See you good people on March 1!
Category: Uncategorized
Ananda is on a blog break from now and until March 1
How I Plan to Keep the Heart of Haiti Beating in 2011: Way #3 – Become more aware of Haitian women’s lives by supporting the documentary film Poto Mitan: Haitian Women Pillars of the Global Economy
Serving as a Heart of Haiti ambassador has reignited my interest in the lives of Haitian women which began in 1985 when I met my Morgan State University roommate and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority sister Marie-Denise (Mirabeau) Simon and her mother “Mama Freda.” Mama Freda is a no nonsense Haitian woman who loves the goodness of life. She can cook up a Haitian feast fit for Haitian queens too! During one of our many conversations, she told me about her early life in Haiti, how she studied nursing in Canada, and later moved to New York City to work as a nurse. Her stories were filled with moments when she reached into her spirit for courage and faith to live beyond any limitations people or society placed on her. She always encouraged me to be a caring, generous, intelligent, and independent femme (woman) who uses her life to help others.
Ten years after meeting Mama Freda, my interest in Haitian women blossomed into a full blown passion during the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. While in Beijing, I learned about the history of Ligue Feminine d’Action Sociale or Women’s League for Social Action, the first Haitian feminist organization that was established by Haitian women intellectuals, professionals, and activists from the middle and upper classes in 1934. During their first 25 years of existence, Ligue Feminine d’Action Sociale focused its energy on gaining women’s rights to vote, access to education, and equality for married women. Since then, I have followed the work of Haitian feminist organizations Solidarité Fanm Ayisyen (SOFA, Haitian Women’s Solidarity) and Kay Fanm (Women’s House).
After the earthquake in 2010, I started looking online for women’s organizations and other efforts that support and tell the stories of Haitian women. My online research led me to Poto Mitan, a documentary film about the compelling lives of five courageous Haitian women workers. Join the Facebook Page to learn more about the film. I plan to purchase the film’s DVD and share it with family and friends this year. Watch the YouTube video trailer below.
I also plan to pay more attention to the work of Haitian feminist organizations, launch an online fundraiser (or two) to support the organizations, and share more information about the lives and concerns of Haitian women on this blog and my Digital Sisterhood Network web site.
What are you planning to do to honor the people of Haiti this year?
PS: Be sure to listen to NPR’s Tell Me More’s report on Haitian women and the impact of rape on their lives after the January 2010 earthquake that aired today.
Highlights from DC Digital Sisterhood Month Weekend
010, originally uploaded by anandaleeke.
Digital Sisterhood Month has been amazing so far. Yesterday, I hosted the DC Digital Sisterhood Month field trip to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Digital sisters Danielle Hatchett (@dyhatchett on Twitter) and Xina Eiland (@xeiland on Twitter) attended the event. We had a wonderful time viewing the beautiful artwork of Dr. Lois Mailou Jones, an African American artist and former professor of art at Howard University. Click here to see additional photos from the event.
Danielle arrived first. So she won a copy of my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. Love’s Troubadours tells the story of Karma Francois, a museum curator, art consultant, and yoga teacher. It is based in Washington, DC. It also discusses Dr. Jones’ artwork “Jennie” and “Les Fetiches” (two paintings in the museum exhibit) and the National Museum of Women in the Art. Visit www.lovestroubadours.com for more information. My book is available on Amazon.com too.
I also enjoyed having dinner at Teaism (www.teaism.com), an Asian-inspired cafe that is owned by woman entrepreneur, on Sunday evening and practicing yin and yang yoga during the field trip to Tranquil Space, a yoga studio owned by author/yoga instructor/entrepreneur Kimberly Wilson on Saturday afternoon. Visit www.tranquilspace.com for more information on the yoga studio. The whole weekend was a Digital Sisterhood blast that allowed women to support other women-owned businesses and cultural institutions!
I am happy to report that this weekend’s Definition of Digital Sisterhood contest had two winners Treva Lindsay (@divafeminist on Twitter) Bernadette Davis (@bernadettedavis on Twitter). See their definitions below. Both ladies won a one hour creativity coaching session with me. Bernadette has already scheduled hers!
@divafeminist #digitalsisterhood def: strength in our virtual dissonance towards injustce&our affirmations of each other
@BernadetteDavis – #digitalsisterhood = making authentic connections, keeping an open mind, having someone’s back and using your talent, network to help women
Get ready for digital sisterhood moments in the Be Blogalicious film! It’s coming later this fall!
Today, Tyler New Media released the trailer for the Be Blogalicious film. Check out the trailer video below. I am so happy Rosa Alonso, founder of My Latino Voice, discussed digital sisterhood. What a powerful film! Click on the link to pre-order the film (only $15 – I ordered mine today): http://blogaliciousweekend.com/the-film.
PS: Tyler New Media interviewed me for the film. So I may be in it! Stay tuned!
