bloggers – Ananda Leeke

#PressPublish Portland Conference Was TRANSFORMATIVE!!!

Posted by Ananda Leekeon March 30, 2015March 30, 2015in Press Publish1 Comment

TRANSFORMATIVE is the best word to describe my adventures at the WordPress Press Publish Conference held on March 27 and 28, 2015, in Portland, Oregon. It was so transformative I have decided to blog about it this week (Monday-Friday). So get ready for Press Publish highlights on #YogaMonday, #Internet Geek Tuesday, #DigitalSisterhood Wednesday, #CreativityThursday, and #FierceLiving Friday.

Until then, I invite you to check out my #PressPublish Storify blogs.

They feature social media highlights including tweets and photos that I hope will give you an idea as to why Press Publish was so transformative for me.

Did you attend the conference? What were your favorite moments and key takeaways?

Did you watch the conference on livestream? What did you like the most? What did you learn?

Join me at the Press Publish Conference on March 28 in Portand, OR!

Posted by Ananda Leekeon March 2, 2015March 15, 2015in Ananda's Speaking Events2 Comments

Photo Credit: http://presspublish.events

Greetings All,

If you’ve been reading my blog and/or following me on social media, you know I’m heading to Press Publish, WordPress’ first-ever conference featuring WordPress bloggers and the people behind WordPress.com, on March 27 and 28 in Portland, Oregon. While I am at Press Publish, I’ll lead a session on “Blogging for Obama” that will give me an opportunity to share how I began blogging for personal reasons, evolved into a social media leader for the White House, and learned how to make the most of opportunities that have presented themselves as a result of my blogging adventures on March 28.

I’m also serving as a panelist for Michelle Langston’s session, “A Tale of Two Sites.” During this session, you’ll have a chance to look at my older web site and blog and learn how Michelle transformed them into a new and improved site that fully expresses my personality and online goals.

In addition to these sessions, you’ll be able to dive into a day of learning with presentations and tutorials led by an amazing group of speakers on blogging 101, blogging on the go, going pro as a blogger, storytelling, turning your blog into a book or business, writing, WordPress design and plugins, and so much more. Click here to see the schedule.

Oh yeah, you’ll get to attend a Friday evening mixer where you will meet your fellow bloggers (like moi), receive your attendee packet, and enjoy storytelling by Longreads, snacks, and libations.

Guess what? The generous and groovy Press Publish team is offering a special 40% discount to the conference! Click here and use the special coupon code SISTERHOOD40 to register. One last thing — your ticket purchase also gets you a 1-year subscription to the WordPress Premium upgrade, a $99 value, that you can use on any WordPress.com blog. A coupon code and instructions on how to redeem it will be included in your ticket confirmation email.

See you in Portland!

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday! – #BlogHer13 Recap #4 – Celebrating the Beauty & Power of BlogHer’s Multi-Culti Community

Posted by Ananda Leekeon August 20, 2013in Blogher Conference, BlogHer13, Internet Geek TuesdayLeave a comment

Ananda, Dwana, and Pauline -- Photo Credit: BlogHer — Ananda, Dwana, and Pauline — Photo Credit: BlogHer

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

While I was co-hosting the BlogHer Multi Culti party with my digital sisters Pauline Campos and Dwana De La Cerna on July 26 at the Sheraton Chicago, I had so many wonderful conversations with the dynamic members of the BlogHer community. The conversations reminded me how diverse we are as bloggers with different ethnic backgrounds, family histories, gifts, life experiences, opinions, perspectives, and talents. Check out some of the event photos below. All photos are from BlogHer.com. Click here to see the entire collection.

Did you attend the Multi Culti Party? If so, what were some of your favorite moments?

The conversations I had also reminded me of author, blogger, and photographer Karen Walrond’s book, The Beauty of Different.

Photo Credit: Copyright by Karen Walrond

Walrond’s book celebrates the concept that what makes us different makes us beautiful — and may even be the source of our superpowers. Her book personifies how I feel about the BlogHer community.

Our differences make BlogHer more beautiful and powerful. Together, we are able to tap into our superpowers as bloggers and give voice to what so many others may not have the access, courage, or right to say online and offline. And for that I am truly grateful!

What makes the BlogHer community beautiful and powerful to you?

My Digital Sisterhood book writing journey gave birth to the Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 25, 2012in Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project2 Comments

Photo Credit: http://blog.christopherbaan.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/leadership-tag-cloud.png

My Digital Sisterhood book writing journey continues to amaze me. It just gave birth to a new passion and calling called the Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project. What a magical and messy creative process I have! Hold tight for more details on the project! I wanna give you the backstory first.

In an effort to maintain balance and stay on track with my writing, I have decided to pause today since it’s Digital Sisterhood Wednesday and share what’s been happening. Read on … For the past four months my writing journey has invited me to witness and take notes about the powerful ways social media women practice leadership. I had many lightbulb moments about women’s leadership during the BlissDom 2012 Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in February. My BlissDom experience exposed me to a leadership model called “Community Leaders.” The BlissDom founders Alli Worthington and Barbara Jones along with their team created the Community Leaders model so that seasoned bloggers could use their extensive experience to facilitate hands-on, small-group discussions during each session. The Community Leaders also:

Helped new bloggers and first-time conference attendees navigate the BlissDom experience.
Offered inspiration and encouragement.
Shared their blogging wisdom, best practices, and tips.
Engaged in one-on-one conversations that offered listening ears and brainstorming moments.
Gave hugs (especially during my Fierce Living from Your Creative Heart workshop).

