Life & Work with Jillian & Labert Twiggs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian & Labert Twiggs.

Hi Jillian & Labert, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Labert and I (Jillian writing) met in January 2016 at a Colleg Student Retreat hosted by Berean Christian Church, a local congregation in Stone Mountain, GA. On this cabin trip, we became acquainted and decided to continue our friendship as students at Morehouse College (C/o 2019) and Spelman College (C/o 2018). A year later, on my way to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study abroad for the Spring 2017 Semester-I decided to express my romantic feelings for Labert because I resolved that he would if I did not tell him now be off the market when I returned. After executing a dutifully strategic plan to express my feelings to him, Labert shared that he was mutually interested in pursuing a romantic relationship. We would spend the next six months long-distance learning about each other, maximizing the resources of FaceTime and WhatsApp, and enjoying the butterflies of this new relationship as I was abroad in Argentina from Feb 2017-June, 2017, and Labert concluded the spring 2017 semester by studying in South Africa from May 2017-July 2017.

We were reunited in August 2017, the following academic year, at Morehouse and Spelman, partnering in community service initiatives, campus leadership opportunities, and local community engagement. Upon our respective commencements from Morehouse College, DEBT FREE per the generosity of Robert F. Smith (2019) and Spelman College (2018), I continued my education at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, focusing on ethics and youth becoming the youngest and first female Youth Pastor at Berean Christian Church, Stone Mountain, GA. Labert moved to New Orleans, LA, to earn his Master of Arts in Teaching and instructing English Language Arts to Fourth Grade Students, be awarded the Teacher of the Month in his first -year, and be featured on the New Orleans First Line Schools Network website, advertisement, and billboard. We learned to develop new norms and persevere through long-distance because we were committed to each other’s dreams and dedicated to pushing one another to reach them all even at the cost of sacrifice.

In 2020, the world changed as we knew it and it encouraged us to expand the depth of our relationship after four years of dating, on January 30, 2021 (Labert’s Birthday), Labert proposed on a cabin trip (similar to the one where we met in 2016) surrounded by our closest friends and family. We planned and held our pandemic wedding in 5 swift months in Atlanta, GA. It was the best day of our lives! Lovingly, Labert transferred his teaching career to Metro Atlanta and moved to begin our new life together in our old stomping grounds. Grateful to be mentors, leaders, community impactors, and advocates for children, youth, and families particularly in the black community have given us great joy. Doing it together is simply a blessing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road at all. The challenges of being in a long-distance relationship during two periods in our partnership came with unique obstacles: the global pandemic of COVID-19, which limited our ability to travel to one another safely and support each other’s various endeavors academically, professionally, and personally. Additionally, the toll of virtually instructing for Labert and many educators worldwide presented hurdles as the metrics and expectations of classroom management, student retention, participation, and resource gaps were magnified, particularly in communities serving black and brown students. The pandemic exposed the United States education system’s inequities that have impacted students and teachers for decades. Still, it was not addressed until the pandemic unequivocally revealed that there was no longer any place to hide these atrocities. Teachers’ mental health was gravely stretched in the pandemic as educators continued to play parent, healthcare professionals, social workers, tech support, babysitter, tutor, counselor, mentor, and teacher.

It was a true task to maintain personal health as a teacher while being present for students. Furthermore, I experienced unique challenges as faith communities were met with the question, “How do we serve communities amidst corporate suffering at the hands of an invisible virus?” COVID-19 overwhelmingly altered the fabric of how faith communities historically gather; physically. What did it mean for me to lead youth who were inundated with fear of the virus’ impact on their daily lives, propaganda in the news, an extenuating concern for their health and the health of their loved ones, and being robbed of highly anticipated events, ceremonies, and rights of passage in their educational experience? Streaming youth service virtually, trying to find ways to keep them engaged in their beloved spheres of community and pour into their spiritual “gas tanks” was a distinctive assignment. Our faith strengthened us, grounded us, encouraged us, and carried us through, even through the darkest days.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Jillian Lea Twiggs – Pastor of Student Ministries – Berean Christian Church, Stone Mountain, GA Do: Serve members Nursery Aged to 30 years old by aiming to meet their spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and relational needs
Specialty: Teenagers and Young Adults Theological Education, Intergenerational Bridge-building
Known For: Theological Education and Intergenerational Engagement, Gifted singer
Proud Of: Innovative ministry engagement for Gen Z; Creating an intergenerational model in Black church context
Unique: 4th generation preacher/pastor; First female Student Pastor at Berean Christian Church

Labert J. Twiggs, Jr. – 5th Grade Teacher – Atlanta Public Schools
Do: 5th Grade Teacher
Specialty: Black Youth Mentorship and Education Specialty – Experienced in under-resourced schools
Known For: Creating student environments built on principles of mutual respect between students & teachers; Nurturing safe space for black students to thrive; Community mentorship; Black male leadership;
Proud of: Surjourning efforts to close the educational gap in black students in the United States
Unique: I created a brand and hosted a podcast called #RemainAChampion – designed to remind people that they have a purpose, to remain faithful throughout life’s experiences and that they are destined to win no matter what

What do you like and dislike about the city?
We love Atlanta’s many options for entertainment, cuisine, and a vast network full of opportunities, mainly because we each come from smaller cities (Labert – Augusta, GA, Jillian – Fairfield, CA). What we least like about the city is, without question, the traffic due to Atlanta’s persistently expanding population. Atlanta is full! lol

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @remain.a.champion and @Jilljacque_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-CPfo6uOoP4bafcqUniAg/featured
• Other: https://anchor.fm/labert