I am a mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, aunt, and friend. I love to cook, create works of art, plan and problem solve. As a lifelong learner, my passion is to connect with and share with others.

MY LIFE

Interview with Elisabeth Roberts

Q: For those who don’t know you, where did you grow up and how did it shape your values?

I grew up in a small East Texas town in the nineteen sixties, where I learned to cherish the value of being surrounded by a community of support in my daily life. Upon leaving East Texas, I created the same sense of community and values within the larger cities that I have lived by connecting with others in every city that I have lived including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. By connecting with others I am always in the company of friends and family wherever I go.

Q: How did you happen to live in all of those cities?

Growing up in a small town the television was the window to the outside world.  Every Sunday our family would watch two things on Sunday evening; 60 Minutes and The Ed Sullivan Show.  I wanted to be an entertainer and connect with others the way I felt connected to the entertainers who looked like me on The Ed Sullivan Show.  There weren’t many representatives who looked like me unless people of color were in politics or entertainment.

Q: What gave you the confidence to become a model?

When I decided to be a model, I stood at 5’6”, with a full face of acne, my family made us believe I could do or be anyone. I never considered that I would need to be four inches taller and need a clear complexion to be a model. At the end of my senior year of high school, as faith shows up, my face miraculously cleared, and my height was not a factor. I enjoyed thirty years of a career in entertainment and travel, living by faith, and learning that it is not the destination but the journey bringing value to my life.

Q: Why did you move to New York City?

A: I was blessed to have a successful career in Dallas with the Kim Dawson Agency but when I decided to study acting, I moved to New York City. The city was very different in the 1980s, the streets were not safe making me aware of my surroundings, and yet there was much excitement in the air. This made me grow in ways that I wouldn’t have experienced if I had remained in Dallas.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned there?

I learned to survive.

Q: What do you mean by you learn to survive?

I had read the book, The Game of Life by Florence Scovel Shinn a few years before I decided to move to New York, in the book she talks about, "Digging your Ditches" which today I  translate to “living by Faith by taking action” one of  Unity's fifth principles, to act as though it is happening.

Q: What type of work did you do to support yourself?

I worked as a babysitter, and a waitress, and four days a week, I worked on the production team of The Cosby Show for three years. That experience taught me how to work in a professional manner later in my career as a fashion producer and stylist.  Oh yeah, I was a full-time student too!

Q: Did you work as a model in New York?

No, New York City is more high fashion for my look, where my category was all American and nothing exotic, but it gave me the opportunity to hone in on my craft of acting. Two years later, I moved to Los Angeles all of the hard work paid off, and I worked as a commercial actress for ten years until I had children.

Q: How did your life change?

It was like starting all over again my family and I  left Los Angeles due to the first actor's strike, we moved back to Texas. After that, I became a single parent and head of the household. I had two young kids; five and two-year-old.  I relate it to being in the desert in search of the Promised Land.  We had to travel on a whole bunch of faith.

Q: How does all of this tie into ministry and diversity and inclusion?

Because my life’s window was always diverse even from my Great-Grandfather who was the son of his owner to the many people that I worked with on production crews, working in the airline industry, I thought this tiny window was reflective of the world. When I moved back to Dallas in the early 2000s I realized I had lived in that safe community that I had created which today would be considered a bubble.

Q: Why did you start taking classes at Unity of Dallas?

I was struggling as a Mom trying to juggle work and parenting when it was suggested at my daughter’s preschool that I check out Unity so I did. The crazy thing was when I drove up to the church I realized it was the same place where I bought the book, The Game of Life, twenty years ago.  I was standing at the closed church doors like in the commercial saying, "Open, open, open". We went back the next day which was Sunday when I started taking SEE classes.

Q: What are SEE classes?

Spiritual Education and Enrichment classes are a series of classes that focus on the metaphysical teachings of the Bible, Self-Awareness, Prosperity, and so much more.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at that time?

I learned to be disciplined with my thoughts.  I studied with Rev. John Webster who was an amazing metaphysician, I studied with him until he transitioned, he would spend time supporting me when I was emotionally down.  He would say over and over, "If you want to change your situation, you have to change your thought".

Q: What would you want to share with someone who is traveling with the same challenges that you had as a single mom?

I would say to them to believe in the power that you are created from which is God and be mindful of their thoughts because you have the power to change your life.   The thoughts in our minds are like sheep in the field and we are the shepherds, tend to them with love and care but herd them in the direction that we want them to travel.  If one falls in a ditch, with care help it out and send it on the way with the other supporting thoughts that meet your needs. You can, I can, we can do it!

Q: Why did you become a minister?

I had no intention of becoming a minister, I wanted to become a Licensed Unity Teacher but after all of the classes when it was time to take my exam to demonstrate my abilities, the classes were full. I was talking to a group of SEE classmates who asked an instructor about the Urban School, it was more than I could have even dreamed and I enrolled, four years later I was ordained.

Q: What happened next?

I saw how amazing my life changed, and how my children's lives were enriched by the Unity teachings I wanted to share the good news with others who want to create a life of abundance and opportunity.  I decided to deepen my studies and got certified as a Unity Transitional Specialist with a focus on Diversity and Inclusion.

Q: What is next?

Who knows… I will keep you posted!