The Skinny of It
I am Tarinna Olley and I grew up in Washington, DC in Ward 7 in the Deanwood Section of the city. I come from humble beginnings and my mother always said to me, “that I thought I was Gloria Vanderbilt!” Although, my family struggled with financial resources at times my parents made sure I was not in lack. How they did it I now know was by prayer and faith. Despite living in a neighborhood where it wasn’t uncommon to hear about gun violence and drugs I still wanted more. I was always different than my peers. Basically, I always wanted more than what my neighborhood offered. I always had a bigger than life dream!
Surely, There is More to Be Told…
In the words of the late poet Langston Hughes, “life has been no crystal stair to me.” For years I was aloof and unsure of who I was. But today I walk in purpose and I know who God made me to be. Today I know there is purpose in pain. Today, I am unapologetically me!
I am a wife and a mother of some pretty awesome sons.
The Technical Stuff…
I have been trained and gifted to do a number of things. I am a counselor, trainer, clergy, author, professor, international speaker, and poet. I absolutely love serving and helping in my community with grass root organizations and have been doing since my teenage years. I have over twenty years of government service in the social service arena. I am a global leader and one of my most awarding experiences was speaking in Abuja, Nigeria at the HIVE Africa Global Leaders Program which further ignited my passion for purposed and destiny.
I attended Temple University in Philadelphia, PA with a Bachelors of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. I also attended Howard University and have Masters of Education in Guidance Counseling. I have received global leadership training from the HIVE Global Leaders Program at Harvard University. I have a Certificate of Higher Education from Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching. I currently serve as an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC.
I have been featured on various media outlets including Pillow Talk with Angela Stribling, The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher, Joe’s Place on WHUR 96.3FM. I also have been an invited guest on HUR Voices SiriusXM Radio, TalkAm based in Abuja, Nigeria, and Ruach Radio based in London.