We had the good fortune of connecting with Cece Gooden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cece, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I grew up heavily influenced by a multitude of things other than the normal stuff like cartoons like kids are suppose to be watching. At 3 years I was exposed to movies such as The Bodyguard and What love got to do with it. My mom had a VHS tape full of variety of music such as Michael and Janet Jackson. Then I started to see actors in music videos and musicians in movies and I felt like whatever they were doing I wanted to do too. I went through a horror phase so I would read Stephen king and ghoosebump books and started to write my own stories. I started to create my own world like I saw on tv,

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I don’t know how many times life have kicked me down a flight of stairs, this year alone. There’s always a fight, a fight to be heard, a fight for respect, a fight to win, hell a fight to keep the lights on! No matter what there’s always a fight but what’s important is to continue to fight for you even when it feels like you don’t have any fight left because that’s when you swing the most. I dream. I may not be exactly where I want to be but im far from where I was and every time I wake up I its another 24 hours Im blessed to do something creative to help me get to where I want to be!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anywhere Beyonce has been. That’s it. That’s all lol

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Tribe who I call the Holy Trinity, Sheair, Veronica and Mia’Carol. I have many friends who are apart of my tribe but these 3 are the ones that lift me up daily. I have struggles just like everyone else, more than people would ever know and I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for them. I love yall!!!

Website: https://linktr.ee/CeceGooden

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