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Are you gearing up for OneWebDay on September 22? When did you first start using the Internet? What are 2 of your fondest Internet memories?

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Hi Everybody!

Have you caught the OneWebDay 2009 (www.onewebday.org) fever yet? If not, watch the YouTube video below featuring Susan Crawford, the founder of OneWebDay.  It will inform and energize you!

If you have caught the OneWebDay 2009 fever, then join the OneWebDay social networking site so you can really stay informed. It is FREE.  Click here: http://my.onewebday.org.

On September 1, join me in participating in kg yoga life practices’ OneWebDay 22 Countdown Campaign (September 1-22), an online campaign that invites Internet users to:

-blog,
-tweet,
-include links and insights in their status updates and groups on Facebook and other social networking sites,
-use social bookmarking to share information,
-post photos,
-send emails and texts,
-record audio blogs and podcasts,
-create videos, and
-make Slide Share presentations that express the positive impact the Internet has had on their lives and work.

 

Click here for more information: http://kgyoga.blogspot.com/2009/08/kg-yoga-life-practices-onewebday-22.html. Watch my OneWebDay 22 Countdown promo on Ananda Leeke TV below.

 

Before you go, tell me when you first started using the Internet and two of your fondest Internet memories.  Don’t leave out any details! 

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When I started using the Internet:   After I came back from my trip to Egypt in July 1995, I started practicing yoga and using the Internet.  A friend helped me set up my very first AOL account on my computer.  I used to get so excited when I would receive email.  “You’ve Got Mail” became one of my favorite slogans.  It was also one of my favorite movies (another story for another time). 

 

Two of my fondest Internet memories:  

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Catherine Austin Fitts, Founder of The Hamilton Securities Group, Inc.

One memory occurred in January 1996 when I was recruited by Catherine Austin Fitts, the founder of The  Hamilton Securities Group, Inc., to manage a $7 billion Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loan transaction. Austin is a dynamic investment banker and former Assistant Secretary of the FHA in the first Bush Administration: http://solari.com/about-us/catherine.  She is currently President and CEO of Solari, Inc. (http://solari.com).  In 1991, Austin used her own money to establish Hamilton as a woman-owned investment bank and financial software firm that emphasized digital technology and social responsibility.  What a HUGE move for a woman! 

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Hamilton’s high tech offices on Dupont Circle in D.C.

Hamilton’s offices and culture were cutting edge. My colleagues were amazing.  Diversity and a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning were core values that we all shared.  Hamilton felt like a Silicon Valley tech company in D.C.  Fast Company and Wired were required reading.  Click here to learn more about Hamilton:  http://www.dunwalke.com/11_Hamilton_Securities.htm.

I met Austin while working as the debt manager for the Office of the D.C. Treasurer. Austin’s passion for the Internet influenced me greatly.  She inspired me to dive deep into digital technology and made sure I had ample opportunities to express my passion and marry it with my law degree and experience in securities and financial regulation.  As a result, I  established and managed Hamilton’s intellectual property protection program for its online products and services. 

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My second fondest memory was seeing the power of the Internet in action while I represented Hamilton at the U.N. Conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996.   It was amazing to see large crowds of people using the Internet cafe. Now I wonder how we ever lived without wi-fi and smart phones! 

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, and OneWebDay Love,

Ananda, an Internet and yoga enthusiast

Listen to update w/ Ananda for week of 8/23

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Listen to Ananda share her schedule of radio show interviews for the week of August 24-30. She also talks about her kg yoga life practices’ OneWebDay yoga event on 9.22, OneWebDay 22 Countdown Campaign, and OM A Day Campaign.

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Ananda’s Update for Week of 8/17

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Listen to Ananda give an update about her blogs (Author Ananda Leeke on WordPress, Sisterhood the Blog on WordPress, and kg yoga life practices on Blogspot.com), Sisterhood the Blog Radio shows, and webisodes of Ananda Leeke TV for the week of 8/17.

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Ananda’s Audio Blog – Listen to her read “Creative Paradigm,” a poem about artist/musician/songwriter Eric Roberson

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Listen to Ananda share her thoughts about Eric Roberson, a talented artist, musician, and songwriter who inspires her creativity. She also reads “Creative Paradigm,” a poem that pays tribute to Eric Roberson. It will be featured in Ananda’s new book, That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (September 2009).

