Child of the Sun | Leo the Lioness | Made in Melanin
Born & Raised in Little Rock | Grambling Alumna
Living in Brooklyn
Hello World! I'm Jennifer, but my friends call me JD!
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, I was raised by a single mother as the middle of three kids. Yep... I'm the quirky, funny, fiercely opinionated, sometimes awkward, ambivert that randomly speaks in rap lyrics, movie, and TV show quotes! I love all things Shondaland and Marvin Gaye... my baby Pentz is #FOREVERCLASSIC! My favorite team is the New York Giants, and I'm vegetarian... 98% of the time. I've always gone against the grain. I'm a natural skeptic - forever curious and questioning everything, and I live by the beat of my own drum. To know me is to love me!
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, I was raised by a single mother as the middle of three kids. Yep... I'm the quirky, funny, fiercely opinionated, sometimes awkward, ambivert that randomly speaks in rap lyrics, movie, and TV show quotes! I love all things Shondaland and Marvin Gaye... my baby Pentz is #FOREVERCLASSIC! My favorite team is the New York Giants, and I'm vegetarian... 98% of the time. I've always gone against the grain. I'm a natural skeptic - forever curious and questioning everything, and I live by the beat of my own drum. To know me is to love me!
"Be unique in a world full of carbon copies."
After graduating from the historic Little Rock Central High School, c/o '02, I attended Grambling State University -#GRAMFAM - in Grambling, Louisiana. As a broke college student, I applied for work study and interned with Grambling's football team for four years as a student assistant. That is when I fell in love with the business of sports and got to see the World Famed Tiger Marching band up close. #sideline #allaccess #allthedamntime
It was a professional turning point for me, and I no longer wanted to be a counseling psychologist. Although I've always been my family and friend's go-to person for advice, I realized I didn't want to make that a career. Who wouldn't love traveling with the team, men in tight uniforms, handling game day logistics, free food, men in tight uniforms (oh, I said that already), and earning money while doing something fun!? While juggling classes and work study, I crossed the burning sands into the land of crimson and cream and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in Spring 2004. #DeltaIota #TilTheDayID.I. #March27 #49 ILoveMyDST #1-9-1-3 #OO-OOP!!!
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"In order to find yourself, serve others."
In June 2004, I enlisted in the Army Reserve. Yes... I did. Private First Class (E-3) Laws spent the summer in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 100 degree weather wearing full camouflage, a hot ass kevlar helmet, Jodeci boots, carrying a 50 lb backpack, eating MREs loaded with sodium, and toting around a M16 that I could disassemble, reassemble and perform a function check on in under a minute. My MOS was 88 Mike - Motor Transport Operator. I served one weekend a month and two weeks a year (I never completed the two weeks a year part) at the 952nd Engineer Company in Marshall, Texas. I also never made it to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) because I injured my right knee and was honorably discharged in February 2006. In May 2006, I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, and that summer I released my first book of poetry, "Just My Thoughts: Mind, Body & Soul." I received a M.S. in Sports Administration from Grambling in December 2007.
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"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere."
After working at the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in ticket sales in Bossier City, Louisiana and some life changing experiences, I finally decided to move (and stay) in New York and pursue a career in the sports and entertainment industry on September 1, 2010. I've been fortunate to work at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and MetLife Stadium. I've met a lot of cool celebs, worked with some amazing people, and gained behind-the-scenes experience at some of the biggest professional games and sold-out concerts including Super Bowl XLVIII, 2013 and 2014 Hot 97 Summer Jam, Taylor Swift's "The Red Tour", Bon Jovi's "Because We Can Tour", Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes Nation Tour", Jay Z & Beyoncé’s "On The Run Tour", One Direction's "Where We Are Tour", and Eminem & Rihanna's "The Monster Tour". I've also worked as an event planning consultant at BNY Mellon and FOX Networks, in event services at The Apollo Theater, and website development and event management at Bank of America and Veracast - an OpenExchange company.
Through a lot of prayer, sacrifice, and hustle, I've exceeded my goals and achieved way more than I could have ever imagined by God's favor, mercy, and grace! Even with my success, I felt a void like there was something missing. Something I was neglecting...
"Return to what you do naturally."
My first love has always been creating... whether it was writing, photography, artwork, music, or through some other medium of expression. My first foray into website development and design was making a fan page of Marlon Wayans and The Wayans Bros. show using Yahoo! Geocities web hosting service when I was 13 years old. That's one of my favorite shows! Isn't it ironic how things come full circle?
I've always been a creative, and this is the reason why I created this blog! To relate. To inspire. To let people know that they are not alone and that we all have endured some of the same human conditions. To share my thoughts on current events, crazy life experiences, and lessons learned. My tests and testimonies. My failures and feats. My joy and pain, and all of the crazy occurrences in between that make up life's "dash"!
I've always been a creative, and this is the reason why I created this blog! To relate. To inspire. To let people know that they are not alone and that we all have endured some of the same human conditions. To share my thoughts on current events, crazy life experiences, and lessons learned. My tests and testimonies. My failures and feats. My joy and pain, and all of the crazy occurrences in between that make up life's "dash"!