Born and raised in an inner city neighborhood in New York there were no shortages of eye opening life lessons. Rather than to be defeated by tough circumstances I have chosen to connect with others through shared experiences. I'm inspired by God, my family and life itself. Learning how to appreciate all that my life has to offer, taking steps to "live" my life and not just "exist"; There IS a difference. A creative soul, sharing my God given gifts through the creative arts: writing, photography, & the spoken word to uplift, encourage, and inspire. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conversations-with-ilene/support