Connie Spruill
She was an only child until she was ten. She spent a lot of her childhood living with other families during the week and with her mother on the weekends, and she prayed for a brother or a sister. She thought when she was older, she’d have an orphanage. She wanted every child to have their own bed, their own little desk—a closet, and, most of all, she wanted everyone to eat dinner together. She became the mother of five, and she has two precious grandchildren (and one on the way), but she has never forgotten how it felt to feel like she didn’t belong. She never wants anyone to feel that way—it doesn’t matter who you are, she wants you to feel loved.
When she was ten, she finally got her prayer answered. Her mother came home from the hospital and handed her a sister, five pounds of sister that looked like a drowned chipmunk, a chipmunk who immediately captured Connie’s heart. Connie became a caretaker, and Fred (Fredericka) became her heart.
It was a few days before Christmas, in 1990, when she got the call telling her that her sister had been shot. The thought that she might not make it never crossed Connie’s mind, but when she arrived at her apartment, she learned that Fred was gone. She had been shot and killed, and it wasn’t until 2 years later, that the family learned that the boys, Connie’s two-year-old, and Fred’s baby who was 14 months…had tried to pick her up.
As Connie explained this to me, I couldn’t help but think of my sister—my sister who was in the car, six years ago, when we lost my cousin in a terrible accident. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I lost my sister. Losing the life of someone so close to you can feel like your whole world is crashing down. I could feel her pain as she told me that it wasn’t her sister she lost, but her baby. It’s funny how Connie’s experience reminded me of my own, and even though the situations are somewhat different, I am reminded that we all have experiences to which others can often relate. Our individual stories may be different, they sum up who we are and where we are, but they are important to share—to remind us that we are not alone.
To write this story, I spoke to Connie twice, and I was amazed to discover that the two of us, though she is older, share some similar interests, writing, decorating, serving others, and, most importantly, having crazy faith in GOD. She loves to sing, (she’s platinum in the shower). She bakes—loves to read cookbooks, anything self-help, and continues, since her teenage years, to pen poetry.
At first, I was uncertain about how I would explain who Connie truly is, because she juggles so much. She has a full-time job as an Employee Relations Specialist, she’s a minister and an entrepreneur. She has a large and lively family (still a caretaker) and a very active social life. You might find her at a jazz concert, a play, or under the bridges ministering to the homeless. She’s even been to Africa a few times.
Connie Trip to Africa
The first time Connie and her youngest daughter went to Kenya she sponsored 4 children to go to school. What struck her the most about her experience abroad was the level of gratitude. Americans have so much, even poor Americans, in contrast to the children and the families that she encountered, but, she says, “They have such appreciation for the little things… even a bottle of water would generate joy. It kind of makes you ashamed of all that we have. We take so much for granted and then we have the nerve to be wasteful.”
Now a story of any sort wouldn’t be interesting if there wasn’t some kind of hurdle, some adversity, or some challenge, and sometimes hearing about the challenges and defeat that someone has faced and how they overcame them, can be inspirational.
Connie Trip to Africa
This is where I was, but this is where I am now. And if I didn’t go through the defeat, I wouldn’t be at the point that I am today. Can you guys relate to the last statement? Because if someone can fall down and get back up, so can you.
Connie faced another major challenge in June 2013, when she quit her job of 23 years and decided to become a freelance writer and HR Consultant. She had it all figured out, had saved the money and written the vision, but immediately after she resigned, her mom got sick. It was six weeks in and out of the ICU, and Connie found herself glad she wasn’t working because she would not have been able to spend so much time at the hospital. What she didn’t know was that her mother would never make it home. She died on her birthday, and Connie’s world turned upside down.
A few short months later, her grandmother passed and while she was on the way to her grandmother’s funeral (in New Jersey), she got a call and learned that her Aunt, her mother’s only sibling, was in the hospital after having had several small strokes. At this time in Connie’s life, she felt that everything was falling apart. She was overwhelmed. The plans to start the business never came to fruition and she was struggling financially. She would never have imagined being her Aunt’s nurse (something about not doing body fluids), but nurse her back to health she did. She refused to allow what happened to her mom happen to her aunt, and so she struggled alone to keep her household running, to care for her aunt and to get back to work.
