Dr. Torre Brown has been performing empowering and inspirational speeches, workshops, and group/ individual counseling for over 25 years. In 2007, she decided to create Spiritual Fortitude Consulting, answering the demanding call for motivational speakers to come into low income, disadvantaged, underrepresented communities to facilitate, enrich, and empower at-risk, academically challenged or juvenile justice complicated youth, women and men particularly those distressed by emotional or physical trauma, influenced by numerous mental illnesses scenarios or other perpetrated life traumas. Dr. Torre is a Life Skills/At- Risk Expert/ Advocate with emphasis on teens and women involved in the Juvenile Justice System. She is also a Counselor/ Certified Mental Health Life Coach, Substance Abuse/ Addiction Counselor and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author.
As the author of the Life Member Code, in the “Gyrlfriend Code Sorority Editionâ€, Dr. Torre discusses what it was like being the first member of her family to pledge a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. while attending college in 1995. She discusses the importance of having all the required DNA traits to progressively belong to any sisterhood or relationship. These traits will be acquired through multiple sources such as at birth and your life’s journey including your journey into a sisterhood such as a sorority. These journeys will make and leave a profound impact on you as an individual and your entire organization. Dr. Torre discusses the importance of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) providing the BGLO of the Divine 9 a platform to advance in solidarity as they continue to uphold the legacies and traditions of their organizations while creating, fostering, cultivating and unifying future generations to continue to generate transformational advancements which are essential to ensuring the longevity of our organizations, communities and the world that we service.
Learn more about the author below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Dr. Torre, Dr. Torre?
Dr. Torre: I have always been one who has been underestimated causing me to always fight against the grain in doings giving me the spirit of resilience and earning the label of “Rebel With a Causeâ€. Due to my trials and tribulations, I have also grown the spirit of service and advocacy of wanting to help those unable to help themselves. I am not fulfilled unless I touch at least one life a day, and I make it a point to always stand for what’s right even if it means I must stand alone. I am not just a Rebel with a Cause but a Gladiator, a Gladiator fighting a daily battle that many have lost their lives to. I have overcome many obstacles and battles which left me bruised, beaten, and even broken but never destroyed.
I love to laugh and make everyone laugh. My family always asked why I didn’t become a comedian. I just feel life is too short to not be happy and laugh. This swag is apparent in my writing style, workshops, and presentations. I speak on serious topics with a comedic twist leaving everyone with a wealth of resources, information, and optimism. I take pride in my two legacies, my two daughters, Tyler and Trinity. It is because of them that my swag will live on always, which is why I refer to them as my legacies. They are my lifesavers and guiding light. I also describe my swagher as “De La Ghettoâ€. I know most of you are asking yourself, “What in the world is that?†The Urban Dictionary defines De La Ghetto as too “Classy†to be “Ghetto†and too “Ghetto†to be “High Classâ€. A perfect mix between class and ghetto. My favorite saying is ‘don’t let the letters before and after my name fool you’. I’m still that chick from the Lou (St. Louis, MO). I have always taken pride in the fact that no matter how much I have achieved and accomplished, I never forgot where I came from. The community and people like me. My education elevates and not defines me.
Since no one understood, there were several occasions I was petrified and didn’t want to exist, thinking that God was playing a cruel joke on me by continuing to wake me up day-to-day in mental and physical agony. Little did I know, He was building my armor as he was carrying me through battle. Little did I know that He was preparing me to be an Officer in his Army against the evils of chronic and mental illness, low income, disadvantage, underrepresented demographics, at-risk youth, and adults. All of my trials and tribulations became my testimonies of success, strengths, and weapons that I use to educate, empower and advocate to raise awareness, which in turn protects and provides services for the helpless.
Fancy: In spite of being labeled as unable to be college-educated, you persisted and was accepted into several colleges. What was it that motivated you?
Dr. Torre: My main motivations were my mother, God, and my desire to change my environment. My mother always told me that if I wanted to live better, in a better community I had to go to college. So college was the only way I knew how to change my environment. I graduated high school with an average GPA and unspeakable ACT/ SAT test scores, and I struggled with much adversity being labeled at-risk, low income, and disadvantaged. When my teachers and guidance counselors began to tell my mother and me that I didn’t have the grades and test scores to go to college and that I was unteachable, that was the fuel I needed to energize me to prove them wrong. Since I was just an average student with low test scores, I didn’t meet their description of a student that had the chance of success. My mother had me tested for every disability there was without positive findings, so I was enrolled into a college preparatory program called TRiO Upward Bound to help with academics. She went to school six days a week and throughout the summer. What they didn’t know was that I was hungry for positive change, and I had a mother that was not going to give up on me. Nor was I going to give up on me.
