Last month Marley became a model for @pagerieofficial where style and quality meet. In our final moments together mommy gave Marley model treatment wearing a stylish luxurious Petite Harness. I cannot tell you how this means to me to have this as a way to honor Marley's memory. Thank you Pagerie 🤍🤎 Read the feature about us via link in bio. Shot and styled by me. And thank you all for the loving comments. I'll get back to you it's just the are so sweet and I start to cry. Means a lot you all care 💞 #changecadet ID1: Dr. Cadet sits wearing all black hugs Marley tightly in her lap surrounded by her long golden braids. Marley a white an tan Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua wears a Pagerie brown harness. They sit in a silver chair surrounded by Jean-Michel Basquiat art and bold colors. ID2: Marley's profile shows his cutest tan ear perked up showcasing his brown Pagerie harness against his white fur. He stands on hardwood floor and a white carpet with zigzags. ID3: A Pagerie article titled: Wo(Man)'s Best Friend: Akilah Cadet with two pictures of Dr. Cadet holding Marley in her lap.

Dismantling white supremacy is kinda @changecadet’s whole thing. That’s why she’s making a podcast about it (!) In today’s episode of the Sup pod linked in bio, we announce the launch of our new podcast hosted by Dr. Akilah Cadet. In this preview, she unpacks why some people get uncomfy with the idea of *truly* dismantling white supremacy (looking at you, school boards) and how to use your privilege for good instead of harm on days dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities. Listen to the link in bio and look out for “Soft Black Woman” launching in the Betches Sup feed on July 7.

As you know Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865 when news of the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) reached Galveston, Texas finally freeing an estimated 250,000 enslaved people. But Texas does not care about its own history. Last week Governor Abbott signed a bill into law banning all DEI programs and offices for state funded colleges and universities. This means that if an academic institution continues DEI efforts including a DEI office, hires a third party (like my company), has a DEI person/role(s), offers preference to applicants/employees based on race/ethnicity, sex, etc. or requires any employee to participate in DEI efforts they will no longer receive state funds. First Florida. Now Texas. This is your reminder to pay attention as things are going to get worse. Anyway. Happy Juneteenth! #changecadet Image Description: A white background with black serif font that says: Keep in mind that Texas, where Juneteenth, was first celebrated, just announced that all state funded colleges and universities will have to close their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Happy Juneteenth!

This week I said goodbye to the love of my life. My main man. My boo. My first kid. Marley. I was lucky enough to have him from 11 weeks to just about 15 years old. I know he was my child because he inherited heart problems just like me. Hypertension, enlarged heart, heart murmur, congestive heart failure made things harder for him but he persevered with medication. I'd joke that we both take heart meds twice a day together. But last week he as he laid on my chest I new something was different. I knew it would be the last week he was in my life. I kindly thanked him for loving me unconditionally and told him that I know that he's tired and it okay for him to go. So while I was in the ER for my heart issues last week I scheduled an urgent care appointment for him. The next day I learned that he had developed pneumonia and it was just too much. Breathing was beginning to get harder for him with his heart conditions so my twin and I (we co-parented) put him down on Monday. I had 5 days with him before I had to say goodbye. We went to his favorite trails, saw his favorite people, I pet his favorite spots and prepared his favorite human foods. Marley is, was, will always be my absolute favorite. I took care of him and his health and he took care of me and my health. He gave me so much and now he's given me back time to take better care of myself as mom's put the care of their babies before their own. Even though he's gone it will always be Marley and Me 🤍🤎 #changecadet Image Description: Marley, a Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua, looks into the distance wearing a gray hoodie with his brown leather collar popping out. His profile is strong aligning with his outstretched floppy ear that's both tan and white. Dr. Cadet's face is partially covered by Marley's cutest nose with his paws nestled on her shoulder. Her cheekbone pops as she kisses her baby boy for one of the last times. Three green branches are in the background along with a pale gray sky at his favorite trail.

Waiting on Tuesday like... If you don't know Trump is a petty bitch who signed a national security bill in 2018 upgrading the penalty of mishandling classified documents from misdemeanor to a felony aka one year to five years most likely because of Hillary. Like you I'm hoping we'll see accountability. Until then I'll be drinking my water and waiting for sentencing. #changecadet Image Description: A white background with black serif font that says: Trump made mishandling classified documents a felony with 5 years in prison and now the very law he signed will hopefully put him in prison. I love this for him.

