Scatches Needles and the Glass Pipe Coping with Rejection Hurt and Abandonment from Drug Addicted Parents

Randiesia (Fletcher) Riggs was born and reared in Los Angeles, California. She grew up during the 1980's War of Drugs Era, in which was catastrophic to her family. Riggs experienced poverty through homelessness, neglect, abuse, and violence. Fortunately, she was able to keep up with her academics. After graduating from high school, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, her experiences with physical, social and emotional oppression caused her to retire prematurely; however, with an Honorable Discharge. Riggs is a graduate of University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Anthropology. She later finished a Master of Arts in Secondary Teacher Education at the University of Phoenix. She established, I Can Do All Things, Incorporated, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, geared to teach Sustainability Education in Financial Literacy, Public Health Awareness, and College Preparedness. Currently, Riggs is a founding member of the Tucson Refugee Resource Center, where they provide pathways of success through educational and jobs skills training. Randiesia Riggs is a wife and a mother of three. She is one who writes her own story.