Meet Pamella Reid | Managing Partner/Per Consulting Services and Executive Director and President, Dreamcatchers for the Soul Foundation, Inc

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pamella Reid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pamella, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I was born and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, the baby of five…spoiled according to my siblings, but I always knew that I was here to change the world somehow! For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an actress. I took commercial classes, studied at Double Image theater, Talent Unlimited, and later attended SUNY at Purchase Conservatory for acting. At the age of 13 years old, I formed my own theater company “Teens Unlimited Repertory”.  Thanks to a wonderful woman named Grace Jones, who allowed me to use her theater, I kept 20 teens off the street, and we rehearsed all day on Saturdays. My friends would often tease me because I carried around a briefcase like I was some big-time producer.

There was not a Broadway play that I did not attend, (the second half that is). I would carry an old Playbill during intermission and pretend that I was there all along. I cannot tell you the number of times that I was kicked out of theaters. I would go backstage and hang with the late Gregory Hines and Phyllis Hyman, Jennifer Holiday and Loretta Divine, and other great thespians during the day. I even convinced Jennifer Holiday to speak at my high school graduation. I loved/love theater!

When I went off to college, my light was dimmed, by something that I was never exposed to “RACISM!” Each year the conservatory took in one Black actor. I was told very early in the game that I was a Black actress, and I would never do what I loved, which was Shakespeare. My dreams were shattered and at 16, I felt lost, angry, and afraid. As a child, I was free and was allowed to follow my passion. Even though my parents, wanted me to go in a direction that they wanted, they still allowed me to be my authentic self. I was told that I could not do what I loved.

I believe that every child comes to into this world knowing what they want to do in life, but we do not always pay attention. What do they like to do? Do they take things apart? Do they color outside the lines? Do they speak to imaginary friends? Do they like to read and write? I advocate for children, not only because they are the future, but I believe that they have been stripped of something that is priceless – their imagination. Dreamcatchers has allowed me to work with teens who self-harm, children of incarcerated parents, foster children, LGBT teens, and those teens that find themselves experiencing recidivism.

We are igniting souls and transforming lives, one child at a time teaching them healthy tools to deal with stress, anxiety, difficult emotions, and low self-esteem. Even though there were difficult times, I would not take anything from my journey, I am a lightworker, and I will continue to shine my light, long after I leave this physical body.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dreamcatchers for the Soul Foundation, Inc. is a holistic wellness organization, we believe that every child deserves to learn healthy tools to deal with stress, anxiety, difficult emotions, and trauma. The tools that we use are Mindfulness, Reiki, Taichi, Qigong, and Yoga.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, we would pick up some quiche and pastries at La Provence, with a bottle of Prosecco and pineapple juice and head over to Miami Beach. After a few hours at the beach, we would head back to my house with Jamaican cuisine from Aunt I’s for lunch and some cocktails, or we would put some chicken, salmon, and vegetables on the grill and sit in my backyard overlooking the lake. After that, we would head to my favorite place Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and then onto Bayfront Park. On Sunday morning we can over head to Coral Gables and go to the Biltmore Hotel for brunch. After lunch, we can people-watch in Wynwood and then head over to the Red Rooster in Overtown for dinner and live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Laverne Brown my sister and Shero, the wind beneath my wings, who always believes in me. Dr. Rev. Alma M. Stevens, Spiritual Mother, and friend. Kay Richardson, Speaker, Author, and Revenue Consultant, Yvonne P. Morris, Director of Wellness and Jackie Darville, Spiritual Advisor

Website: www.dcfts.org

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