Trashina Conner

First, I am a God-fearing woman who smiles because I believe 'I am His Favorite.' God has shown me time and time again that when I release my own expectations and surrender to Him, life becomes a beautiful thing to experience. Allowing Him to lead has taken me on an incredible journey.

"MJ" stands for Mama-Jama, which is what my dad called me throughout my life. I wasn't a huge fan of it during middle school, but when he unexpectedly passed away when I was 18, I longed to hear it again. To honor the special relationship I had with my dad, I chose to name the main character in every book MJ. Without the support and influence of my dad, I don't think I would have had the determination to become an author. However, I was born as Trashina Conner in Saginaw, MI, to my loving parents. I am the youngest and only girl among my two brothers. From the moment I was born until now, I have been blessed with love, support, and the freedom to pursue my goals, even if it meant failing and trying again. Although my parents didn't fully understand my desire to chase my dreams without a concrete plan, they still allowed me to do so.

I left home at 18 to attend Howard University, where I graduated with a BFA in dance in 2011. Howard was the most challenging five years of my life, but it was also where I discovered my voice, strength, love for Shina (short for Trashina), and hunger for success. After graduation, I moved to NYC with just a few hundred dollars and a dream of dancing. Those initial years were incredibly tough—I got scammed a few times, experienced the deepest financial struggle, and had to take countless odd jobs, like blowing up balloons in a toy store filled with chemicals that left me feeling dizzy every day. I handed out flyers in Time Square until I got fired for hiding in a hotel and eating free cookies (it was freezing outside). Despite all the hardships, I continued to dance wherever I could, whether on stage, in parks, old basements, theaters, halls, museums, or even participating in flash mobs. Dance has been the most enduring relationship in my life. We have broken up, fought fiercely, but there is no Trashina without dance—it is my purpose and calling. Through movement, I have not only saved my own life but also brought light and clarity to the audience every time I step on stage. It's not out of cockiness but a deep understanding that God placed me here to do this, and discovering that at a young age and continuing it for over 30 years brings peace to my soul.

Then came teaching—I never had the intention to teach, but I needed the stability. So, yes, I started teaching to have a steady income. It sounds crazy because who goes into teaching for the money? However, it was a stepping stone, and now, six years later, I can't imagine myself not teaching. Teaching dance to children means so much more than teaching them the steps. It's about providing a safe space for expression, communication, and self-exploration. Recently, an eighth-grade student told me, "Ms. Conner, in seventh grade, I lost my smile, but because of your dance class, I found it again." This is why I do what I do.

As a child, I always wrote poetry in my journals, and as I grew older, I started writing about my feelings. However, I never aspired to be an author. But after my father's death and teaching in numerous classrooms without seeing stories like mine in books, I knew I had a mission. I wanted to portray a positive image of a black dad and daughter for children to see, just like I wanted when I was young. In 2016, I published my first book, "18 Ingredients to Make Daddy": a girl's recipe to create a perfect daddy. It allowed me to share my story in classrooms, libraries, community centers, and various other places. During one of these engagements, a child asked me, "When your mom dies, are you going to write a book about her?" I was taken aback, thinking, "Wait, what? No!" Not because I I never want to imagine her dying, and like she says ‘give them their flowers while they are here’, but upon reflection, because she deserves to be appreciated and celebrated while she's still alive. This realization led to my new book, "Flowers for Mommy," which expresses gratitude for all she has done, both the known and unknown. It will be coming soon. "Learning with MJ," my third book, is an activity book where students can learn sign language, journal their thoughts, become advocates, and much more. If you've made it to this line, thank you for joining me on this journey!