Inaugural Summit Unlimited:The University

      The official launch of Unlimited: The University is here! This summit will have a number of workshops and speakers that align with our principles, college access, academic excellence, and they will all help you to reach your full potential.

     Unlimited: The University “The Power 2 BE” is an organization, committed to the education, leadership and social development of children, youth, and young adults. Building on the historical Mississippi Summer Project 1964, we challenge scholars of all ages to educate themselves, engage their community in the educational, social and political disparities that still exist in our communities. Bridging the achievement gap of our children begins in our rightful communities.  

Our Principles: 

UNLIMITED: "The POWER 2 BE" 

BE Educated (Education Reform) 

BE Engaged (Civic Engagement) 

BE Aware (Social Action) 

BE Powerful (Servant Leadership)

BE Fit (Healthy Lifestyles)

Our Keynote Speaker is Greg E. Hill a leader in Culture Change. He is the Founder of Culture Change United. He is a Motivational Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur, and Podcaster . He has conquered Homelessness, Failure (Myth), and Depression. He has the uncanny ability to push people to be able to manifest their destiny!!! Greg E. Hill, a Durham native has accomplished more in the last few years then many people do in a lifetime. His desire to help future generations find positive trends and his passion to help, uplift, and encourage young minds, is what drives him each day. Greg is a community activist, philanthropist and an entrepreneur. Greg currently serves as a Culture Change Agent and a Professional Speaker who speaks on entrepreneurship, branding, success, leadership, and perseverance.  What is very unique about Greg is that although he has accomplished allot for a 24 year old it has not come without obstacles.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unlimited-the-university-summit-power-2-be-tickets-13027835607

Million Man March Poem - Dr. Maya Angelou

The night has been long,
The wound has been deep,
The pit has been dark,
And the walls have been steep.

Under a dead blue sky on a distant beach,
I was dragged by my braids just beyond your reach.
Your hands were tied, your mouth was bound,
You couldn't even call out my name.
You were helpless and so was I,
But unfortunately throughout history
You've worn a badge of shame.

I say, the night has been long,
The wound has been deep,
The pit has been dark
And the walls have been steep.

But today, voices of old spirit sound
Speak to us in words profound,
Across the years, across the centuries,
Across the oceans, and across the seas.
They say, draw near to one another,
Save your race.
You have been paid for in a distant place,
The old ones remind us that slavery's chains
Have paid for our freedom again and again.

The night has been long,
The pit has been deep,
The night has been dark,
And the walls have been steep.

The hells we have lived through and live through still,
Have sharpened our senses and toughened our will.
The night has been long.
This morning I look through your anguish
Right down to your soul.
I know that with each other we can make ourselves whole.
I look through the posture and past your disguise,
And see your love for family in your big brown eyes.

I say, clap hands and let's come together in this meeting ground,
I say, clap hands and let's deal with each other with love,
I say, clap hands and let us get from the low road of indifference,
Clap hands, let us come together and reveal our hearts,
Let us come together and revise our spirits,
Let us come together and cleanse our souls,
Clap hands, let's leave the preening
And stop impostering our own history.
Clap hands, call the spirits back from the ledge,
Clap hands, let us invite joy into our conversation,
Courtesy into our bedrooms,
Gentleness into our kitchen,
Care into our nursery.

The ancestors remind us, despite the history of pain
We are a going-on people who will rise again.

And still we rise. 

Maya Angelou

Sun Stand Still - Ashley's Journey

When you ask God to do the impossible, He usually instructs you to do something uncomfortable and inconvenient!

This summer as I have already announced I will be traveling to Africa. Bungoma,  Kenya to be exact, to teach learn and engage in conversation around environmental sustainability  and up until now I have not really been going as hard as should with fundraising. I have been dragging. I have had a ton of verbal commitments and I have frankly never raised money before. This experience has been humbling to say the least. I have done a lot of internal thinking which actually made me realize that people will like many pictures on instagram but they are not always willing to support you financially. Now this post isn't to complain but more for me to put into writing my frustrations and to solict ideas on how I can fundraise this money. 

the great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, prayer, obedience and sacrifice.  that means there will be plenty of plowing and pruning.  that’s the way living things grow, whether you’re talking about vegetables or vision.

