Month: March 2012

Social Action

Say What?

Impower You

I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t, Yes, No….. This contradiction is a major reason people are not interested in politics. There is no trust in politics when our leaders act this way. So many politicians say one thing and then destroy what they said by saying something completely different. Yes people are allowed to change thier mind, but not at this rate and not on such important issues.

Telling women they are second class citizens hurts men as well. We all suffer when some of us are oppressed. Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is doing just this. By trying to make peace he is going down a road that will only cause more inequality, more violence, more unhappiness, more wars. It is time for our politicians to stick to what they promise and stop caving in to those who wish to oppress condemn and put down. We will not have peace until we can accept everyone as equal of love and respect.

Read the article in the Telegraph about how equal rights are being belittled in Afghanistan: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9130508/Hamid-Karzai-under-fire-on-Afghan-womens-rights.html

 

How do you feel about politicians that create such contradictions?

Art

Wisdom

Impower You

Empowering Discussions

Confidence Plus Greatness Equals Strong Communities

Impower You

I found this girl empowerment program through a connection of a connection. Isn’t that how it usually goes? Word of mouth is still the best marketing available. Confidence to Greatness, http://www.confidencetogreatness.org is a empowerment program for young women. Their vision “..inspires teenage girls to increase their confidence in order to transform communities.”  This is what we need more of. We cannot just teach self esteem, we have to give people a purpose to use it.

Ruby Taylor, a school social worker, started this program in 2007 because she was “..heartbroken by the pain hurt and lack of confidence..” she saw around her.  Her program creates scholarships and funds start ups for teenage girls in urban communities. Please pass this inspirational program along to your family and friends.

What wonderful empowerment program do you like? Please share it below. It does not have to be for any particular group of people.

🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂

Empowering Discussions

Tag You Are It

Impower You

I was tagged by Gorgeousocity in this fun game…. Okay so I changed the rules a bit because I am so busy and you might be too. I replaced the rule to do 11 blogs and 11 questions with 3 blogs and 3 questions. I am still answering all 11 questions since she took the time to write them out. So you can change the number again if you want.

What is your favourite color? Bluegreen

Where do you live? California, USA

What makes you happiest? Laughing

What inspires you? Risk Takers

What it is your favourite movie of all time? Mulan

What impressed you about it? It was a girl fighting for her right to choose her own destiny

What do you think are the most important qualities in a person? Compassion

What’s your favourite subject to read about? World changers

Second favourite subject? Science

Third favourite subject? Art

What do you do for fun? Go outside and do something

Rules:

  • You must post the rules.
  • Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create three new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
  • Tag three people and link to them on your post.
  • Let them know you’ve tagged them.
  • Add a link to the person who tagged you(that’s me).

Here are 3 of my fave blogs:

http://spellcheckaholic.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/watch-what-you-say/

http://janeclaypool.com/2012/02/20/asleep-at-the-wheel/

http://marthaskitchenkorner.blogspot.com/2011/11/invest-in-women-leah-oviedo-author.html

Here are your questions:

1)Why are you so awesome?

2)What makes you strong?

3)How will you change the world in a positive way?

Thanks for playing tag!   

Book Reviews

Two Hundred Fifteen

Impower You

$215 is the amount we have raised so far. WooHoo!  I am so excited that with YOU, we can get “I Am More Than Just a Girl” published by April.  

So…… where are the funds coming in from?

  • $100 from Lynda P.
  • $10 from Brenda M.
  • $50 from Vicki D.
  • $5 from Gorgeousocity
  • $50 from me
I am waiting for more work and hopefully an extra part time job so that I can contribute more. If you know anyone who needs a website or a social media marketing campaign send them my way!Thank you for all your support.

Here is a list of ways you can help distribute 150 books to youth organizations across the USA. Feel free to pick as many actions as you like. If you have any questions about these actions just ask. Your support is greatly appreciated and will have a powerful ripple effect of empowering young women.

1)Share my blog post with people. Either share the link in an email or on a social network. https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/300-books/Write just a few short sentences about why this book is important to you. Make it personal.

2) Join our Facebook page and share it with all your friends.http://www.facebook.com/MTJAG

3)Use the text below these suggestions in an email that you send out and ask others to pass along to all the “Women”, “Mothers”, “Fathers”, “Daughters”, “Youth Leaders” etc. you know.

4)A little bit from a lot of people can make this fundraiser happen! Start a “Change Drive” Ask everyone you know to donate their spare change, collect it, take it to the bank and then donate via my website or send me a check. Send an email for my physical address to: investing in women @ gmail .com

5) Send the information about my free book to youth organizations you volunteer with or that you like.

6) Share my campaign with your local news media, women’s rights advocates, children’s rights activists and celebrities you admire.

7)Share one of my YouTube videos with your network.http://www.youtube.com/user/ImpowerYou/videos

8)Make a video about my campaign and the book. Upload it to YouTube and then send it to everyone you know.

9)Hire me to start and maintain a social media marketing campaign for your organization.

