It’s 2001, I’m in Texas at Pamela Millers’ Prepare Ye The Way Liturgical Dance Conference. I’m in the back of a conference room in worship, when four 3’ x 5’ flags perched atop 9’ poles, process into the room. They enter with such grandeur. My attention captured; eyes transfixed, cheers muted; surroundings faded from my peripheral, they summon me. Mesmerized and captivated by their breath and utter magnificence – nothing else was present, but the flags.

I don’t recall how I ended up with a flag. Pole gently secured in hands, arms stretched forth, eyes fixated on that beautiful silk cloth; I stood balanced on a chair, waving that flag to and fro. With every ripple, every snap, every billow of that sacred cloth, a comfort, a familiarity, a connection was being birthed within. I was being transformed. Little did I know that God was anointing me in the ministry of flags for the journey ahead. THAT was my introduction to flagging.

I left Texas with one flag, the Purity flag (white and gold). When I got home St. James Dance Ministry surprised me with another, the Fire flag (red and yellow). And so began my 15 plus year odyssey of flagging at an array of worship services, ceremonies, celebrations and countless events throughout the tristate.

It was on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at a life-changing leadership forum, when I truly grasped and embraced my purpose to flag. I had just finished flagging for 53 peers who shared a common bond – loss. Whether it was the loss of a loved one, childhood innocence, peace of mind, physical health or finances – loss was their commonality. But, it was the overwhelming flood of gratitude, testimonials, clenched embraces and tears of release, that set clarity to my purpose and ignited my desire to touch, move and inspire others.

My focus – at-risk youth (those impoverished, bullied and neglected), so that I could provide a safe space for their emotional release and healing. After 15 plus years in my church’s dance ministry, it clicked! Finally, I understood that I am a vessel, with flags as my instrument, that would be used to touch, move, inspire and empower others!

Though Sunday Born Flags is open to any and every one, the mentoring program is geared towards youth ages 8 to 17. Our youth are in peril. Rampant exposure to street/prescription drugs, over stimuli from aggressive gaming, the glorification and desensitization to violence and flagrant cyberbullying have manifested in behavioral and psychological challenges that severely impact their health and wellbeing. These emotional, physical and physiological assaults on our youth, particularly in low-income communities, impedes their outlook on life and diminishes their ability to envision their life’s purpose, as they are often uncertain of even surviving into adulthood.

For this, SBF joins an army of individuals, organizations and communities whose’ vision and mission are to create and provide a healthy, safe, productive environment for our youth to flourish in, enabling them to create a better life for themselves and ultimately the world.

The ultimate goal of Sunday Born Flags is to create a world in which all youth get to live in emotional abundance and feel valued for their uniqueness – on a global scale. SBF’s anticipates sponsoring a Sunday Born Flag Global Benefit Concert to bring global attention to just that. Proceeds from the benefit concert will go to SBF Scholarship awardees for Excellence in Human Rights.

The uniqueness of SBF’s Global Benefit Concert is that all participants will perform a choreographed flag piece – simultaneously – across the globe – to touch, move, inspire, and empower youth worldwide. As the organization grows and becomes more solidified, the trajectory for the organization will include SBF Charter Chapters around the world.