My Cotton Patch Moment

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Reverend Nibs Stroupe, pastor, author, educator, and lifelong advocate for justice. Raised by a single mother after his father left when he was an infant, Nibs spent more than five decades in ministry and community service, including early work with men returning home from prison. He joins us to explore fatherlessness, the mother who made a way, and how faith can transform personal experience into a lifelong passion for justice. Today, we dive deep into the lifelong impact of paternal absence, internalizing childhood abandonment, and the powerful role of mothers and community mentors. Nibs shares candid personal details about growing up in the segregated Deep South, feeling the early sting of his father's total absence on the Little League baseball field, and learning how to tie a necktie from his mother. We discuss his memoir She Made a Way: A Mother and Me in a Deep South World, how therapy helped shift his psychic energy away from an absent parent toward the one who stayed, and his alternative service directing a halfway house for returning citizens during the Vietnam War. Finally, we explore the systemic realities of the justice system and what it truly means to find the real person inside every individual. This powerful conversation highlights the deep resilience of children and families navigating absence, the importance of community mentorship, and how compassion, education, and second chances can restore human dignity. Three Key Takeaways Internalizing Parental Absence: Children who experience total abandonment by a parent often internalize the loss and falsely blame themselves, making supportive mentors and mental health counseling vital for reframing their self-worth. The Power of Showing Up: Mentors, teachers, ministers, and neighbors can step into the breach for fatherless children, offering affirmation and proving that a single painful setback does not define a person's life or future. Seeing the Human Behind the System: Decades of working with returning citizens and community members demonstrate that approaching others with compassion and looking for the real person behind their struggles can transform conflict into healing and second chances. Why Listen If you are seeking deep, thoughtful insights on fatherlessness, family resilience, and the human side of the justice system, this episode is a compelling listen. Reverend Nibs Stroupe offers an inspiring blend of personal vulnerability, historical perspective, and lifelong community advocacy. His wisdom on healing from abandonment, embracing community support, and treating others with inherent dignity will leave you reflective about how we can better support families and children in our own communities. Find Reverend Nibs Stroupe here: Memoir: She Made a Way: A Mother and Me in a Deep South World 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Miseka Diggs, advocate, social worker, and community leader dedicated to helping justice-impacted individuals rebuild their lives. Having experienced incarceration firsthand, Miseka transformed her journey from a prison cell to a college dorm, earning her bachelor's degree and pursuing graduate studies in social work at Rutgers University. Through her advocacy and leadership, she now helps others find healing, support, and second chances beyond the prison system. Today, we dive deep into what it truly means to overcome childhood trauma, navigate the justice system, and break generational cycles of harm. Miseka shares candid personal details about growing up amidst the crack and AIDS epidemics, experiencing severe trauma at a young age, her early encounters with juvenile detention, and her battle with substance use. We discuss the pivotal "cotton patch moment" in a prison cell that shifted her perspective, how she transformed her prison time into an educational journey earning a college degree and a 4.0 GPA in graduate school, and why stable housing and mental health care are essential for successful community reentry. This powerful conversation highlights the deep resilience of returning citizens, the generational toll of family incarceration, and how advocacy, education, and community support can offer hope and dignity for future generations. Three Key Takeaways Recognizing and Processing Childhood Trauma: Unaddressed childhood trauma and community instability often lead to defensive behaviors and self-sabotage, but gaining access to mental health counseling and a shift in mindset can help individuals process pain and chart a path toward personal growth. Restoring Dignity Through Stable Support and Housing: Re-entering society successfully requires addressing basic human needs, especially stable housing and accessible mental health resources, which restore dignity and prevent cycles of reincarceration. Breaking Generational Cycles Through Intentionality: Overcoming a family history of incarceration requires intentional parenting, open communication, and modeling strong work ethics to ensure the next generation can thrive and pursue better opportunities. Why Listen If you are seeking deep, actionable insights on overcoming trauma, supporting justice-impacted individuals, and understanding the complex human side of family incarceration, this episode is a compelling listen. Miseka Diggs offers an inspiring blend of personal resilience, academic excellence, and practical community advocacy. Her perspective on reentry reform, emotional healing, and breaking systemic cycles will leave you thoughtful about how we can support returning citizens and empower our communities. Find Miseka Diggs here: Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Miseka Diggs 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Mr. Morocco Coleman, a decorated Vietnam veteran, author, mentor, and lifelong advocate for veterans and their families. His memoir, Coming Full Circle, chronicles his experiences during and after Vietnam while reflecting a life devoted to service, healing, and restoring dignity to others. Today, we dive deep into what it truly means to come full circle after experiencing severe trauma, homelessness, and addiction. Morocco shares candid personal details about his time in Vietnam landing right before the 1968 Tet Offensive, his post-war struggles, and the subconscious triggers that led to his annual winter cycle of homelessness. We discuss the pivotal "cotton patch moment" that sparked his path toward personal transformation, how he spent nearly two decades restoring dignity to fellow veterans as an employment counselor, and why honest, vulnerable communication is essential for healing multi-generational family wounds. This powerful conversation highlights the deep resilience found