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.

"EDUCATION" is it worth it?

SUN STAND STILL

Audacious faith is the raw material that authentic Christianity is made of. It’s the stuff that triggers ordinarily level-headed people like you and me to start living with unusual boldness. SF

A while ago I read a Pastor Steven Furicks book Sun Stand Still. This book back then changed my life and view about how I approached God and how much faith that I had in him. So with that said a little over 20 days ago I hunkered down to commit to this internal and external soul searching, Jesus finding journey on the road to 25. I gave up ALL social media except Pintrest and I only watch movies (occasionally) and the news. Lets just say that this quiet time with myself has been the most gut wrenching, exhilarating soul searching 20 days of my life. I've struggled. I've been exposed and most importantly I've been humbled.

Yesterday I completed my vision board for 2014 and on it I focused on some things to help me to grow and expand my faith, intimacy with Christ and a few other markers. As I was magazine searching I kept thinking of a theme for the year. As I do with most things I create themes and make many list and numerous bullets but anywho. While I was thinking and listing I kept coming back to Joshua 10:1-14 as my theme for the year.

In Joshua 10:1-14, We see that the Isrealites unleash a surprise attack on the Amorites, and right from the beginning the battle goes well. But as the sun sinks towards the horizon, General Joshua faces a decision. The victory isn't complete, and once it get's dark, the rest of he Amorites will slip away. Joshua sizes up the situation and delivers one of the most unorthodox prayers in the Bible. He ask God to make the sun to stop in the sky. He literally ask God to freeze time on behalf of his people, and guess what God does!!! He makes the SUN STAND STILL!!! Joshua had audacious faith!! Joshua defeated the Amorites.

Think about it WOW!!!



So as I continue to journey to 25 and as I start 2014 here is my yearly theme.

"If you’re going to pray for God to make the sun standstill, you’d better be ready to march all night. PUSH while you pray" 

I am praying for the humanly impossible and believing that God will provide!!!

What is your theme for 2014?!

Love Peace and Blessings!!!

-Ashley

86 days

“Much of your character is displayed by how gracefully you are able to let go of the things that are not meant for you.” 

There are exactly 86 days 11 hours and a little over 5 minutes until I turn 25. Over 100 days ago I set out on a quest of SELF renewal and guess what I got caught up in SELF. I thought that I would be able to transform myself, transform my being and be the person that I wanted to be in exactly 240 days. But how can I become the person I want to be when our lives and characters are shaped in my opinion by experience, does it mean that my character will stop evolving on February 25, 2014? I hope not. So with that said on day 86 I've learned that I have to let go of the control that I would like to have over my future and trust where God is leading me. In the next 86 days I hope to be at a place  of stronger faith, deeper convictions and the willingness to continue to serve others and love others. I can say that I am realizing the call over my life and my purpose but I am still not where I need to be. I can say that I am growing and Owning who I am. I am becoming more physically fit and capable. 

So we are still completing 25 projects . 

Project 1: Love Letter 
I will be sending out thank letters to a long list of people who have helped me to grow, thanking them for teaching me a lesson that has aided on my development, whether it was a great lesson or a hard lesson, all notes are sent in love. Just think you may receive a "Love Letter" soon.

Stay tuned for Project #2 

xoxo 

Trusting the Process

The hardest feats of my are happening right now. Internally and externally! Journey to 25. I am trusting the process. The video below helped me to get over the hump!
Enjoy Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter.....

http://youtu.be/0snNB1yS3IE

Love you all. In depth Update coming soon xoxo...

Faith over Fear

                                "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it" -Bill Cosby 

That is my life motto as I submerge myself into different endeavors.  These words come from comedian Bill Cosby, and serve to remind us that we're not willing to truly take important risks until our desire for what we want surpasses the fear of potential failure. 

I have these constant thoughts of what I could accomplish but then I start to compare myself to other people. I doubt myself, encourage others and forget what God has called me to do. This past week I had to attend a week long Residency/Immersion with my cohort. My first class stuck with me the entire time. It challenged my Faith and my fears. It showed me that I was depending on man to validate my calling when my actual calling comes from God and God alone.  For some odd reason I started to equate the validation of a human being with the favor of God. So I took a step back and I told myself that it was time to face facts and fears and press forward to what God has called me to do. 

So with 140 days to go. I am still on this journey to 25. Looking for renewal. Focusing on the future and building this amazing space for children, youth, and adults a like. Stayed tuned. A 5K is on the horizon. 

What fears are eating you alive? How can you overcome them? Lets love each other family. 

Follow me on Twitter @Rethink_ing

Exposed

Romans 2:28-29

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
New International Version (NIV)



 .....God is more interested in our internal, spiritual condition.  The apostle Paul talks about a “circumcision of the heart”, one that isn't merely “outward and physical” (Romans 2:28-29).  this circumcision involves God cutting away everything in our lives that doesn't bring glory to him.  He will strip away our pride and self reliance.  He is teaching us to trust in him alone. Before we can claim the territory for God that He has promised us, our hearts will have to be circumcised. We have to go under the knife.  We have to choose to take some costly steps of obedience to really follow Christ in audacious faith. the lesson from the circumcision of Joshuas'  generation is equally important but a little more subtle: until you humble yourself and submit your heart to God’s process of renewal, you cant go forward into the next victory He has planned for your life. Before God can bring His promises to pass in your life, He has to strip away all the stuff that keeps you from trusting Him wholeheartedly.  And that stuff is on the inside.  God’s invisible work in you prepares you for His visible works through you. When God comes toward you with the flint knife remember that he’s not out to hurt you.  He’s aligning your desires with his desires so that he can accomplish the impossible in your life.

