Category: Uncategorized
The Aurora Magazine (Fall/Winter 2025 Issue) of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Features “American Change Agent”
Special thanks to my amazing Sorors of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for featuring American Change Agent: A Life & Legacy of Seeking Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, the book my dad Dr. John F. Leeke and I wrote about his life and work, in the Fall/Winter issue of The Aurora Magazine.
Our book also discusses the Leeke family’s legacy of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority sisterhood that includes my mother Theresa B. Gartin Leeke, great-grandmother Florida Jones Leeke, and great-grand aunt Lillian Jones Brown.
Click the button to learn more about and buy copies of American Change Agent.
Virtual Event: Join Me & My Dad “Dr. John” on January 26th at 3 PM ET for the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Presentation on “The Leeke Family’s Legacy of Freedom Seekers from Hagerstown to Amherstburg”
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Virtual Black History Series will feature a presentation on “The Leeke Family’s Legacy of Freedom Seekers from Hagerstown to Amherstburg” with me and my dad Dr. John F. Leeke on Monday, January 26th at 3:00 p.m. ET.
During the presentation, we will give a talk about our family’s journey on the Underground Railroad from Hagerstown, Maryland to Amherstburg, Canada that is discussed in our book, American Change Agent: A Life & Legacy of Seeking Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (2025).
The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period.
Visit https://bit.ly/4pDYaDS to join the live conversation or go to Microsoft Teams and use Meeting ID 262 051 238 204 98 with Passcode 6aA7qQ96.
Click the button below to get more information about and buy our book for yourself, family, friends, and colleagues.
What Matters?
On Monday, I joined many people in remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work. It was a quiet day of reflection on Dr. King’s wisdom: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
WHAT MATTERS TO YOU THIS WINTER SEASON?
The question of what matters this winter season has wrapped itself around my spirit, heart, mind, and body ALL DAY.
My answers are coming as divine downloads about being an ancestral vessel for expression and blessing.
WHAT ARE YOUR ANSWERS TELLING YOU?
Sacred Travel: My 2023 & 2025 Trips to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil
In 2023 and 2025, I traveled to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil with the amazing support and guidance of tourism innovator Ronnell Perry, founder of AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel.
Ronnell’s Ancestral Spirits travel experience fed and grounded my spirit, heart, mind, and body with what I needed during both trips.
During my 2023 travel experience, I celebrated my 58th birthday and the kicked off the beginning of my second Saturn Return.
I also fulfilled a lifelong dream of honoring my loving + wise + well ancestors during the 100th anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá (Yemanya Festival).
While I was there, I made a deep connection to the Candomble Oxishas and was inspired to create poetry, drawings, and a wire sculpture collection that honored Iemanja, Oxun, Iansa, Xango, Ewa, Oxossi, and Ogum.
In 2025, I returned to Salvador da Bahia to celebrate my 60th birthday and honor the ancestral ascension of my mother Theresa during the 102nd anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá.
My soul sistalove Tonya Butler-Truesdale also participated in the Ancestral Spirits experience.
Last year, I took a deeper dive into the Afro-Brazilian art, cuisine, culture, fashion, and spirituality.
Extending my stay several days to explore various neighborhoods and museums helped me make a commitment to learn and master Brazilian Portuguese over the next five years, identify and respond to art fellowships, begin the journey of developing my second novel about an African American woman in Salvador da Bahia, seek out Afro-Brazilian experiences and friendships in my local community, and plan future trips to Brasil.
Ronnell and AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel continue to be an integral part of my Brazilian journey.
He was recently featured in an Ebony article about Salvador da Bahia by Rondel Holder. READ IT HERE.
THANK YOU, SOUL BROTHALOVE RONNELL, FOR ALL YOU ARE AND DO!!!!!
Photo Credit: Ronnell Perry
WISDOM: January Wisdom from My Womanline Ancestors on My Mom Theresa’s Side
This winter, I have been spending time deepening my connection to and cultivating my relationships with “womanline” ancestors on my mother Theresa’s side. They remind me to take care of myself. Their wisdom is guiding me as I navigate several experiences that I am choosing to label “THE UNKNOWN.” They are a wellness lifeline. Check out their wisdom below.
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR ANCESTORS?
WHAT TYPE OF WISDOM HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM YOUR ANCESTORS?