Yesterday at work. I looked at some of my roughest students and talked to them about the world outside their 5 block radius. I shared with them that I would be traveling to Africa. Their faces were filled with excitement and confusion. I had to pull out a map and share with them where exactly Africa was. As we talked about the plane ride and who I would be traveling with and as I discussed with them the work that I would be doing, the heart breaking comment came from one boy saying. I will never be able to do, we ain't got that money, plus only rich people can do that. Man talk about heart breaking. Why does he think that? Because everything around him perpetuates the stereotype that if you are born in poverty the you will stay in poverty. I am committed to students like him. Engaging them and letting them know that there is a way out of all situations. This trip to Africa will allow me to grow in experience and be the real life example to him and all of the other students that believe that there is no way out. This trip is far bigger than me and my ego. It is my calling to lead by example and the afford others with the same opportunity. 

When you really understand God’s work in your, your natural desire will be to surrender your life to Him.  to obey Him unconditionally.  that posture of surrender will result in radical steps of faith, and a confidence that flows from a heart that’s fully devoted to God’s plans.

So will you commit today and express your belief in my journey? http://www.gofundme.com/75dz98

Unlimited Possibilities!!!!!

As you may be aware, I have been working toward my Master’s in Urban Studies and Youth Leadership Development for the past year. This summer, as a requirement for completing this program, I have the privilege of serving in Bungoma, Kenya from July 24-August 4, 2014 with an organization called BuildaBridge in Philadelphia. I am writing to ask for your support and prayers as I prepare for and embark upon this exciting endeavor.

BuildaBridge is a nonprofit arts education and intervention organization that engages the transformative power of the arts to bring hope and healing to children families, and communities in the tough places of the world. BuildaBridge spans barriers of race, class, faith and culture to promote holistic personal, family and community development. Committed to principles of love, compassion, justice, reconciliation and service to others, BuildaBridge motivates, enlists, trains and connects those with artistic gifts with those in greatest need.

Our main task will be to engage HIV positive orphans in education, art- making, evaluating their levels of resilience to trauma, and effectively teaching them basic life skills such as problem-solving and conflict resolution. Learning these skills will begin preparing these children for successful futures in their schools, relationships, and into adulthood. BuildaBridge envisions a world where all children are resilient, experience self-efficacy, and have a vision for their future. I share this vision and in order for me to participate in this trip, I must raise approximately $9,000. I also covet your prayers for safety, health, and team cohesion as we travel and work together.

Your donation will fund airfare, housing and food, in-land transportation, travel insurance, excursions, education, art and science supplies, and contributions to the local project development once we leave.

I ask that you return a check or money order made out to “BuildaBridge” with my name in the memo. You can send it to BuildaBridge’s address:  BuildaBridge, 205 W. Tulpehocken St, Philadelphia, PA 19144.  You may also go to www.buildabridge.org and click “DONATE NOW”.  Check the Global Artology category. Make sure you write my name in the “Dedicated To” section, otherwise it will be impossible to connect your donation to my account. (There is a 3% surcharge for online donations, so payment by check is preferred.) Please submit donations by June 10, 2014.

Your generosity and support are tremendously appreciated!

Blessings and Love,

Ashley Session

T W E N T Y F I V E ::: Y E A R S

A few weeks ago, I turned 25!!! I had tons and tons of projects and ideas planned to execute before I turned 25. I thought that by doing these projects, it would catapult me into the awesomeness that is 25!!! Well let's just say, the projects were not done before I turned 25 but I will continue to complete this projects for the next 300 some odd days! I am committed and learning discipline. So as I was reflecting and meditating and praying and fasting. I came across some amazing reads that are proving to be helpful in pushing me to the next level. So over the next 300 some odd days I will post my life lessons and elaborate on them. 

I am revamping this blog and using it as a platform to grow, and to talk about my growth experiences. My prayer is that my life lessons will help you as they are helping me, and that we will be able to engage in meaningful dialogue about issues that face women and men growing in leadership and seizing the world as the next generation. 

I have change the domain name to klassinSESSION.blogspot.com . This domain name is a play on my last name. The idea came from me really analyzing  and realizing that the world that we live in is truly a class and a class in session. So please continue to journey with me as we  navigate this things called life and as I evolve into the 25 year old adult that I am destined to be. 

See you all soon. 

xoxo Much Love

-Session 

Love me with your whole heart

SICK OF IT ALL

My journey to 25 and life have truly been a world wind. God is pushing me outside of my selfish ambitions, and stretching me beyond my comforts. And to be frank I am sick of being pushed and stretched, but truthfully I would have it no other way. I claim to be a Christian yet I only seem to be engaged when it is convenient a true hypocrite. The video below explains my symptoms and will probably explain yours as well.

Matthew 16:25 -For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.