you are:
a light in the wilderness,
a leader in the storm,
and a soul that reflects
the unwavering love of God.
Bishop Jude,
your legacy is already written
in hearts transformed,
in spirits awakened,
and in the quiet power
of your sacred, steadfast walk.
Tribute to a Woman of Gospel Truth Ketsia Felix – A Spiritual Surplus Rising in Stock by Nechelle Harris
She is not just a voice in the church—
she is a vessel of truth,
an unwavering advocate for women
who’ve cried in silence,
served in shadows,
and prayed for power.
A co-pastor,
an inspirational speaker,
a flame ignited by divine purpose—
she doesn’t just preach,
she pours.
Pours wisdom from the pulpit,
pours grace into the weary,
and pours courage into every woman
who dared to believe they were more.
Once a pillar holding up others,
she now walks the aisle of her own becoming.
Flowing in faith,
searching for her distinct passage—
not to fit a mold,
but to move in her own calling.
She is gospel-rooted,
glory-bound,
a quiet storm with kingdom authority.
Not content with tradition,
she is evolving, expanding,
rising not to be seen,
but to serve at a higher capacity.
To know her is to witness
a spiritual surplus—
overflowing with purpose,
grounded in truth,
and rich in revelation.
She is not just increasing—
she’s rising in stock,
divinely endorsed,
eternally equipped.
So we honor her walk,
her worship,
her wisdom.
Because her story is still being written—
and every chapter sings of strength,
service,
and sacred distinction.
A woman of gospel truth.
A voice for the voiceless.
A divine asset
on the rise.
Tribute to Ana T – A Light Becoming by Nechelle Harris
She walks a path still forming beneath her feet,
chasing the spotlight,
longing to be seen,
to be adored,
to be enough.
But what she does not yet realize
is that the light she seeks
has already claimed her—
it sees something more.
Her name is Ana,
but her prophecy whispers louder—
“You were meant for greater.”
Not just to be noticed,
but to be known,
to ignite change,
to carry truth through the noise
and rise through the haze of expectation.
She has fostered a world
where masks are no longer needed and dreams are now a reflection of her mirror
Her spirit defies limits.
It pours out—
craving purpose,
reaching for more,
never settling for the surface.
Her philosophy of life:
to give, to grow, to glow.
But sometimes, in the hunger for applause,
the mission blurs.
And so this tribute stands
as a reminder:
Ana is a woman with a mission who has become her vision.
Ana—
you are not becoming the light.You are the light
searching for a mirror that speaks truth.
Let the prophecy guide you,
not the pressure to perform.
Let the mission be louder
than the need to be loved.
Because Ana—
Is proof
That her powerful, purposeful, prophetic fire
that is already grained in her skin she continues to look for the mirror but her light is just so memorizing. You are the Light
Tribute to Miguel Lopez – The Quiet Flame of Community by Nechelle Harris
Miguel Lopez—
a calm, silent soul
whose words may be few,
but whose actions speak volumes.
He is not loud by nature,
but bold in purpose.
A steady presence in a world of noise.
He lives by a sacred code:
Let the community celebrate together,
not just gather in grief.
A belief that joy should not wait
for tragedy to remind us
how precious connection truly is.
Miguel doesn’t just serve—
he listens.
He doesn’t just show up—
he sees.
And in his stillness,
there is strength.
His inquisitive mind
asks the right questions,
and in seeking answers,
he builds bridges.
Not for himself,
but for everyone around him.
Compassion drives him,
commitment defines him.
He walks with humility,
yet leaves a lasting imprint
on every street he touches,
every soul he uplifts.
Miguel,
you are the quiet flame
that warms a neighborhood.
You are the heartbeat
behind unity and action.
Not one to seek the spotlight—
but one who is the light.
So today, we celebrate you—
not because you asked to be seen,
but because your presence
has always made others feel
seen, heard, and valued.
Miguel Lopez —
the soul of service,
the voice of action,
the calm that moves mountains.
Tribute to Elizabeth Strong – The Mystical Light of Power and Purpose by Nechelle Harris
Elizabeth Strong—
your name was never a coincidence.
It was a calling.
A prophecy wrapped in grace,
delivered with divine purpose.
God gave you a birthright—
a Wonder Woman Mystical Light,
burning not just to shine,
but to heal,
to unite,
to transform.
From every given might,
you created beauty,
built bridges of social unity,
and poured peace into chaotic spaces.
But even the greatest powers sometimes wonder—
“Am I enough?”
So, Empowerment knocked on your door,
and reformation took its place on your throne.
Not to make you new,
but to remind you of who you’ve always been.
Elizabeth—
you are no imposter.
You are the roster.
You are the example,
the rhythm before the song,
the voice before the chorus.
A composer of advocacy,
weaving justice through gentle hands.
