'Ecila Mai' means 'I am Alice' spelled backwards. The name reminds the author to recognize different perspectives and to appreciate different points of view. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been writing poems all of her life. Her grandmother, Alice Carroll Griffin taught her to treasure her family, believe in God and to always "own your own home". Her mother, Hazel Lloyd Leslie taught her to think before you… more