JJ Simmons is changing lives with Respect My Crown
- BY JOSIE PICKENS
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Icall JJ Simmons — the long-time radio personality, author and speaker — the comeback kid. We met some years ago at Awakenings Movement– a spiritual community full of creatives, dreamers and doers- and became fast friends. At that time, JJ was still on-air at Houston’s 97.9 The Box. She had settled into the idea of making Houston her home and was figuring out how to pursue her goals outside of radio. One of those goals was creating the non-profit organization called theI’m Me Foundation, where JJ works with other successful, goal-getting women to encourage at-risk middle and high school girls to cultivate the very best version of themselves. JJ has a deep desire the be the person she needed when she was growing up, and I’m Me is a beautiful reflection of that desire.
In the midst of her work with I’m Me, JJ chose to quit her day job in pursuit of her day dreams. She left her work as a radio host and published her first book Without Bruises, which is an honest and vulnerable memoir that chronicles her life and more specifically the trials she faced in a relationship that was emotionally abusive. JJ couldn’t believe the response she received after publishing Without Bruises. So many women identified with her struggles with worthiness and self-love that she knew she needed to write more on those topics and also create sacred, healing spaces where women could journey towards healing.
JJ had no idea that she would desperately need the healing spaces she was working to create for other women for her own journey. After ending a tumultuous relationship with a person she was able to later identify as a narcissist, JJ decided to share her story and encourage other women to share theirs. The product of her pain is a 30-day journal called Respect My Crown and a series of events she calls The Gathering where she (along with Licensed therapist Rabia Ilahi) talk through topics ranging from coping with depression and anxiety to recognizing and healing from emotional abuse.
I am constantly inspired by JJ’s desire to make the lives of women better. In a world and time where women are finding their voices and legs to stand against all kinds of abuse, JJ is creating a quiet revolution. Here’s a chat I had recently with JJ as she prepares for her upcoming book signing event on September 9th:
What made you create Respect My Crown?
I needed a daily space to reflect and think about what I really wanted out of life. My goal was to create dedicated time to express those things and encourage other women to do the same. I knew it was time to reframe my thinking towards myself. Being in a few abusive relationships, I started a pattern of questioning my worth, my value in relationships and more. This book was a reminder of the importance of speaking life into YOURSELF on a daily. We may lack encouragement from outsiders (family & friends) but we can surely reach inside and remind ourselves of who we are and WHOSE we are!

This is your second book! Tell me about your book Without Bruises:
Without Bruises is a look into an emotionally abusive relationship I found myself in 8 years ago and my battle with depression and suicidal ideation. I talk about the often-missed signs of abuse, how I was able to exit that toxic relationship and my key steps to healing.
In addition to creating Respect My Crown, let’s talk about The Gathering and why you chose to create these spaces for women who are on the mend:
During The Gathering, 50–100 women experience a panel discussion around cultivating healthy relationships, love and sex including panelists who are therapists and relationship experts, writers and more. I think when we look at true “women’s empowerment”, motivational messages are great and important but real transparent conversations are even more necessary. People want to feel like they are not alone. Women want and need to share in a safe space! I believe that we have created that space at The Gathering. Healing is taking place through open dialogue and the sharing of personal experiences. We are bonding, affirming, growing and lifting each other up. This is what I believe real sisterhood is all about.
So often as creatives, we create what we need. What do you offer in Respect My Crown that you feel you needed as a woman healing from emotional abuse?
I needed to be around women who really get it! Many of my friends and family don’t understand my journey to healing because they have never experienced this type of abuse. It’s not something that is easy to “get over”. I needed to hear “I understand how you feel. I get it!” I also want other women to know I empathize with them as well and “I gotcha back.” Let’s go heal together and push through this!
Respect My Crown is smart, sassy and fun, but is also requires deep reflection and self-investigation. I am on the Respect My Crown 30-day journey myself. If you’d like to meet the come-back kid JJ, and pick up a copy of Respect My Crown, come out to Charming Charlie — at 400 West Grand Parkway — on Sunday September 9th from 4–6 pm! You can also grab tickets here for JJ’s next The Gathering event on September 20th at MoMo Food and Wine!
Josie Pickens is an educator, activist, writer, radio host, and girl-about-town. Follow her musings on Twitter and Instagram at @jonubian. Listen to her radio show The Love No Limit Show live on allreadradio.com, or on SoundCloud or iTunes.
Original link: http://solcieti.com/HOU/jj-simmons-is-changing-lives-with-respect-my-crown/
