Odell Dickerson Jr.

About

COO, New Psalmist Baptist Church & CEP, OdellExec Enterprises, LLC.
Baltimore, MD

Thoughts

“Covid-19 has impacted the world. I Odell Dickerson, Jr., have been personally and professionally impacted, as well as mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Personally, my family is safe and everyone is at their respective homes. I am grateful. I lead my immediate family, my wife and three children, as well as my mom, sister, niece and family, nephew, and mother-in-law and father law, who all live in the MD area. My wife, Sherri is working from home and my children Odell III (college freshman), Jalen (high school senior), and Caleb (middle school) are all “schooling” from home.

Odell III, student/athlete, who just completed an exciting basketball season and who is my most extroverted child is now stuck in the house and has converted to an online college student. Jalen, who is a outstanding student/athlete will not experience walking across the stage for graduation. Also, her club Volleyball season is on hold as she was depending on displaying her talents to different colleges. Caleb, who has learning differences and attends a specialty school is now forced to the home environment which defeats the purpose of the specialty school.

Professionally, I serve the local church and I am passionate about the people and the community. It has pained my heart to see people suffer as a result of Covid-19. My response is to serve and to join others in contributing positive solutions to the plethora of problems that have arisen. For example, as a church that serves the community, we have fed families and individuals through food distributions. We have also, fed the doctors and nurses at some of the local Baltimore hospitals on Easter Sunday to provide some relief and encouragement. We are working on more solutions. It feels like I have been working around the clock.

Spiritually, we continue to spread the love of Christ through worship, study, and prayer. People have lots of questions; therefore, we are providing answers as the church.

Also, I earned additional income through my consulting business, OdellExec Enterprises and all of my travel and speaking engagements have been cancelled until further notice. I did not mention it above, but all of three of my children have tuitions. My additional income helped pay for those tuitions.

Like others, I am experiencing the mental, physical, and spiritual consequence of the pandemic. Mentally, stress and anxiety is at an all time high in trying to serve and ensure the safety and well being of my family and my community.

Physically, my body is growing due to excess eating and the reduction of my routine exercise regimen. My relationship with food is heavily impacted by stress and anxiety.

Spiritually, my faith is under a tremendous amount of pressure. However, I know that growth is experienced through pressure and uncomfortable circumstances. My approach is to face the brutal facts, yet maintain an unwavering faith.”

Photographer

Jermaine Gibbs. Baltimore, Maryland
w: http://www.jermainegibbs.com