Can You put YOURself First???

Just a Word..

Personal diary log...
This has been going on a 4 yr learning process for me... In every aspect of my life, work, personal life, serving others.. etc... Admittedly, I have failed often.

My emotional energy has been low so I've been doing more intentful meditating practice and noticing the impact to my overall balance Crown to Root. 

Understanding how much of myself I naturally give away or offer without thinking is astounding...

 It hit me this morning and over the past month...
It is taking a long time to start working through this process because I noticed that as I start doing for me.. Planning for me.. Exploring what I love first with no outside interference, I have to pick and choose what else can fit in my LEFTover space.. 

That hasn't happened in my life..

 My stuff always filled my LEFT over space in the past... 

I realized how much of a disservice I am to myself and then to those around me.. 

**I had to ask the tough question...HOW can I be what I am designed to be if I always put me on the backburner and never nurture my design?**  hmmm...

I still find myself almost feeling bad & trying to make up for my absence.. 

Ie.. Like Im making up for the fact I have dreams and aspirations.. 

It's crazy...

**I always use the reference when flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first on a plane before assisting anyone else...or

how we hear.. Love you first before you try loving someone else..** 

I am learning to be in spaces where I am appreciated, energy is balanced, respected and truly wanted..

anything else I am only killing myself slowly...

** Life is Ambiguous... Organic energy and timing can not be forced

And I realize I am still not applying it when it came to people around me.. I still allow the external to drive...
I am practicing creating space for ME.. And whatever doesn't fit.. to Let it not fit in the beginning instead of trying to figure out how it should fit.....**

#JAW #wheresAli #WherezAliBlog

Wacoooooo... Deep In the Heart Film Fesitval 2019

Deep In the Heart Film Festival 2019 March 28-31, 2019 in Waco Texas!!!
Can you say jam-packed!!!
Who would have thought a small town in Central Texas would garner such a big turnout from filmmakers. 

The red carpet was filled with a number of different new faces and veterans that I Am Royalty Radio has a pleasure speaking to.

We talk with Aaron Martin (CAST) about The Last Whistle the story about cardiac arrest on the football field. Based on a real story, about a running back who passes away after an incident on the field and a coach who wants to keep winning and a community who is concerned about it's athletes. How do they work together?
Aaron: "American Heart Association has gotten toghether with The Last Whistle and is screening this film to at risk youth... It is really relevant in the last couple of years.  It's a good little family film."

The Message Director Nate Southard takes us on a 3 year journey about a woman carrying for a woman late in life going through Alzheimer's.  This is a drama and deals with the changes of an ailing parent going through the ups and downs mostly Downs of Alzheimer's all rolled into 7 minutes.

Nate: "It's basically taking this 3 year period of my life and breaking it down into 7 minutes and just trying to punch you in the gut."

Fevah with Producer Nikhil Melnechuk and Actor Melissa Jackson. Nikhil was
excited they just flew in at 3 a.m. and drove to Waco from Houston right before festival red carpet.  What dedication!  

Fevah is a 12 minutes psychological thriller about a love triangle with possible real life scenarios... hmmmm. We know we love those right?Nikhil: "Get in and out..  a few tears"
Melissa: "The story is very powerful and I think a lot of people really connect with it. Male or female.  and it can mess with your psyche.....MAYBE :)"

Breaking Brokenness by Cedric Thomas Smith the short film about healing a family from trauma. Cedric said he wrote, directed and produced this film because.."Every family has a secret, that secret that you better not tell, the secrets you better take to your grave."
This secret is about a mother who killed her husband and her daughter does not know why so she digs into the past.
 the pain of the past and how you heal from it in real life is prevalent in today's world, we see it all the time.

You People.. by Lavon Chapman
Now how many times have we heard that?  Lavon Chapman is the Director and Producer of this short which is a comedy about stereotypes.
Lavon: I want everyone to walk away knowing that people don't all fit into a box and we are all created equal.  We are very layered and possibly opposite of the stereotypes that we've been ordained by.  When you leave is film he wants people to look at people, not at face value so to speak, but peel away those layers.
"This is one of those films that says...take a minute and look closer."








