『My Cotton Patch Moment』のカバーアート

My Cotton Patch Moment

My Cotton Patch Moment

著者： Mildred J Mills
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 My Cotton Patch Moment is a motivational, comedic podcast that is about listening to your inner voice and knowing when to change directions. It's about believing that no matter the circumstances we are born into, we are not stuck there. We can determine our destiny if we are willing to work for it. My name is Mildred J. Mills. I am a writer, motivational speaker, wife, mother, grandma, and the third of seventeen children. I was born and raised on a sixty-acre cotton farm in Wetumpka, Alabama. Join me on this journey of self-discovery and reflection and hopefully, you will share with me some of your Cotton Patch Moments!2023, Mildred J. Mills 個人的成功 社会科学 自己啓発
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  • From Prison to Redemption: Dr. Mica Battle on Second Chances and Community Healing

    From Prison to Redemption: Dr. Mica Battle on Second Chances and Community Healing
    2025/12/10
    In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Dr. Mika V. Battle—founder and executive director of Bridge to Freedom, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating recidivism and restoring the lives of returning citizens. After her own incarceration, Dr. Battle transformed personal tragedy, addiction, and generational trauma into a powerful mission: to help others rebuild with dignity, stability, and spiritual grounding. During this transformation, she earned her Masters Degree and Ph.D. With a 90% success rate and nearly 500 reentrants served, Bridge to Freedom is rooted in housing, workforce development, counseling, financial literacy, anger management, and practical life skills. But Dr. Battle's story reaches far beyond the program's metrics. She is an author of four books, a mentor in U.S. and international prisons, a theater owner and producer, and co-owner of the Chicago Soul Coffee Shop. She embodies what happens when redemption becomes leadership—and when one woman's healing becomes a lifeline for hundreds. Together, we explore the emotional impact of maternal incarceration on children, the long-lasting "mark" it leaves on families, the spiritual foundation of her work, and the practical tools that make reentry sustainable. Dr. Battle also shares profound stories—like meeting grandchildren for the first time in prison, and the journey of a formerly incarcerated woman who rose from addiction and homelessness to earn a master's degree and serve other traumatized women. Three Key Takeaways 1. Maternal Incarceration Leaves a Lifelong Mark on Children and Families Dr. Battle shares that it took years for her to fully comprehend the impact her absence had on her children—and even decades later, the emotional imprint remains. Incarceration touches every generation, and the effects don't stop at release. 2. Reintegration Fails Without Resources, Structure, and Community Support Many people thrive inside prison—getting clean, reconnecting with their faith, and gaining stability—only to struggle upon release because essential supports disappear. Housing, counseling, financial literacy, spiritual grounding, mentorship, and workforce development all work together to prevent recidivism. Without them, cycles repeat. 3. Practical Life Skills Are as Important as Big Systemic Change Some individuals have survived so much trauma that even basic tasks must be relearned—from using utensils to understanding daily decision-making. Teaching discipline, emotional regulation, budgeting, and life skills gives returning citizens the foundation required for long-term success. Why Listen If you've ever wondered what real reentry support looks like—or how trauma, addiction, and incarceration shape entire families—this conversation will change how you see rehabilitation. Dr. Mika V. Battle brings honesty, spiritual clarity, and lived experience to every part of her work. Her journey shows: What redemption looks like when it becomes service Why community resources—not judgment—change outcomes How trauma and poverty shape decision-making and how one woman's transformation can alter the trajectory of hundreds of lives This episode is a masterclass in compassion, accountability, faith, and community healing. Connect with Dr. Mika V. Battle 🌐 Bridge to Freedom (Chicago) Donations 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.
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    25 分
  • Dr. Robin J. Bell: From Military Service to Family Restoration

