We are at DJ White’s business, DJSJOY, a unique cafe’ with a large rotunda at its center. Smooth Jazz plays with a saxophone solo in the background.
The saxophone represents the presence of DJ’s father, a talented saxophone player, among many other instruments he played while DJ was growing up.
“So DJ, what’s up with this ‘Back to the Future’ theme?”, asks interviewer Viola Davis. “Not unlike the movie, this mantra is for everyone and anyone who feels like they missed the boat in their life”, says DJ with a glorious smile.
It’s a beautiful sunny 82-degree day here in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and DJ is celebrating her 68th birthday with a four-day weekend celebration of growth, contribution and love. Each day celebrates one of these areas highlighting the accomplishments of those she has touched in her four-year journey.
Today, the rotunda, decorated in everything green, celebrates the youth who have participated in programming DJSJOY. The rotunda glows hwith a display of vegetables grown in the youth garden, spoken word presentations from the youth authors, and performances of dance and acting. Tomorrow, with highlights of blue in the rotunda, you will get to enjoy Mothers networking and sharing their businesses, spoken word and artistic presentations.
Moving on to the third day decorated in yellow, you will experience contribution workshops where you can contribute, learn and experience the warmth of “paying it forward”. On the final day, participants of each of the prior days reunite in everything red to celebrate love.
“Why red?”, Viola asks. Beaming her smile from ear to ear DJ replies, “My mother dressed me in red for every school photo but one where I wore purple”, as she giggles. “Spiritually I am purple through and through! Yet, my Mother’s allegiance to her daughter in red, got me to purple.”
DJ’s message, “Go Back to the Future”. You will find Joy and Jewels there!
Reading your interview I could see the large rotunda and the saxophonist playing. So great to be interviewed by none other than Viola Davis. A. mantra is for everyone and anyone who feels like they missed the boat in their life. Thanks for sharing Debra.
What a delightful celebration of you!
How wonderful, Debra! I love that you are empowering children and women! And good job with the colours, too, it brought the vision to life!
Thoroughly enjoyed your press release!. It was very visual for me but you also weaved music and temperature. You also told a story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your Press Release Debra. I could hear smooth jazz playing, John Coltrane’s Blue Train, and Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me, playing while I read your Press Release. I was delighted to see how you incorporated the colours green, blue, yellow, and red and what they symbolized for you. I could almost hear Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman being performed at your birthday celebration 🎊. I was amused that your Mom dressed you in red for school photos. When I was a kid, people kept giving me red clothes, etc. even though my favourite colour was purple. Great job!