Create Your Own Blueprint with Author, Award-Winning Poet & Educator, Patrice Juah

Avis

Hey there, beautiful people. And welcome back to another episode of That's How We Role, a bi-weekly podcast, where I talk with motivating and inspiring women who are professionals, entrepreneurs, organization leaders, artists, and so much more. 

This week's guest is Patrice Juah  an accomplished author award-winning poet,  education entrepreneur and former Miss Liberia. She is the founder of the Martha  Juah Educational Foundation based in Liberia, West Africa. The foundation launched the Sexy Like A Book initiative, designed to inspire young women and girls to improve their perspective on reading, literacy and education. She is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. 

Among many things. Patrice is a Mandela Washington Fellow for President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative, and also a Deutsche Wella Global Media Fellow, Patrice's, desire is to motivate and empower young women by supporting local nonprofit organizations to educate women on HIV Aids, teenage pregnancy and education. 

So let's find out more about this incredible and amazing woman and accomplishments and platforms as we welcome PatriceJuah.  Welcome Patrice. And I'm so glad to have you join us here today on That's How We Role. 

Patrice

Thank you so much for having me. What an honor. I feel truly, truly blessed to be here today.

Avis

Well, we are blessed to have you. 

Patrice

How are you doing?

Avis

I'm doing great. And I'm so excited because this is my first international interview, but I'm doing good. I'm doing well. Thank you so much. 

Patrice

I ask how  you're doing. You're welcome because these days, you know, with the pandemic and all of the changes we are experiencing across the world, That question is very important is one we take lightly, I think is a critical question we all should ask, you know, the fact that we are looking okay from the outside doesn't necessarily mean that we're all okay. 

Avis

That's exactly right. Best. Yeah, because you don't know what's going on inside. Like you said that the picture looks pretty on the outside, but there's a lot of stuff going on in each and every one of us and we don't know. how everyone was affected. And just because it looks like they're fine, doesn't mean that they are. This is like a second epidemic that you've experienced in your lifetime, correct? 

Patrice

Yes. 

Avis

You have the, the epidemic of Ebola. And then now, as you said, most recently COVID yeah. What did you learn about that experience from Ebola, that, that carried over into this, these COVID times? 

Patrice

Well, I tell people that if the world had paid attention, when we had the west African Ebola outbreak in 2014, that we would have had a more, a robust response to COVID because I believe that Ebola was sort of like a dress rehearsal to COVID a dress rehearsal of sorts, but because, you know, it's a small part of the world, people were, I think they thought, you know, let them just deal with their issues on that. And, you know, there's just a small part of the world, but now with COVID, we are all in the same boat and we all, you know, are, juggling for answers and trying to see how we can get out of this. It's sort of like a ride, you know, bus ride. And we don't know when it will end during the Ebola outbreak. I wrote a poem called The Ebola Ride, because I, it just felt like we were stuck on the bus and we didn't know. when the ride would end. And if this one feels the same or even worse, 

Avis

It does. 

Patrice

Yes, absolutely. You know, with ebola, we were doing social distancing, we were doing all of the hand washing before it became a thing. And so,  I learned empathy and importance of collaboration, you know, all hands on deck, because that was what really helped to kick ebola out of the region. When people started working from the grass roots up, we saw a lot of, you know, interventions, local intervention. As well as international support.

So it wasn't only the help we were getting from abroad for people on the ground were really, you know, creating innovative solutions to see how we can combat the disease. And so that's what I learned, the power of collaboration and local interventions and efforts. 

Avis

Wow. I love the description that you gave that ebola was a dress rehearsal for COVID because most of us never even expected that we would have this kind of, this pandemic, this epidemic here at this time, I, we never would have thought about it in a million years, but here it is.

And you know, we were trying to get through it and we're still on that, that long bus ride. We were still in this, still on the bus here, trying to get through this and trying to get past. 

Patrice

Yes, it is hopefully, you know, and soon, but now with the vaccines and everything, I just, I think things are looking positive. I recently worked on a story and I'm trying as best as I can to encourage people to take the vaccines. That's the best thing we can do. Those of us who are storytellers, you know, different kinds, uh, to encourage people and mobilize them to see the positive side of. 

Avis

That's true. And through that is education for people. And I wanted to hit on that because I know education is key in everything that you were doing. And yet educators and teachers, they don't get the accolades or the recognition that they deserve no matter where they are and what they're doing. And there are definitely the unsung heroes and sheroes around the world.

Patrice

You're right. 

Avis

They really are. How are you helping in connecting the worlds regarding education? 

