Choose to Awaken with the WUE Nation!

On March 29, 2020, Spirit of A Woman, LLC, launched the Wake Up Everybody (WUE) Virtual series in partnership with community healers, thought leaders, coaches, medical and mental health professionals, educators and artists from across the nation. WUE was created to provide community members, from across the country and abroad, with an opportunity to keep their mental, emotional,  physical and spiritual well beings balanced and whole as they navigated the impact of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 global health crisis. 

WUE was  originally designed as a 30 day offering that would provide “temporary” covering and support for participants until the quarantine period ended, however, the producers and community members quickly realized that the WUE journey would last much longer than they originally anticipated. 

The series was created by Shawnee Benton Gibson, CEO, of Spirit of A Woman (SOW) Leadership Development Institute, who was inspired by the lyrics of the song  “Wake Up Everybody” by Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. The song, which was popular in the 70s, speaks of issues that we are still glaringly relevant today; (racism, war, poverty, sickness, political strife, corruption, etc). The WUE Virtual series was designed to “WAKE UP” the masses by providing empowering messaging, holistic healing tools, guidance for daily living and strategies for addressing the injustices, pain and imbalance that exists in the world. 

All of the “Wake Up Everybody” sessions take place 5 days a week (every Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday from 7:00am - 8:30am EST and every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00am -7:30am EST.) over Zoom and Facebook Live. Every session is facilitated by powerful and prolific presenters from various backgrounds and areas of discipline. Each facilitator guides participants through an interactive experience that fosters education, conversation, new insights, empowerment  and expansion. 

The WUE Family invites you to join our phenomenal community so that you can share, heal and grow as part of the collective. You are free to join as a community participant, as a session facilitator and/or a member of the admin team to support the magic that happens behind the scenes. We hope to hear from you. 

Sunday, March 9th - "The Brain of a Child-The Heart of a Mother Part 3"

Facilitated By: Tara "TJ Vida" Gibson & Tier'a Berry

This session builds upon the prior discussion of raising a child with epilepsy, emphasizing the transformative impact of initiatives like Seize The Cure. This program empowers parents and caregivers by providing essential tools, resources, and support to navigate the challenges of epilepsy, while fostering resilience, hope, and a strong sense of community.

The session will explore how a supportive community can profoundly benefit both parents and children by offering emotional, practical, and psychological support. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to share their personal stories, challenges, and coping strategies, creating an environment of solidarity and mutual understanding.

Participants will also gain valuable insights into the importance of establishing and leveraging robust support systems, including peer groups, advocacy organizations, and community resources. These systems are vital for enhancing overall well-being and strengthening the capacity of families to care for children with epilepsy.

Join us to discover how collective support and shared experiences can make a meaningful difference in navigating the journey of epilepsy caregiving.

Monday,  March 10th - "Tax Free Strategies to Build Wealth"

Facilitated By: David Germain

In today’s uncertain financial landscape, safeguarding and growing your hard-earned money and assets requires a strategic approach—one that minimizes tax burdens and protects against stock market volatility. This workshop will introduce proven, tax-free wealth-building strategies that empower you to create financial security and long-term prosperity.

Tuesday, March 11th - "Scaling Made Simple: The Magic of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)"

Facilitated By: Athenia Rodney

Efficiency, consistency, and scalability are key to any successful business or organization. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the secret weapon that transforms chaotic workflows into seamless, repeatable systems. This workshop will uncover the magic of SOPs—how they boost productivity, enhance team collaboration, and ensure sustainable growth.

Wednesday, March 12th - "Start It NOW!"

Facilitated By: Shayna Hewitt

Life is too short to keep putting your dreams on hold! Start It Now! is all about reevaluating your priorities, overcoming fear, and taking action toward your biggest goals today—not someday. The perfect time will never come, but your opportunity to start is now. Don’t let doubt or delay hold you back from the life you truly want. Join this session and take the first step before it’s too late! 

Thursday, March 13th - "Realizing A Dream Part II: Sh!t or Get Off the Pot"

Facilitated By: Martine Lissa Malivers

This session is all about taking intentional action to organize, mobilize, and secure the support and commitment of WUE Nation in bringing to life the vision our ancestors held for us. Through collective strategy and unified effort, we will work to honor their legacy by transforming their dreams into tangible progress for our communities.

Upcoming Facilitators!   

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Class, elegance, dignity, intelligence, talented, educated and grace: ALL words that come to mind when describing TJ Vida. Tara J. Gibson was born and raised in the Bronx and is of Puerto Rican and Irish descent. Her Latin roots in collaboration with her childhood nickname and her “full of life” personality influenced the creation of her stage name TJ Vida, which means TJ Life. TJ Vida is a woman who has not only made a name for herself in entertainment as a R&B and pop singer ,songwriter, actress, and radio personality but also an activist and humanitarian as well. In addition to the many roles she has in her everyday life, Tara Gibson also has a M.A. Degree in Forensic Psychology. In 2017, Tara Gibson created an Organization called Seize The Cure which tied her passion for entertainment and finding a cure for epilepsy together. This was inspired by her son Maliq who suffers from Refractory Epilepsy and the challenges that came with having a child with a life threatening and changing condition. With the help and encouragement of the Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan NY, local musicians/artists, and local businesses and organizations, Tara Gibson aka TJ Vida presented the first ever Seize the Cure Epilepsy Awareness forum/concert in the Bronx, NY. With the intention of only holding one event, the success and passion that was shown left such a lasting impression on the Epilepsy Community, it resulted in the continuation of events and workshops. What is now called SEIZE THE CURE 4 EPILEPSY, has rapidly grew in programs to help spread not only Epilepsy Awareness but seizure safety as well through workshops, trainings, events, and the SEIZE THE CURE Radio Show.

