It has been a couple weeks since I posted my story about Detective Cookie, which brought with it a wonderful new friend and some readers new to my site. It’s a nice feeling having a friend in the police department.
I loved Cookie Bouldin’s reaction to seeing her story among all the others I’ve posted: “It makes me want to meet all these amazing women! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all get together and learn from each other?” Which is basically what I hope this web site could do, without the challenges of organizing schedules among a few thousand calendars.
If you’ve learned something from Detective Cookie, I hope you’ll share it with her by clicking the red ‘comment’ link below as others have. Meanwhile, the last additions to her story:
How can you support Detective Cookie’s Urban Chess Club?
Donations can be made to the Seattle Neighborhood Group Inc. for the Urban Youth Chess Club at 1810 East Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122. The phone number is (206) 323-9666. SNGI website.
Seattle Police Department Detective Cookie Bouldin protests the shooting death of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM
Cookie Bouldin’s Not-So-Secrets for How She Does It?
- Lacing through her life story is the theme of taking counsel from others and passing it along. Detective Cookie credits the pivotal points in her own life to the people who took time to share advice with her, and not just in her past. She is energized by each new person she meets who can motivate and inspire her. She oozes enthusiasm for what’s still possible, what more she can learn, how she can grow.
- She’s determined not to keep that inspiration to herself but to pass it along. She measures her career success in a list of kids who went to college and got good jobs. Everyday she hopes to add someone to that list.
- One piece of advice she gives to kids? Have more than one goal. Don’t limit yourself to one. She points out that when she was young she had four: be a dancer, be a model, be a teacher and be a police officer. “And I reached all four. I was a dancer on Soul Train when it was taped in Chicago; I’ve appeared in major fashion magazines; I’m teaching anti-violence in the classroom; and I’m a police officer!”
What books has Cookie read recently?
· Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny; by Hill Harper
“Letters to a Young Brother is drawn from the humbling life lessons Hollywood actor Hill Harper learned on the road to his Ivy League education and beyond.” – Amazon review
After being contacted by Detective Bouldin, Harper sent some copies to help her start a book club. “I gave it out to boys who needed that brother. Just yesterday I had a young man call me saying he was in college in Hawaii. I used to see him at the rec center, always with a basketball in his hand. I told him then that he needed to go to college. He thanked me for giving him the book three years ago.”
· Standing Above the Crowd, by (former Seattle Sonic)James Donaldson
“Standing above the Crowd is jam-packed full of success strategies that I've used throughout my life in the areas of athletics, business and community.” -- Donaldson
“James has been a mentor and role model. His book tells you the right things to do -- never be satisfied with someone telling you you’re not good enough, keep going, keep trying. I keep it in my car, close to me all the time.”
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