Patrice

Well, so my, uh, currently I am on the app. Then when I became Miss Liberia into 2006, my platform, I saw it more like an ambassadorial role that I had to represent my country globally and to help inspire young people because my mother was a teacher for 50 years, a primary school teacher, and she taught across rural communities in Liberia. And so she inspired, my mother and my late sister, they inspired my love for education, my love for books and reading at a very young age. And I grew up during a civil war. My country Liberia had a civil war that lasted for 14 years. And it was because of that love and passion for reading I was incorporated in me at a very young age that helped me transcend all of the chaos that I was surrounded by. And so education is very important for me. So when I became miss Liberia in 2006, I saw my role as an opportunity to further champion education and to bring young women along with me as I excelled and as I discovered myself. And so I launched, as you mentioned several educational projects, the foundation in honor of my mother and her service to her country and educational sector in Liberia, we have advocated for and provide a scholarships and educational resources to girls in rural communities. Um, because it's very important for girls across the world, even if you're in a village to know that they have, they can become the best that they want to be. If they see somebody who  is a part of them you know, and the person has been able to excel and that person goes back to them, you know, with opportunities and the right mentorship and resources is good. You know, it is a great opportunity that we can give girls.

And so we provide a scholarships, mentorship and what's Sexy Like A Book. The girls have been writing their own books because most times you see that, you know, when it comes to girls, uh, advocacy work, especially around education and girls rights, people speak on behalf of girls and never give them the chance to tell their own stories.

And so a part of what sexy  like a book represents is to give girls the opportunity to use their voice to  tell their own stories so that you're able to speak about taboo topics unfolding in your communities. And they're able to make informed decisions as  socially conscious young leaders. And so that's the work I've been doing. Currently last year I joined the Karanga, which is the global Alliance for social and emotional learning and life skills. And so with Karanga, what we do is to advise organizations globally as educators or educational entrepreneurs, policy makers, and activists, to see how we can embed social and emotional learning into the global education system. So that's what I do. with Sexy Like  A Book in particular and education is a big part of my work and I intend to continue creating opportunities for girls across Africa and the world. 

Avis

Wow. That was, that's so important to give the girls a voice, their own voice so that they can speak for themselves, say what's on their minds instead of through someone else that that's awesome!

Patrice

Thank you so much. 

Avis

You're welcome. What are some of the manifestations of this work have you seen? What have you accomplished so far with these girls and with the programs and the educational guidance that you've given so That's a great question. Initially, when the girls, most of them are in high school when we bring them into the program. Over the years, during my days as Miss Liberia through Miss Education,  through Martha Juah Educational Foundation and a scholarship.  Through Sexy Like A Book and a different writing, workshops and mentorship initiatives we've had through all of the different efforts and projects, have seen girls who were very shy initially, very withdrawn and as time went on and they became more confident. You know, these girls became more confident and started using their own voice. As I said, and with the scholarships, we've been able to give brilliant girls in the rural areas who didn't necessarily have the financial support.  We've given them the opportunity to put a school.

Patrice

There was a young girl we supported in one of the counties. She was the very first in her family to go to school. We've seen girls we've been able to help parents, you know, lift some of the financial burden that they have, they were encountering in sending with sending their girls to school. I've seen some of the girls have most of them, you know, have completed high school.

They've gone on to launch their own initiative, because the whole idea is that as you go through the program, that you're able to, once you're done, you're able to serve as an ambassador  and a mentor and role model to other girls. Some of them have launched their own initiatives. Some of them have gone on to earn their master's degrees. and they always say that these platforms or these projects were, uh, the stepping stone, you know, for the work I do today, especially with the writing these girls, some of them are writing for different platforms because of the opportunity we give them a Sexy Like A Book to write their own book and stories, and they've just continued to grow.

And it's really beautiful to watch, our's is a sacrificial work. Sometimes the support isn't there like that, but seeing the impact that we've made over the years through these girls and their stories, I'm, I'm truly inspired to continue doing this work. 

That's amazing to, 

Avis

to create a program that actually creates other ambassadors and other, other mentors that can go out and multiply and be a mentor to someone else. And that's very important for, for a lot of these young girls, especially nowadays that feel like they don't have a voice or feel like they can not be a mentor to someone else, but that it is, it is very powerful to create other yous to help you. 

Patrice

Thank you Avis, particularly on the African continent, you know, where we have a patriarchal culture, Liberia has managed to really lead the way when it comes to women's leadership. We elected Africa's first female president.  So we have an example to show to these girls that it can be done in all spheres of leadership, whether it's in the educational space or the business landscape, girls have seen that it can be done. And. so it's a, part of our work, so continue to show them the possibilities and provide the resources to enable them to thrive.

