Meet Georgia Reash

Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgia Reash.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Reverend Georgia M. Reash
Artist, Poet, Playwright, Storyteller
President and Developer, BrightSpot Communities LLC
Founder, LEAD Vision LLC

As a purpose-driven woman, I have been called to work as a community change-agent, artist and healer; attributes reflected through a variety of professions, companies and endeavors, today.

Even as a child, my nature was more creative and tenacious, and I found myself day-dreaming about building projects and explorations in the woods, versus getting good grades.  Growing up, I also felt a deep empathic and spiritual calling to help others, no matter where they were at in life, their race, religion or background. This early compassion and love for the diversity of humanity would later inspire me to become an ecumenical Minister.  

An education background in social work and community development, coupled with training in organizational change and transformation, served as the backbone to my early professional management career.  Since 1997, I have had the honor of working with over 225 clients on humanitarian, emerging technology, real estate and community revitalization projects from around the world.

This wisdom, alongside my own real-life lessons, inspired the development of a ‘city of tomorrow’ design model in 2002, and the formation of BrightSpot Communities LLL, a real estate and community development company that offers a light of inspiration and creativity in the male-dominated housing market, heavily reliant on expensive and unsustainable building practices.

As the entire globe faces climate change, the real estate industry must also ‘get on board’ as leaders in the sustainability story. As a socially and environmentally conscious company, BrightSpot Communities LLC believes it is all our responsibility to repair the world.  With an eye on reinvigorating both economy and environment, alongside renewing community connection and personal potential – my hope is that we make neighborhoods and streets a Brighter more positive place to reside.  As it has been all my life, I take a lot of joy and pride in shaking things up; offering a “disruptive technology” in the current builder and developer market.

However, no less important in my story of entrepreneurship is a rich life as a writer, artist, dramatist and story-teller; all of which I use to share my story of healing, recovery and empowerment.  My work as a transformation artist also specifically serves as a justice making voice in the trauma healing movement; targeting women who have experienced sexual assault. Nationally, I serve on the Board of the Scheherazade Project, a social-justice ARTIVISM organization and am co-leader of the healing arts venture, I am Woman and this is My Story©.  

As a multi-entrepreneur and creative, I love to bring together all that I am to inspire others into their own magnificence and potential.  

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been challenging but it has also shaped me and my ability to be the creator of the life that I want.  Trauma impacts all of us in one way or another, and learning how to heal and overcome is part of everyone’s own mountain top story.  For me, experiences of assault set the stage for challenges to overcome later in life; namely, PTSD and a resulting 15-year adult journey with Fibromyalgia, of which 4 of those years were primarily spent in bed. 

The result of these conditions landed me in economic poverty and several experiences with homelessness; albeit overwhelming and daunting, these experienced forged my faith, strength, and courage to keep on going, even while others said I couldn’t or shouldn’t.   I also learned a lot about friendship and the true meaning of family.

In this “phoenix rising space” – I began to use art, poetry, and writing as a healing conduit and to inspire others to never give up on who they are and what they are called to do.  

In spite of these hills and mountains to climb, and throughout this journey, my two children, now adults, and our loving family experience has been the best gift of support, and saving grace of my life.  As a family, we’ve learned what really matters in life – our love for one another and being there in times of need.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love all aspects of my life as a real estate developer, community builder, artist, Reiki healer and Minister.   However, my work as a poet, artist and dramatist offers the most fun and adventure.  

My total creative practice, in a broader sense, is “healing-arts placemaking”. This includes using the power of art as a voice and creating change and fostering supportive environments that help heal and build a common ground of understanding in the community. 

Over the past 22 years, my emergence as author, playwright, painter, poet, and storyteller has been inspired by my story of recovery, with my most recent art installation, #53 Vaginas and Vulvas© (2020), building on the theme of women’s empowerment after sexual assault. The exhibit offers an imaginative 53-piece collection of delicious abstract paintings of vaginas and vulvas painted in honor of the 53 U.S. million women who were raped between 2001 and 2021. 

Building on global attention to these issues, the exhibit opens conversations for change-making and holds even more potential if offered as a multi-day event complete with collaboration among organizations, trauma education, and painting and poetry workshops giving voice to the story of survivors.

My love of writing spans a lifetime with my first produced play, Journey of the Hummingbird Minister©, which features a dramatic ‘phoenix-rising’ story of mental health recovery from PTSD. My first non-fiction work, I Want Good Sex: Reclaiming the Power of Your Sexuality After Living with Abuse, Assault or Stupid Meanies (January 2023), offers a self-help map of rediscovery for women healing issues of personal power, sensuality and their overall zest for life. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think people would be surprised at the depth of my love for God, and for humanity.  It’s something that was planted in me early in life, and only keeps growing.  My day starts giving attention to these priorities in my life through meditation, prayer and personal reflection.  

Individuals might also be surprised by what I have endured in life; PTSD, sexual assault, major illness, 3 brushes with death, poverty, and homelessness.  ALL of these life experiences have shaped who I am as a person, and the work I do at BrightSpot Communities.  Moreover, they have shaped my skills and abilities, as well as my call to purpose.   

Contact Info:

• Website: https://georgiareash.wixsite.com/zesty-licious
• Instagram: @zesty_goddess
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgia.reash
• Youtube: Zesty-Licious!