It was one day when she was driving home from the rehabilitation facility, exhausted, emotionally raw, and frightened about the future that she wished that her best friend was there. If only she could talk to Linda, her best friend from second grade. Linda would know what to say. Linda would listen. Linda would let her cry or make her laugh. Linda would support and encourage her and let her know that everything would be okay. Of course, Linda was in New Jersey and Connie was in Atlanta, but it was at that moment that she wondered if she could create that same supportive, loving, and encouraging environment for other women.
Linda & Connie
It was at that moment that My Girlfriendz Place was born in Connie’s heart. Based on 1st Thessalonians 5:11, My Girlfriendz Place will be a café, boutique, meeting space where women support other women, both personally and professionally. She envisions hosting events facilitated by women, allowing women to connect for both business and socializing—an inviting environment for women to meet, eat a sweet treat, have some coffee, buy some jewelry, host a workshop/event, or, even, just meet a friend. She also plans to offer space, at nominal rates, for women entrepreneurs to promote their goods and services, kind of like a co-op for professionals and business owners—providing them with the platform and the opportunity to share resources and to support, inspire, and encourage one another.
Although she doesn’t have her place yet, Connie attempts to live her life as a “Professional Friend.” She feels that she has a special sensitivity for the struggles of women. Realizing that some women are never able to take the “S” off their chests and just sit and relax, she enjoys meeting and pouring into other women. She is a prayer warrior and says that she receives just as much back, maybe even more. She has begun to write spotlight articles, recognizing and celebrating extraordinary women who are handling their business and doing amazing things. “I figure I don’t have to wait until I actually get a place to start promoting other women… and this way, I get to write (her first love). In comes Adrian , owner of Caribdomain.
Around June 2016, a mutual friend, Roxanne James, asked on Facebook if anyone wanted to do some volunteer writing. Connie answered the call and began writing articles for Adrian’s blog/website. Caridomain exists to tell the stories of up and coming entrepreneurs and to highlight their individual contributions to the arts and culture. With particular emphasize on the Caribbean; Caribdomain celebrates and promotes Carnival, art, music, fashion, technology, food, entertainment and health and fitness… weaving the magic of the Caribbean into everyday life. . and Connie was delighted to learn more about the Caribbean. Ironically, the first article that she wrote would be about Roxanne’s daughter, Imani Ray. She thought it fortuitous that she had met Imani and had actually taken a picture with her.
Writing for Caribdomain opened a whole new world for Connie, and she found herself anxious to explore the different subjects and to create unique and interesting pieces based not only on research but also on the insights she gained from personal conversations with each of the ladies. She wrote about the UK’s hottest theatrical costume designer, creative genius, Melissa Simon-Hartman, who opened up her thirst for knowledge about Carnival and Mas. She connected with a supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur, Maurisa Coleman, and with model, designer, and fashion mogul, Wendy Isaacs, to name a few. The article on Wendy found Connie and Adrian in New York last spring at Wendy’s annual Style the Runway event. Connie did a few interviews and wrote an article about the show.
Eventually, Adrian came up with the idea of doing his own fashion show. Although he had never done a fashion show, on December 16, 2017, New York Meets DC Fashion show and Holiday Gala was a smashing success. Designers, models, and photographers came together to create an elegant evening of fashion and fun. Adrian applauds the team for being there with him every step of the way–Debbie Lara, Karen Hopson, and, of course, Connie, and has already started talking about the next one.
For now, Connie plans to continue writing and working towards creating that warm and inviting space for women to support women. Though the building is not yet tangible, she says her word for 2018 is miracles. She says it is just a matter of time before she will be able to say, welcome to My Girlfriendz Place—where you will always find a friend!
CEO of My Girl Friends Place
Editor-in-Chief of Caribdomain – VP of The Creative Minds Expo
Co-Creator Author and Producer of NY Fashion Meets DC Fashion
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Author, Blogger: Giselle Rodriguez Editor: Pen