I was Lauren's something borrowed. If you don't know I wear 17 rings daily each celebrating sometype of milestone from my disability anniversary to unbelievable business goals. Recently Lauren, my CSO, got married! As a former wedding planner (yes I can do it all) I was going through her checklist and blue and new were ready but she was missing something borrowed. I immediately said pick one. The ring Lauren choose previously signified how I would make it through the darkness of depression to the light. Now that ring is about us. I was honored to see two of my friends form a bond they let me be the third wheel too. Congrats @laurenhrussell and @teefer 💕 I love you both more than you know. Swipe to see the love, my photography, styling and florist skills. #changecadet ID 1: Lauren's (white woman) piano fingers hand rests on Dr. Cadet's palm showscasing her thin gold, diamond and onyx ring for something borrowed. ID 2: Lauren softly grabs Tiffer's (white man) face as they embrace for their first kiss as husband and wife. Soft light comes from the windows against exposed brick. Shot by Dr. Cadet. ID 3: Standing infront of a large teal door amongst exposed brick Lauren wearing a white long wedding dress and Tiffer in a tan suit both have the biggest smiles. Bouquet and shot by Dr. Cadet. ID 4: A textured camel chair shows off a wildflower bouquet, designed by Dr. Cadet with red, pink, white, yellow, blue and purple flowers near a white pearl purse. ID 5: A gold urn overflows with blue, pink, crimson, purples, yellow and white flowers. Flowers by Dr. Cadet. ID 6: A gold urn overflows with blue, pink, crimson, purples, yellow and white flowers. Flowers by Dr. Cadet. ID 7: Dr. Cadet wearing a black dress takes a selfie with Lauren in a dusty mirror moments before she walked down the isle. Shadows of light frame the love the two have for each other. Image descriptions continue in comments.

May was both Ehlers-Danlos Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month but both need attention all year long. I live with EDS and major depressive disorder. Disability and depression are besties and I talk about it in this @iamwellandgood piece. I hope you take the time to feel seen or to better understand those who live with disability and depression. #changecadet Image Description: A black background shows off and WELL + GOOD article heading: The Connection Between Disabilities and Depression Needs Year-Round Attention. There's a small circle black and white photo of Akilah with her name and June 1, 2023 underneath it.

I was asked at an event last night how I was feeling and I said not great. Little did I know it would be foreshadowing to how'd I start today. I was one month away from a year of being ER free. First, I'm discharged from the ER and home. Second, I hate the ER. Luckily I had a nurse from the LGBTQ+ community who took me seriously...nodding in agreement to "you know how fun it is to be a Black woman with cardiovascular issues in the ER." And when I corrected the white male ER doc for saying something inappropriate about my diagnoses he apologized quickly and more than once. Had lots of imaging and tests while I checked emails to distract myself from the pain. But unfortunately lucky room 13 is where is learned that I have a consult with a vascular surgeon in a few days as an artery is narrowing. I hope I don't have to have surgery because I have things to do. And yes I am resting...for now... #changecadet Image Description: Dr. Cadet looks, well honestly...her skin is poppin behind a black mask, with her golden braids tucked in a messy low bun. Her face is relaxed with circle tortoise framed glasses with her hazel eyes lost in the unknown of her emergency room. Her blueish gray hospital gown is off her shoulders like the Akilah Nap Dress® showing leads and red, white, and black wires connected to a heart monitor. There's an indigo blue wall behind her with lucky number 13.

