We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JERICA WORTHAM a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
JERICA, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Growing up, I was always in my own little world. Even with a natural propensity for bravery and taking action I would second-guess myself and my abilities quite often. But over time, I discovered the incredible power of taking action. It was through the act of doing that I built my confidence and self-esteem.
One aspect that I hadn’t fully realized at the time but became apparent in retrospect was that I came from a family of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship was in our blood. Many of the people in my life ran their own businesses, whether it was my parents, grandparents, or close relatives. It was a part of our culture, our way of life. Looking back, I now understand that I didn’t have to think twice about pursuing my own entrepreneurial path; it was a natural progression given my background.
With this entrepreneurial spirit embedded in my DNA, I ventured into various creative and artistic endeavors. I had these visions in my mind—creative, bold, and sometimes seemingly impossible visions. The key was turning these visions into reality.
So, I started taking risks. I began to actively pursue my ideas, whether they were related to art, events, or community engagement. It was a daunting process at first. There were moments of doubt and uncertainty. What if it didn’t work out? What if I failed? But I pushed those thoughts aside and took the plunge.
The magical thing about taking action is that it pushes you out of your comfort zone. When you step into the unknown and face challenges head-on, you learn. You grow. You adapt. And most importantly, you start to see results.
Those initial small wins were like fuel for my confidence. They were proof that I could make things happen, that I had the ability to turn ideas into reality. With each success, my self-esteem received a boost. I started to believe in myself more, and that belief was a powerful catalyst for future endeavors.
Consistency was another vital component of my journey. Life threw me a curveball when I became a caregiver to a loved one. It was a challenging time filled with stress, uncertainty, and exhaustion. But I didn’t let it deter me from my path.
Being consistent during that period wasn’t easy, but it was crucial. It taught me resilience and determination. I realized that even when life throws obstacles your way, you can still stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward. My ability to juggle caregiving responsibilities while continuing to grow and scale my artistic events was a testament to my determination and, ultimately, my growing confidence.
I often think about how much more I can achieve with a moment to take a breath, without the constant state of trauma and distractions. As a mother with two children and the inherent challenges of building a business without ample capital, I’ve faced my fair share of barriers. But these challenges, in a way, became stepping stones for me. They pushed me to find creative solutions, to make the most of limited resources, and to seek out volunteers who shared my passion.
In the world of the arts, resource limitations are all too common. Yet, my determination to see projects through, regardless of the obstacles, has been my guiding principle. I’ve learned that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Lack of resources, volunteers, or time may slow you down, but they shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams.
So, when I reflect on how I developed my confidence and self-esteem, it all comes back to this: I took action. I took risks, turned visions into reality, and embraced consistency even in the face of adversity. Each step forward, no matter how small, built my confidence brick by brick. It’s a journey that’s still ongoing, but I’m excited to see where it leads me next.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a Tulsa native with a passion for poetry that ignited when I stumbled upon “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” as a young reader. That poetic spark stayed with me through high school, college, and led to my slam poetry journey, performing on campus and at local events.
Post-college, I dabbled in publishing, curating a literary magazine that matched poets from around the world with artists and photographers. In a lot of ways, it was an international open mic on paper! A year after that I took the plunge, launching my own live poetry showcase that has since blossomed into one of Tulsa’s premier artistic gatherings. Our showcase isn’t just about poetry; it’s a fusion of various art forms – music, dance, comedy, visual artistry, and entrepreneurship, all coming together to create a vibrant experience.
Things took a turn when I got the opportunity to manage the Greenwood Art Project, a Bloomberg Philanthropies recipient that commemorated the 1921 race massacre in Tulsa. In addition to that I was an artist on a musical project signed to Motown Records and producing documentaries for the BBC. This experience inspired me to keep providing a platform for Tulsa based artists beyond the centennial commemoration period.
So, I founded a nonprofit dedicated to championing BIPOC creatives in Tulsa. Through it, we’ve embarked on placemaking activities, transformed blighted homes into public art, customized sneakers, held porch concerts, hosted talk shows, and even created mobile galleries that pop up all over.
