SPOTLIGHTING OUR VERY OWN FROM THE "BURG"
The Spotlight is on Vanessa Roberts-Cooper
To begin, ponder for a second, Who are you? Who do you pretend to be? And, What is your purpose? These are questions I ask to my patients when providing the many groups I do on my job as a Recreation Therapist at Novant Health UVA Health System, Prince William Medical Center Behavioral Health Inpatient. A job I love and have held for the past 19 years. How did I get there. Who am I? I am the daughter of a Barbershop owner, Minister and a Librarian and the youngest of 4 girls. My parents instilled the importance of family and purpose. Attending Douglass Elementary school, Leesburg Middle School and Loudoun County High School I was always wanting to be a part of something, pretending. It wasn't until I entered Virginia State University that I found the beginning of my purpose, still pretending. Majoring in Recreation Education at Virginia State, my college professors, Counselors and Cheerleading coach they showed me that helping those who are in need. They showed me how to be patient, understanding and have a since of humor in all aspects of my path. After graduation in 1982, I couldn’t find a job. I was a substitute teacher for a full year in the Loudoun County school system. During that time I also worked with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Program. Setting a move to further my career. Received a call from one of my professors from Virginia State University about a Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. So in the fall of 1983 I entered Virginia Commonwealth University. My purpose was being set, but at the time I didn't realize how. In 1985 with my Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation I started working with Adolescents at the Psychiatric Institute of Richmond. Hard work but rewarding. Purpose of my life was setting in, and from there I have been working in Mental Health field for 30 plus years at St Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, DC to different Psychiatric Hospital settings in Maryland to Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, and Loudoun County Parks Recreation to my present job. Along the way, I met the love of my life, and married Derrick Cooper in 2004, a Bass playing, computer analysis with the FAA/Harris Corporation. I can truly say from being the only Black cheerleader on the varsity squad at Loudoun County High to being a member of the original WooWoo cheerleading squad at Virginia State University, a lesson in humility to gaining confidence in myself. Being a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter has helped I am continuing to find possibilities and purpose to uplift those I work with daily. I can say my purpose is set, from working with patients who are suffering with Depression, Anxiety, Low self esteem, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, to not wanting to live. Being a Recreation Therapist I continue to bring joy, peace, strength, confidence and a purpose to live and strive. Being there cheerleader!
Vanessa Roberts-Cooper
SPOTLIGHTING OUR VERY OWN FROM THE "BURG"
The Spotlight is on Robert Hall
“True friendship is the highest form of love.”
Give without remembering. Receive without forgetting.""
These quotes have been central to the true ‘heart’ of my life and were the driving force of a writing project completed ten years ago called Friends First.
Growing up between the two ‘burgs’ (Leesburg and Middleburg), I was blessed to make lifelong friendships and to be reared by a strong culture of family, church, and community.
The eldest of four siblings and the brother and brother-in-law of two BFRC board members, I am humbly honored to be considered for this spotlight.
To say that my family history runs deep in Loudoun is an understatement. My parents attended and met at Douglas H.S. in Leesburg. One of the first tangible connections brought to my attention by my father at the age of twelve was our family tie to the original Loudoun Memorial Hospital (my siblings and my daughter were born there) and the St. James Episcopal Church on Cornwall Street. Both were built by the Hall family of contractors out of Middleburg. Also shared were the connections to other projects in northern Virginia to include Civil War Monuments and the rebuilding of portions of Mount Vernon. I would, subsequently, learn of other family connections (Stewart family) that started with James ‘Gentleman Jim’ Robinson in 1799 and extended to Rick James, Steve Harvey, the Stokes brothers (former politicians in Cleveland Ohio), and actor Christopher Duncan. My view of the world as a young black male began and continued to change as those legacies were shared. I felt that I belonged. It was no longer a notion of ‘coming up’ but, rather one of ‘keeping up!’
I knew then (age 12) that I wanted to be an architect and help shape my environment. While at Loudoun County H.S., I studied architectural design under teacher Thomas Kane (at the Vo-tech center) who, ultimately, mentored me to local and state competitions while making me the lead on the design of The Peal home built circa 1981 near the Loudoun Hospital. I went on to study Architecture at Hampton University and interned under Leesburg Architect Anthony F. Musolino. I was given the opportunity help design office buildings and several shopping centers in Loudoun, including Prosperity Center on Market street in Leesburg.
After my time with the Musolino firm, I enlisted in the Army National Guard, started a new career in the Insurance industry, and married my H.S. sweetheart. God blessed us with a beautiful and talented daughter named Brittani. Another turn in life’s road would lead me to managing and owning various businesses in and around Washington, DC.
I moved to Richmond Virginia for the sake of love in 1998 and have resided there since. By the grace of God, I have been blessed to have spent the last twenty-two years working for the black owned Urban One / Radio One Companies. Writing, and design work, and mentoring have remained my true passions.
My upbringing and my extended family of friends in the ‘burgs’ have been the very rails of my life. My parents tirelessly extoled my siblings and I to stay faithful, to stay humble, and to ‘let go and let God!’
Thank you ‘burg’ family! You are my heart.
Rob
SPOTLIGHTING OUR VERY OWN FROM THE "BURG"
The Spotlight is on Tiffany Davis
“There’s Power in my Purpose”
Tiffany Davis stands boldly and unequivocally on the Word of God. Tiffany represents faith, grace and favor that gives hope to the lost and shattered spirit. She teaches through the power of prayer, how to understand the Word of God for those who are intimated by their circumstances. Her voice is used as a conduit so others may see and feel who God is and what standing in the will of God can do for ones’ own life.