Ananda’s speaking adventures at Ignite DC #4 on June 16, 2010
Happy Thursday!
Last night I spoke at Ignite DC #4. “Who lives inside of me?” was the title of my five-minute talk. Visit www.ignite-dc.com to learn more about this amazing event. Click here to read a summary of my talk: http://www.ignite-dc.com/speakers/369.
My talk was based on my eight archetypes discussed in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (November 2009, Amazon.com). Six-word memoirs, yoga, poetry, and my creative process were mentioned during my talk.
My dad “J” videotaped my talk. See the video below. The Ignite DC organizers will post the 16 speakers’ talks on Blip.tv in a few weeks. I’ll be sure to post the link when it goes live.
Ignite DC #4 was a great event. I saw so many friends and met many new people. I also took a lot of photos. Click here to see my Flickr photo set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anandaleeke/sets/72157624167809241.
Many thanks to the Ignite DC organizers, sponsors, attendees, and speakers (amazing group of folks — I learned so much from them and laughed too!!!). A big thanks to everyone on Twitter and Facebook who mentioned my talk, took photos, and shared my links.
Enjoy your day and weekend!
PS: Blogging While Brown is my next social media event! Visit www.bloggingwhilebrown.com or http://twitter.com/bwbconference. Blogging While Brown begins on June 18 at the Washington Convention Center in DC. I will teach a yoga class for social media users from 8:15 am to 8:30 am on June 19. I am so excited about attending the conference. It will be my third Blogging While Brown conference! I am also excited about going to the Blogalicious/Red Pump Project meet up at Tabaq on June 19. So get ready for lots more videos, photos, and Facebook/Twitter posts!!!!
Listen to Ananda’s morning running adventure
What are your June adventures? Learn about Ananda’s June adventures on Sisterhood the Blog Radio, Ignite DC #4, Blogging While Brown, and DC She Writes Meet Up.
Hi everyone,
What kind of June adventures do you have planned? My June adventures are fun-filled. Check them out below. Hope you can join me!
Ananda’s June Adventures
1) Ananda is hosting the Women in Social Media series on Sisterhood the Blog Radio on June 10 at 8 pm EST (Pam Perry), June 15 at 8:30 pm EST (Katherine Lewis), and June 22 at 8 pm EST (Shonali Burke).
2) Come here Ananda’s June 16th talk on “Who’s living inside of me?” from 6pm to 10pm at Ignite DC, Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC.
3) Watch Ananda’s kg yoga life practices class on Mom TV on June 16 at 8:00 pm EST (the show will be pre-recorded in the morning). Click on the link to watch the show: http://www.momtv.com/kgyogalife.html.
4) Register for the Blogging While Brown conference in DC (click here to register) and take Ananda’s yoga class for social media users on June 19 from 8:15 am to 8:30 am at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place Northwest, Washington, DC (located at Mt Vernon/Convention Center subway station).
5) Ananda is serving as the organizer for the DC She Writes Meet Up on June 29 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Teaism, 400 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Click on the link for more details: http://www.shewrites.com/events/washington-dc-sw-first. She Writes – www.shewrites.com – is a social networking site for women writers. It was established on June 29, 2009. The Meet Up will celebrate the first year anniversary.
Great Moments from the Weekend: Ananda’s Artist Date @ Elizabeth Catlett in Mexico exhibit and its connection to her books That Which Awakens Me & Love’s Troubadours
Elizabeth Catlett
Hi All,
This weekend, I went to see an exhibit featuring the work of Elizabeth Catlett at the Mexican Cultural Institute on 16th Street in northwest DC. Click here to learn more about the Catlett exhibit. It closes on May 29. If you are in DC, consider attending Professor David Driscoll’s lecture about Catlett’s work on March 27 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute. It’s free!
Catlett is one of my favorite artists. She was born in DC in 1915 and is a graduate of Howard University (like me!). Click here to learn more about Catlett.
I have given the world my songs by Elizabeth Catlett
The highlight of my visit to the Mexican Cultural Institute was seeing Catlett’s I have given the world my songs. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this piece of art. It inspired a poem in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery. Click here to listen to me read the poem. FYI – I also discuss Catlett’s work in my novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One.
Click on the Cinchcast audio blog to hear me talk about my visit to the Mexican Cultural Institute.
Ananda will talk about “The Creative Entrepreneur” on 1.17 episode of Motivation Mama’s BlogTalkRadio show
Happy Weekend!
Join me for a juicy conversation about “The Creative Entrepreneur” with Denise Hart, “The Motivated Mindset Coach” on January 17 at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on Motivation Mama’s BlogTalkRadio show. Click here to listen to the live show: www.blogtalkradio.com/motivationmama. If you miss the live show, don’t fret. You will be able to listen to a recording at your convenience on Motivation Mama BlogTalkRadio show web site: www.blogtalkradio.com/motivationmama.
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for all my blessings and lessons,
Ananda
Ananda Leeke 