6 ANCESTRAL WISDOM MESSAGES
1) We Share A Powerful Connection with Creator and Ancestors That Creates Divine WE-NESS
2) Ancestors Are Our Anchors in the Ocean of Unknown Waiting for Us to Ask Them for Support
3) Our Seeds of Creativity Are Planted in Fertile Ground Loved, Watered, Nurtured, Protected, and Harvested by Our Ancestors
4) Investing Our Love, Learn About, and Cultivate Relationships and Communicate with Our Ancestors
5) We Are Our Ancestors’ Legacy and Vessels of Expression and Blessing for Carrying On
6) We Are Never Alone Because We Belong to Our Ancestors Who Watch Over and Witness Us at All Times
SPOKEN WORD MUSIC
Click the video below and listen to my spoken word music entitled “Ancestral Medicine” that is featured on my debut album, Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter that was produced by Garnet Jay, founder of Footprint Productions, in 2025. Click the button below to buy and download the album. It is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and all streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
WITNESS: The Power and Presence of Witnessing
Yesterday, I wrote a post on my Substack page about WITNESS. If you’re on Substack, check me out and subscribe here.
For me, WITNESS means being present, acknowledging, honoring, and making meaning and memories. I decided to repost it here.
WHAT DOES WITNESS MEAN TO YOU?
SUBSTACK POST
After reading Marilyn Fontaine’s Substack’s post about Katrice Horsley’s Substack post, I was reminded of the presence and power of one of my winter season words – WITNESS.
WITNESS reminds me to choose my birthright of mindfulness and notice what I am experiencing and needing each day.
WITNESS reminds me to slow down and notice what’s happening in my body (nervous system), spirit, heart (emotions), and mind (thoughts) when I move around, create, and share my creativity.
WITNESS reminds me to pay attention to what I give my attention to (what I see, read, watch, and take in).
WITNESS reminds me to notice my actions, behavior, choices, and words and their impact on myself and others.
WITNESS reminds me to notice the people around me, communities I move in and out of, and their impact on me.
WITNESS reminds me to notice what’s working and not working in my life and the gaps that may exist or need to be filled.
WITNESS reminds me to honor and trust my intuition.
WITNESS reminds me how grateful and blessed I am to be alive, connected to DIVINE ONENESS and my loving + wise + well ancestors, and able to tap into love, grace, gratitude, and my sacred senses.
WITNESS reminds me how beautiful and freeing it is to be right where I am in my life at this moment.
WITNESS reminds me how lovely it is to share my thoughts, writing, art, videos, photos, podcast, news, and other things with you and check out what you are sharing just because it feels good to share.
I give thanks for the presence and power of WITNESS and witnessing.
Something Powerful Happened Last Night: Reflections on Unity & Presence Book Club Reading of My Debut Novel, “Love’s Troubadours”
Something powerful happened last night as I sat in community with the members of the Unity and Presence Book Club in Odenton, Maryland.
As we discussed my debut novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One, I witnessed the powerful impact of what I co-created with Creator and my loving + wise + well ancestors.
I experienced in real-time the beauty and blessing of having the book we co-wrote be examined inside out. It was a joy to listen to everyone’s reflections and insights. It was one of the most soul- affirming and fulfilling experiences I have had as a writer.
It was also inspiring and encouraging as I prepare to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Love’s Troubadours with some new stories in 2027.
Special thanks to the Unity and Presence Book Club for reading my book and inviting me to lead their first discussion for 2026.
Love’s Troubadours is a self-love and yoga-inspired novel about Karma Francois, a thirtysomething, California-born BoHo BAP (Bohemian Black American Princess) with Louisiana roots and urban debutante flair. When the novel begins, Karma’s life has taken a sudden drastic turn. Her relationships and the museum curator career that she struggled to form in New York City have crumbled, leaving no viable options to rebuild. Relocating to Washington, D.C., Karma struggles with denial, depression, and debt. A lack of full-time employment opportunities forces her to craft a gypsy existence as a Jill of Many Trades: yoga teacher, art consultant, and freelance curator. Unable and unwilling to appreciate these jobs as gifts, she wallows in a pool of lost identity—and doesn’t see a way to keep from drowning. When she looks in the mirror, Karma sees a woman whose choices have dishonored her true character. Now, for the first time in her life, Karma must learn to see herself for who she really is.
Stay tuned for upcoming posts about the making of the novel and what’s next.
Happy Winter Solstice!
The Winter Solstice is finally here! That means the winter season has officially begun. For the past 30+ years, I have incorporated the winter season wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine into my mindful self-care practices.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the winter season is an invitation to be, not do. It is a time to come home to yourself with softness by honoring your spirit, heart, mind, and body with loving kindness, compassion, nonjudgment, patience, and forgiveness.
If you need some inspiration on slowing down and being still this winter, listen to my song “Honour Your Body (Embodiment)” that is featured on my debut spoken word album, Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter. Listen to the video below.
Click the button below for more information about and to buy Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter that was produced by Garnet Jay, founder of Footprint Productions. The album is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube, and other streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
BE F.R.E.E. AT 61
Ananda Leeke 