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My name is Cassandra Wilkinson Lighty and I create personalized video stories, designs and  customized websites. My early story being raised in Virginia is shared on About the Vocalist and Lyricist Page.  But I am a graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where I received a Bachelors degree of Science in Urban Studies and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia where I received my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning.  A few months after graduation I interviewed and obtained a position as a Federal employee for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration in Philadelphia, PA where for 25 years I worked as a Community Planner responsible for six states in New England. 

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My position as a federal worker enabled me to use my creativity in various ways. I was able to not only  pursue my dreams as a vocalist and lyricist with my band; but traveled and was given the opportunity to perform with a live guest band that was featured during our agency's annual conference receptions. In honing in on my design skills, as Editor in chief of my regional office's newsletter, I was able to design formats for the articles and presentations.  Also as a seamstress who designed and created her own clothes,  I often stood out and remained uniquely me whether in urban Philadelphia or rural Aroostook County, Maine.  In other words, this Gemini marched to a different drummer despite my mostly introvert ways and was able to bring about positive change by diversifying local and state planning processes.  I was respected for my brutal honesty and sense of humor that enabled me to connect with people and to address issues that were controversial.  I also paid close attention to detail important in being empathetic along with being observant and an avid listener which resulted in my effectively fighting and obtaining funding for projects.  A large part of my job as a Community Planner was to not only assist the staff funded to serve the communities in the distressed areas of my assigned states; but to conduct field evaluations to interview and assess the effectiveness of the work being performed. Those I interviewed consisted of a variety of participants from governors, city, state and local officials to farmers, small business owners, university faculty, students. CEOs of companies and long time local residents; and there were a lot of wonderful stories shared with me.

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However, although I enjoyed my years working with the economic development organizations, their staff and communities, the politics at that time resulted in a toxic home office environment which made it unbearable for me to continue thriving, remaining truthful and productive.  So as all good things must come to an end,  It was time to go. So in September 2005, I accepted an early retirement package so on I went to the next chapter.  It appears my purpose has always been to utilize the skills I've described to help people and to assist communities in some way, but my passion has always been about my music.  What I do now allows me to do both by celebrating lives through my video stories, music and designs, a culmination of who and what I am; and I would like to hear your stories of celebration to share or to design magic for them.