09/06/2022
My name is Anthea McCormick, I am the founder and owner of D2D Talent Agency.
I would love to share how D2D (Dare2Dream) was birthed, and the deeply rooted meaning and purpose behind Dare2Dream.
I have been blessed with an amazing husband, Hadley and two beautiful daughters, Tayla Bailey and Brittany Jade. Brittany was born with Cerebral Palsy. She is not a person of disability but a Person of Determination. This is how we want the world to see Brittany too, and all other children and adults who are as determined as Britt.
How the D2D journey began:
"Dare to Dream Britt" was something that we would say as a family when Britt was a little girl and later her sister, Tayla went on to get a tattoo that said Dare to Dream Brittany Jade.
When I started thinking about my life’s journey and walk in faith, I realized that there is so much expectation on society, on young children and even adults to be perfect, social media was filled with what seems to be an obsession with "perfection", but none of us are, we are all beautifully imperfect, so why not embrace it, why not embrace and celebrate truth.
Having a child who is a Person of Determination, is not conventional at all. We constantly faced adversity, inequality and injustice, but we never conformed to that, we never accepted that for Britt and nor did she. We encouraged Britt throughout her life that she never has to limit herself, that she can be whatever she wants to be, do whatever she wants to do and achieve whatever she wants to achieve. We encouraged her to dream, to dream big and to be determined to make those dreams come true. Dare to Dream Brittany Jade, with determination anything is possible. We are so proud of the beautiful, strong and determined woman she has become.
Our world "society" is influenced by perfection, but when Covid came and masks became the norm, society was forced to hide behind masks, many people suffered to establish who they really are, they were confronted with the realisation of truth, this very same society has placed masks on Persons of Determination for many many years, by not accepting or embracing their imperfectly perfect beauty. What "normal" society has experienced through Covid, Persons of Determination have experienced for decades. We want to advocate that there is so much beauty in imperfection, not only for Persons of Determination but for all, because none of us are perfect.
The vision of D2D is to capture the "imperfect" beauty of Persons with Determination through a lens where society will love, embrace, accept and promote them and see them as beautiful people they are.
I believe that the time is now, to make space and create opportunities for Persons of Determination. We live in a ever evolving digital world where beauty is seen through the eyes of different lenses, D2D wants to change the lens through which mainstream media choose and use to see all people. D2D is about promoting a lens of inclusion, equality and truth.
We all have a Dream, how we reach it depends on how much we want it, how much we prepare for it and how determined we are to achieve it. We all have a purpose in this life and part of that purpose is to meet the needs of others and to elevate others to reach their dreams.
My husband and I often used to ask our family especially our immediate family, what is your bucket list? When answered, we would strategize and look for the possibilities to help them achieve their goals and dreams. It all starts with a vision, which turns into a reality. People of Determination have dreams and their families have dreams too. Let us never look at the imperfections and limit the value of their dreams.
I hope that Dare2Dream, our vision and passion will not only inspire you but change the lens you choose and use too see Persons of Determination through, but also to become part of a beautiful movement of change by looking beyond what is perceived to be "normal" by society and to push boundaries on the limitations set by our society. To form part of the Dare2Dream movement will enable those who have been silenced to find their voices.
DARE2DREAM!
Anthea McCormick
Founder/Owner - D2D Talent Agency
www.d2dtalentagency.com