A sculptor of beauty,
not just in faces,
but in spaces where hope was once hidden.
A musical solace,
your presence hums with healing,
your silence sings with wisdom,
and your steps create symphonies
for those who thought they’d never dance again.
You are not discovering your light—
you are the light.
Born radiant,
forged through grace,
and rising every day in rightful strength.
Elizabeth Strong,
you are the force,
the fire,
the fearless one.
And your legacy will echo
like a divine chorus across time. Remember Never an Imposter Always the Creator of the Roster.
Tribute to LaShina – A Flavorful Force of Grace by Nechelle Harris
In the quiet of her presence,
a powerful aroma rises—
not just from the food she creates,
but from the spirit she carries from her grandmother Bonnie Riddick.
LaShina,
a culinary genius,
not loud in word,
but resounding in flavor.
Each dish she crafts is a declaration,
each bite a whisper of her heart.
Shy in speech,
yet bold in spice,
her kitchen is her canvas,
her seasoning—her soul.
With hands that know heritage,
and a heart seasoned by experience,
she has stirred more than pots—
she has stirred hope,
joy,
and celebration
into every plate she serves.
Opening her own catering company
wasn’t just a business move—
it was a testament
to her perseverance,
her growth,
and the rising tide of her self-worth.
She is a lily that bloomed
through layers of self-doubt,
a diamond that found its shine
through pressure, purpose, and prayer.
LaShina,
you remind us that brilliance doesn’t always roar—
sometimes, it simmers.
Sometimes, it marinates.
And then it shows up fully—
plated with passion,
seasoned with strength,
served with love.
You are more than a chef.
You are an artist.
A nurturer.
A quiet fire
that feeds the soul and inspires the spirit.
Here’s to your journey,
your flavor,
your bloom—
LaShina, you are a masterpiece
in motion.
Tribute to Gloria – A Symphony of Strength and Soul by Nechelle Harris
She walks in quiet power,
but her presence plays like music—
a graceful symphony
of advocacy, artistry,
and unshakable love.
Gloria,
a distinguished woman of new-found family,
gathers the broken, the unheard, the healing—
and wraps them in harmony.
She doesn’t just serve—
she builds bridges,
where silence once stood.
For the women who’ve survived storms,
she is shelter and voice.
For the youth seeking truth,
she is rhythm and light.
For the cause of musical equity,
she is the composer of justice,
leveling keys where notes once fell flat.
A producer of artistic words,
a creator of melodies that speak truth
to pain, to purpose, to possibility—
Gloria moves through the world
like a Mozartean force of compassion,
acting her heart out in elegant deeds.
She does not need to be center stage
to make a movement—
she is the movement.
Concrete in her service,
yet soft in her spirit,
she loves like community should feel:
warm, real, and whole.
Gloria—
You are a melody the world needed to hear,
a rhythm of resilience,
a ballad of belonging.
And as you continue to write, produce, and pour—
may your legacy echo
in every beat of empowered lives.
A Maestro of Meaning.
A Woman of Wonder.
A Symphony in Service.
You are the Music
that Heals, Unites, and Moves Us All.
Tribute to Debbie – A Standing Statement from the Top by Nechelle Harris
Thirty years ago, the world offered no map,
just questions, silence, and closed doors.
But you, Debbie—
you became the compass.
You didn’t wait for the world to catch up,
you led it forward.
When your son needed more than what they knew,
you learned the language of his world,
spoke in love,
acted in faith,
and carved a path where none had walked before.
Others might have folded under pressure,
but you unfolded wings.
Not because flying was easy—
but because staying grounded wasn’t an option
when your child needed you to soar.
Fiercely determined,
unyielding in purpose,
you transformed confusion into clarity,
fear into advocacy,
and pain into power.
You didn’t just fight for your sons—
you stood for them.
And in standing,
you lifted others:
mothers, children, families
still trying to find their way.
Debbie,
you were never at the bottom—
God just gave you an extra hill to climb.
So you climbed,
with grace in your steps
and fire in your heart.
And now?
You are a Standing Statement from the Top—
proof that love can move mountains,
that advocacy can rewrite stories,
and that a mother’s devotion
is one of the most powerful forces on Earth.
You didn’t just rise.
You elevated the world with you.
And we thank you.
We see you.
And we stand taller because you stood first.
“She Painted Me Whole”
A Tribute to Barbara Wehr ( Dieruff High School) the Art Teacher Who Saved Me by Nechelle Harris
Some people create art with paint.
Some use clay, or pencils, or canvas.
But Mrs. Barbara Wehr —
She used courage.
Over twenty years ago, when the world felt silent and broken,
She saw me.
Not just the student in the classroom—
But the child behind the eyes,
The girl too afraid to speak.
When others turned away,
Mrs. Wehr picked up the brush of bravery.
She made the call.
The one that saved my life.
