She calls herself a child of choice. Not by chance — chosen.
In this episode of Change Your View, Haseena sits down with Felicia “Febe” Bates Pointer. A native Chicagoan whose story moves from adoption to founder, from survivor to thriver, and from quiet writer to published author.
Febe is the President and Founder of Just Us Sistahs Talking (J.U.S.T.), now in its 22nd year of gathering women to inspire, connect, and empower one another. She is a two-time breast cancer survivor, Director of Claims for a national luxury senior housing company, and — as of July 2025 — the author of her first children’s book, A Child of Choice, published under her own imprint, Febe Publishing LLC.
Together, Haseena and Febe explore what it means to be chosen, what writing gave her when she had little else, and how an annual gathering in her living room grew into a movement that today supports women and sends first-generation girls to college through the Thelma Bates Memorial Scholarship.
This conversation is for anyone with a story they’ve been afraid to tell, a mission they’ve been afraid to name, or a season they’ve been afraid to call survival.
Watch the episode here
Chosen: Felicia “Febe” Bates Pointer on Voice, Survival & Sisterhood
Welcome to Change Your View. I’m Haseena Shaheed-Jackson — and today’s conversation will ask you to look at one word a little differently.
That word is chosen.
My guest is Felicia Bates Pointer — affectionately known as Febe. A native Chicagoan. A two-time breast cancer survivor — and, as she’ll tell you, a thriver. She’s the founder and president of Just Us Sistahs Talking, now in its 22nd year. And this past July, she became a published author with her first children’s book, A Child of Choice, under her own imprint, Febe Publishing.
We’re going to talk about voice. About survival. About what happens when an annual hen party in your living room grows up and becomes a movement. And about the difference between being adopted… and being chosen.
If you’ve ever been afraid to tell your story — this one is for you.
Felicia — welcome to Change Your View.
Your view is about to change.
Listen to the entire podcast.
What I keep returning to in my interview with Felicia are two main points – chosen and being enough.
Felicia is not defined from where she began. She made a decision about who she is to be. Authoring and defining her own story. Felicia does not call herself adopted but chosen. Being chosen inspired her to write, A Child of Choice.
Not adopted. Not received. Chosen.
To be received is to be allowed in. Tolerated. Accommodated. To be chosen is something else entirely — to be looked at specifically, with all of your story, and wanted because of who you are, not despite it.
And here is what chosen makes possible that received never can: it lets you know you are enough.
When you are received, you spend your days proving you deserve the seat. You audition for the role you already hold. You shrink to keep the chair.
When you are chosen, you stop performing for a place that has already been named yours. You stop earning what was already given. You walk in the truth that you do not have to be more — you only have to be here.
In the Three B’s I teach in my coaching, this is what Belong actually means: being wanted exactly because of who you are, and knowing you are enough exactly as you are.
Two Questions for Reflection
- What area in your life are you settling for being received when you were created to be chosen?
- What areas in your life are exhausting yourself proving you are enough?
You do not have to answer me. But I want you to answer yourself.
Because here is what I know — and what Febe lives: you are not by chance. You are by choice. And you have always been enough.
Important Links
About Felicia “Febe” Bates Pointer
Felicia “Febe” Bates Pointer is a native Chicagoan, raised in Auburn Gresham and proud of her humble beginnings. A graduate of Lindblom High School, Chicago State University (B.A., Finance), and Governors State University (M.P.A.), Felicia built a life anchored in one conviction: “For unto whom much is given, much is required.”
She is the President and Founder of Just Us Sistahs Talking (J.U.S.T.) — a sisterhood that began in her living room in 2002 and now, in its 22nd year, inspires, connects, and empowers women and girls of diverse backgrounds. J.U.S.T. is a forum to bringing women together and awards the Thelma Bates Memorial Scholarship to first-generation girls pursuing four-year degrees.
Felicia is a two-time breast cancer survivor and thriver, and in July 2025 she published her first children’s book, A Child of Choice, under her own imprint, Febe Publishing LLC.
Professionally, Felicia serves as Director of Claims for a nationally known luxury senior housing company. She is also active with Habitat for Humanity, NCNW, NC100BW, NAACP Women In Network, Top Ladies of Distinction, and New Life Covenant Church Southeast.
