Vivens Pinelands Creative Workshop members to stay focused

Last week twenty-five participants in the Pinelands Creative Workshop received some motivational words
from internationally renowned best-selling author Dr. Solanges Vivens.

Vivens whose book Girls Can Move Mountains: Rewriting The Rules of Female Entrepreneurship is soon to be adapted into a movie, said that after having the organisation perform at her book launch, which was held at Sandals Royals Resort, she was so moved by their outstanding performances that she wanted to share a bit of her life story with them.

“After my event was finished at Sandals Royals Resort on July 17th 20222, I asked Sharon Brathwaite to put me in contact with the persons who drummed and danced that day and that is how I ended up meeting Shelly Durant-Forde and speaking with the young persons from Pinelands Creative Workshop last week.

It was the best thing I could have ever done as I received a sense of gratification meeting with them as I did with the event. I truly enjoy working with young people,” she said.

The Haitian-born author who holds a Doctoral Degree of Humane Letters said she truly believes  young people have the talent and skills to move mountains in order to achieve their goals in life.

To this end she hosted a very interactive session at the Marcus Garvey Institute with the members of Pinelands Creative Workshop.

“To my surprise the six young persons that performed for me on July 17th, 2022, at Sandals Royal Resort that I wanted to meet with turned into over 25 young people. We formed a circle, and I was introduced by Shelly
Durant-Forde, and I realized that she was the person in charge of the young persons who performed for me. I went to their environment, and we had the best time. I was inspired by them, and I know they were inspired by my story as well,” she said. In the session, Vivens rewarded the members monetarily for answering the questions posed. She explained that her book which is about her life story inspires the youth.

“I also published this pamphlet which is a guide to create your own success and on the inside is steps on how to become successful so I shared this with the members from Pinelands Creative Workshop and I left a copy with Shelly so she can share it on their media communication so the children can use this information all the time.

The steps to becoming successful are education, determining your goals, be intentional about your goals, stay positive, be flexible, work tirelessly, stick your neck out like a turtle and the understanding that failure to prepare is preparing to fail. We spoke intensively about the latter step as whatever you do in life you have to prepare for it,” she said.

The members from Pinelands Creative Workshop walked away with various memorabilia and one participant received a signed copy of her book Girls Can Move Mountains – Rewriting The Rules of Female Entrepreneurship.

Vivens said that the reason she decided to give the items to the members was as a result of her wanting them to have keepsakes that they could remember the commitments they made to achieve their dreams.

During her presentation to the participants at Pinelands Creative Workshop, Vivens used an example of her journey from working in a factory to owning multiple businesses.

The author and successful businesswoman who was recognised by the Minority and Business Professionals Network as one of the 30 most influential Minority Businesspersons in America, had words of advice
for young persons.

“I would say, how willing are you to make the sacrifices that are necessary for you to reach your destination? I would advise young people to know exactly where their destination is and do not jump steps because when you jump steps you fall on your face, and it takes longer for you to get up.

I ended up with over eight hundred persons in my business but there were many times I fell flat on my face, wiped the blood off my face and kept going.

Try, try, and try again that is my advice for people. People tend to quit too quickly. There is going to be a lot of naysayers, a lot of people who will tell you, you cannot do this or that, but you can,” she said.

(Write Right PR Services)