Sanjo Jendayi born Deserie Johnson is a speaker, author and spoken word artist.  Readers and listeners alike are mesmerized, challenged and inspired by her unique way of speaking directly into their soul.  She merges her street edge with her spiritual grounding leaving everyone on the verge of change. Her transparent style chips away at the proverbial “elephants in the room” that no one wants to talk about. She transitioned into her Purposed name, Sanjo Jenday (African for "One who appreciates her past & gives thanks") because it spoke to who she truly is today.

 

Sanjo was born and raised in Washington, DC and she now resides in MD. Her most important titles are Mom and Grandmom.  She has dedicated her life to inspiring women and young girls to rise above their circumstances, take responsibility and turn mistakes into learning lessons.

Sanjo began motivational speaking that touched on the very obstacles that she, herself had to overcome. God has turned her mess into HIS message!

 

She is a More Than a Conqueror! A Survivor of Lung Cancer while continuing to battle Sarcoidosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Fibromyalgia.

 

Sanjo is passionate about tapping into the little girl within all women to reach that sheer innocent place where they once believed anything was possible and resurrecting that belief!

 

Sanjo’s perseverance is evident in her powerful personal testimony of trials and tribulations that's translated through her poetry in “Black Butterfly...Soaring On The Wings Of Poetry”and her debut of listen2myheartspeak spokenword CD. A hospital scare birthed her most recent release, "Girl, Get Empty" a power-packed compact read  empowering women to release all that God has placed in them. Her process of emptying also included the subsequent release of "NyAshia's Freedom Ride" a children’s bedtime story that teaches children pride in their heritage and themselves.  She is now completing her current book which is a touching memoir of her life to help others move from empty to fulfilled. She shows how everyone has what it takes within to move past their past and change their present circumstances. Deserie has been the voice of several local radio and T.V. commercials. She has recently begun recording professional outgoing voice messages for local companies.