Author and Educator, Sierrah Chavis has blazed a path to champion youth and empower women to strive to be reach their highest potential in success, healing and self-discovery. As an advocate and leader in education, she has committed herself to doing the work needed to nurture communities in need. Let’s meet her…
How did you discover your passion for education?
Growing up, I had a strong desire to pursue a career in education. Contrary to popular belief, I had significant difficulties with reading and writing from a young age, and I grew terribly disheartened. I had one teacher who truly believed in me and who cared so much about my ability to read that she worked with me after school every day to not only bring me up to grade level in reading, but also to get me reading at or above grade level in reading. It was she who helped me gain confidence and encouraged me to keep reading and never give up! Throughout middle and high school, I continued to study English in Advanced and Honors courses. Seeing myself as not alone spurred my interest in
education. I realized that if I could just assist one child overcome their anxiety and dread of reading as my teacher did for me, I would be able to return the favor that my teacher had extended to me. She simply had faith in me, and I wished to share her confidence.
What is one major obstacle that you see in your very own community and if money were no object how would you solve it?
The quantity of homelessness that exists in my neighborhood is one of the most significant issues that I notice. Assuming that money were not an issue, I would construct multi-unit housing, provide job placement, trade certifications, rehabilitation, and mentorship to those who are impacted by homelessness in order to assist them in becoming productive citizens equipped with the tools that they will need to be successful in this world.
Did anything in your own childhood motivate your interests?
When I was a little kid growing up, my mother was my primary motivator. I would stand there and watch my single mother go above and beyond to make sure that I got all I needed to be healthy and successful. In exchange for allowing me to eat, I’d sit and observe her deliberating whether or not she would consume food. She is the kind of woman who would literally give her shirt from her back to someone in need if she thought they were in need. I learned a lot from watching her grow up and become so kind and altruistic, despite the hurdles and blockages that she encountered. She taught me the significance of getting an education and that I can be anything I set my mind to if I simply put my mind to it, and she was a great role model for me. It was through her that I learned to be persistent and to assert my own opinions and beliefs. When I was an advocate, speaker, and now author, having the ability to use my voice was quite helpful.
Tell our readers about WiGirls and wi.org and how they can get more information on either.
WiGirls stands for Women Inspiring Girls this is a movement indeed and soon to be a publication where we are teaching our minority girls between the ages of 6-13 about the rich and exciting history of minority women and to also spotlight the girls within our community on the amazing things that they are doing and to celebrate them on a large platform. We have a website and IG and E-Lookbook that will be coming very soon! Stay tune for the Fall of 2022.
Tell us about your book and what your inspiration was to write. Where can they purchase it?
I am a bestselling author of two books “No Shame in My Pain” and “From Pain to Power”. My first book “No Shame in my Pain” was written to share some of my most painful experiences that I had gone through in my life such as domestic violence, cancer and a daughter that dealt with a brain illness. All of these different life events caused me trauma and over the years I had to learn how to deal and heal with it one step at a time. You can find my book on amazon or my website by visiting www.sierrahchavis.com
How can other educators become strong education advocates in their own communities?
Know what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there. Being an educator is a difficult job that necessitates a strong sense of commitment and connection to the learning and achievement of students. For the majority of my professional life, I have worked in Title 1 urban schools and communities, where I have often served as more than an educator; I have also served as mother to many students and as a counselor, mentor, community champion and hairdresser. I am providing them with more than just an education; I am also presenting them with a reason to live, which is not often the case. That said, it is extremely rewarding when I see my students walk across the stage and become what many people believed they would never be able to become, as well as break generational cycles within their own families and communities that have been passed down from generation to generation for generations.
