A Word from the Author
I have worked in the human services field for over 24 years. Most of those years were spent delivering direct services to people of all ethnicities at a very vulnerable and troubling time in their lives. What struck me most was that all the information and experience I offered meant little if I could not translate what I knew in a way the person or audience I was trying to help could connect with, based on their own experiences. So, I focused on making those connections. Over time, I developed an empathetic, bridge-building, culturally sensitive communication style that served me well as a motivational speaker, lecturer, educator and group facilitator.
Bami Soro, which means “Talk to Me” in the Yoruba language of West Africa, represents my attempt to pass along this communication style of talking in an “honest, soulful, heart to heart” way. Its hallmarks are storytelling and eliciting personal experiences on important topics from the participants themselves, so that they, not the helping professional, does most of the heavy lifting. It’s the participants who “connect the dots” between their own experiences and the topics being discussed.
Educators, therapist, counselors, mental health professionals and many others in the “helping professions” will find Bami Soro entertaining and informative. Bami Soro’s most important value to those in the “helping professions” is that it provides a beginning for those professionals with little or no experience in communicating with Black Americans or people of color to develop their own comfortable, confident communication style with people from other ethnic and social backgrounds. Black counselors will also appreciate having a culturally directed tool to help guide their group discussions in ways that will make them more therapeutically effective for Black Americans and people of color outside of their social and ethnic group as well. The fact is there are more White therapists, counselors, behavioral health, educators and mental health professionals graduating every year, which means it’s impossible for people of color to always work with professionals who look like them. There is no reason why White professionals can’t bridge this gap if they are willing to learn how to communicate effectively with Black Americans and “meet them where they are”. Bami Soro helps bridge the communications gap.
George Lewis, CEO
Motivational Consulting Inc.
Motivational Speaker
Author, Bami Soro
Producer, Addict Chronicles (See Trailer motivationalconsultinginc.com)
Peer Recovery Coach