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A Chat with Yvonne...
Hi Everyone! I had a chance to follow up with Yvonne Pointer, our Project Confidence Award recipient. If you remember, I had wanted to interview her just for us, right here on Curvation Nation.
Well, it happened! What follows are her heartfelt answers to my questions.
Enjoy...and be sure to check back in tomorrow, I have a very special post for Mother's Day!
~ C
C - How did you first find out about
Project Confidence?
Yvonne - Through my friend,
Angelique, I think she heard about it while surfing the web.
C - How did you feel when you were told you had been selected as one of the finalists...
and, what were your first thoughts and feelings upon hearing your name as the
final award recipient?
Yvonne - When I learned that
I was one of the finalists I felt as if I were coming to the end of a bad
nightmare. It is often lonely being a voice crying in the wilderness, against
such atrocious acts as children being brutally raped and murdered. The news of
being a finalist opened a ray of hope because my voice was now being heard on a
higher/national level.
My first feeling at the
event, after hearing my name called by Queen Latifah at the event was relief. I
felt as if I could rest a while, sort of like “mission accomplished”. When
Gloria was murdered, she was just another inner city child who resided in a
premature grave. I knew back then that it was going to take the voice of a
celebrity, someone important, someone famous to get the necessary attention.
Hearing my name come from the lips of Queen Latifah was as if the nightmare had
turned into a melodious dream and i could now wake up. It was truly
overwhelming to be in her presence.
C - How has receiving this honor affected you, personally first and foremost,
and in your role as a victims' advocate?
Yvonne - Receiving this award
has not only affected me but it has vindicated those innocent children who were
deprived of life. As a national speaker, I have been blessed to use my voice
for them for many years. But now, being a recipient of this award has given
additional credibility to the message. When I come into a room now, the buzz
is, "…she met Queen Latifah, Queen Latifah gave her an award.” So I think
that winning this award has affected me in a way that will only be described in
full when I get to heaven and hear the words, “well done”, from my creator. I
am personally affected by it because I sat next to Queen, and professionally
because now I am receiving more speaking engagements which only helps to
further the message.
C - WHat was it like meeting Queen Latifah? Was she who you expected? Was there
anything about her that surprised you in any way?
Yvonne - I have to be honest,
Ihave been blessed to meet many celebrities over the years, however, she was
one of the most personable people that I have ever met. It was if we were
related, she was warm, genuine and funny. What you see on the big screen is who
she was in private. I cannot express enough how much I valued meeting her and
how she made me feel as if it was going to be alright. She spoke with
compassion regarding Gloria’s homicide as if Gloria was a personal friend of
hers. She was touched by what happened to a child she had never met. To me,
that is what makes her stand high above most celebrities who feel as if people
like me, and our causes, are beneath them. If and when I achieve a more notable
status in life, I am going to always use it for those that have no voice.
C – Do you have some confidence-boosting advice and/or words of encouragement
for future Project Confidence nominees?
Yvonne - You cannot win
if you don't enter. Iwould like to say to those who are filling in the gap for
those less fortunate not to think you unworthy of such an honor as this. Let
the world know what you are doing, who knows it might just bring you into the
presence of the Queen.
C - Is there anything else you'd like to share with the women on CurvationNation?
Yvonne – Yes, I would like to
remind everyone that children are our future. Find a child today that is less
fortunate or in harm's way and love them to life. Finally, everyone involved
with this process went above and beyond to make this one of the most memorable
episodes of my life and I would like to thank them over and over again.
If you'd like more information about Yvonne and her ongoing work, please visit her website: www.yvonnepointer.com
written on 05/13/06
Current Conversation
Great job Yvonne! You have been blessed to have met Ms Latifah, you have done what so many of us have dreamt of. Great interview, keep doing what you do and make the best of it, for you have, and still are, making a way for so many that need a voice like yours to help lead the way.
