Join Dr. Culbreth and guests, Dr. Meghna Bhat and Ms. Alicia Thompson, authors and contributors to “Our Voices Our Stories: An Anthology of Writings Advancing, Celebrating, Embracing and Empowering Girls and Women of Color,” for “The Power Within, Episode 4 of the “Our Voices Our Stories Mini-Series.” This episode will focus on the empowerment of girls and women of color personally, academically and professionally. Topics will include how we can empower girls and women of color psychologically, emotionally, physically and socially.
Additional discussion topics will include realizing the power within, self-esteem, self-love, self-identity, self-respect and self-pride, colorism, race, hair, body image, inner beauty, words of wisdom, self-validation, on being original, defining yourself for yourself, standards of beauty, setting high standards and expectations among other topics. The episode will also focus on how women of color can inspire, set examples and empower girls and teens of color and the development of coping strategies to deal with race, color and disparate treatment issues.
Is an international thespian and writer from Jamaica. She is the founder of Artistry is Ministry (AIM) and known for customized performances of one woman shows and folklore. Alicia uses artistry to uplift and impact girls and young women to help them deal with issues such as self-image, self-worth and self-realization. She is an alumni of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), Parents Supporting Excellence in Education (SEE), and a past recipient of the Bridgeport Parent Leadership Award.
Submission: “Words of Wisdom from Mother Wise on Beauty and Self-acceptance.”
Dr. Meghna Bhat
Dr. Bhat holds a Ph.D. in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a specialization in Gender and Women Studies. She is a proud South Asian woman and first-generation immigrant from India, and her experiences growing up in India and having lived in the US for 14 years motivated her to become an outspoken advocate for gender equality. Meghna currently lives in Sacramento, CA and is an independent consultant, scholar, speaker, and volunteer.
Submission: “My Experiences with Colorism as a South Asian Immigrant Woman: How I Learned to Celebrate and Embrace my Skin Color.”
Our Voices Our Stories Mini Series: Episode 3: On Being Our Sisters’ Keeper
Join Dr. Culbreth and guests, Ms. Bethany Loper and Dr. Alexanderia Smith, authors and contributors to “Our Voices Our Stories: An Anthology of Writings Advancing, Celebrating, Embracing and Empowering Girls and Women of Color” for a discussion on embracing girls and women of color. This episode will focus on how women of color act, react and interact with other, embrace each other and move within and around each other personally, academically and professionally. Topics include: jealously, being envious, race and color, mixed race identity, unity, on loving our sisters, supporting each other through the good, bad and ugly moments, interracial and intraracial unity among women of color, the need to protect, the evil eye, glares, negativity, issues experienced by women of color in the workplace, and the reasons why we embrace girls and women of color, etc.
Dr. Smith is the South Carolina State Counseling Coordinator for Webster University. She earned a Master of Education Degree in Counseling from the University of Georgia in 2001 and earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina in 2007. Dr. Smith is a nationally certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor, as well as a licensed addiction counselor.
Submission: Black Girl Glare
Ms. Bethany Loper
Is a native of Wilmington, Delaware and currently resides in New Castle, Delaware with her family. She is an award-winning poet and author and is currently working on her first novel and poetry book.
Our Voices Our Stories Mini Series: Episode 2: Celebrating Women of Color Writers
Join Dr Culbreth and guests, Ms. Crystal D. Mayo,Mrs. Loretta Moore and Ms Kim-Marie Walker, authors and contributors to “Our Voices Our Stories: An Anthology of Writings Advancing, Celebrating, Embracing and Empowering Girls and Women of Color.” Discussion topics will focus on how the voices of girls and women of color are celebrated through poetry, essays, plays, novels, fiction, non-fiction, short stories and other writings. Topics also include the healing power of the written word, finding your voice and yourself through writing, passion, purpose, and encouraging girls and teens to write.
Ms. Mayo is a writer, actress, educator and teaching artist. She is a Native New Yorker whose literary works are rooted in the African American experience. Her memoir, “Evolution of Me” is a literary collection of snapshots that chronicle growing up in the South Bronx during the 1970’s. Her performance piece “Laugh” highlights her mother’s tumultuous journey through her diagnosis of breast cancer. Crystal hopes her readers will read her memoirs and connect to their essence, the human experience. She is the founder of My Daughter My Legacy, an arts and education company that empowers youth to explore their voice and vision through literacy and the arts.
Submission:Ms. Heriot and Remembering Ma Bea
Mrs. Loretta Moore
Mrs. Moore is a multi-published, African American female writer of novels, poetry, essays and short story collections. To name some published works: From A Narrow Path, The Light Of Day, The Color Of Murder, Saving Grace And Love, The Way Of Love, Bottom Tales And Others. Ghostwriting is another area as a writer she has enjoyed. Several plays she has written that have been productions are: Down The Way With Calvin And Boogie, Sharin’ The Spirit, Gossamer’s People, I Been Blest, Churchtime In New Orleans, Riding A Peacock. She hold a degree in English and has been applauded for theatrical presentations and as well for successful prose endeavors-I maintain affiliations with theatre and literary organizations. Mrs. Moore also volunteers in her community and church.
Submission: The Bottom In My Time
Ms. Kim-Marie Walker
Ms. Walker is an author of nonfiction and fiction works. She is an alum of VONA/Voices, Rhode Island Writers Colony, and Wildacres Writing Retreat. Her in-progress travel memoir, Truth’s Place, Part I, chronicles her 2016 solo pilgrimage to historic U.S. transatlantic slave trade ports, honoring America’s first Africans of the Middle Passage.
