Modern Day Job in the Female Form:
A display of victory through the DDD Showcase
Story By: Acquilla Faye McCoy
Photography By: Derek Palmer
An opportunity for one woman to share her story
of overcoming a turbulent marriage, chronic illness,
and unemployment to while being a pillar and solid
rock to others was actualized on the grand stage
of Greater Works Empowerment Center in Durham, North Carolina on Saturday, September 28th
of 2013! Michelle L. Stevens, author of Diary of a
Divorcee Diva, the first book in the series: Divorcee
Chronicles; exposed her soul to the world by making her novel into a Christian play to inspire others
about how to overcome the trials that we as people
sometimes face when are going through everyday
challenges that are catapulted in the sphere of a
relationship with an individual that does not recognize our value or their own.
The Diaries of a Divorcee Diva (DDD Showcase) is
based on Michelle’s experiences as a wife who survived domestic violence while demonstrating that
keeping the faith God will deliver you if you hold to
His word that after a seven year drought of despair,
financial struggles, burdens, pain, and physical difficulties, there is a harvest that will be reaped! She
states, “I had to get my story out of my system and
share it with others because standing on the Word
is what brought me through and I just wanted to
let others know that God will come through on His
promises!”
While writing her book, she was experiences many
of the challenges that are detailed in her book,
while also being a stronghold for those around her.
Each character in the novel is based on her actual
relationships with friends and family which allows
her to incorporate the stories of those she loves
who have also overcome varying experiences.
“All of my friends use to call me with their dilemmas and I was the center of everyone.”—Michelle
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Stevens
God placed Michelle in a position much like Job to
be an example of how everything can be stripped
away and then returned ten-fold when one does
not turn her back to the goodness of the Most High!
The miracle that God worked in her life has allowed
for others to rally in support of spreading the message of overcoming domestic violence to encourage, strengthen, and elevate others. The cast for the
play consisted of some individuals who have been
around for years and others who were new to her
world but had a shared vision and passion.
Actors included Kixzandria Baker as Keisha, who is
Michelle’s longtime best friend who lives with Lupus
and is a survivor of domestic violence herself. During the play and the rehearsals, best friend for 16
years stated that she was going through aches as a
result of Lupus but was not going to allow anything
to stop her from supporting Michelle and her joy
of acting. “Michelle is my best friend and I will do
anything for her, anything. We have been friends
for 16 years so I know her story and I know how the
book reflects her life-- bad marriages, being strong,
having a good support system and we are both
domestic violence survivors—there was no way that
Kixzandria would allow anything to stop her support
now, especially when they have shared so many
triumphs, down moments, and in-betweens with
one another.
While having one of her best friends, Kixzandria, on
stage; she also had her little sister, Ashley v. Bagley,
and close friends from the ISTA Entertainment
group to support her project. Ashley V. plays Mikayla who is the characterization of Michelle in the