I have had some struggles of my own since the age nine that I am still dealing with. I also was raped and I didn't tell my mother about until I was twenty-six. Reason why? I felt so bad about it. You know the sad part about the whole thing is that the bad guys make you feel like it's your fault by telling you that your mother won't love you any more, they will have you taken away for telling lies when it really is the truth. It still hurts me to this day.
I wasn't a fast child or dressed like a hot girl, I was just me and as I got older, when I started to develop, I always tried to wear big shirts because the boys were just freaks at my school. From elementary school to middle school, all the way through high school, I had to deal with someone always trying to touch me.
You know it makes you want to look at yourself and say what am I doing wrong? Why does this keep happening to me? Am I a bad person or something? I didn't understand. I pretty much stayed to my self so everyone thought I was stuck up...I wasn't, I was just quiet and kept to myself.
Then when my mom signed me up for modeling, I was called white black girl ...where they got that from I dont know. My life is crazy, sometimes I wish I could trade it all for something else better, because with all those bad memories, life to me just wasn't worth it. Too much to deal with.
Around nineteen I was really feeling the pressure from my past ...that's when I got pregnant with my first child. That was the only thing that kept me here, I had so may bad thoughts going through my head I didn't know what to do. Then my two boys came along and made my life worth living again.
Maybe it was a test of faith at a young age because every time I am at my worst, GOD throws in a curve ball to set me back on the right track. You have to try to learn things on your own when your mom is gone, often that pushes you to become a adult in a very fast way.
There is so much I can tell you about my life, but I will keep it short, you don't have to post this I know it's already very long.
I just really wanted to say to Yvonne learning from your past can make a stronger you. You are very brave to turn a negative into a positive that lets others learn from you.
When you have so much pain built up inside, it can make you feel lonely like no one will understand you, you can't be your true self, it's hard to let someone love you or like it was said it's hard to let your true colours shine through without someone looking at you differently. But at the same time talking about it can be the greatest comfort of all....with sadness comes joy. Talking about your fears will just make you stronger, more aware of you.
We as victims are made stronger not weaker, focused, we are not to blame, or to be made to feel ashamed. We are many faces that are taking our places in this shame-less nation. That's why we as the victims shall take our places and hurt no more, we are all one ...when one hurts we all hurt. Now we must let our hearts rest and be joyful.
We at curvation nation just became one! Take care.
contributed by Erica | May 13, 2006 11:07:24 PM
Erica, thank you for your beautiful comments. I feel as if I know you personally through your written words. I am encouraged to know that sisters like you are not afraid to show their pain and trust that not everyone is the enemy. There are actually some of us out here that will embrace your scars and reveal our own in the process. Keep the faith and know that from a distance you are loved, thought about and prayed for.
Yvonne
contributed by yvonne pointer | May 15, 2006 5:26:22 AM
Hi Erica again I know I thanked you for printing your story. Just wanted to share with you that you are not alone. I was continously molested by an adult male family member from the ages of 8 years to 16 years of age and I couldn't tell anyone and my mom died when I was 16 and she never knew because the person that did this to me threatened to kill me if I told, but thank God I survived it. I can now look in the mirror and say "I LOVE MYSELF-I KNOW I'M GRAND.
ERICA CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED
LOVE MATTIE
contributed by Mattie L. Palmore | May 18, 2006 1:25:12 PM
Hello Mattie:
I hope all is well with you for what once had made you weak has made you strong.THANK YOU for taking the time to read about my life... so many of us need somewhere to turn, someone to talk to, release the pain/sadness that you are feeling. Although those terrifying memories are still with you i want you to know that each step you take will lead you to a brighter day.
You are all grown now they can't hurt you but the pain of knowing that someone you hoped you could trust could do such a thing to you that makes you feel like your heart and soul is in danger.
And as you got older you feel like you would do anything to protect your heart from ever feeling this pain again.
You are beautiful no matter what you have gone through, what that person has done to you. God will not hold you accountable. They will have to answer to that in the long run.