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Sisterhood, the Blog Radio Explores Lessons Learned by Women Bloggers at Blogher 2009 Beginning August 6@ 8pm EST

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blogher2009

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.prlog.org/10301996-sisterhood-the-blog-radio-explores-lessons-learned-by-women-bloggers-at-blogher-2009.html

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 05, 2009 – Washington, DC – Author/Blogger/Social Media Strategist Ananda Leeke will host  a series of episodes that discuss lessons learned from the Blogher 2009 conference (www.blogher.com) on Sisterhood, the Blog Radio (www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015) beginning August 6 at 8:00 p.m. EST.  The guest for the August 6th episode is Prisoner’s Wife, a blogger who attended the Blogher 2009 conference.  Prisoner’s Wife will share her reasons for attending Blogher, favorite Blogher moments, lessons learned, and definition of sisterhood. Prisoner’s Wife is a writer, mother, wife, and middle-school English teacher.  To learn more about Prisoner’s Wife, visit http://theprisonerswife.blogspot.com.  Visit www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015 to listen to the show.  If you miss the live show, you can download and listen to a recording from the web site: www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015.  Additional episodes in the Lessons Learned from Blogher 2009 will be held on:  

1) August 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Natalie McNeal, the founder of The Frugalista Files blog (http://miamiherald.typepad.com/frugalista) and savings expert for www.geezeo.com, a financial site;

2) August 12 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Denene Millner, the founder of MyBrownBaby blog (www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com) and co-author of What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships, What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know About Sex, and Money, Power, Respect: What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know;

3) August 13  at 8:00 p.m. EST – Holly Buchanan, a women’s marketing consultant (www.thesoccermommyth.com) and co- author of The Soccer Mom Myth;

4) August 14 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Lucrecer Braxton, the founder of Art-Slam blog (www.art-slam.com);

5) August 15 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Deb Rox, the founder of Deb on the Rocks blog (www.debontherocks.com)  and author of 5 Ways to {Blank} Your Blog;

6) August 17 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Kamy Wicoff, the founder of SheWrites.com (www.shewrites.com) and author of I Do but I Don’t: Walking Down the Aisle without Losing Your Mind and I Do but I Don’t: Why the Way We Marry Matters; and

7) August 24 at 8:00 p.m. EST – Bronx Bohemian, the founder of Bronx Bohemian blog (http://bronxbohemian.wordpress.com).

Sisterhood, the Blog Radio features one-on-one conversations with women about sisterhood, self-discovery, self-expression, spirituality, self-care, self-expression, social justice advocacy, and social media. Sisterhood, the Blog Radio supports the following social media projects:

1) Facebook Group – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23050254985;

2) Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/sisterhdtheblog; and

3) WordPress – http://sisterhoodtheblog.wordpress.com.

Fathers and Daughters on July 31st Episode of The Ananda Leeke Show on Talkshoe.com

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Me and my father Dr. John F. Leeke affectionately

known as “J” hanging out in Adams Morgan in DC

 

Happy Wednesday!

Join me for a juicy conversation with my father Dr. John F. Leeke (a/k/a “J”) about fathers and daughters on the July 31st episode of The Ananda Leeke Show at 8:00 p.m. EST on Talkshoe.com. Click here to listen to the show:  http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/15820.  We will discuss how our father-daughter relationship has impacted my life choices, creativity, and career. 

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We will also share our thoughts about the book, Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers (http://www.daughtersofmen.com) by Rachel Vassel.  I recently gave this book to “J” for his 70th birthday.  It’s one of his favorites!

If you miss the show, don’t panic. You can download a recording to your computer or via iTunes a few minutes after the show airs or whenever you have free time.  Click here to download a recording:  http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/15820.

What is your relationship with your father?

How has your father impacted your life choices and career?

Enjoy your day!

Peace and Creativity,

Ananda

Back from Blogher 2009 – Tune into Sisterhood, the Blog Radio and listen to my Blogher reflections on July 28th @ 8pm

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blogher

Happy Monday!

I am back from Blogher 2009 (www.blogher.com). I had a grand time with the Blogher ladies and sponsors in Chicago. I also had so much fun using my Vado Creative Cam and filming webisodes of Ananda Leeke TV (www.youtube.com/anandaleeke).  I was able to create a groovy series on Black women bloggers who attended the conference.  Look for the webisodes later this week.  I also filmed some fun episodes featuring me sharing my insights and chatting with Sam Smith, one of the coolest guys at Blogher.  I did something unexpected and participated in two video projects. One was for Tropicana Juice.  I gave my healthy tip on eating oatmeal with raisins and honey for breakfast.  My webisode will be posted on Blogher and Tropicana’s web sites.  I also gave my two cents on what advertisers should consider when marketing to women in a documentary filmed by Holly Buchanon.     

The Windy City weather was fabulous.  I had time to meet my cousin Ellen and sistalove Mari for dinner at two Indian and Nepalese restaurants.  I also went to the National Museum of Mexican Art.  I will post videos from Ananda Leeke TV featuring my museum visit later this week.  

Be sure to tune into Sisterhood, the Blog Radio Series on Blogher 2009 (www.blogher.com) beginning Tuesday, July 28 at 8pm EST on Talkshoe.com:  http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015.  The first episode will feature yours truly sharing my reflections on Blogher 2009.  I will reveal my reasons for attending the conference on July 24 and 25 in Chicago, favorite Blogher moments, and lessons learned from Blogher workshop sessions.  I will also give a preview of the August series of interviews featuring approximately nine Blogher participants.  

If you miss the live show, don’t panic. You can download a recording to your computer or via iTunes a few minutes after the show airs on July 28th.  Click here to download:  http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/42015.

