Hello Faithful Reader,
I hope this month’s Black Birds Eye View finds you well and in good spirit. I am well. As the New Year fast approaches, it was placed on my mind to dive into the concept of self-actualization and the importance of visualizing yourself where you want to be in life. It important to understand that anything worth having is worth planning and working for. To hear me tell it, if you want to be happy in your chosen profession it is best to determine what it is that you are good at. Tilt your head and look at that thing and see how it can fill a need. I’m not knocking those individuals that go out and get a job just because it was available to them. What I am saying is that there is a breed of people who I believe were put on this earth to fulfill certain tasks, tasks that were fine tuned for their capabilities and dispositions.
This month I’d like to introduce you to a woman who epitomizes the art of self-invention and reinvention. A woman who, at a very early age, knew exactly what she w2anted to accomplish in life, a woman who took the necessary steps to achieve the goals that make her an extraordinary representative for African American youth, more specifically young black women. Sit back and take the time to get to know … TV Host, MC, Dancer, Reporter, Writer, Producer, and Media Trainer…Valonda Calloway. What follows is her story…one of humble perseverance and achievements.
“I always wanted to work as a news anchor and reporter. As a child it was customary for my family to watch the news together when my dad got home from work. Our daily routine was dinner and watching the news. When we got older my siblings would go outside and play. I found myself enjoying watching the news instead. In addition to having that special family time, I liked knowing what was going on in the world. The mere notion that there were people in this box sharing information was intriguing to my curious nature. They seemed so “together” and important. I watched local anchors like Jan Bean and Carole Simpson…. credible people who were had the type of career that I wanted for myself.
When I graduated from high school I set about the task of becoming the kind of news broadcaster that others would one day aspire to be. I attended Winston-Salem State University. It was a no brainer…it was WSSU or bust. Almost everyone in my family attended Winston-Salem State University. I had family members that had lived on campus, so as a young girl I was always there. WSSU felt like a second home.
I studied Mass Communication because I knew exactly what I wanted. I wrote for the student newspaper called The Crier in high school and worked on the yearbook staff in college. I remember being given a form that asked a bunch of questions about things that I wanted to happen in my future. Recently that form resurfaced. It was eye-opening to discover that I had achieved all my goals…. both professional and personal.
I never really had a lucky break. God’s grace is my lucky break. Family support and the role models who presented themselves along the way, and the people who cared about me enough to make sure that I made the right connections are blessings that I could never take for granted. Every job I have ever had started with a connection.
From My Uncle Vic, the WSSU yearbook Editor, who connected me to Mr. Bailey, on the year book staff, to Professor Steve Thomson, my introduction to “Voice of America,” to Kim Green, my introduction to “My Carolina Today” …. And the list goes on.
I worked as a correspondent for Voice of America, which catered exclusively to an overseas audience for 5 years. I never lost sight of my goal of being a television anchor though. It was a conscious decision on my part to go part time with Voice of America. I took part time job with “City Cable” in DC to get TV experience. While getting that experience I got my “reel” together because it was a requirement of individual seeking employment in tv news. I put a plan together to keep myself on the East coast close to my family. My first full-time television job was at WNCT. The General Manager who hired me had been the General Manager a few years earlier at a different station, WCTI, where I did my internship. I found myself doing my internship at WNCT in Greenville North Carolina. It was quite challenging, as I was a one woman show. I did it all….and didn’t know how to do a lot of that There wasn’t much training. I was the little bird pushed out of the nest urged to “fly little bird…Fly!” and that I did. I showed myself how resilient I could be. I did that for 2 ½ years.
My husband, Randal Calloway, has been my best friend for almost 20 years. We have been married 17 of those years. We began dating and a year and a half later he proposed. We were met with a dilemma. He was in DC and I was in NC. In the end he relocated to NC. I feel very fortunate to have such a supporting husband, after all he only had one friend in NC at the time. He is the most amazing supporter and encourager. He is my rock. He continues to support and encourage me to do whatever it takes to make it all come together. It was during this time that I began work as a reporter, then weekend anchor and ultimately weekday morning anchor at WRAL in Raleigh NC. Again, I found myself like the deer caught in the headlights. Once again, I mastered the tasks at hand. I worked at WRAL from 2001-2009.
