Real Talk, Honesty and Tough Love With Our Children

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Malissa “Mali” Hunter, who is a Grammy nominated producer, Emmy winning actor, businesswoman, TV host, chef and philanthropist. She is credited with guiding the careers of such luminaries as Drake, Rick Ross, Future, Wiz Khalifa and Lenny Kravitz. In this SonRise episode, Mali reveals stories from her own difficult adolescence. A self-described “gangster kid,” she was arrested a few times and ended up in jail. She suffered trauma in her childhood that her parents didn’t understand. She eventually found healing, wholeness and incredible success. She says with real talk, honesty and tough love you can transform relationships with your children. She urges SonRise parents to know themselves first before trying to control their children’s behavior. She suggests to pause, reflect, then act rather than react. Mali says she is living proof that you can do anything you put your mind to if you believe.