Hello Butterflies

About LOB:

I am Dr. Fiona Belle Edwards and I would like to welcome you to the Lens of Blackness (LOB). LOB s a space of healing for me. LOB is a space where I...

1. Share experiences that shaped the woman I am today through the lens of my black experiences from childhood to current day.

2. Exposing some of the most challenging aspects of my growth and forward movements.

3. Share the ways I have had to navigate the complexities of my social spaces as a neurodivergent to feel included, accepted and welcomed.

My hope that by sharing my experiences I could help illuminate those darkened spaces in your lives that can be beneficial to your healing process. I know my experiences are not unique to just me. I am aware some of circumstances surrounding my experiences may differ somewhat, but perhaps some elements will help you find meaning to come of your life's challenges. 

4. I share my experiences both personally and professionally in hopes it could serve as a resource portal for your forward movements.

 

As a woman trying to navigate the complexities of my social spaces, I know there are pieces of my experiences that are not unique to me, but could be shared across intrapersonal cultures. Lens of blackness aims at disrupting intellectual knowledge hoarding, seeking wisdom and sharing knowledge, bridging the gap between teaching and telling and knowledge and understanding, Lens of Blackness seek to tell the real-life stories of everyday people aspiring to do good things in their lives. Oral history serves as a replacement to the printed version of one's autobiography.​

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I am a mother, a leader, an educator, an academic and workforce inclusionist, a social butterfly, a trailblazer, an advocate for change and disrupting the norms of social exclusion, a humanitarian, seeker of spiritual wisdom and truth, a loner, hermit, and ambiverted seeker of hidden knowledge. I am obsessed with retaining factual truth and fascinated by the unknown. I have a deep passion for wanting to know more, more and ever more. I question almost every thing with heightened discernment. I look at every thing under a microscope. Sometimes the unknown scares me and fascinates me at the same time. I have developed and nurtured my "mustard seed of faith" in my inner spirt God which is one of the best decision I could ever make on my healing journey, because my growth comes from my "blind faith in my God."

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It is important to remember, these are "my" experiences, and does not reflect the experiences of others in my life I may talk about. I am aware that even though two or more people experienced the same things...the meaning drawn from the experience for each person may be different. 

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My Story

About Me

I am Dr. Fiona Belle this website is a personal journey about my work in creating safe and inclusive spaces for Neurodivergents (at school at work). A reshaping of inclusion for all to offer information as resource in hopes it can be applied to our every day life experiences. This website also serves as a personal journal chronicling my journey of sudden losses, grief and my spiritual journey to inner peace and a closer relationship with God.

 

My Work

I am a Human Right social Inclusion educator, specifically supporting the inclusion of neurodivergents in social spaces (school and work). I believe that the burden of change never falls on the student to change how they learn, but rather change how we deliver instructions in lesson plans. 

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Academic Career

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and Urban Education, a Masters degree in Intercultural Relation with a focus in Multicultural Education from Lesley University, and an Education Doctoral degree in International and Multicultural Education with a focus on Human Rights Education in creating Inclusive Peace Experiences for students with learning challenges in schools from the University of San Francisco. I defended my dissertation on a qualitative study on inclusive education in Dominica supporting students who are neurodivergent (learning challenges).

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MY ROOTS

I was born on the green majestic Nature Island of the Caribbean, on the sweet country called Dominica. (not DR). Dominica is a commonwealth country and a former British colony. The formal language on the island is English. I currently live in the US.

 

I am from glistening sunrises and golden sunsets

From tall coconut trees and luscious greenery

From Cakafete to wah yoh do?

Dominica is majestic with greenery and rich with hope