We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ANarris Monger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ANarris below.
ANarris, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I love this question. I love this question because it has been something I have encountered for as long as I can remember. I remember when I was in middle school, my name was called on the intercom. I remember them pulling me out of my regular class to put me in an honor class. I wasn’t the most popular kid, but I knew people and people knew me. I felt isolated like I wasn’t regular. They pulled me into the honors class that they had created for students who were overachieving. I felt lame, disappointed, etc., but this was something to be celebrated. From then on there were many times I was alone or the only one. In my family I was the only one going to college within my age group, while attending MSU there were many times I was the only Black student in a class full of White people, in my jobs working in preventive health, public health, and community health education there have been plenty of times where I was the only Black person. Being the only one in the room made me realize how much the world and my community needed me. Being the only one showed me the racial inequities that my community faced and this is what pushed me to keep going! Because I was the only one I had to pull other people up with me because I was the only one I had the opportunity to show others that it could be done. The drive that came from being the only one is what made me successful.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the Practice Operations Coordinator in the Office of Public Health Practice at the University of Michigan. I help to train, educate, and support the next generation of the Public Health Workforce. We provide our students with hands-on experience in the Public Health Field.
In my spare time, I run an organization called I Hate Domestic Violence. This organization was created on behalf of my mother who lost her life to Domestic Violence. She was 67 years of age. I did not want to live in my trauma so I decided to turn my pain into triumph. Our mission is to uplift, educate, and raise awareness for families and individuals to understand the signs of domestic violence whether physical, verbal, or emotional; get out of adverse situations, know how to get help if needed and progress into a better person. We help to restore and redefine individual power. We pour back into the community to provide healing and a brighter tomorrow.
We have done numerous things to support our community and survivors, fundraise to support a family affected by domestic violence, a back-to-school drive, a toy drive during the holiday season, gift baskets, speaking engagements and so much more. Currently, our main focus is to provide healing through storytelling and we do this with our guest speaker sessions.
I look for to all of the upcoming collaborations we have this year.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I can think of so much more than three but what really stands out is knowing and understanding who I am. When you know who you are and take the time to learn who you are, you won’t just do anything, knowing who you are will help you to understand where God wants you to be. Secondly, I am grounded in my faith. All you need to have is faith the size of a mustard seed which leads me to the third quality, drive and not give up. Remember faith without work is dead.
The best advice I can give is to never give up! Take breaks when needed, but after your break get back up and go!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with people who are doing Domestic Violence work. I am looking for people who can teach me how to get funding. I am looking for volunteers.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.Ihatedomesticviolence.com
- Instagram: I Hate Domestic Violence
- Facebook: I Hate Domestic Violence
- Linkedin: ANarris Monger
