Here’s a great opportunity to express your digital citizenship. Submit your application to attend the State Department’s International Women of Courage Meetup by February 26 at 5pm EST. Click on the link for more details. http://www.state.gov/social/237505.htm
My groovy friends at WordPress published a speaker spotlight about yours truly today. Check it out below and register for the Press Publish conference on March 28 in Portland. I hope to see you there!
Ananda Leeke will be joining us as a speaker in Portland from her home in Washington, DC. Published author, founder of the Digital Sisterhood Network, artist, yoga practitioner, social media professional…. Ananda’s accomplishments are so many and so varied that it was almost painful trying to to summarize them into a short blurb for our speaker’s list. Needless to say, we feel privileged that she’ll be part of the inaugural Press Publish this March.
One of the most enjoyable parts of organizing a conference like this is getting to know the speakers a little bit as you prepare for the event and flesh out their session ideas with them. Working with Ananda has been great fun, and hearing the story of how she has evolved personally and professionally since she began blogging 10 years ago is truly inspiring. She’ll be talking about this evolution, and how you can both create and find…
This week, I am hosting a Community Conversation on Blogging Burnout for the Press Publish Conference and Community. It is giving me an opportunity to meet, greet, and interact with people who are attending the Press Publish Conference I’m speaking at on March 28 in Portland, Oregon. Check out the conversation below.
My first tango with blogging burnout happened shortly after I published my first novel. I had spent many months pushing myself to use my blog to market my book. My “joie de vivre” for blogging about my journey as an artist and author died a little more each week I chose to turn up the volume on my marketing efforts. I became a marketing machine on steroids. I wasn’t having fun. My stories about my creative journey were missing in action. It took several conversations with people close to me to realize I needed to step back from the blog, rest, and regroup. When I finally made that decision, it was the best thing I could have done because it created space for me to take a mini break. That space allowed me to rest and rediscover my “joie de vivre” for blogging.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,600 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.
On the first day of Digital Sisterhood Month, Digital Sisterhood Network is launching the “My #DigitalSisterhood Community Is Campaign.” Check out what 2012 Digital Sister of the Year Jessica Solomon said about her Digital Sisterhood Community.
Jessica Solomon’s sign for My #DigitalSisterhood Community Is Campaign
My #DigitalSisterhood Community Is Campaign invites women in social media and tech to give shout outs to the Digital Sisters and women’s online and offline communities, groups, and organizations that nurture, support, and affirm them. It’s easy to participate. See the four easy steps below.
4 EASY STEPS:
Get a piece of paper and something to write with (a pen or magic marker). Feel free to create a document on your lap top or computer.
Write or type the following statement on the paper and include the names and/or Instagram/Twitter IDs of the Digital Sisters and women’s online and offline communities, groups, and organizations that nurture, support, and affirm you in the blank: My #DigitalSisterhood Community Is ___________________.
Have someone take a photo of you and your sign. Be sure to SMILE!
Post your photo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the #DigitalSisterhood and #DSMonth hashtags. We’ll repost it on DSN social media sites.
Did you know 2014 marks the fifth annual celebration of Digital Sisterhood Month (#DSMonth)? That’s right Digital Sisterhood Network (DSN) is celebrating FIVE years!!!!!
This year’s theme is “Gratitude for #DigitalSisterhood Communities.” Click here to read more about #DSMonth.
November is a great month to reflect on the many things I am thankful for. Women’s empowerment through creativity, education, economics, health, law enforcement, politics, reproductive health, safety, and technology is one thing I am extremely grateful for this year (every year).
2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. In roughly 100 days, close to one million Rwandese women, men, and children were murdered. In the aftermath, women became the largest population group. In an effort to move forward, they turned to their past, reclaimed their unique heritage of weaving, and organized groups of weavers.
I remember watching the news reports on television in 1994 and thinking, “how could this happen?” When I traveled to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women that was held in Beijing, China in 1995, I had many discussions with African women from countries bordering Rwanda. Their insights, stories, and connections to Rwandan women allowed me to have a deeper understanding of what happened.
This year, I am celebrating the creative and economic power of Rwandese women who participate in Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace Project which was established to provide trade, not aid in 2005.
Photo Credit: Macys.com – Path to Peace baskets
Through the 10-year-old Project, Rwandese women weavers have created baskets that generate income for their families. They also receive the opportunity to actively shape their future as entrepreneurs and the future of their families, communities, and countries.
Rwanda Path to Peace basket
Check out my Path to Peace basket that Rwandese women made using sweetgrass and raffia. The design incorporates traditional Rwandan weaving techniques.
One way you can support Rwandese women is by purchasing a basket from Macy’s Path to Peace Project collection. Give it as a Thanksgiving gratitude gift or December holiday gift. Click here for more information.
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has provided me with compensation for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons are fast approaching. They are two of my favorite holidays. What are your favorite holidays? How do you celebrate them?
I celebrate Thanksgiving with a family dinner hosted by my parents. My brothers, sisters, cousins, and family friends attend the dinner. Some folks bring dishes. Others help set up and clean dishes. It’s a team effort!
During the Christmas season, I invite friends and family to visit the National Christmas Tree and go on walking tours to see festive decorations on apartment buildings, businesses, and houses in my favorite neighborhoods: U Street, 16th Street, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, and Columbia Heights.
This year, I am starting a new tradition by going to see the holiday window displays at Macy’s Metro Center on Saturday, November 22 (outside on G Street, NW) at 2:00 p.m. American Ballet Theatre’s Misty Copeland and Fox 5 news anchor Allison Seymour will co-host the event with a count down to the grand reveal of the window displays with the Ballou High School Marching Band and Santa Claus himself. The event will include performances featuring Bystorm/RCA recording artist Mali Music and The Voice contestant Ddendyl, The Washington Performing Arts Society’s Children of the Gospel Choir and excerpts from The Nutcracker by The Washington Ballet on the Main Stage. Afterwards, you can head inside of Macy’s for an afternoon of excitement and holiday joy – there’s something for everyone!
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has provided me with compensation for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
Ananda Leeke will be joining us as a speaker in Portland from her home in Washington, DC. Published author, founder of the Digital Sisterhood Network, artist, yoga practitioner, social media professional…. Ananda’s accomplishments are so many and so varied that it was almost painful trying to to summarize them into a short blurb for our speaker’s list. Needless to say, we feel privileged that she’ll be part of the inaugural Press Publish this March.
Ananda Leeke 