Steve Furick, Sun Stand Still 

....to be continued

The day I got over myself

This journey is happening. And while I set out trying to be super secretive and all hello self renewal, God had a different plan. Over the past couple of weeks I have struggled with I guess in my head-  rejection. I felt like so called friends had distanced themselves and that people who I had helped along the way had climbed up on the highest horse and forgot about who helped them when they were nobodies (excuse the emotion, I am just telling you how I felt.) So I tried to act like it did not bother me but I now know that it did. I was going through things and I wanted people to fix it for me. And I just couldn't understand why people were not jumping to help Ashley. So I decided to write a letter to God, different yes, but that is how him and I communicate along with prayer and it got me thinking, like man Ashley.  You are so hung up on everything around you and how people are treating or not treating you that you are forgetting who you live for. 

Well then I started listening to some pod-cast about God fixing the Hard things in Me. I eventually listened to a Pod Cast that talked about Set Yourself free from Yourself.. and that mixed with a hard look at my life and how I interacted with other people and how highly I thought about myself I realized that I NEEDED TO GET OVER MYSELF. A phrase that I use all the time is Girl Bye. And I had to say that to myself. I realized that nobody owed me anything and that although I felt like I had given people the world and my time that they wouldn't do the same and that they were not obligated to. I had prayed that I felt that there was a block in my heart and I realized that Bitterness and Resentment are what was blocking my heart and my passion. 

So here I am picking up the pieces and focusing on the call that God has over my life. I am realizing that although I felt like I lived this fantastic life and that although I had the audacity to think that things should be handed to me I realized that I needed only God. And that I needed to humble myself to the cross and serve God holistically and focus on the friendships that I do have and the direction that I am going in. 

What are you struggling with? In what area of your life do you need to be brutally honest with yourself and and how can you do it? Lets talk. 

Peace and Love Family.. 

xoxoxo -Ashley 

Challenge Accepted

Dear Ashley,

Dig Deep. Challenge yourself and make yourself uncomfortable for your art. Do the hard parts on purpose. Have dedication to your craft.

Remember a what Steve Furick said in Sun Stand Still:

"If you're gpoing to ask God to make the sun stand stil, you'd better be ready to march all night. Push while you pray"


The journey has just begun, and I am finding out more about myself than I expected. Not quite ready to put words to it. But they will come. The projects are coming along as well...

Stay Tuned and Join me.

xoxox

It's Happening

So about a month ago I told you all that I would be completing a series of projects leading up to my 25 birthday which is on February 25, 2013. So out of that came many conversations with my sister friends and has resulted in 25 projects for my 25th. This project is still known as Destination 25. Each week I will update the list of projects as I add more on and find people or projects in need. The goal is to grow and expand and to reach new heights of service. The end result will be the Launch of my non-profit Unlimited: "The Power 2 BE" , and my business partners venters with P.U.R.E Concepts and Xpressions. So join me on my journey and look out for a list of projects entailing their details . The first 5 are below. 

1. Complete 25 projects by my 25th birthday

2. Act in Gratitude 

3. It takes a village 

4. Run 500 miles by 2.25.14

5. X'press ya'self 

If you know of anybody who has need or a project that I can possibly assist them with let me know. be sure to follow and spread the word. 

Rethink the impossible. 

Love you all xoxo

Destination 25

I am a big believer that in every thing that we do or set out to do, that there is a lesson to be learned. I sat down and looked at my life a couple of weeks ago. I assessed and thought out things that I have done up until now. And I said man in 6 months I will be 25. Where am I supposed to be going? Just where? Then I realized that I was rushing the product. And not trying to learn from the process. I realized that all of the things that I had said I would have accomplished by the time that I was 25 is either far off or not even on the radar of things that God has called me to do. With that said. I said to myself and my Pooh (BJ) that I wanted to complete a number of activities and projects leading up to my 25th birthday. Service projects, life changes, and overall shifting the product to be that which God has ordained, rather than what I think should happen. So out of all of these thoughts and conversations came "Destination 25"... Now the details are still forth coming. But I will be using Rethinking this platform to share what I encounter on my Journey to 25. Remember Rethinking is about creating and developing a better you. So why not start with myself. So join me darlings on this journey. Be sure to check back for the date and location of events. To find out what I am discovering about myself, and to read the thoughts of others. I am ready.

Ready. Set. Go Ashley Go!!!!!

Xoxoxoxo

Hello Gideon Season

Destiny, Zahir, and Ameerah 3 of my hundreds of children. 

Yesterday.

The end of a 10 year journey. I started working with Philadelphia Freedom Schools in 2005 as a rising HS Junior. I started the program that summer not really knowing what I was getting myself into. But nonetheless I completed that summer with a few bumps, but my passion and calling started to brew. I continued to work with this program through the school year. I realized (well sort of) that I had a gift. What was it exactly? Where was I supposed to be headed. Well at that point I didn't know. I still do not fully know. So as the story goes I continued through the program during high school and college. I move around and up the "ranks" of servant leadership.  I went to and from this program throughout HS and college. Holding the positions of Junior Servant Leader, Fannie Lou Hamer Trainer, Blac Star Scholar, Servant Leader Intern, William Still Trainer, Site Coordinator, Academic Advisor and ending with 2 years as the Program Coordinator. And yesterday I transitioned into a new space, a slightly different atmosphere and I said good bye to my babies, my students, I didn't realize how much they all touched my heart. Yesterday I told them that it wasn't good bye it was a  see you later to them  and to a program that raised me groomed me, and that I am deeply indebted to. I appreciate the experience and the lessons. I cried and laughed a lot with my students and peers. Thank to everyone who has been intrugal in this journe, But a new Journey awaits . Romans 8:28 says And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Thy will be done Lord. Philadelphia Freedom Schools I LOVE YOU. Asè.

ReThink your PASSION!!!!

It Pays Off