Sheryl Lee Ralph Comes To Bed-Stuy To Share 'DIVA' Lessons

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Actor, singer and HIV/AIDS activist Sheryl Lee Ralph is coming to Bed-Stuy to launch her new book, "DIVA 2.0: 12 Life Lessons From Me To You" on March 18 at the Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza.

The event, taking place during the historic theatre's 50th anniversary, is another big moment for the superstar who, by all accounts, is having an incredible year.

The actor and singer just won an Emmy last fall for her performance as Philadelphia public school teacher Barbara Howard on the hit comedy Abbott Elementary.

A month ago, she sang "Lift Every Voice And Sing" at the Super Bowl.

On Monday, Ralph won a Screen Actor's Guild award.

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But Ralph, 66, who has also won Tony and Spirit awards and starred in Broadway hits like "Dreamgirls," "Thoroughly Modern Mille," and "Wicked" is not slowing down.

And her new book, to be released on March 12, contains lessons learned from decades in Hollywood from a career marked with highs and lows.

Her 12 lessons are designed to help others raise themselves to new heights, as the book recounts her own trials and triumphs.

"You know, the reason I tell people, you've got to believe in yourself, is for that time, I stopped believing in me. I stopped believing in my ability," she told NPR's Juana Summers last month.

"But the moment I doubled down and started to believe in myself and dreamed bigger dreams for myself and put in the work towards making those things happen, wow, everything is very different, very different," she said to Summers in her interview.

The book launch event on March 18 will have two conversation sessions at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., followed by a post-reception in the storied theatre's lobby.

DIVA stands for Divinely Inspired Victoriously Awesome and is also the name of a nonprofit Ralph started in 1990 to raise money for and raise awareness of people living with HIV and AIDS.

According to People Magazine, Ralph has helped to raise over $3 million through her foundation to help women, children, people of color and those in the LGBTQI community.

For more information, please visit thebillieholiday.org.