10) Download unique digital art for a $1 donations on my site,http://morethanagirl.webs.com/myart.htm

11)Ask an obscenely rich relative to donate to my campaign. Send them and everyone else directly to my website where they can donate. Just $5 can make a big difference: www.MoreThanAGirl.webs.com

Send this text below as an email and ask your friends to also send this email.
Want to help publish this great book, I Am More Than Just a Girl ?  It provides resources, information, advice and creative exercises to empower women with the knowledge to make their own informed decisions. 
I won’t go into depressing statistics of how often young women are abused, assaulted and oppressed. You don’t need me to remind you that until recently women had very little rights as equals and in some countries are still considered objects that can be owned.  Society encourages us to be outwardly successful, to make lots of money and then we will be happy. We are not often encouraged tofind inner success in the forms of knowledge, happiness and emotional health.
The author, Leah Oviedo, wants to give a free copy of her book to organizations that work with youth in the USA. With your support we can make this happen.  150 books will be given (for free) to youth organizations.  50 books will be given (for free) to young women that are unable to join such organizations. The remaining 100 will be sold and the profit used to buy more books. Later this year Leah would like to have the book translated into other languages so more young women can have access to the book. Currently, young women and parents can read the book online for free,http://morethanagirl.webs.com
An important part of life is to help others feel empowered. We need a total of $1,800 to accomplish our goal. Shout it out on your Facebook pages, donate $5 online or send a check (email: investing in women@ gmail .com for the address). Visit, http://morethanagirl.webs.com to see what perks you will receive for helping publish this important book. If you will join, our goal is to raise the full amount by the end of March.
Read the book for free and pass it on!  Share it with parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, older sisters and brothers, teachers, community leaders, youth organizations and young women. Now is the time to take action! We can no longer wait for someone else to empower the next generation of women. As the saying goes, YOU must be the change you want in this world. If you believe this book is a must have for young women, get involved today.  To follow the progress of the campaign subscribe to the authors blog(https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com).
Pass this on to 10 other people and together we can make the world a brighter place.


Writing

Support a BLOGGER!

Impower You

Will you support this blogger?  Spellcheckaholic is about to enter a contest and would like some help choosing what to enter. If you want some witty writing check our her blog post,  Appeal.

Empowering Discussions

What is in an Apology?

Impower You

According to the Huffington Post (and about a dozen other news outlets), Sandra Fluke is not so quick to except the apology from Rush Limbaugh for calling he a “slut” and  “prostitute” among other insinuations. I have to agree that his apology seems a bit phony.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/sandra-fluke-addresses-ru_n_1321357.html

Usually I can except an apology and move on.  I don’t like to dwell on negativity or live in the past. However an apology that comes from pressure instead of remorse is pointless. When you are quick to take back something you so vehemently stood for, than it can easily be called into question that you are lying. If you really want an apology to carry weight it works best if you take action to back it up.

It’s okay to tell that person that you don’t accept their apology. If you feel wronged and you cannot let go, that is your choice.  If people tell you that you should continue to be angry and you want to move on, it is okay. You and only you can decide what to fight for and when to move on.

When are you able to let go?  When do you feel that it is better to continue to argue?

🙂

Social Action

Education Vs.Conformation

Impower You

This story was reported by Liz Dwyer at Good Education.

A young woman, age 13, was harassed so much her parents pulled her out of school. It wasn’t sutdent on student bullying, but teachers who could not handle criticism.

http://www.good.is/post/a-13-year-old-s-slavery-analogy-raises-some-uncomfortable-truths-in-school/

The girl in question wrote an essay for a contest and compared her school system to slavery. I have to agree with her.  Our public school system was not set up to create critical thinking and dissent. It was set up to create worker bees and patriots. What I learned in school was how to memorize facts. I excelled at school, even though it was challenging to finish all my work and I was bored.

It’s a shame that instead of taking her criticism and fixing the school they simply harassed her so much she left. This reminds me of the saying that “pride causes many falls”.

I have long been a proponent of Montessori, Charter and Home study education. I was able to spend a year in home study and if my mother could afford it I would have stayed that route until graduation. I may have even wanted to attend college right away instead of waiting so long. I was challenged to do more than memorize. I had a wonderful teacher to contact for help and I could work at mt own schedule. Obviously these methods do not work for everyone,but there has to be a better answer. We have millions of students and thousands teachers. We need a system that works for students not for the teachers, principles and superintendents.

It is time for a revolution in education. I believe we need a new curriculum based on critical thinking skills, basic accounting, tax and common sense life skills. We need less History and more Science, less Physical education and more Practical Math skills.

What do you think we need more of in schools?

🙂

Book Reviews, Social Action

Meet Phyllis Chesler

Impower You

If you haven’t heard of Phyllis Chesler, than you are missing out. In my opinion she is one of those amazing women that more people should know of so they can expand their thoughts on what it is to be human. I don’t agree with everything she preaches of course, but she has a lot of valuable information and is an activist for human rights.  She gives a voice to common sense on serious issues. She writes about everything from art and culture to honor killings. If you want sugar coated news and opinions than steer clear. Phyllis is for people who can think for themselves, make their own opinions and take action.

My favorite book she wrote is Letters to a Young Feminist. http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/120/letters-to-a-young-feminist. If you want a heartfelt book on what feminism really is than this is an inspiring and  informative book. It is also not very long. I finished it in 2 days.

Check her out here: http://www.phyllis-chesler.com

It is important to not just express our own opinions but to learn about others. We can learn so much more when we look through another persons eyes because they often have very different experiences than our own. No matter what certain people believe different is good. Different makes this world go round and round. If we all saw everything the same what would be the fun?

Who is someone you admire? Who makes you think, inspires you and encourages you to take positive action? Please leave a comment and if possible a link to where we can learn about that person.

🙂

Empowering Discussions

Update on More Than Skin Deep

Impower You

I shouldn’t be promoting other fundraisers while I am working on my own, but Jasmine Grey is making an important documentary and I want to support her. Besides, since when do I do what sane people do.  Hahaha!

She has reached her her goal, but if she can make more she will be able to do even more with her documentary like add an animation about how AVM happens. This would give people a better understanding of what happens to those affected.  I have donated a copy of my ebook, Word Art and Affirmations to her campaign. There are 17 more days to donate. Follow her campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/More-Than-Skin-Deep

I hope this inspires you to do a selfless act for someone else today.