About Matching Birthdays

With a Business Administration and Music education, Valerie studied the history of Jazz and later discovered the Jazz birthday connections. Meeting movers and shakers in Oakland like Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the founders of the real Black Panthers they were often guest speakers at the local colleges. While attending law school she started working as a paralegal for The Law Offices of John Burris, it was a civil rights practice, representing many clients in the entertainment field. Some of the clients were Tupac Shakur-rapper/songwriter, Chris Webber-professional athlete, Jerry Butler-singer, songwriter, Mark Curry-comedian, Oscar Grant (see the movie “Fruitvale”-with Michael B. Jordan), and the O.J. Simpson trial as well as representing Rodney G. King. Valerie was a fitness instructor for 10 years as well as a substitute teacher in the bay area, and other cities. This entertainment company called Matching Birthdays was founded due the impact of wonderful relationships, connections and inspirations, creating engaging and moments.

(HERE'S A LITTLE TID BIT) "It was a fascinating experience, and I vividly remember Tupac visiting our office regularly following a police incident in Oakland. I engaged in conversations with Tupac and his entourage, referred to as the "posse" at the time." Valerie started an attorney support service and desktop publishing small business. Also she became an accomplished speaker in Toastmasters. She later turned her attention back to music, particularly Jazz. It was during this period that she made an extraordinary discovery, where 9 of her immediate relatives shared birthdays with legendary Jazz musicians. This revelation left her profoundly happy, inspired, prompting her to develop a play call BCBD JAZZ and to bring people together around the idea of using birthdays as a source of happiness, connection, and inspiration.

All in all working for the Law Office of John L. Burris was a terrific experience given the perks of meeting numerous up and coming attorneys, Ninth Circuit judges and meeting Johnny Cochran, and the great Constance Baker Motley-African American civil rights activist, lawyer, judge who was the first African-American woman ever to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.