Avis

That's awesome. That really is. And that is a great mentor, a great example, having a female president, it really is a great example to let them know that they can strive and be anything that they want to be. So that is a great message. So going back, you were Miss Liberia. Now you've created this Miss Education Awareness Pageant. Can you talk a little bit about that and I'm sure that being a former Miss Liberia, as you said earlier, you use that platform for other things and to create more stuff for education. So how does this Miss Education Awareness Pageant work? 

Patrice

Well, Miss Education, we haven't had the pageant. We morphed into sexy like a book because Miss Education and the foundation where my first initiatives, when I won the pageant. And so  Miss Education was even recognized by first lady, Michelle Obama in 2014, she thought it was an innovative approach, you know, to keep girls in school. And so she acknowledged the work we did with Miss Education. So when I won the pageant, you know, when you win a pageant, most times people see you, regard you as only a pretty face. And so it was, I felt like it was my responsibility to change that narrative and show it to the world and my country that there's more to being a pageant title holder, that you are an ambassador of sorts for your country, because it doesn't only take, it's not only about your looks. You know, you have so much to bring to the table, you have your intelligence, you have your talent. And it's a rigorous process. You know, that requires a lot of preparation, a lot goes into preparing for a pageant, but sometimes people only tend to see it once in a one-sided way. So it was my job to change that narrative and encourage other girls that once you have a cause that you're passionate about, you can use a pageant as the platform to champion these causes.

And so we launched a Miss Education where we went into the various high schools and recruited the most brilliant girls and mentored them and they participated in the pageant and they were judged solely on their intelligence and the winners were certificated as education ambassadors. And they all like sexy, like a book, you know, went back and given scholarships, they were mentored, they got a lot of resources and support and they all once they completed  the program, they went into their communities to serve as young education ambassadors. But over the years, the pageant has morphed into what is.now, Sexy Like A Book, because I believe that we all have to grow and we have to evolve in whatever it is that we are doing. And so sexy, like a book is that next level of Miss Education where it goes beyond the pageant, but really engages girls in the whole mystic manner, uh, incorporating the social and emotional component.

And so Miss Education, yes was very impactful when we did it. I still one of our projects, but now focus is mostly on. the scholarship initiative through the Martha Juah Educational  Foundation. And our sexy like a book project and the writing, the mentorship and the social components of sexy, like a book that encourages girls to learn beyond the classroom where they're socially conscious.

They learn about etiquette and learn about just politics, different things unfolding in their communities so that they are grounded and solid, socially conscious young leaders. That's the work we're doing. We're still growing and ever so open to learning. I'm just so excited about the future and connecting with women like yourself, who one day will probably be able to speak with some of our girls and share your own story and experience with them so that they can be inspired by such a phenomenal black woman. Who's doing amazing things on the other side of the pond.

Avis

Yeah, that's wonderful. And I'm glad that it has merged into something like sexy, like a book that is a, is a great message that you have out there. So you are an author and I know you will continue to put out books and, and you are a poet. You are an award-winning poet. What was the catalyst or, or what drove you to, to be a storyteller?

Patrice

Ooh, I love this question. I love this question so much. Well, a storyteller. Okay. As I mentioned earlier, books have always been a part, a huge part of my world. In fact, books were my best friends before I started making human friends, I guess. We had, we had a civil war in my country that lasted for 14 years.

And during those years I would escape. My family did their parts. My mother and my late sister did their part to shelter me from all of the chaos that surrounded me. You would hear guns firing on the outside of our home. We were constantly running from place to place as displaced people at some point during my early years, I was a refugee because my family fled to neighboring Cote d'Ivoire to escape the conflict.

But one thing that remained constant in my life was education and books. You know, my sister, my family always had books for me and I was always reading and I started to dream, you know, as I read these different books, I started to realize that, like I said, books and education were always very important.

So as I started reading, I started escaping, you know, and going into places like the left, the traveling going into the Champs Élysées in Paris, going to New York. And I said, oh wow, there's more beyond this conflict. There's more outside of my tiny shores. And so I began, um, as a form of therapy and escape, I began documenting my stories. Every time I would write a short story, or a  poem. And I just found so much comfort in doing that. And that was how I was able to, although  I was faced with a lot of traumatic experiences and saw, and was exposed to a lot of things as a child. Books and storytelling kept me sane and safe. And so, yes, that's how my, um, journey as a storyteller began from the war years in Liberia when I sought refuge solice through the pages of books. 