within military veterans, the invisible emotional scars carried by absent fathers, and how shared wisdom and community connection can offer hope for future generations. Three Key Takeaways Recognizing Subconscious Trauma Triggers: Unaddressed trauma often manifests as recurring cycles of self-sabotage, but gaining awareness of these underlying triggers allows individuals to take back control and chart a path toward healing. Restoring Dignity Through Empathy: Extending respect and compassion to individuals struggling with trauma or homelessness can validate their worth and empower them to rebuild their lives. Healing Family Wounds Through Vulnerability: Reconnecting with children and families impacted by a father's absence requires open communication, radical vulnerability, and a willingness to withstand initial hurt to foster genuine reconciliation. Why Listen If you are seeking deep, actionable insights on overcoming trauma, supporting military veterans, and understanding the complex human side of family absence, this episode is a compelling listen. Mr. Morocco Coleman offers an inspiring blend of battlefield history, personal resilience, and practical service. His perspective on emotional restoration, community advocacy, and personal accountability will leave you thoughtful about how we can support wounded individuals and help families heal. Find Mr. Morocco Coleman here: Website: https://booklogix.com Phone: 404-372-2388 Email: [email protected] 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with the Honorable Aramis Donell, Executive Director of Fair and Just Prosecution, civil rights advocate, attorney, and Florida's first Black state attorney. With a unique career spanning roles as a public defender, prosecutor, professor, and organizational leader, Aramis brings a profound perspective on justice, fairness, and accountability grounded in the real-world impacts on families and communities. Today, we dive deep into how justice must be redefined beyond mere punishment to consider both fair processes and human restoration. Aramis shares personal experiences from her upbringing in Saginaw, Michigan, including an early understanding of equity and a pivotal moment in high school that directed her path toward criminal justice. We discuss the hidden generational impacts of incarceration on families and children, why the criminal justice system must uphold humanity, and the crucial necessity of investing in education upstream to break cycles of mass incarceration. This powerful conversation highlights the discretion prosecutors hold, the importance of maintaining self-awareness and faith amid public leadership, and why true progress in criminal justice requires an unyielding commitment to long-term systemic change. Three Key Takeaways Redefining Justice through Equity and Process: Genuine justice is not solely about punitive outcomes; it requires equitable starting points and a fair process where everyone, regardless of background, receives equal access, rights, and humanity. Upstream Investment in Education: Preventing mass incarceration requires prioritizing quality education and literacy in early childhood, directly countering systems designed around school-to-prison pipelines. Preserving Humanity and Personal Agency: Holding individuals accountable does not require stripping away their humanity; true justice balances accountability with compassion, recognizing the deep multi-generational impact incarceration inflicts on whole families. Why Listen If you are seeking deep, actionable insights on criminal justice reform, prosecutorial discretion, and the human side of legal systems, this episode is a compelling listen. The Honorable Aramis Donell offers an inspiring blend of courtroom experience, public leadership, and personal resilience. Her perspective on systemic equity, education, and faith will leave you thoughtful about how communities can move toward genuine healing and lasting justice. Find the Honorable Aramis Donell here: Website: https://fairandjustprosecution.org 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy, leadership strategist, author, and advocate for economic liberation. With over 30 years of professional practice and two decades of research, Dr. Brown consults with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies to build pathways to leadership, healing, and transformation—especially for formerly incarcerated women. Today, we dive deep into what economic liberation truly means beyond simple budgeting, moving past systems designed to extract resources and toward asset ownership and family autonomy. Dr. Brown shares her perspective as a mother raising Black sons, discussing how to instill self-worth, navigate systemic injustice, and balance the reality of the criminal justice system with preparing young men to thrive. We also explore the critical need for front-end community infrastructure over back-end detention funding, and how to support returning loved ones through belief, space, and shared trust. This powerful conversation highlights the innate leadership and resilience of formerly incarcerated women, the importance of proactive family investments, and why true community transformation starts when we build structures that allow everyone to claim their ground. Three Key Takeaways Redefining Economic Liberation: True economic liberation goes beyond basic financial literacy; it requires changing our relationship with money, moving away from extractive systems, and building family assets so choice is no longer dictated by poverty. Investing in Front-End Infrastructure: Preventing incarceration requires funding stable housing, strong schools, and family financial security decades before a crisis hits, rather than over-investing in back-end detention and supervision. Supporting Returning Citizens with Belief and Room to Grow: Families can best support returning loved ones not by managing them or fearing mistakes, but by standing close, believing in their capabilities, and giving them the space to step into their own leadership. Why Listen If you are looking for practical and profound insights on leadership, systemic equity, and rebuilding lives after adversity, this episode delivers a powerful masterclass. Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown brings a rare blend of rigorous organizational research, deep advocacy for formerly incarcerated women, and heartfelt maternal wisdom. Her actionable perspectives on economic liberation and community support will leave you inspired to pour into the people around you and advocate for lasting systemic change. Find Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown here: Website: https://www.revolutionarylead.com 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.