When my contract wasn’t renewed in 2009 I found myself with time on my hands that I was unaccustomed to. Looking back on it, I realized that I was supposed to be still to reflect in those moments. I had a chance to look at myself and celebrate my accomplishments and look to the future in a way that I never had before. Initially I didn’t know what I would do with myself. When the opportunity presented itself for me to work at Fayetteville State University as the Newspaper Advisor. I found that I truly enjoyed working and framing young minds and mentoring them. I felt like an advisor, mentor, and teacher. It was wonderful experience on so many levels. Since I was working part time it gave me more time with my daughter, Lilyn . I had a flexibility that was new to me.
Driving from Fayetteville to Raleigh was taxing on me. One day in 2009 out of the blue on my ride I received a call from Kim Green, a producer at WNCN. She called with news of a new show that was being launched called “My Carolina Today.” She had gotten my name from a news director I had met at an event at Meredith College some months earlier…. there again was another connection. I became the host of “My Carolina Today on WNCN where I remained from 2010 until 2016.
Since then I have created opportunities for myself. I am a contract reporter for DPAC, where I attend opening night events and interview members of the audience. DPAC uses those interviews to promote their shows. My business partner, Tyra Dixon, is the photographer and producer and we strive to make people aware of what is going on in and around NC.
I teach dance at the NC Dance Institute. Some people go to the gym…. I go to the studio.
My husband and I created 360 Elite Entertainment. I MC weddings and he is the DJ. I adore working with him. It is as natural as the air I breathe. It is amazing the difference a day makes. We have both reinvented ourselves.
I am involved in acting and modeling as well. I’ve worked with Harris Teeter, John Deere, The United States Air Force, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, and Advance Auto Parts…. just to name a few.
All and all I am pleased with the natural way of things. If I had to offer young people any advice I would tell them to be true to themselves because in being true to yourself, you will attract who you are. Sometimes you must look at yourself and make a list of paramount things in need of repair. Until those repairs are made you will attract the type of energy you put out.”
~Valonda Calloway
To call this interview inspiring would be an understatement. As always, I asked Valonda the same question I ask all people I interview: If you were placed in a position where you could bestow three jewels upon the masses, three things that would better mankind…. what three jewels would you share? To which Valonda replied:
1. Be kind
2. Be True to yourself
3. Give Thanks
I added “STAY FEARLESS” because Valonda knows no fear or boundaries as it relates to achieving goals. She lives by her creed, “To who much is given much is required.” Hats off to this powerful Black Woman.
More about Valonda Calloway:
• Native of Onslow County, North Carolina
• Graduated with cum laude honors from Winston-Salem State University in 1994 / Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication
• Cheered professionally for the Washington Redskins
• Former Member of: National Association of Black Journalists
• Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
• Member of the Wake County Chapter of the Winston Salem State University Alumni Association
• Mentors middle school girls, volunteer cheerleader coach, participates in fund raisers
• In 2013, Winston-Salem State University honored Valonda with induction into the first 40 under 40 club.
• 2015, WSSU gave Valonda its highest recognition, induction into the Hall of Fame. The awards recognize her athletic achievements, public service and career milestones.
• WNCN TV - Host/Producer ”My Carolina Today/Talk"
• WNCN TV - Producer "The Dame Dash Show"
• WXII TV - Freelance Anchor & Reporter
• WRAL TV - Weekday Morning Anchor & Reporter
• WNCT TV - Morning Anchor & Reporter
• Voice of America Radio - Writer & Reporter
Contact Valonda Calloway: Email Address: valondacalloway@gmail.com valondacalloway@gmail.com
Website Address: www.valondacalloway.com/
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