Right. So 

Avis

you probably have some, some great things. So I'm going to link everything about Patrice is poetry and writing in the show notes, so you can check it out. And also if you want to donate to sexy, like a book, I'm going to have those links as well. Is there anything that you've read, watched or listened to lately that inspired you?

Patrice

Yes, I read a book called Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones and a, a leadership book called Dear Leader. And those two books have really inspired me and I encourage other women to, especially during these complicated times to check those two books out, you will be deeply touched and inspired as well.

Avis

What was the main takeaway from the book? 

Patrice

The main take away from the Professional Troublemaker is to disrupt, you know, and carve out your own path and be daring and bold and audacious, you know, as you go along your journey and that if you're, if you don't find the blueprint, make sure you are the blueprint.

Because sometimes when we set out to do the things we want to do, you may not necessarily see someone in the world or find any role models in there. You know, those instances called call for you to take the lead and track your own course and path. 

Avis

Oh, I love it. Make your own blueprint. Forget about what somebody else did. Update the blueprint, break down a wall and build something else. I love it. 

Patrice

Thank you. thank you so much.. 

Avis

So you've been traveling and studying outside of Liberia over the past year or so. And you were recently in Spain, I believe, correct? 

Patrice

Yes, I was, I love, I love, I love seeing such a beautiful country, rich in culture and history. And I love the city of Madrid. And I wrote the poem that I won the award for is a poem I wrote in honor of Madrid and my love for the city as you know, Spain was one of the hardest hit countries during the earlier days of COVID. And so, uh, being an African woman living in Madrid, I thought it was fitting to do a poem that honored the beautiful city and recaptured, you know, how... if, you know how I saw the city, the memories and the good times I had and how the city embraced all of us in our earlier days there. So yes, there was called An Afro-Madrileña Love Note and it won the prize, the IE Foundation Prizes in the Humanities for poetry in English, Pico award. And I was really humbled and honored.

Avis

Congratulations. That's wonderful. You're welcome. And why were you in Spain? 

Patrice

I was there studying,  I'm always very fascinated by cultures, languages, and I just love exploring places that people wouldn't necessarily. I mean, we all travel, but living in a place  humbles and grounds you in a way. And so, uh, when I got the opportunity to do my graduate research there, I was really excited.

Avis

How long were you there? 

Patrice

I was there for a year. Yes, I was. I didn't know any Spanish. When I went to Spain, I only knew Hola! But my school is such a great school and they had a lot of languages, you know, that we could learn different programs. And so I, I decided to do Spanish. And I, I left from Spain really with a decent grasp of the language and, uh, a greater understanding of the Spanish people and culture. And, uh, I feel like it's another home for me away from home, which is the case with a lot of places I've lived like Cote d'Ivoire in Ghana and the United States, you know, like you have a deep connection and history with the United States because our country was founded by freed African-Americans in 1822. And so a lot of Liberians have family members in the US, a lot of Liberians aspired to, to live in the US and a lot of Liberians live there today and going gone to school there. So yes, I just, I feel myself as a Pan-African woman and also a global citizen, because I'm very much interested. I love meeting people. I enjoy networking. I enjoy learning and unlearning, and just immersing myself in different cultures, in languages. Well, yes. Spain was a beautiful experience for me and I'll be back. 

Avis

I know that's one of my dream places is to go to Spain one day. You are such a motivator and inspiration yourself, but what motivates and inspires you?

Patrice

I'm inspired by my mother who made immense and tremendous contributions to the educational sector in Liberia, my late sister, Oretha. And of course the stories and journeys of African women and girls, around the continent, I admire their strength, their courage, their tenacity, and their ability to push forward, amidst all of the limitations they face daily.

Avis

What's next for you? Where are you traveling to next? And what will you be doing there? 

Patrice

Well, what's next for me? Okay. So I was in Spain and I got my degree in International Relations and Affairs. So upon completing my degree, my family was faced with a loss. You know, we'd lost my big sister, who was my biggest supporter, my best friend, my cheerleader.

And so I had to return home upon graduation to be with my family. And so this past year, It's been a lot,know why it's been, it's been, it has opened my mind to so many other things and possibilities as I juggle a career, you know, in dealing with grief and dealing with a pandemic, it has forced me to show up, you know, in those moments, in my low moments, in my lowest moments, when I've wanted to say no to things, you know, opportunities like being on your podcast, I'm so honored to be here, you know, because I'm just so honored to be on your podcast.

