Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bradley.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Between Peace & Pieces is a platform I created to educate, empower and inspire. I came up with the name based on the thought that most of us are always striving to get to the next level. We seem to be on a continuous journey no matter where we are vested in our lives. At the same time, we manage and juggle priorities, struggles, and pitfalls leaving us to balance life somewhere in the middle; Between Peace & Pieces. I refer to it as a go to spot for all things life. I write about issues that affect us. One-piece might be about love and relationships, the other about race relations, the next one educating people about the risk factors of a particular disease.
Since I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, most of my writing will have a wellness undertone. This platform allows me to share my personal experiences with others and engage dialogue among my readers. I’ve always been a writer as long as I can remember. Writing down personal thoughts and moments helped me navigate through my childhood. My father was shot and killed by his best friend when I was fifteen. They both were alcoholics. We had argued hours before, and I didn’t get a chance to apologize for my “grown” ways. His murder propelled me into an adulthood I wasn’t ready for. I felt like I spent my young adulthood and early thirties trying to get to his hospital room to apologize. I at times think I have subconsciously looked for daddy in older men.
Growing up my younger sister and I would play “hospital.” She’d be the patient and I was always the nurse or the doctor. We’d use ketchup and Lifesavers as blood and medicine. This is when we both realized we would pursue professions that serviced people in some fashion. We’d grow up, and I became a Family Nurse Practitioner, and she became a Mental Health Professional. We’d exchange stories, and talk about our goals, hopes and aspirations our entire lives. We both were struggling, single parents who had dealt with issues and hardships, so we knew we wanted to do something to empower youth. We decided to start a minority scholarship fund and create a platform that would allow us to service our community.
My sister suddenly passed before our visions became tangible. So not only to highlight and discuss relevant issues, Between Peace & Pieces sponsors a minority scholarship in honor of my sister; The Tuwanna Marie Minority Scholarship Award. It gives $1000 annually to a qualifying high school student. It is also the platform for an annual Back to School Giveaway where students are supplied with backpacks, school supplies and a snack. These are some of the moments that have helped mold me as a mother, writer and professional woman.
Between Peace & Pieces is also home to my online apparel shop. I create pieces that tell the story of the black woman.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being a single parent, I would have to say, as much as motherhood is a blessing, it’s also one of my biggest challenges. When faced with my sister’s untimely death, I inherited her three children as well. All within six months my life took an unexpected path; I started Grad School, lost my youngest son to incarceration, lost my sister to death, and inherited her children. My life has never been the same.
Between Peace & Pieces – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
What sets me apart from others is that I actually write about and create pieces that reflect real life. I also sponsor entire scholarship and community events out of pocket. Every sale I make from my online apparel shop funds my purpose and passion to service people.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is being able to pour into other people the wisdom, experience, passion, and inspiration that were poured into me. When I get emails, inboxes, DMs, and text messages often from people I don’t know telling me they can relate to what I wrote about, they’ve been through what I’ve experienced, I have inspired them to do better and be better or simply just thanking me when they see me in public for caring for their loved ones. These are the moments I cherish most.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3300 Hamilton Mill Rd, Buford, GA 30519
Ste 102-184 - Website: www.betweenpeaceandpieces.com
- Phone: 8704139890
- Email: jennifer@betweenpeaceandpieces.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jennifer_fnp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betweenpeaceandpieces/
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