Peddling with Director Terry Bluez.
It's a 70's style film. About a kid raised by his grandmother who is working to make money to buy a bike and succumbs to the ways of the streets...
Terry: "As an artist its always nerve racking to put your work out there because it is very vulnerable...but the reception I have gotten from it has been great.."

Mother of A Sacred Lamb with Director/Producer Aman Johnson.
Nominated for best drama and best thriller.  About mothers and the pain and hope you have when you have a missing child.
Aman: "I wanted to do a film that was a drama but I also love horror films.. so let's see if we can creatively make one that fits both..." I think he did it.







Sacred Hair by Director/Producer Mario Morin all the way from Montreal, Canada. a film about diversity.
Mario: "We all think we are different but we are the same. Go beyond and see what unites us.  Doesn't matter color, religion, age, your belief system... the essence of all of us is the same."








West of Leona with Producer Christopher James Thompson & Actor Brian Cobbs. About a guy who rides his bike to the Leona mtns (not a real location) alone on a trip he and his girlfriend were supposed to take.
Christopher: We wanted to talk about Life and loss from a guys perspective.
Brian: "It should be relatable to men.  Women are not the only ones that go through this.










Age of Bryce with Co-Director Brian Elliot and David Feagan.
This is about a son and mother relationship where the mother is overly protective and the son is coming of age and just wants to explore on his own.
Brian: "This is just based on Life."
David: "Every relationship between a child and mother is kind of like this in some form or fashion.  It may not be soooo severe..." chuckling...








WolfBaned with Writer Tristan Sparks-McMahon & Actor Allyson Scottswood
Making you think about Little Red Riding Hood in a whole NEW way!!
Tristan: "The film is a twist of Little Red Riding Hood. I thought it would be cool.  i dont see a lot of films that are dark twisted horror fairy tales and I wanted to just retell the story. i really like movies that are ambiguous and psychological."
Allyson: on playing the part.  "I thought his writing was really good.  i really enjoyed playing the part and trying something different that would surprise a lot of people.

The Topaz Troop by Tori Ewing and Josh Overton (Camera)
It is a story about a young scout troop set out for camping to earn their camping badges while helping them cope along the way.
Tori: "My entire project is about facing fears. So it is for preschoolers.  It is helping preschoolers cope with and face their fears.  Skills of how to deal with those life problems."

follow: @thetopaztroop

Always Director/Actor/Writer Tracy Medberry and John Medberry
A romantic thriller short with a creepy and gritty feel but your expectation should

follow: @cronefablesmedia

flipped.. Makes you wonder what this is all about!! Get ready for tears and grit in one 10 min film!



Norwood Cheek on Filmmaking on Film & Representing Kodak.  
The Goal is to Encourage and enable film makers to shoot on film again and with Super 8. It is a great way to experience that.  I think there is a renewed interest in making film on film... in a great way, anyone can make a film now, but how do you set yourself apart?









Let's talk Human Trafficking and the film Unbound by Erin Stellar.
Human trafficking is so big in the US and actually Texas ranks #2 in the highest number of cases.  Most people are unaware because it is so hidden and no one likes to talk about it.
Erin speaks about talking with a trafficking survivor about her story to share in this documentary.
Erin: On making her first film and being in Deep in the Heart Film Festival.  "It's crazy.. it's surreal that I was chosen to get to come here and represent this story.  It is important work to be done."

www.unboundnow.org

We also chatted with Jessica Sequoia Director of Training of Unbound (anti human trafficking organization) and a Texas Detective Derek Wilson.

About anti-human-trafficking, community and awareness & how big it is right here in Texas. The organizations and law enforcement agencies are collaborating to give aid to the people that are caught up in these human trafficking rings 

Jessica: On how her org Unbound and the Sheriffs department came together.  "It is a beautiful picture of collaboration of community awareness and everyone getting engaged and using their talents and gifts to impact the fight against human trafficking."

To see more checkout wildworkspr.com or fastwrx.com and also follow the film's on social media Instagram and Facebook for more on this check out www.iamroyaltyradio.com

TORI - 2019 GRADUATION

2019 T.O.R.I. (Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative) graduation was yet another phenomenal event organized and hosted by The Potter's House Dallas.  T.O.R.I. is praised for its' extremely low 11% recidivism rate compared to US overall rate of 77% and uses a program focusing on the major components of every day life, employment, education, housing, healthcare, spiritual guidance and family unification tailored to each participant.