Tiffany understands what it is like to be in the fire and walk out not burnt but delivered by way of surrendering. Isaiah 43:2 tell us that, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Tiffany is a powerful prayer warrior! She uses her gift of prayer everywhere she’s led to serve and deliver God’s promises. It is her calling and she OWNS it – fully! With her dynamic voice, there is no mistaking when she enters the room.
During her weekly prayer calls, Tiffany reaches out to inspire, teach and motivate men and women from all walks of life and around the world.
“There’s Power in my Purpose "Tiffany Davis stands boldly and unequivocally on the Word of God. Tiffany represents faith, grace and favor that gives hope to the lost and shattered spirit. She teaches through the power of prayer, how to understand the Word of God for those who are intimated by their circumstances. Her voice is used as a conduit so others may see and feel who God is and what standing in the will of God can do for ones’ own life.
Tiffany understands what it is like to be in the fire and walk out not burnt but delivered by way of surrendering. Isaiah 43:2 tell us that, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Tiffany is a powerful prayer warrior! She uses her gift of prayer everywhere she’s led to serve and deliver God’s promises. It is her calling and she OWNS it – fully! With her dynamic voice, there is no mistaking when she enters the room.
During her weekly prayer calls, Tiffany reaches out to inspire, teach and motivate men and women from all walks of life and around the world.
Residing in Ashburn Virginia, she has two sons, Charles and Damon Davis who are the light of her life.
Spotlighting our very own from the "BURG"
The Spotlight is on Michael Taylor
Each month the 'BURG" Family Reunion Club will spotlight a born and raised "BURG" family member showcasing their accomplishments and talents. Be on the lookout for our first recipient for the month of December. If you would like to be a "BURG" Spotlight person, please send your information to burgreunion.com
Also include a JPEG picture of yourself.
This month's "BURG" Member is Michael Taylor. He shared with us the following.
Michael Taylor is a true Burg Native. He was born to Irvin W. Greene Jr. and Angela Taylor in 1971 at Loudoun Hospital. Though he lived in Washington, DC for a short span of his young life, even then he spent summers in the Burg with family and friends. He attended George Mason University for undergrad studies in Communications and earned his Master’s Degree in Education at Regent University before moving back to the Burg in 2000 to raise a family. For the past 20 years, he’s enjoyed living in the Burg with his wife, Trena, of 26 years, and three children, Joseph, Jessica, & Josiah.
Michael Taylor has served the youth and families of Loudoun County for the past 21 years as an ordained pastor, executive camp director, (Triple C Ranch Day Camp) educational leader, and board of supervisors committee member. His current role as executive director of ministry at Community Church in Ashburn, VA, and president of Virginia Academy, Loudoun’s largest pre-K - 12th grade private Christian School, enables him to live his passion to serve the Lord and the people of Loudoun County and abroad. With partnerships with Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) and Loudoun Hunger Relief as well as orphanages in Tanzania, Africa, and Honduras among others, Pastor Michael Taylor assists Community Church’s lead Pastor, Dr. Charles Whitlow, to make a difference in the lives of many both locally and globally. Currently, Pastor Mike, as he is well known by many, is pursuing a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership at Regent University and plans to be a continued contributor to Community Church’s aim to raise young men and women who will sit in seats of influence in every arena of life to bring positive world-impacting change.
Photo courtesy of Erica Bush
Spotlighting our very own from the "BURG"
The Spotlight is on Erica Bush
Each month the 'BURG" Family Reunion Club will spotlight a born and raised "BURG" family member showcasing their accomplishments and talents. Be on the lookout for our first recipient for the month of December. If you would like to be a "BURG" Spotlight person, please send your information to burgreunion.com
Also include a JPEG picture of yourself.
Our first "BURG" Member is Erica Bush. She shared with us the following.
Erica Bush may have left “The BURG”, but “The ‘BURG” has never left her. No matter where she has ventured, she has always realized there is no place like home – Leesburg, Virginia, and the strong sense of community and family that comes with it.
Erica was born to Barbara “Mousie” Sheppard Bush and Frederick Bush, and she spent the first few years of her life at Loudoun House. Her family relocated several times during her childhood, but never traveled far; she lived in Meadows Lane, Carrvale, and Exeter before she graduated from Loudoun County High School and went off to attend college at Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey). Erica majored in chemistry in college, and after receiving her bachelor’s degree from Princeton she moved to Pennsylvania where she worked as an analytical chemist for the pharmaceutical company, Merck. While at Merck, Erica obtained her master’s degree in chemistry from Lehigh University. After several years in Pennsylvania, Erica moved back to the DMV area to be closer to family. She currently resides in Maryland.
Erica has always had a strong support system – family, friends, teachers, church members – that continuously encourages her, and prays for her, during her endeavors. She is grateful for this encouragement and has sought to give back to the community through volunteerism. She has served as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, has served on her church’s Missions and Health and Wellness Ministries, and also serves on the Board of Directors (currently as Vice President) for the Loudoun Douglass High School Alumni Association.
In addition to her personal ventures, Erica has achieved several noteworthy accomplishments in her career. Currently, Erica works as a regulatory scientist for a government contractor, through which she provides regulatory support to multiple government agencies as they conduct their clinical trials. For several years she has worked with the government on regulatory applications covering many infectious diseases, including Zika, Ebola, Influenza, Malaria, and most recently COVID-19. Her work has earned her several awards, including the Women of Color Technology Rising Star Award (2019), D.C. United Healthcare Hero Spotlight (2020), and Black Engineer of the Year Modern Day Technology Award (to be received in 2021).
Erica would like to express her gratitude to her Leesburg family for always having her back. She hopes to make you all proud!
Photo courtesy of Erica Bush