Sorry for the loss of your mom...i am sure she's is watching you carry on and is mighty proud of you, I might add, for leting your voice shine through to others just like you... as you said you are GRAND! Maybe if more people look at stories like yours, Yvonne's and mine they will be inspired to tell their story to. It will let the others know that they are not alone, many of them are feeling our pain too. It's ashame that a person can manipulate a child and think it's ok... Take care of yourself... know that you are always loved... stay strong in the LORD. He will lead you out of anything. He's just like an aspirin, he'll take the pain away but only better! Have a great day.
contributed by Erica | May 19, 2006 3:23:48 PM
Hi Everyone I just wanted to apologize to Khaz also I thought he was a female and I want to thank C' , Yvonne and Erika for their encouraging words to me. I Love You guys and Yvonne, as promised I will visit you in Ohio real soon. We must keep each other encouraged and I thank God for this Curvation site and my new found friends. You guys be blessed and I will talk to you later.
Love Mattie
contributed by Mattie L. Palmore | May 19, 2006 9:32:12 PM
Sorry!!! I just want to know where in Guadalajara, México can I find the Curvation? Can you tell me if in Mexico do you have a store to go and find the Curvation bras?
Thank you.
contributed by Teresa Fuentes | May 21, 2006 11:25:47 AM
I am so very excited that my Curvation Award has been added to my website..for those that want to see visit www.yvonnepointer.com
contributed by yvonne pointer | May 25, 2006 1:34:59 PM
CREO QUE ESTE NO ES EL MEDIO.....
PERO DE ANTEMANO LES OFREZCO UNA DISCULPA.....
NO SE SI LLEGUE ESTE MENSAJE A LA PERSONA INDICADA PERO BUENO HAGO EL INTENTO.....
AQUI EN MEXICO, LA LINEA "CURVATION" APENAS ESTA ENTRANDO AL MERCADO, SOLO CON POCOS MODELOS, TRES O CUATRO A LO MUCHO, PERO PERSONAS INTERESADAS EN SU LINEA (ME AGREGO, CLARO ESTA) HEMOS ESTADO INVESTIGANDO EN COMO CONSEGUIR SUS MODELOS, HEMOS REVISADO SU PAGINA, PERO CON TRISTEZA VEMOS QUE SOLO SON DISTRIBUIDOS EN ESTADOS UNIDOS Y QUE NO EXISTE LA POSIBILIDAD DE ADQUIRIRLOS VIA INTERNET. POR PAQUETERIA, NO SE, VARIAS FORMAS QUE HOY EN DIA NOS FACILITAN LA VIDA EN EL MUNDO ENTERO.......
EN VERDAD ME ENCANTARIA PODER PONERME EN CONTACTO CON ALGUN "DISTRIBUIDOR" O PORQUE NO, INTEGRARME AL LA COMPAÑIA, AQUI EN MEXICO,YA QUE CUBRE TODAS LAS NECESIDADES QUE PUDE YO DESEAR EN UNA LINEA DE ROPA INTERIOR PARA DAMAS DE TALLAS EXTRAS, Y QUE NO NOS GUSTAN LAS "SABANAS" QUE EXISTEN COMO BRASIERES Y QUE DISTAN MUCHO DE SER ELEGANTES, YA NO DIGAMOS SEXI`S Y QUE NOS OBLIGAN A EVITAR A TODA COSTA EL QUE SE DEN CUENTA QUE CLASE DE ROPA INTERIOR LLEVAMOS....IMAGINENSE EN LA INTIMIDAD¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ DEFINITIVAMENTE LA LUZ APAGADA¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
ESPERO OBTENER ALGUNA RESPUESTA DE SU AMABLE COMPAÑIA.........
ATTE
MONICA DAYANA...... SERVIDORA Y AMIGA FROM MEXICO CITY
contributed by MONICA DAYANA | Nov 2, 2006 7:26:57 PM
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