If you don't know about the drama surrounding Taylor Swift and Matty Healy just do a quick Google search. The current situation is Swift's MO... no comment... or pretend it didn't happen. I do not pretend...so let's use Taylor Swift as an example of what not to do. Swift is supporting Matty Healy and his horrific racist comments. Healy recently shared during a podcast interview how he likes to masturbate to Black women being brutalized. Yup...read that again. In addition he's said offensive and racist comments towards rapper Ice Spice, a Black woman and AAPI people. Ice Spice is focused on her career growth and reportedly reached out to Swift prior to the Healy stuff about a collab. But when word got out about Healy and his racism all of the sudden rumored love interest Taylor Swift annouced a remix with Ice Spice. This is the epitome of performative behavior. Wait...in the words of Swift "It's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me." This is not about timing even if things were in the works. Swift has millions of fans! She has a huge platform to role model the behavior white people, especially white women, should have when harm is being caused to BIPOC women which is accountability. Swift needs to name what Healy did and how it's not okay so her actions and words match. All she had to do was pick at least one thing Healy has done that's horrific (he's said and done MULTIPLE things to MULTIPLE groups of people) and say she does not condone or support his behavior. Then take the time to evaluate if that is a connection, rumored or true, that she would want in her life. You know, to date a racist/sexist or not. Either way Healy does not care. He was recently (May 29, 2023) quoted in the New Yorker saying "You’re either lying that you are hurt, or you’re a bit mental for being hurt" when asked about his Ice Spice comments. Taylor's approach profits off of Ice Spice and upholds values of white supremacy by not holding Healy accountable. (Not to mention he's said horrible things about Swift and her mother too). Swift's actions are performative and centered in whiteness. So I guess Taylor Swift is the Anti-Hero after all. #changecadet

I've been present so I haven't been here. #changecadet Image Description: Dr. Cadet leans on a black door capturing her full body selfie in a mirror framed in brass. With one hand in her pocket her body is relaxed like her golden braids over on shoulder. She wears a denim @marahoffman corset top and @abaybru custom reclaimed vintage demin skirt with bleached tie dye and embroidery that says Change Cadet and Keep Being Amazing. Wearing blue faux snakeskin cowboy ankle boots her face is solemn but sexy AF.

As of today May 16, 2023 at approximately 1:55pm PT these are the totals. Jordan Neely (houseless Black man with mental illness), who was murdered by Daniel Penny (white man/Marine) in front of others on the subway in NYC (aka a lynching) life does not matter. Numbers don't lie. Even in death his life doesn't matter. America rather support the "defense fund" of Penny than honor the end of life services and legacy of Neely. I don't know how else to show you how mental health/illness, being a Black person, and being houseless in America is one of the most oppressed groups. If you have capacity please donate to Neely's family (like I did). If you have capacity share his @gofundme with your followers (like I did). It's also Mental Health Awareness Month and donating is a way to support folks who have mental illness (like me, team major depressive disorder). And if your wondering George Floyd's GoFundMe was over 14 million dollars; Breonna Taylor was 6.8 million; and Tyre Nichols was 1.4 million. This cannot be the legacy of Jordan Neely. #changecadet Image Description: A white background with black serif font that says: Jordan Neely Fund (Murdered): $140,952 Daniel Penny Fund (Murderer): $ 2,503,920 This is America.

Not a MOTHER'S DAY post. You're welcome. I was trying to find words to express how I've been feeling lately then it came to me. I don't feel like a person. Now you may think to yourself "Akilah I can see in this picture you're a whole person" or in the words of Beyoncé "I'm a whole lotta woman" and that is true. Right now I feel like I'm taking care of everything thing from my dog who's in congestive heart failure, my company, and my body. What I didn't realize is how taking care of my health and disability (which feels like a full time job) would test my humanity and make me physically feel like I'm managing my body like a company. Just this week alone I had major back injections, an MRI, therapy, and acupuncture. When I add my dogs health on top of it from his ER visits, vet appointments, regular testing, getting him to eat and take meds, that little time I had in the day for me goes to him. The point is I'm always doing. Always taking care of people (work/life) and not being taken care of (thanks traumatic healthcare system, unrealistic standards of being a Black woman like being the strong one etc.) and not being taken care of. I'm constantly taking care of my body and not connecting with my body. I'm at a place where it feels like increasingly escaping moments when I can connect to being me and feel, well, like a person. A human being. I am a human doing and I don't know when I'll just be able to just be. Hoping to get recharged at @chroniconofficial next week being in a room with other disabled and chronically ill folks. Oh and if you'd like to join for free99 I have some passes for IRL or virtual (DM me) attendance. Thanks for reading. #changecadet Image Description: Dr. Cadet wears a stripped blue and white robe perfectly placed over her award winning cleavage. Her carmel skin is hashtag goals debuting her long golden braids. With her head titled up towards Beyoncé's heavens her facial expression is solemn but soft. She's very proud of taking this picture.