Meet Deborah McGlawn

We recently connected with Deborah McGlawn and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Ironically my purpose found me. Through pain, a new passion evolved into what is now my actual purpose.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am Deborah McGlawn, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Nanna, Sister, Friend, and a full-time medical professional at one of the top ten rehabilitation centers in the nation. I am the founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, Ch8sing Waterfalls. Along with the amazing Black and Brown Women who choose to Embr8ce the Ch8se, I am introducing nature as an alternative modality to healing to the women in our community. By inviting Black and Brown women to healing nature hikes to spectacular waterfalls, in community, unity and sisterhood, we are actively increasing the Brown faces in green spaces.

Ch8sing Waterfalls, under my direction is actively pursuing change in the outdoor community. The team of Ch8se Champions, dedicated Ch8sers, and myself are forging diversity outdoors. We are creating our very own narrative of healing while Black and Brown outdoors. We are creating reflective, safe spaces on hikes to waterfalls that encourage healing, while engulfed in peace and tranquility.

My beautiful friend and Experience Curator, Camille Pettway along with Brittney Gober, our Event Coordinator, and I are planning our annual, end of year Gala. The Gala is Ch8sing Waterfalls largest fundraiser by which the women bring their significant others and celebrate a year of healing, diversifying the outdoors, and all of life’s victories during a night of dancing, dining and entertainment. The early bird registration for the annual event, which happens on December 2, 2023, is open now. Black and Brown women, you and your partners are invited. Get your tickets now, before we sell out.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities most impactful in my journey is resilience, love and determination. Resiliency equipped me with the capacity to withstand challenges and to be able to actually bounce back into position. The love and determination are my driving forces. Were it not for the love of life, family, our mission and vision, there would be no desire nor interest in pursuing and pushing this passion which has turned into my purpose.

The best advice for anyone early in their journey is to press pass the pain, pursue your passion, and promote your purpose. The pain could appear as obstacles, doubt, fear, physical, or emotional; keep pressing. Push yourself to pursue that which brings you joy, which feeds your soul. Then boldly and loudly, share your shine, and promote your purpose. In the famous words of Michael Jordan, “Just do it!”

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?
Ch8sing Waterfalls is always seeking dynamic collaborations with organizations that align with both our mission and vision of healing, diversity and inclusion in the Black and Brown, female community.

Ch8sing Waterfalls welcomes collaboration with brands, businesses and organizations that value our mission, support our vision, and desire to support and sponsor our growth and expansion.  We are a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, which moves its mission from the financial donations and support of our sponsors, family, and friends.  We invite the community to extend support to our organization by making a tax deductible donation.

If you are interested in collaborating with Ch8sing Waterfalls, we invite you to visit our website or send us an email. We look forward to your choosing to Embr8ce The Ch8se with us.