Today we’d like to introduce you to Ajah Doswell.
Hi Ajah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD for the majority of my life. I recently relocated to Las Vegas, NV as a means to provide a different environment for my family to thrive. Looking back and reflecting on my life, I am truly blessed to be who and where I am today. I was raised between 2 homes with unwed parents, my father died when I was 11 from alcohol and drug intoxication, my mother lost her job several years after relocating to Baltimore after she had me. We were displaced at times, though we managed with the help of family and friends. After graduating high school in the top 5% of my class and planning to escape the life I had, I became pregnant with my amazing daughter during the winter break of my freshman year of college at North Carolina A&T State University.
In many ways my daughter saved me… I didn’t know it then, but I understand now. When I left home for college it was my plan to NEVER RETURN!! I hated things at home, for many reasons. Somehow this amazing gift of life forced me to come back to Baltimore to earn my degree in Social Work. Shortly after her father and I separated, I began to date a young man that I worked with; however, I was unaware of the troubles he was experiencing. 3 days after my 21st birthday he shot and killed himself in my home. The crazy thing is, he was suffering from Bipolar Disorder and I was aware as I had not completed my course work that explored mental illness. This moment in time completely shattered me as the suicide note he wrote thanked me for helping him realize things about his life that he was as unaware of until we had a conversation on my birth 3 days prior to his unfortunate demise.
This life-changing experience along with the feelings of guilt caused me to spiral. I began to drink to cope and even entered into an extremely emotional, verbal, financial, and at times physically abusive relationship with a childhood friend. Seeing that life had not dealt him the best hand, we bonded over our trauma and went into a 4 yr. relationship that ultimately ended up with me becoming an alcoholic. After completing both my bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work, I decided I needed more… no WANTED more for my life and my daughter’s.
Six months after separating from my boyfriend and deciding to focus on my own healing I found the love of my life. Now for some 6 months may not be a long time to “heal” however, when you understand your calling in your profession and begin to evaluate your own life, the universe has a way of putting things into perspective.
May 10, 2013, I married the man I never knew to pray for after 7 days. We never dated or got engaged. His proposal about marriage was based on him being marriage material and if I viewed him as worthy to be someone’s husband. When he asked me, “Would you marry me? Like, am I marriage material?” I quickly replied, “Yes!”. At this time in my life, he had more than anyone I had dated and he seemed to be safe, trusted, and well respected. 5 days after that conversation we were married and have been in bliss for 8 yrs.
Braylin (daughter), Dallas (son), and Johnny (‘Porkchop’ of 92Q) are the reason for my existence today. For many years I battled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Each of them in their own way has guided me to a life in which I encounter every experience as the UNICORN I am. I create experiences that leave a person, the room, the world in a better condition in which I found it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t believe there is such a thing as a “smooth road”. Pulling over to the shoulder of a road changes the surface of the road, meaning we all have adverse experiences, how we cope with them determines how much they impact our life. Having my father die, not marrying my daughter’s father, having a boyfriend kill themself, and a childhood friend abusing me made me question my place and worth in the world. For a very long time, I felt like I was destined to be alone or not “protected” by a man. It made me feel like I wasn’t supposed to have a happy ending or a fairytale life. In reality, none of those things were true. I NEED EACH EXPERIENCE TO MAKE ME WHO I AM TODAY!!! They add value to my life… made me more empathetic… more human.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The hardest question I have ever had to answer is, “So, what do you do?” to which I reply, “What do you want!?!”.
I consider myself to be a spider with an enormous web or as my kids in my program say, “Ms. Ajah, you’re the plug!”.
I am a licensed therapist in Maryland and Nevada and use my degree in social work in extremely non-traditional manners. I am the Clinical Program Strategist for a nonprofit in Baltimore expanding to Las Vegas for an organization called KEYS Empowers, Inc. I am a grant writer, program designer, facilitator, evaluator, and many more job titles I can’t quantify.
I own two independent companies, Training 4 Life, LLC (Behavioral Health Consultation) and Choreographi by Ajah (Event Coordination). I am co-owner of EA Solutions, LLC (Behavioral Health Consultation) with the amazing Erika Robinson and Juice Works, LLC (Juice and Wells Bar) with my dear friend, more like brother Jerrod Lewis.
When I first started college, I wanted to be a Special Education teacher and after 2 classes I knew that was not my calling. When I started Coppin State University in Spring 2007 after the birth of Braylin, I found my calling as a social worker. Little did I know I had been a social worker my entire life. I was a peer mediator in middle school, I was always the friend everyone came to for advice and I have ALWAYS been nosey. I’m clear that I didn’t pick social work… Social Work picked me.
The thing that I am most proud of in my work is that I have changed the world in an exponential way. Working in foster care, group homes, schools, and communities as a therapist, and now creating programs that provide non-linguistic approaches for healing for marginalized and underserved communities I know that I have kept people safe, allowed them to be heard, and offered them an opportunity when they felt people didn’t know they existed.
I specialize in making each encounter with others an experience. I was once told, “You are a speaker for humans. You have a way of connecting the dots and making things simple, even when they are complicated.” That’s my gift, I recycle. I take what people hate, don’t want, refuse to acknowledge, and suffer from and make it palatable to create a space and place for healing.
When I describe myself as a Unicorn it’s not just because I create magical experiences, it’s a look that I embody. I ALWAYS wear colorful hair and nails, use colorful language, as well as wear uniquely and well-thought attire (usually inspired by Sam Smith of New Vintage by Sam). When you meet me there are only two things you can say, “I freaking love this chick!” or “I can’t stand that bitch!”. Either way, you can always spot me in a crowd.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I AM A TRUE LOVER OF PEOPLE!!!
People can work with me, collaborate with or support me through their own personal healing, community efforts, or organizational development. I always have projects going or am looking for projects to hope on. I am naturally an executioner and love to enhance other people’s body of work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: doswelloutreach, choreographibyajah
- Facebook: Ajah Doswell