Though at times I felt dumb and like a failure, such as the time I was denied acceptance into my first-choice university for undergraduate school. Despite my disappointment, I continued to apply to colleges and universities in and out of St. Louis. By fall registration, I had been accepted to more than ten institutions and had received numerous awards and scholarships. With every obstacle I overcame, the more I wanted and knew I could succeed. With every doubt, the devil and naysayers put in my head, my mother, God, and our faith was my fuel to continue to move forward. I realized what God has for you is for you.
“Never let anyone dictate your Divine Purpose or your journey; Only God and you are the co-authors of your life’s story. No one has the power to make edits unless you give them “Power of Attorneyâ€. Dr. Torre
Fancy: Did you find a sense of belonging with your Delta sisters?
Dr. Torre: Definitely! I joined, during my junior year of college in 1995, and we all were different, shapes, sizes, colors, cultures, social-economic classes, cities, states, majors and even schools. We were still young ladies growing into women. Delta is truly in our DNA. Delta helped us grow into the women we are today. We walked in strangers and came out lifelong sisters.
As an ex-Navy spouse, I traveled and relocated every 2-3 years all over the country, Delta was always my saving grace. Moving to a new city and state without family or friends, all I had to do was call Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. National Headquarters in Washington, DC, and they would provide the name of the closes chapter, chapter president and her contact number. I would reach out to the chapter president and go to chapter meeting. Now I’m instantly connected to my local sisters. I am no longer alone in a new city. That’s the true blessing of this awesome sisterhood. This influenced my lifetime commitment and dedication to not only Delta but also a Lifetime Membership to the paramount Negro Council of Negro Women (NCNW) which was founded and Chaired by 2 of Delta’s most elite members, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and Dr. Dorothy I. Height. In saying that, through the good and bad you are never alone.
“I wear my letters on my front, because I know my Sorors/ Sisters got my back!†Unknown
Fancy: You seem to be passionate about working with youth and low-income families and communities. Is it because you see versions of yourself in them?
Dr. Torre: Yes! I was an at-risk teen raised in a low-income, single-parent household. I struggled all through school academically. Since I did not meet the standard of success set by the school system, the academic staff that was put in my life to help me succeed at the time was the ones that put negative obstacles in my way that hindered my success. They told my mom and myself that I was not academically strong enough to go to college and that I should instead look to go to vo-tech school or seek a career instead. My mother raised me to believe that if you want to change something you must do something. You want to make a positive change to your environment, you must go to college. So, though I didn’t have the best grades and test scores I was hungry to change. The last thing I remember someone saying to me was, “When you come back to St. Louis, you bring back that Bachelors Degree they said you couldn’t get.†Little did they know, when I returned to St. Louis, I will return with my Bachelor’s Degree, two Masters, my Doctorate, and three Certifications.
So, as you can see, a Rebel with a Cause was born. At that point, I became an advocate for change, A Game Changer. I tell people that I have the “Harriet Tubman Syndromeâ€. They told me I couldn’t get out. Now I feel obligated to come back and save as many people as I can and show them that they too can get out because educators and guidance counselors are still telling our youth that they cannot be successful based off grades and test scores which are completely false.
Fancy: What type of workshops do you teach under your Spiritual Fortitude Consulting?
Dr. Torre:
- Individual and Group Counseling and Life Coaching
- Innovative& Resourcefully Inspired Workshops Facilitation & Presentations on Individualized Topics
- Hazing Prevention Alternative Workshops for Greek Letter Sororities & Fraternities, Athletics, Clubs, Bands & Other Orgs.
- Emotional & Mental Health Counseling & Advocacy
- Behavioral, & Juvenile Justice System/Probation, Rehabilitation, Prevention and Post-Recovery
- Educational, Professional & Inequality Advocacy for Scholastically Confronted Ambitious Students
- Educating and Developing “At-Risk Teens†including Behavioral Issues, Mediation, Bullying Prevention & Corrective Conditioning
- Generational Studies Research Specialist (Closing the Gap Educationally & Professionally)
- Teens and Personal Relationship Issues including Social Media
- Diversity & Inclusion including African American History Presentations
- Speaking Engagements including Women’s Day Services, Church Anniversaries & Teen Programs
- Purity Ceremonies
- Premarital Counseling & Officiant
Fancy: So tell us about your submission to “The Gyrlfriend Code Sorority Edition�
Dr. Torre: I am the Life Member Code. In my chapter, I discuss how everyone does not automatically know how to be a sister. Sisterhood is not always an inherited trait but must be taught for everyone to understand and be cohesive. I wanted to provide each reader my personal “29 Sisterhood DNA Traits†you should have when joining a sisterhood. Each of these traits is inspired by and dedicated to my 29 Line Sisters. It is because of them, I won’t stop….