Was 2015 a good year for you personally, professionally and socially? Did you achieve your goals? Is your job or career fulfilling? Are the people in your inner circle enhancing your journey? Carefully examine events that occurred in your life in 2015 and if you did not accomplish your goals, ask yourself why. Did you allow negative people to infiltrate your inner circle and bring negativity into your life? Did you lower your standards and expectations? Did you settle? Is your job so unsatisfying that it drained your creativity and/or motivation? Did events just happen that threw you off balance? You probably answered yes to at least one of the questions, and that is okay, because now you are aware of what you need to do to get back on track and make 2016 the year of great accomplishments.
Prepare for 2016 by setting realistic short-term and long-term goals that you will accomplish in the new year. Develop plans for achieving each goal, and when you do, know that it is okay to refuse to settle, understand the importance of setting high standards and expectations for yourself, the reasons why you should never lower your standards, embrace defining yourself for yourself, and know that it is important to live with passion, through your eyes. Develop realistic personal, professional, and social goals that enhance your life and make your journey meaningful, significant, and fulfilling.
The Personal Dimension
This is your life so live it through your eyes. Set yourself up to win big and in style by raising the bar and setting high standards and expectations and refuse to lower them. Personal goals can include a commitment to eating healthy and exercising daily, completing a degree, changing your style, spending quality time with family and friends, preparing to buy your dream house, saving for retirement, redecorating, volunteering, mentoring, starting a non-profit, taking a stand on social issues, planning a trip, or something as simple as writing your memoirs, etc. Regardless of the goals that you decide to pursue, know that you are worthy of the best of everything and then some so do not settle for mediocre when you can have and deserve extraordinary. Focus on pursuing your dreams and turning them into reality by your standards, on your time and by your terms.
Most importantly, set aside time for you. Schedule personal time – time alone to reflect, relax, rest, rebalance, and rejuvenate. You may decide to spend your personal time taking a long walk and enjoying nature, a day at the spa, being home alone, treating yourself to something spectacular, working on a hobby, writing, soul-searching, meditating, or goal setting among other meaningful activities. Regardless of how you spend your personal time, make sure that it is time dedicated for your psychological, emotional, physical, and social well-being and growth. When you are balanced, you will note how other areas of your life seem to flow in a good direction, allowing you to channel positive energy and positive thought processes. You will emerge rejuvenated, rebalanced, and refocused on accomplishing your goals. Focus on thinking positive thoughts, taking positive action, and refusing to allow any negative or toxic people or thoughts to enter your space. Your thoughts and the words that you speak can determine your destiny so focus on being in a good place psychologically, emotionally, physically and socially in 2016. Think positive thoughts in all that you do!
The Professional Dimension
A few weeks ago, I asked a good friend if his job was fulfilling and he responded that he had never been more miserable in his life, and his salary is in the six-figure range. I honestly understood how he felt and suggested that perhaps it was time to move on to something more fulfilling and challenging, he agreed, and shortly thereafter called to inform me that he was changing careers to pursue his dream. The point here is that life is too short to be stuck in a job or career that is making you miserable across the board. Examine your job or career and ask yourself if it is fulfilling. If your answer is yes, wonderful, however if your answer is no, perhaps the time has come for you to make a change. Career changes can be rewarding especially so if you are realistically pursuing a dream. Refuse to settle in a career or job that stagnate your growth and overall satisfaction. Challenge yourself to learn new skills and when you have developed the knowledge, skills and abilities required to enter a new career, begin preparing yourself to make the change. Consider starting your own business by exploring and researching opportunities, developing a business plan, and then moving forward. Know that through hard work, perseverance, and determination, you can be a success story. Set high standards and expectations for yourself and refuse to limit yourself or allow others to limit you. Know that one size does not fit all, you can be bigger, better and bolder, and that change can be good for your mind, body and soul. It is possible that 2016 will be your year to embark on a new or second career. Dare to be different and challenge yourself to reach for the stars!
The Social Dimension
Set high standards and expectations for your social circles and refuse to settle. If you are focused on reaching higher ground in life, then seriously evaluate the people you surround yourself with and ask yourself if they are bringing too much negative energy into your inner circle. Have they grown significantly over the past five years? Are the people within your inner circle holding you back from achieving your goals? If people within your inner circle are stagnating your growth, it is time for a “come to Jesus” after which, you will probably make a decision about whether they will remain a part of your inner circle. Sometimes people do not realize that they are stagnating you and keeping you from reaching your full potential. Set high standards and expectations and surround yourself with positive people who are like-minded and focused on reaching higher ground. Life is a journey and sometimes you have to sever the ties with people in order for you to continue to grow and reach your full potential. Plain and simple, you cannot take everyone with you. Take charge of your life in 2016 and refuse to settle!
In closing, set high standards and expectations for you in 2016, refuse to lower your standards, refuse to settle for mediocre because you deserve extraordinary. Think, believe, and practice positive thought processes in all that you do. Think positively about you personally, professionally and socially. At the end of each day, before you retire for the evening, think positive thoughts about your journey. Your thoughts and the words that you speak have the power to transcend your life. Regardless of the situation, believing, thinking, and speaking positively will make the difference. Believe, with every fiber of your being, that 2016 is going to be the year in which you accomplish great things. Know that the power is within!
Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Successful, and Prosperous 2016 and remember to define yourself for yourself and keep rising to the top!
Women of Color Living Life Fabulous at Fifty 