The role they played was PRICELESS. I call it Digital Sisterhood Leadership, my newfound passion that I will pursue fully in 2013. I say “pursue fully in 2013” because I am mindful of my need to set boundaries as I take time this year to complete my book.

So what’s next? Drum roll please!!!!

digitalsisterhood leadership project — Digital Sisterhood Network's DC Women in Social Media Focus Group Series on Nonprofit Women Leaders, October 2010 @ MLKing Library

May is going to be an exciting month for the Digital Sisterhood Network (DSN). Click here to learn why. The link will direct you to my audio blog update about the new DSN initiative, the Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project. It will have a soft launch in May that includes #DSLead Twitter chats on May 2, 9, 23, and 30 from 9:00 pm ET to 10:00 pm ET. For more details, visit the DSN web site later today.

Guess what’s else is happening?

The DSN web site will feature a series of interviews with Digital Sisterhood Leaders in May, June, July, August, September, October, and November. Look for a mini celebration during Digital Sisterhood Month in December. The mega launch will be held in January 2013!

So what do you think about my new passion and calling?

Thanks for stopping by!

Ananda’s social media adventures at Blogalicious DC Meet Up on April 27

Posted by Ananda Leekeon May 5, 2010May 5, 2010in Blogalicious, Women in Social MediaLeave a comment

DSCN0492 — Ananda moderating Women in Social Media panel

I had the pleasure of serving as moderator for the Women in Social Media: Creating Your Digital Footprint panel at the Blogalicious DC Meet Up held on April 27 at the Washington, DC Economic Partnership. The following dynamic women served on the panel:

Rhea Brown, Chief PRO Mom Blogger,
Terri Holley, CEO and principal of Creative Blog Solutions, and
Michele McGraw, CEO of Mom Geek Media.

I was able to capture the amazing panelists, Blogalicious co-founders Nyasha Smith and Stacy Ferguson, DC Meet Up organizer/PR professional Xina Eiland,and Niambi Jarvis, Director of the Office on Women’s Policy & Initiatives, in action with my Creative Vado video camera. Check out the videos below.

VIDEOS:

1) Definition of Social Media – Part One by Rhea Brown, Terri Holley, and Michele McGraw

2) Definition of Social Media – Part Two by Rhea Brown, Terri Holley, and Michele McGraw

3) Meaning of Digital Footprint by Terri Holley

4) Blogalicious co-founders Nyasha Smith and Stacey Ferguson

5) DC Meet Up organizer/PR professional Xina Eiland

6) Niambi Jarvis, Director of the Office on Women’s Policy & Initiatives

Check out several photos from the Meet Up below (photo credit: Blogalicious co-founders Nyasha Smith and Stacey Ferguson). Click here to see more photos.

DSCN0493 — Blogalicious DC Meet Up Panelists

Blogalicious is planning additional meet ups and a party at the BlogHer conference in August. Be sure to check out these events and webinars (recordings available).

Are you going to register for Blogalicious 2010 in Miami? I am!

Are you going to BlogHer? I am!

What’s Coming in September – OneWebDay and National Yoga Month

Posted by Ananda Leekeon August 19, 2009August 19, 2009in Creativity, kg yoga life practices, OneWebDay, Yoga1 Comment

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Happy Wednesday!

Today I thought I would give you a sneak peak at what’s going on with me during the month of September. See the news below.

1) On September 1, I will launch kg yoga life practices’ OM A Day Campaign, an online effort that will promote yoga and relaxation exercises for bloggers, Internet users, and creative folks. OM A Day will offer yoga tips, resources, and radio shows for 30 days. More information will be posted next week on http://kgyoga.blogspot.com.

2) On September 11, I will kick off kg yoga life practices Meetup Group’s Global Mala Project for Peace Awareness, a nine-day yoga class series that seeks to remind individuals that they have the power to create more peace in the world through mindfulness in their daily lives.Participants will have an opportunity to do 12 sun salutations. At the end of the nine-day practice, participants will complete 108 sun salutations dedicated to peace. The event will also honor individuals and countries impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11th, United Nations International Peace, and Autumn Equinox. See the schedule below. For more information, check kg yoga life practices’ Meetup Group next week: http://yoga.meetup.com/584.

kg yoga life practices’ Global Mala Project for Peace Awareness was organized based on yoga teacher/peace activist Shiva Rea’s Global Mala Project (http://www.globalmala.org) The purpose of the Project is to unite the global yoga community to form a “mala around the earth” through yoga, meditation, and mantra practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108. A mala is a set of prayer beads made from 108 beads and used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or name of a sacred deity.

Global Mala Project for Peace Awareness Schedule

a. September 9 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

b. September 10 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

c. September 11 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

d. September 12 @ 9am-9:30am

e. September 13 @ 9am-9:30am

f. September 14 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

g. September 15 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

h. September 16 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

i. September 17 @ 6:45pm-7:15pm

3) September 22 marks kg yoga life practices’ Meetup Group’s first annual celebration of OneWebDay (http://onewebday.org) and National Yoga Month (http://www.yogamonth.org). Join me for a FREE short morning yoga class for Internet users from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. in Malcolm X-Meridian Hill Park in DC. The class will meet by the waterfall that faces the reflecting pool located at the 16 Street and Florida Avenue, NW entrance. Participants should dress comfortably, refrain from eating and drinking two hours before the class, and bring their own mats. Yoga mats will NOT be provided. If it rains, the class will not be held.

OneWebDay was established by Susan P. Crawford in 2006 to encourage Internet users to celebrate online life and show how the Internet affects their lives. For more information, visit
http://onewebday.org. For more information, visit http://yoga.meetup.com/584.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, and Yoga OMs,

Ananda