Our crown jewel is the Parla Festival during 918 week, celebrating BIPOC creatives in fashion, film, dance, mindfulness, theater, and music.
Today, I’m all about spreading the word about Tulsa’s vibrant artistic scene, particularly the voices of people of color. I’m also committed to nurturing my own craft – poetry and music.
Plus, we’re diving back into publishing, helping more artists share their stories through tangible merch. Exciting times ahead!
If you’re curious, want to collaborate, or just chat about Tulsa’s creative energy, feel free to reach out. Let’s connect! Check out jagtulsa.org for more!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The number one thing that has been impactful in my journey is `resourcefulness. The ability to find creative solutions to challenges and make the most of available resources has been most beneficial. In my journey, resourcefulness has allowed me to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities, often with limited means. To develop this skill required thinking outside of the box, casting a vision, and taking inventory of the resources around me to bring that vision to life. I love puzzles so the opportunity to figure out a thing is `exciting. It definitely requires embracing a problem-solving mindset. Its making the most of what you have around you and by building connections, knowledge, strategies, and best practices. you’re able to then also BE a resource to the community and ecosystems around you. It’s a part of the ebb and flow of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Resourcefulness is both about being able to successfully mine for the elements needed to bring an idea to life and also about being able to share those elements with others when they’re in need.
Next is consistency. Consistency has been a cornerstone of my journey. It’s the commitment to showing up and putting in the effort, day after day. Its easier to stay in motion then to stop and try to build up momentum again. Staying consistent helps your audience to build trust in you showing up and producing something of quality. As we know trust is consistency over time. When you consistently show up you build a rapport and relationship that actually serves as a space of accountability. There was a ten year period during my life that I was a caregiver to my spouse with a terminal illness. I also had the pleasure of entering motherhood and raising two young boys. Quitting was something that would have been both understandable and for some extremely easy to do. However staying consistent helped my business and organization to stay afloat during crisis both personal or global. Showing up no matter what means you learn a plethora of ways to show up in less that favorable conditions. So it can be said that there is an amount of resilience nurtured by choosing consistency within your brand.
Gratitude is the last skill I’ll mention. Gratitude helps you to honor your achievements, and milestone regardless of the size. Being in a space of gratitude opens you up to so many opportunities with people and life. Being thankful for volunteers, speaking engagements, creative collaborations, etc. only lead to more of those experiences.
For those starting their journey my advice is simply to take the first step and to consistently continue taking steps after that. Don’t overthink or overcomplicate the process. Take Action!!! Will you mess up? YEP! It’s all a part of the process. You can perfect later. START!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m incredibly passionate about creating artistic hubs and championing BIPOC creatives. If you share this vision and want to collaborate on projects that celebrate diversity and creativity, I invite you to join me on this exciting journey. Let’s work together to build platforms of larger scale, forge real relationships with real people, and help grow individual brands within our communities.
Whether you’re an artist in visual arts, theater, film, thought leadership, or any other creative field, or a brand looking to support artistic expressions, I welcome you to connect with me. Together, we can curate experiences, organize space-making opportunities, and embark on tours to showcase our unique styles and visions.
In addition, I’m also interested in speaking to groups and universities on how to begin mobilizing their creative spaces and engaging the community. I’m available for keynotes, workshops, and speaking engagements with university students and organizations.
Tulsa, with its rich history and stories, is already a hub for talent. My goal is to expand that vision and build a nationwide network of artists from various backgrounds. Through this network, we can exchange creative resources, collaborate on projects, and create an amazing ecosystem that fosters artistic growth and innovation. If you’re ready to be part of this creative movement or interested in speaking engagements, reach out through social media, attend relevant events, or join online communities. Let’s connect, partner, and collectively bring our creative visions to life!
Contact Info:
- Website: JAGTULSA.ORG
- Instagram: INSTAGRAM.COM/LYRICISTTURNEDMOGUL
- Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/JPARLELLC
- Other: INSTAGRAM.COM/JAG_INC_TULSA_
Image Credits