Every year since it's launch in 2005 a number of graduates that walk across the stage, receive their diplomas and move on in life living, growing, and changing for the better to continue to be successful.

This year special guests Senator Tim Scott, Topeka Sam, and Andre Norman were invited to speak abut their first-hand knowledge and experiences and offer hope and more importantly resources to the graduates.  Tina Naidoo, who has served under Bishop T.D. Jakes, was also a panelist.  Tina has been an intrical part of the T.O.R.I program along with her work to foster services for ex-offenders.

Topeka Sam Founder of Ladies of Hope Ministries talked about her experience in federal prison and after her astounding early release in 2015, went on a mission to bring more awareness to the disparity of women of color, specifically. LOHM assists these imprisoned women transition back into society.

She also part of other organizations and projects one of which is the PPAP Parole and Probation Accountability Project which is a project to work with the bodies of government to change laws that affect women specifically with the charges they are given.

Topeka Sam : "..understanding there were more things in common that we all had and that was this trauma, often sexual,  that was untreated, particularly in people of color. A lot of times we are just told to pray. We are not told to deal with it through mental health treatment."

Ali Carter: during Q&A - Topeka, You started PPAP - Parole and Probation Accountability Project in 2018, do you feel that project has had any impact with laws against women in the judicial system?

Topeka: in short Yes.. See final event Q&A video for full response.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, was the first one of the only three African American Congressman in office in this last term and the first black Republican senator in South Carolina.  His focus is to help invoke laws and change at the Congressional level and further trickle-down to state law.

Andre Norman was also a speaker at this event. Andre has endured many of things, he's been in the penal system with a sentence of 100 plus years and somehow walked away again with only 15 years served.  He decided to come out of that and do some good 

Andre: "When you have a gift and it's taking you some place- YOu have a purpose.  When I put my gift down I had no purpose. " Andre went on to talk about hos God spoke to him and this time he listened and that is what make him change from just wanting to be Free to wanting to be Successful.

The Potter's House added a Q&A taping session for selected media to hear and ask questions directly of the panelists about programs they are involved in that compliment the T.O.R.I. program which was hosted by Rebecca Lopez of WFAA D

As Andre Norman said .. the fight doesn't end once you get out, once you beat the case or once you get paroled... the fight is every day after that because every day after that you have to live in the same world where you found yourself trapped in. 

Learn how to volunteer or donate to this amazing program.

https://medc-tori.org/

https://thepottershouse.org/t-o-r-graduation/

Sleep like a true Moroccan

By Frugal Chick

A Riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden. 

They used to be the houses of the wealthy Moroccans, hundreds years ago.

They are typically found in old medinas in   city center behind the city walls. They are 2 story building with usually a terrace at the top for seating, dining and maybe a pool. 

The open style is really unique and quaint. Riads don't have outside windows as they are typically built connected to the next Riad. Similar to townhouses or brownstones in the US. 

Each one is unique in its own way, and all typically have colorful glass or tiling with reds and blues and yellows etc... 

Staying in one is an excellent way to get an authentic feel of Morrocan culture.. 

The smells, sounds and family atmosphere.. 

At my Riad, Riad Lila, found in Old Medina only a few minutes and turns from el Jamaa, you are not given a front door key. There is someone on staff 24 hrs who comes to open the door for you when you ring bell.. 

It's very interesting... And took some getting used to during my stay...Dec 2018.

There are also houses called Dars. These are similar to Riads except the garden is more like a courtyard. 

And there are Kasbah's which are like little cities where kings or leaders lived enclosed behind a defense wall and gated door. These were found outside of the medina and often in the outlying areas. Many are not used for the same function today. 

I strongly suggest staying in Riad as opposed to a contemporary hotel if you ever visit Morocco. The cultural experience is unparalleled and it is a wonderful way to meet and commune with others in family style dining... 

And who knows what you might find wandering around inside the streets/ I called them catacombs of the medinas. Just try not to get lost ☺

Dec 2018

Marrakesh Morocco