And with that call,
She became more than a teacher—
She became the color in my grayscale world,
The stroke of light on a shattered canvas,
The first artist to paint me whole.
Last night, in a room filled with love and healing,
Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Trini Sierra-Pagan and Shelly Harris,
I turned around and there she was—
My past, my protector, my unexpected angel.
I hadn’t seen her since I was fifteen,
But somehow, her presence still felt like home.
In that moment, every piece of my journey came full circle.
I was no longer the girl waiting to be saved—
I was the woman she helped me become.
A survivor. A leader. A voice.
Mrs. Wehr,
You didn’t just teach art.
You became it.
You gave broken children like me the tools to feel,
To trust,
To believe we were worth saving.
You reminded me last night, and so many others before,
That the right person at the right time
Can change the whole story.
We all deserve to be seen.
To be believed.
To be loved back into the world.
And you—
You are living proof
That love echoes across time.
Tribute to a Super Power Goddess of Purposeful Preservation Alicia Mcintosh by Nechelle Harris
She is not simply a woman —
she is alchemy,
turning heartbreak into healing,
wounds into woven wonders,
and sorrow into soulful strokes of art.
Flawless in her imperfections,
she creates from the very marrow of truth,
unapologetically raw,
unshaken by the world’s molds.
Living with nature is her sanctuary,
because anything less would taint
the sacred essence of her being —
her soul is too rare
for replication.
A visionary through the creative lens,
she captures what the eye can’t see —
but what the heart remembers.
A commissary in soulful ends,
she walks where grief has grown,
yet plants gardens of grace in its place.
Her pain doesn’t silence her —
it paints her.
Her tears don’t weaken her —
they water her brilliance.
She is the echo of passion,
a crying heart turned canvas,
and in her quiet courage
she bestills the loudest storms.
A Rebel with righteous intent.
A Revelation born of reflection.
She refuses to be boxed,
defined,
or diminished.
Her uniqueness doesn’t ask for permission —
it sparkles boldly,
blazing trails where none dared walk.
She is a Super Power Goddess —
the keeper of legacy,
the artist of truth,
the embodiment of Purposeful Preservation.
In her, we find
resilience in rhythm,
grace in grit,
and light in the layers.
She doesn’t just survive —
she creates from it.
She doesn’t just exist —
she transforms.
And in doing so,
she frees us all.
Tribute to a Dancing Healer: Anthony Harris A Grandmother’s Grandchild by Nechelle Harris
He moves not just with rhythm,
but with purpose —
each step a story,
each sway a sermon.
In a world too quick to overlook,
he chooses to see,
to uplift,
to feel.
A giant not only in stature
but in spirit —
his presence is a balm,
his movement a message.
Born of a grandmother’s vision,
he carries her whispers like wind at his back,
her wisdom stitched into the fabric of his being.
To individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
he is more than a dancer —
he is a doorway,
a divine channel of liberation.
He teaches that therapy isn’t just in words,
but in the sacred silence between steps,
in the joy of expression,
in the freedom to move,
to be.
Fearless in his pursuit of healing,
humble in the face of applause,
he walks with grace,
dances with divine intention,
and lives as a blessed mogul
who doesn’t chase the spotlight —
he becomes the light.
Empowerment is his choreography,
inclusion his heartbeat,
legacy his language.
A vessel chosen,
a vision fulfilled.
A man moved by soul,
anchored in love,
and destined by the dreams
of one powerful grandmother
who knew he would move mountains —
and he does,
with every dance.
A Grandmother’s Grandchild.
A Healer.
A Giant.
A Gift.
“Valid From the Start” Naquon Godfrey
By Nechelle Harris
He walks with questions tattooed on his shadow,
Still seeking echoes that confirm his worth—
Though the truth was etched in him long ago:
He was valued.
He was valid.
From his very first breath on this Earth.
A spirit that could move stadiums to stillness,
A heart that could carry broken worlds on its sleeve.
He shoulders burdens like they’re whispers—
Turning pain into presence,
And struggle into belief.
They labeled him “from the hood,”
As if greatness had a zip code.
As if brilliance couldn’t bloom
Where cracked sidewalks explode
With dreams that defy
The narratives sold.
But oh—
They missed the marvel behind his gaze,
The elevation in his voice,
The way his purpose defies boxes,
Breaks chains, and reclaims choice.
Misunderstood by those who couldn’t fathom
That soft can be strong.
That humble can lead armies.
That his silence isn’t absence—
It’s the calm before the legacy.
Now watch him rise—
In gratitude, in grace,
Smiling with gleam as he claims his space.
Not chasing validation,
But affirming his place
In a destiny that was always laced
With purpose, with power,
With undoubted embrace.
He is not a question mark.
He is a statement.
A period.
A name you remember when the dust clears.
A man of depth, of fire, of dream—
A superpower
You need on your team.