I also wrote about the lessons I’ve learned as a Diamond Lifetime Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I knew that no matter what happens in life you always have your Sorors/sisters. Living up to our Fall 1995 Line Theme Song “Count on Me†by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. It is because of them, my Line Sisters of D.S. 29 T.F.T.C. and one SGRho sister for life that I pushed through. I discussed the unity that exists between all the sororities of the NPHC Divine 9 as well.
Count on me through thick and thin
A friendship that will never end
When you are weak
I will be strong
Helping you to carry on
Fancy: You are also a co-author of “Chronicles of the Chronically Illâ€.What motivated you to take part in the anthology?
Dr. Torre: When I use to be the wife of a US Soldier, I played my role with honor, dignity, and unwavering support. Lead steadfast by faith even though, I too was fighting a “War of Destructionâ€, a war that leaves lives lost, destroyed and even, at times, unrecognizable. Unbeknownst to me, I was drafted without notice, warning, preparation, or training. There was no Boot Camp or Officer’s Training School. Unlike my ex-husband, I didn’t have “Brothers in Armsâ€, a platoon, command, or squad. There would be no “National Holidays†or Memorials. Only negative speculation, doubt of existence, validity and financial ruin. Even though this war has left a trail of devastation throughout its history to everyone it touches, especially those who dare to face it by taking a stand and fighting. Even though each stand would leave me scared, battered and broken yet not destroyed.
Being a co-author on this project allowed me the opportunity to share what happens when I fought every battle, against every demon, every enemy, every obstacle, every hater, and every judgment. After doing the most natural thing in the world for a woman to do, have a baby, I dared to wage war against the indestructible, chronic, and debilitating illness. Then just when I thought I had nothing left to fight with or for, yet another battle arises and it’s against my strongest opponent yet……myself!
The “Chronicles of the Chronically Illâ€, shows how I’m left standing VICTORIOUS!! I choose to be the voice for someone who can’t, don’t know how or no longer can. This book allowed me to educate, unlearn myths, re-educate, and advocate while igniting awareness. Awareness lacking impact is exhausting. I’m tired of just bringing awareness; I want to make a change by increasing positive engagement in our communities and making a positive impact. The main mission is eliminating the stigma of mental illness mainly in the African American community and the world, especially in the churches. So, help me not just bring awareness but ignite a positive change. This is where Warriors become Gladiators. Welcome to the battlefield Gladiators.
Fancy: You wear several hats. How do you balance things or do you seek harmony instead?
Dr. Torre: Being an educated, professional, single mom and woman of color, we already wear multiple hats. It’s almost as if were born with them. It comes second nature to wear and switch the hats up at any given time. The biggest adjustment came when I started to suffer from my chronic illnesses, and I had to do most of my parenting from the bed. The amount of guilt that I felt was enormous especially due to the judgment I received from outsiders looking in who didn’t understand how difficult it was to simply get out of bed, use the restroom, brush my teeth, and shower.
Eventually, I had to realize that I was a great mom even from my bed. I learned to adapt by creating parenting activities in the bed when I was unable to move. We had picnics, games, and movie nights in the bed. We did homework and sometimes even made snacks and treats. I tried to come up with fun activities to make the bed fun and adventurous. I noticed that I was a better parent from my bed than some people were on two healthy feet. One thing my girls didn’t lack was love. I balance my hats one at a time, when I can because sometimes I just physically or mentally can’t. It is during these times that I permit myself to hang the hat up for a while while I try to regroup and try again.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming events or projects that you care to share?
Dr.Torre: I’m currently promoting both book projects, available and booking speaking engagements/ workshops, individual and group counseling sessions. Please call 772-201-3198 or email spiritualfortitude@gmail.com to book your event.
Connect with Dr. Torre below.Â
Email: spiritualfortitude@gmail.com
Phone: 772-201-3198
Book Orders: Paypal.me/DrTorreBrown or Cash App: $DrTorreBrown
Book Order Form:
Facebook: @SpiritualFortitudeConsulting or @TorreAndersonBrown (DrTorre)
Instagram: @dstbraveheart
Website: www.spiritualfortitudeconsulting.org