In addition to the successful unforeseen growth of SEIZE THE CURE, her music career began to finally blossom after a long hiatus due to harsh disappointments when starting out in entertainment. She decided to use her music to collaborate her passion about Women’s Rights and Domestic Abuse. As a rape survivor the subject is very sensitive to her and touches home. Its something in which she kept silent about through most of her life and with her now having the platform of music to let her voice and thoughts be known, she has found the confidence to tell her story, not in shame or grief, but with hope to help, motivate and inspire other victims to not be afraid to reach out and ask for help and guidance. She has spoken at several forums, events, interviews and interventions on the matter.  In 2021, Tara Gibson decided to leave everything behind and start a new life. She moved to Florida and took time to focus on building her life from scratch in a new place with a new culture. The emotional challenges that were endured that led to the abrupt transition only made Vida stronger and she decided to take on her passion by re-birthing TJ Vida. Tara Gibson wanted to know who TJ Vida was. For all her life, her music and potential came with limitations due to her loyalty to personal commitments resulting in her never experiencing the identity that came with her stage name. While continuing to grow as an artist as she develops her style as a musician, she is now recording and releasing music as a solo artist with her slogan ‘Same Name New Lane” signifying her transformation. TJ Vida is riding a wave of confidence and excitement in life. She is learning to love herself, put herself first and apply her personal growth to her music and passions for all are connected. She is continuing her education and studying for her Doctorate degree in Forensic Psychology, still spreading the words of awareness, and inspiration in Domestic Abuse and bringing people and professionals together in search of treating epilepsy with hopes of not only helping her son but others as well, and working on establishing her brand and crafting her elusive yet heavily anticipated solo music career. TJ Vida is an amazing woman who wears her heart on her sleeve and can make anybody a believer.

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Tier’a V. Berry, is a proud New Yorker born and raised in Rochdale Village, Queens. With a deep passion for working with children and helping families, Tier’a’s journey in youth development began at a young age. Initially aspiring to be a teacher, she discovered her true calling while working at a community program in The Br

Waking up in a new chapter full of encouragement and support she recognized her passion and curiosity in digital marketing. Currently she serves as Lead Creative & Branding, LeVian Diamond with The Diamond Writers.

Along her journey, Tier’a has also embraced a career as an author and public speaker, specifically as an Epilepsy Awareness Advocate and Inspiration Speaker and by selling self designed and published multi purpose notebooks on Amazon to help support daily living for the family. 

In 2024, Tier’a debuted as a Diamond Writer contributing author in the release of She Is with Transparent Gems Inc. and has self published two guided journals. All three books can be found on Amazon.

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David Germain's mother passed away from breast cancer on March 5, 2011 and his father, a Vietnam War veteran, passed away on October 30, 2022. He personally knows the pain, financial stress, and heartache it causes families when the breadwinner of the family gets either sick in the hospital or passes away. Because of this first hand knowledge, David didn’t want families to go through what he went through. If it wasn’t for Life Insurance, his family would have lost all of their properties to Foreclosure and the hard earned sacrifices his family worked so hard to build to leave generational wealth, would have vanished.

David was a former High School teacher and PSAL Championship basketball coach for 15 years in Brooklyn, NYC before getting his Real Estate Brokers License in 2013 until present. He now has a 6 year old son and recently relocated to Connecticut where he operates a faith-based, mission driven company, Family First Life (Proven Winners Realty, Inc.), whose focus goes well beyond just selling life insurance. David has sold many homes during his real estate career and realized that many families sold their homes because they didn’t have the proper life insurance plan in place or they were underinsured to prevent their homes from being sold, which caused many families to grow apart or fight over the home. His company now works to break generational financial curses and keep families together and avoid disputes over assets that have been left behind. The team also provides “LIFE” insurance that clients can use while they are ALIVE in the event they get sick, called “LIVING BENEFITS”, which David wishes someone would of told his mother about when getting life insurance. 

 “You know, a man’s life is the most precious thing in the world, isn’t it? So, isn’t it odd that a man will insure EVERYTHING but his own life?”

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Shayna "Shay" Hewitt is a visionary in the world of arts, a health and wellness professional, and a thought leader in community service. Each day, she aims to be the driving force behind a paradigm shift in the art and wellness industry, where creativity, self-care, and community engagement converge synergistically, creating a ripple effect of inspiration, innovation, and social responsibility that attracts a like-minded collective. Shay is a thought leader in her community, driving positive change through strategic insights and collaborative efforts. Her expertise spans volunteer management, grassroots organizing, and social impact strategy, resulting in tangible improvements. Shay empowers others through mentorship and public speaking, emphasizing the pivotal role of community service in inclusive societies.

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Martine Lissa Malivers is a pediatric home health nurse, research nurse and a child sexual abuse prevention specialist. She is a survivor of child sexual abuse and is passionate about stopping what happened to her in her youth from happening to other children.

She founded Touch: The Rebellion, Inc. (Touch) in 2011 in order to bring awareness of the prevalence of child sexual abuse in all races, cultures, classes, religions and communities as well as to create fun, engaging and age-appropriate programming that teaches predatory prevention to the community and empowers the youth. Touch encourages discussion that dispels myths, clears up confusion and breaks a societal taboo that has long posed a detriment to our children's well-being. They use a grassroots approach to reach the public directly and provide them with resources such as workshops and free parent packs filled with educational material on how to fight child sexual abuse and make its prevention a part of every child's daily life. Martine believes that the education and active prevention of child sexual abuse is a community responsibility and when fulfilled helps to create safer environments for the world's children.