The First...

As I dressed and prepared for the first book signing for my memoir, The Way I See It I was both excited and nervous. Excited because I was about to attend my own book signing, nervous because I didn’t know if I would run out of books or sell any books at all.
I had just got done an hour-long interview over the phone for an article for Heart and Soul Magazine and knew I had to hurry up.
Once Daryl and I arrived at the mall in Philly to do the book signing at the Horizon Book Store I was happy as we set up the table with all of my books. The table was placed close to the door so whoever entered the store would see “The Way I See It” by Lolisa Gibson before they saw any other books!
Soon as the table was set, Daryl who was dressed in his “The Way I See It” T-shirt grabbed the flyers we had made and went to pass them out to shoppers that were in the mall. We were both a little surprised that the mall was pretty empty for a Saturday but we couldn’t let it stop us!
Daryl and I both smiled as people started to come into the bookstore and stopped at the table to look at my book. Many of the readers looked shocked when I told them that my book was a true story about my life and that wrote and published the book myself.
I was happy and proud of myself as I signed my books and did interviews to promote the book. I knew that every book I sold would help educate people more about me and the importance of HIV/AIDS. With every flyer Daryl handed out people would always think back to us in the bookstore and the message behind the book.
Whenever I looked for Daryl, he was always posted up in the front of the store passing out flyers and trying to get people to look at and buy the book. I smiled when I saw him taking pictures of me autographing books. In the back of my mind I thought of how grateful I am to always have him by my side and support me whenever he can. He never complains, or objects to supporting me at whatever I do.

As I signed the last book for that day and took the last picture, I was glad that I had my first book signing an I knew it wouldn’t be my last!

Truly Spring

I was excited when I found out that I was going to Houston TX to speak at San Jacinto College. I knew that I would not only have the chance to leave the not so nice weather in NY and enjoy the warmness of Texas, I knew that I would be able to educate more students on the importance of HIV/AIDS.

The students at San Jacinto enjoyed the event and asked great questions. I left TX with a smile on my face because I knew, I had again made a difference!

A few of the helpful staff members and I

It NEVER Gets Old!!

Today Daryl and I were excited to have the chance to speak at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. When I first got the request I thought it to be a little much for us to be speaking for eight periods straight without taking any breaks in between but agreed to do it nonetheless because I know the importance of education. Once we got to the school and set a format where we both could speak during each period so that the students would be able to get both our points of view and save room for Q&A we knew that the event would go by easily. I know from speaking regularly that High School Students can be one of the most difficult groups to speak to because they like to talk and have side conversations. I hoped that these students wouldn’t be a group of talkative ones because I know that if you are talking then your not listening and I always feel that its important to listen if your being educated about anything that’s important.
Once the first group of students came in, we had a really great time speaking together and educating them from both points of view. This was Daryl's first time ever speaking in front of a lot of people and he really did well. I knew that he wouldn’t have a problem speaking because he has spoken on camera for interviews before and has been very well educated about HIV/AIDS for many years. By the end of the day, though we both were tired from speaking for eight periods, we knew that all the students as well as some of the staff at the high school now all had a much better idea of what HIV/AIDS was. We also knew that they were now equipped with the information they needed to know in order to protect them selves from becoming infected with HIV.
We both left the school today smiling because we know that if none of the 4,000 students we spoke to are HIV positive then they have no reason at all to become positive after today.
If we were called to a different school to do the same thing tomorrow, we would because to us educating... Oh It NEVER gets old!!

The Youngest Activist I Know!

Even though my son Daryl Jr. is only 18 months old, his dad and I love to involve him in as much HIV awareness as we can! It was fun when we took him with us when I spoke in Delaware at an event for woman and girls hosted by Teens In Prospective.

Daryl Jr. Loves to see me on the mic and makes it known each time that he can talk well by shouting out "MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY!" I love when he does it because he always sounds so cute and he also gives the crowd a up close and personal view of how beautiful and healthy of a boy he is. He is indeed the youngest activist I know & he's the BEST!

The above photo is Daryl Jr. and I playing with his toys before the event started!