Nelvia M. Brady (Finding Aid)

Nelvia M. Brady

1948 -

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Food: Greens, Turnips and Mustards

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

Interview Length: 112 minutes

Interview Date(s): August 26, 2003

Interview Location(s): Residence of Nelvia Brady, Palos Heights, Illinois

Abstract

Nelvia Brady discusses her family's background, especially her parents's personalities and how they met in a seemingly arranged marriage. Brady gets quite in depth about her father's Naval experience and heroism. A major childhood memory of Brady's was her experiences growing up in a couple of different public housing projects. She explains how these experiences and environments shaped her childhood and made her realize who she really was. When asked how living so close to the Chicago Stadium affected her childhood, she shrugs it off and describes what did affect her: school, reading and church programs. Nelvia Brady expounds upon how she loved school at a young age even though she was moved around to multiple schools and, at times, faced violent situations. Her love of learning was nurtured along the way by favorite teachers and mentors that she talks about from the elementary level through higher education. After listing her many awards acquired in high school, Brady confidently reveals that she wanted to teach as a career. Her decision on a college to attend, however, isn't such an easy choice. Brady's educational career takes her around the country and down many roads that teach her life lessons and allow her to meet many people she considers important in her life. Nelvia Brady explains her roles with the Chicago Public School District. She goes into great detail on the desegregation plan of the early 1980s by describing what the plan consisted of and set out to do and why it did not reach the end result she had hoped for. Then, for various reasons, Brady leaves her position for a new job with City Colleges of Chicago as she is taken under the wing of Mayor Harold Washington. Having a position with such authority gratified Brady. Although the job was intense and highly stressful, Brady made huge strides in making the City Colleges of Chicago a reputable institution. Then again, Brady switches career roles and moves into an independent consulting career, a welcomed change in environment. Nelvia Brady's career leads her to a privately-owned consulting company called Carrington & Carrington, Ltd. She enjoys her time (and the money) there but describes how she eventually gets burned out from the hectic schedule. As a change of pace, Brady then decides to go back to her true passion: teaching. Her book 'This Mother's Daughter' is spoken of in great detail. Brady explains her spiritual journey while compiling stories for the book and her need to take time off from her regular life in order to experience writing. She mentions that her future plans could involve more writing, although probably on a more academic subject. As Brady gazes into the future, she admits that she is unsure where the next generation of African Americans is coming from and makes other interesting observations. She finishes off the interview by giving herself well-deserved credit in all of her life accomplishments. Photos are then shown and narrated by Nelvia Brady. Photos range from childhood to her adult life. Photos a

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