Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Rose Dunlap.
Hi Mia Rose, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started out with a really hard journey. I always say, my first 18 years were my toughest. I felt overwhelmed by how much we struggled growing up— poverty, drug abuse, violence— I was raised by two parents who were impacted by the crack epidemic as they raised us in the housing projects on the Southside of Chicago— life was hard.
But I had angels— I had people who were lanterns on my path, people who believed in me and invested in my growth. Their support helped me to see myself and what I was capable of. I started to see how much my voice mattered— how much I mattered. I began to be more intentional with my life and with my words and with my friendships— I began to be more intentional with me.
I went on to graduate from Spelman College and later earn my Master’s Degree. I moved to New York City for a decade to work as an educator in school leadership and I’m now back in Atlanta. I’ve worked remotely at education nonprofits in organizational culture and belonging, but my favorite part of my life right now is my work an artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The hardest part of the journey has been telling my mind that if I can imagine it, if I can see it, then it’s also possible for me. It takes courage to keep believing without evidence. I had courage. It’s sometimes all I had. Audacity to believe a future I couldn’t yet see.
In Season 3 of The Audacity Show, I share about my money story— growing up we [my family] were in the bottom 15% of the American family household income, in the last 5 years I’ve been in the top 15% of the average American household income.
I am so grateful how life has transformed for me. My work is to continue to nourish the gifts and the work I feel called to with the people who are on the journey with me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am so proud of having an idea, creating a vision for it, trusting the vision and resourcing the people, time, and finances and courage to bring it into fruition.
For example, my podcast talk show, “The Audacity Show.” I would say, “I want to be Ricki Lake” when I grow up!” I would see her on tv when I’d come home from elementary and middle school! Well, when I became an adult, I didn’t see any jobs as a talk show host, so I made one. I took the severance I received from my former employer and invested it in becoming my own version of a talk show host. I now have four seasons focused on intentionally and emphatically having the audacity to curate a life we love. And the life I love is hosting, I love cameras, I love speaking and coaching about wellness and wholeness! I love being creative so I’ve built a creative life.
In addition to the show, I host creative wellness experiences like the Bouquet Bar & Cake Decorating where the premise is giving yourself your flowers and having your cake and eating it, too— we don’t need a “special” occasion to celebrate ourselves— we are the occasion.
Oh, another thing is that I’ve published a book! I’ve always loved writing— I have at least 13 journals from childhood! When I was a teacher in Brooklyn yearsssss ago, I told my principal I wanted to write a memoir— without pause he said, “what’s a 25 year old going to write about in a book about their life?” I wanted to say, “ummm still being alive to even say I want to write a book,” but I’d already felt deflated. So it took me years to finish a book I’d started long before I uttered the words aloud to him. I let my confidence in my calling get shaken for years— until I remembered that I was given the assignment, he wasn’t. So I’ve completed and published a book! It’s called, “The Audacity to Curate a Life you Love!” It was published by Mynd Matters Publishing Company. It’s an interactive book that moves through the different chapters of our lives — love, money, relationships, health, legacy and more— in it, I share parts of my story and use thought provoking questions to invite others on the journey to write their stories and their visions! I love that the book is in the world!
Did I mention that I am a life coach? I facilitate and engage people about their lives — not because I have the answers but because they do. We each have the key to our own lives and our own potential— my work as a coach is to send people back to themselves reminding them to trust their own voice, to trust their own intuition and to use their own key to unlock doors. I’m their accountability partner on the journey. For some of my clients we focus on their creative life and others we focus on their professional life and some we focus on their wellness— but for all we engage on mindset. That’s the most important. Our mindset and beliefs.
I grew up believing that being beautiful didn’t include a broad nose, kinky hair, deep dark skin, and a curvy body. I grew up believing I didn’t fit the standards of beauty. I grew up believing I had to have something else that would qualify me to be called beautiful. I grew up resenting the mirroring and not loving to take pictures. What I’d say to my younger self is— “that’s a narrative that’s short lived. Everything about you you’ll come to love, including and especially your looks— in fact, you’ll go on to be loved by the camera and have creative photoshoots every year! You now look in the mirror and see the beauty in every crevice of your being. You will know beauty by the way the mirror stares back at you.” I believed a thing and did a lot of mindset work in my adulthood and now can truly indulge in my life in ways that still surprise me sometimes! That’s why I love being a coach!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Hmmm…. My most recent endeavors have been with Spelman College, Cornell University and Delaware State University as a creative workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and leadership coach— respectively.
It’s amazing to work alongside colleges to support young adults in their journey of curating a life they love.
I also worked as the community event planner for a coffee shop in Midtown that is Black and woman owned called Land of a Thousand Hills on Spring Street. That experience reminded me how so many people are looking for connection and community and wellness! That role stretched me in beautiful ways— I got to operate in my zone of genius and worked with others who operated in theirs! Can you imagine the creative energy?!
I have another book coming out this fall called, “Apology Letters, The Audacity to Heal” it’s all about writing the apologies we’ve always needed to hear! I am so stoked to share this book with the world and lead experiences around it!
My big dream right now is to go on tour! I’d love to go on a 12 city tour including international cities over the next twelve months. One city a month (I need to make sure I bake in rest and restoration in between time). The focus of the tour would be apologies— I can’t wait to see the into fruition.
Speaking of rest, right now I’m reading “Rest is Resistance, A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey. It’s so timely as I’ve given myself a three month sabbatical to just rest.
While on my sabbatical I’m waking up later and observing what I do with my time when I’m not constantly on the go and rushing from one thing to the next.
So I’ve taken an improv class. I’ve caught up on a few up my favorite shows including “The Chi” and “All American.” I’m having friend dates and deepening those relationships. I’ve taken two writing classes that I’ve loved. And in a few weeks, I’ll start swimming lessons again.
Oh something I’m so excited about is next month I’m hosting my second annual siblings family reunion in Chicago— I have four siblings and eight nieces and nephews! It’s going to be a joy getting to enjoy them!
Most importantly, I’m letting myself breathe. I’m slowing down. I’m being present. I’m listening. Witnessing. And continuing to respond to Mary Oliver’s question, “So what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Pricing:
- Book $20
- Group coaching starts at $897
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miadunlap.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_audacity_of_mia_rose/
- LinkedIn: Mia Rose Dunlap
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@the_audacity_of_miarose
Image Credits
Kennedi Munson
Spencer Charles
Cameron Mitchel
Crystal
