BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Hope Flood likes to share exactly what’s on her mind.

For the former Benton Harbor resident’s upcoming comedy show “Hope Flood and Friends,” Flood hopes to bring laughs to nearly every aspect of daily life from politics to relationships to raising children and getting old.

The local comedian who spent part of her childhood in Benton Harbor before moving to Los Angeles said she is going to share it all. The performance will also include comedians Reggie Reg of Chicago, who is known for his impressions and Taylor Moore, also of Chicago whose act includes using her drums in the sketch.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 at the Crystal Star, 1134, Crystal Ave. in Benton Harbor.

Flood’s manager said that if there is one thing her client is known for, it is telling it like it is.

Being one of the few female comedians on the Los Angeles scene in 1989, Flood demonstrated the ability to be unafraid to talk about the topics she said were traditionally off limits to female comedians. As a result sometimes Flood said her punchlines were met with shock instead of laughter and she was chastised off stage.

Twenty-five years of performing later, Flood is staying true to herself and is not afraid to joke about a “baby daddy” or talk about being a single mom.

Flood fought to give more women a place in comedy and is the founder of Females in Comedy Association. And while today’s stages see more female comedians, there are still some things that Flood said a female comedian just gets a different response out of saying.

“They treat women different. They say you are too vulgar,” Flood said.

Flood says she just laughs it off because no one is going to tell her what she can and can’t include in her sketches. Breaching these topics have only taught her to tell the jokes even better and helped to break the mold for female comedians everywhere. Flood said she is proud to see more women taking the stage like herself and telling it like it is.

“There are so many female comedians doing comedy and we all have different voices,” Flood said. “We have broken a lot of barriers now. I’m happy to be part of that.”

The comedian said peaking out has not just helped her succeed in comedy, it’s also helped her give a voice to children who have experienced abuse. Flood’s nonprofit, Saving Our Youth provides resources, a hot line and brings awareness to child molestation.  It’s an issue Flood dealt with personally as a child.

“I don’t understand why this is still happening… the cycle needs to stop,” Flood said.

For Flood, comedy has always been a way to cope. “It is my therapy,” Flood said. “It is the thing that fuels me.”

Tuesday, Flood promoted SOY at full house for “Cocktails and Conversation” in Benton Harbor’s Baker’s Pub. Flood’s goal is to help the nonprofit also be of use to the Benton Harbor Community.

Looking forward, Flood said she returned to her roots for a simple reason.

“Do my comedy show, bring my friends with me and just bring something to the Harbor.”