#PeopleofNEI: Dawn, pointing people to their goodness

Northeast Indiana is evolving. These are the people and places shaping its future. #PeopleofNEI #PlacesofNEI

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Dawn is a mother, wife, sister, daughter, attorney, partner, community activist, and public speaker. It’s hard not to feel drawn to her and her smile when she walks into a room. “I am 48 years old and wake up each morning very clear now about my purpose. I exist in this world to point people to their goodness. That is what I am after; it is my superpower. I spent way too much time asking for permission to be in the room both figuratively and literally. I spent too much time wondering if I was black enough or not black enough, and whether I made enough money or had enough clients or the right clients. I spent a lot of time trying to find someone to validate me. I remember that Dawn, but we don’t commune anymore. I went through hell to find myself, and I don’t want to diminish my voice anymore. I want people to know that you are an unrepeatable masterpiece. There will never be another you. We can live our best lives right here in Fort Wayne. I love it here. My mother raised my brother and I in a safe environment and we had a great childhood here. I travel a lot for work and leisure. I have been all over the globe and I haven’t found any place like Fort Wayne where I want to set up roots. The living I can make here is amazing. The quality of life for my family here is great. That matters to me. I think Fort Wayne had an identity crisis because we wanted to be like other communities instead of knowing who we are and what our thing is. I think we are finally asking the right questions now to find ourselves and that is fun to be a part of. Just like Fort Wayne is finding its identity, I want people to own that they are walking greatness. You have to wake up to know that you are enough. It fires me up to see people get turned on to the reality that they were not a mistake, and neither is Fort Wayne.” #PeopleofNEI

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Read more articles by Stephen J. Bailey.

Stephen J. Bailey is a Fort Wayne native and the owner of PH Digital that was founded in 2006. Based out of the Anthony Wayne Building in downtown Fort Wayne, he specializes in web development, SEO development, social media management, and digital marketing campaigns with numerous companies in northeast Indiana. Stephen loves road trips, sushi, his pups, and spending time on our three rivers.