And I checked everyone in my family, you know, before we did this recording to be like, I met this phenomenal woman and she invited me to be a guest on her podcast. And so, yeah. There have been moments, you know, that I have just wanted to just not do a lot because of the grief is a complicated journey, but then I've kept saying yes to things, even if I, you know, when I don't feel like doing them, I say yes. And if, if all helped be my healing and recovery journey. So I'm really happy. So I, yes, I'm working. I'm a consultant. I do work for various international organizations. I'm writing. I'm still, I'm working on more books. And of course, a book in honor of my sister, her legacy and impact she made in my life and her contributions to Liberia and women in rural development in Liberia.

And,  I'm currently  editing several books. Earlier this year I launched, I released my first children's book called Why I Smile. My first book is a book of poems called Under Ducor Skies and that was published in 2018 and it became Amazon number one, new release in African poetry. 

Avis

Wow. Fantastic. Congratulations on that too. 

Patrice

Thank you so much. 

Thank you. Yeah. There's some of the children's book on Why I Smile the whole essence of the book because children are dealing with this pandemic. This is why social and emotional skills are very important to help children cope with difficult situations. And so Why I Smile was co-written with my six year old nephew and the whole, the whole idea behind the book is to motivate and inspire children and encourage them, you know, as they go through difficult situations to know that they can still smile.

And so it's available on Amazon, uh, other projects, they have more writing projects, more editing, more communications in international work and travel very soon, I should be. visiting  this year with COVID, I've been, you know, trying to find ways to explore more of the African continent since you know, all of the borders around the world aren't open yet.

So I'll be doing more travel across the African continent. And then, I'll be on my way to Ghana soon, which is another home for me. I used to live there. I've been in and out of Ghana. So it's another home for me. So I should be there very soon as well. And my girls wrote a second book, which will be out soon, a second anthology.

Yeah. And that is another project I've been working on. Oh, I always have so much going on and juggling a lot of different things, 

Avis

but it seems like you're doing well at the juggling. So that's phenomenal. 

Patrice

Thank you. Yeah. Cause I love what I do. As long as it's aligned with my purpose, I, I enjoy doing everything, you know I've been blessed to do, thank you.

Avis

Do you have any words of wisdom that you would like to leave with us today? Anything through your journeys that may help or will help someone listening today?

Patrice

I just want people to know that one, you know, we all live our lives waiting to arrive, but one never truly arrives. In my opinion, you know, it's just, you know, the, about the journey and what we discover and learn about ourselves along our journey and how we're able to immerse ourselves in it, relish every moment of it and keep learning, growing relearning, and making the impact that we were put on this earth to make. And so I would say to other women out there, keep learning, keep exploring, keep growing, keep pushing yourself and keep saying yes, when you want to say no. Think big, you know, and, and, and be bold, be bold and use your voice for something bigger than yourself.

There's a quote that has really stuck with me, especially as I navigate this journey of grief and it says the way we honor the dead is by living well, because if we spend our lives never living, we lost what they had. So let us live with COVID, you know, and the strange times we are navigating let us focus on living and let us pay attention to seasons and the messages those seasons are giving to us.

Avis

Oh, wow. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Those are great words to live by. 

Patrice

Thank you so much, Avis.

Avis

You're welcome. You're welcome. Of course. So if you want to donate, please visit Sexy Like A Book website. I'm going to have everything linked so that you can donate to sexy like a book and to the development of Liberia's next generation of leaders.

Patrice. It has been such a blessing and a joy to have you here with us today. I appreciate you squeezing me in between your travels and it's so wonderful and joyful to have you here. 

Patrice

It has been such a wonderful conversation,  Avis I'm so honored and I feel truly blessed to have connected with you.

And I just look forward to all of the incredible work we will do it together. I'm sure we will do some great work together to advance the stories and voices of women across the world. And in particular, we need to get you to come to the African continent.

Avis

I'm up for that. I'm up for that. 

Patrice

So thank you so much for having me. 

Avis

Of course, any time. You, listen, if you want to come back, you let me know. We will schedule another interview. I love having you here. And I, and I love hearing this story and, and I love to hear about all the great things that you are doing to inspire and mentor these young girls and young women in Africa, in west Africa and all around the world. It does bear repeating for every young woman and young girl. No matter where they are.. 

Patrice

Absolutely Avis. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the platform and the space and opportunity  for connecting here and  loads of blessings and love and positive energy to you. Thank you so much.. 

Avis

Please make sure that you like subscribe and share the podcast. And make sure that you follow Patrice and sexy, like a book that, hear, everything she's doing on all her social media. I will include all of that in the show notes. I will see you soon. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen, checking out the podcast. Thank you for inviting me into your space. And until next time I hope you will continue to thrive, grow and be kind to yourselves and be kind to others.