    Dr. Robin J. Bell: From Military Service to Family Restoration
    2025/11/26
    In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Dr. Robin J. Bell—retired Army veteran, consultant, professor, and founder of Rehabilitation Reform and Reentry Resources (R4)—to explore the deep, generational impact of incarceration and the transformative power of giving people a real chance to rebuild. Dr. Bell has devoted her life to supporting returning citizens and children affected by parental incarceration through workforce development programs, scholarships, and wraparound reentry resources. Her journey began during her final years in the military, when she served as an Equal Opportunity Advisor and witnessed, firsthand, the devastating sentencing disparities facing young Black men in D.C. courts. That experience ignited a calling: to ensure that returning citizens are not simply released, but restored. Today, her nonprofit and consulting work bridges gaps in mental health, digital literacy, financial stability, employment, and education—opening doors for individuals and families long shut out by the system. From creating scholarship programs for youth, to partnering with the D.C. Department of Corrections to build life-changing reentry pathways, to writing books and producing films that expose the realities of incarceration, Dr. Bell's work invites us to rethink justice, uplift families, and center the children who often carry the quietest burdens. Together, we discuss the generational effects of maternal incarceration, the emotional realities children face, the communal responsibility we share in reintegration, and how storytelling can shift the narrative—and even change policy. Dr. Bell also shares powerful stories from her upcoming short film A Fight for Time, inspired by the real-life experience of a juvenile lifer who entered the system at just 17 with a third-grade education. Three Key Takeaways 1. The Unseen Weight on Children Maternal incarceration carries a unique emotional toll for children—shame, secrecy, embarrassment, and isolation. Dr. Bell's work, including her scholarship program and her children's book collaborations, helps kids feel seen, supported, and understood. 2. Reintegration Requires Community, Not Judgment Successful reentry is not achieved alone. Digital literacy training, soft skills development, mental health care, employer partnerships, and mentorship all contribute to whether someone thrives outside prison walls. As Dr. Bell reminds us, rehabilitation is "not for people who need it—it's for people who want it"—and communities must meet that desire with opportunity. 3. Storytelling as Advocacy Through her film A Fight for Time and her writing, Dr. Bell uses narrative to humanize returning citizens and illuminate the systemic failures that shape their journeys. Storytelling becomes a bridge to empathy—and a vehicle for change. Why Listen If you've ever wondered what real reintegration looks like—or how to support families affected by incarceration—this conversation will open your heart and shift your lens. Dr. Robin J. Bell brings clarity, compassion, and conviction to a subject too often shrouded in silence. Her work shows that when we invest in returning citizens and their children, we don't just change individual lives—we strengthen communities, disrupt generational cycles, and create a more just future for everyone. Connect with Dr. Robin J. Bell 🌐 Website: www.r4resources.org 📚 Books: False Start: Race to Prison, My Mom Set Me Up; Until We Are Together Again 🎬 Upcoming Film: A Fight for Time 📱 Social media links available on her website 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.
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    32 分
  • Redefining Reintegration: Charlotte Garnes on Second Chances and Justice-Impacted Women

    Redefining Reintegration: Charlotte Garnes on Second Chances and Justice-Impacted Women
    2025/11/12
    In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Charlotte Garnes, founder of RENFORCE and Redemption House, to explore what it truly means to transform pain into purpose. After serving 46 months in federal prison, Charlotte used what she calls her "righteous anger" to create pathways of hope and opportunity for justice-impacted women. Today, she leads initiatives that focus on reentry support, leadership development, and mental health awareness—helping individuals move from surviving to thriving. From being terminated after disclosing her conviction to being named Augusta's 2025 Remarkable Woman, Charlotte's journey is a masterclass in resilience, faith, and service. She opens up about the systemic barriers facing returning citizens, how communities can take shared responsibility for reintegration, and the ripple effects of incarceration on families—especially children left behind. Together, we discuss the power of stable employment, the critical role of mental health care, and the need for safe spaces like Redemption House that allow women to heal and rebuild their lives with dignity. Charlotte also shares the story of a young woman who completed RENFORCE's program and, for the first time, felt proud of finishing something—proof that second chances can rewrite futures. Three Key Takeaways 1. Turning Pain into Purpose Charlotte's story shows that what breaks you can also build you. Her "righteous anger" became the foundation for RENFORCE and Redemption House—organizations that help women rebuild their lives after incarceration. 2. Community Responsibility in Reentry Reintegration doesn't end with the individual—it's a community effort. Charlotte challenges employers and society to create fair opportunities that reduce recidivism and strengthen families. 3. Healing Beyond the Sentence True freedom begins with healing. Through mental health support, leadership development, and safe spaces for women, Charlotte demonstrates that thriving after incarceration is not only possible but necessary for generational change. Why Listen If you've ever wondered how people rise after their most difficult seasons, this conversation will move you. Charlotte Garnes brings both vulnerability and vision as she redefines what second chances look like for justice-impacted women. You'll walk away inspired to see redemption in action—and reminded that transformation doesn't just change one life; it can change entire communities. Connect with Charlotte Garnes 🌐 www.reNforce.org 📞 833-273-6367 📱 Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.
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    33 分
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