Meet Jimease Sanders | Believer, Mom, Musician, Educator, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jimease Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jimease, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I have a few affirmations and quotes that I choose to live by.

-Nothing will work unless you do- Maya Angelou (Whatever it is that we might aspire to achieve in this lifetime, we have to put in the work. I love the parable of sowing and reaping, because it is always relevant. At times we might feel as if the reaping is taking forever, but when we start to see the fruits of our labor then we know that our sowing was not in vain. 

– A smart person learns from their mistakes, but a truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others- Brandon Mull (I preach this to my daughters day in and day out about making wise choices. Any and everyone can benefit from this quote. Why relive something, when you already know the outcome. Be wise enough to learn from seeing than actually having to experience.

– If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it- Toni Morrison (Giving a voice to something that is missing in society is powerful. For a long time Black people were only mentioned in a negative capacity, but when we write our own stories, we get to decide the plot.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am most excited about waking up each day and looking forward to the surprises and blessings that each day has in store. I’m excited that I get to teach my students something that I hold near and dear- Music. I’m excited that I get to rear my children to find out what their gifts are to the world. I’m excited that I get to travel and meet different cultures and ethnicities of individuals that are more alike to me than different. I’ve always had a passion for Teaching, Music, and Black American History/African Diaspora. Somehow throughout my life, I’ve been blessed enough to advance in each of these areas. I began teaching piano students in high school. My piano instructor, Mr. Archie Black (deceased) was the founder and owner of The Piano Academy in College Park, GA. This sparked an interest and passion in helping younger students learn to appreciate the art of music and piano study. I went on to study at Tennessee State University and The University of Memphis. I had wonderful professors that instilled skills and qualities in me that I now share with my students.
Being a divorced, single mom is a challenge in itself. I have to make sure that my daughters have everything that they need to be successful, while nurturing my gifts and talents. Balancing this is challenging at times. I never want them to feel slighted, so I make sure that I am rearing them into intelligent, hardworking individuals that are learning to make good sound decisions that will set them up for a bright future.
I’ve learned a lot of lessons along my journey through life. I’ve learned that each day is a gift and I intend on making the best of each day. I’m very mindful of the people that I associate with and how they affect my life. Are they positive, forward thinking or negative and draining? I’ve also learned to truly value my gifts and talents.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends were to come to town, I would take them to Midtown/Downtown Atlanta. We would start off at Thumbs Up or Flying Biscuit for Breakfast. Maybe take a stroll to Atlantic Station to support some local black businesses and catch a movie. Afterwards, we would have lunch and possibly head to the Fox Theatre for a musical. Hopefully The Wiz or The Color Purple would be scheduled to play. After that maybe walk around Centennial Olympic Park..there’s usually something always going on there. Lastly, pick out a great dinner spot, such as Tom, Dick & Hank- Rooftop, or another great restaurant/hang out spot. I’m sure that my best friend would be worn out after a day in the Atlanta streets.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this “shoutout” to my daughters. They keep me motivated to keep going everyday. They are constantly watching me to observe how I handle different life situations. Honestly, sometimes I fail, but they NEVER see me quit. I always want them to understand the value in hard work and being dedicated to evolving and growth.

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