FYI – As of today, four dynamic women in the  blogosphere have confirmed their participation in the August series on Blogher 2009.  See below.

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Natalie McNeal

1) Natalie McNeal, founder of The Frugalista Files blog (http://miamiherald.typepad.com/frugalista), will be interviewed on August 10 at 8pm EST.  Natalie is a journalist and currently works for the Miami Herald.  In 2008, she launched The Frugalista Files as a personal finance blog.  She is the savings expert for www.geezeo.com, a financial site.

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Denene Millner

2) Denene Millner, founder of MyBrownBaby blog  (www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com) will be interviewed on August 12th at 8pm EST.  Denene co-authored several books with her husband, writer Nick Chiles:  What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships, What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know About Sex, and Money, Power, Respect: What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know.  They also wrote three novels: Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, In Love and War, and A Love Story.  Denene partnered with writers Mitzi Miller and Angela Burt-Murray (Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine) to write  The Angry Black Woman’s Guide to Life and The Vow, a novel.  Denene and Mitzi penned a new teen novel series featuring HOTLANTA and If Only You Knew.  For more information about Denene, visit www.celebrateblacklove.com.

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Lucrecer Braxton

3) Lucrecer Braxton, founder of Art-Slam blog (http://www.art-slam.com), will be interviewed on August 14th at 8pm EST.  Lucrecer established Art Slam as an art journaling blog that inspires and cultivates authentic creativity.  Art Slam is also a community of scrapbookers, journalers, and mixed media artists.

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Deb Rox

4) Deb Rox, author of 5 Ways to {Blank} Your Blog (www.hotblogstars.com/book.html) and founder of Deb on the Rocks blog (www.debontherocks.com), will be interviewed on August 15th at 8pm EST. Deb is also a partner in 3 Smart Girlz(http://www.3smartgirlz.com), a consulting firm  that helps others diversify, expand, develop new streams of income, and implement new marketing or operational technologies.

Celebrating New Surgeon General – Dr. Regina Benjamin and Sharing Poem About Obama Women

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SURGEON GENERAL BENJAMIN

Dr. Regina Benjamin

 

Happy Monday! 

I am so excited about President Obama’s selecting Dr. Regina Benjamin, a fabulous and fierce African American woman, as the new Surgeon General.  What a way to start a Monday!  Click here to read the article from the Associated Press: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_surgeon_general. 

Dr. Benjamin is founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.  Her clinic is making a difference in the lives of the underserved poor in a small fishing village with approximately 2,500 people. She is a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans (B.A. in Chemistry), University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.D.), and Tulane University (MBA). Dr. Benjamin  was named by Time Magazine as one of the “Nation’s 50 Future Leaders Age 40 and Under. ” She was featured in a New York Times article, “Angel in a White Coat, ” and was chosen “Person of the Week” by ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, “Woman of the Year” by CBS This Morning, and “Woman of the Year” by People Magazine.  Click here to learn more about Dr. Benjamin and her Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic:  www.bayouclinic.org/SubMenu.aspx?id=10. 

President Obama’s administration has a cadre of powerful African American women affectionately known as  the “Obama women.”   They inspire me to live a full life, do my best, and serve my community and country by sharing my gifts.  I celebrate the “Obama women” in my new book, That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery(Summer 2009 – iUniverse, Inc.).  See the poem below.  Let me know what you think.

What do you think about Dr. Regina Benjamin?

Who are your favorite Obama women? 

My favorites are First Lady Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Desiree Rogers, Susan Rice, Lisa Jackson, and Dr. Regina Benjamin.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, and Power to the Obama Women,

Ananda   

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First Lady Michelle Obama

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Desiree Rogers (standing) and Valerie Jarrett (sitting)

POEM

Sista7: The Obama Women

Copyright 2009 by Madelyn C. Leeke

 

When I checked my email this morning, I had a message from my father, a 24/7/365 supporter of President Barack H. Obama.

Daddy’s email greeted me with positive news.

It was a Washington Post article about the brilliant, bold, and beautiful Black women in the Obama administration.

What a way to start a Wednesday in March during Women’s History Month!

The article profiled the Sista7.

Valerie Jarrett, a Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison.

Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary.

Susan Rice, United Nations Ambassador.

Cassandra Butts, deputy White House counsel.

Mona Sutphen, the first Black woman to serve as deputy chief of staff.

Lisa Jackson, the first Black person to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Melody Barnes, the first Black woman to run the Domestic Policy Council.

They represent something new in Washington: the largest contingent of high-ranking Black women to work for a president.

Trailblazers is the word that captures it all for me.

These phenomenal women have emerged from the margins of American society to the position of gatekeeper in one of the greatest countries in the world.

Each one is a household name in my life.

Tracking their efforts on the Internet is one of my favorite things to do.

Watching them in action inspires me.

They have become an affirmation of what’s possible for Black women in America.

That’s why I claim them as my sheros.

That’s why I continuously celebrate their presence, passion, and power.

May we all do the same.