Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Prayers for 9-11


Today we pray for the families of those lost on September 11th eleven years ago. We pray that today the memories of your loved ones brings you greater joy than the grief of their loss.

We also pray for those heroes who responded to the emergencies associated with the tragedies in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania whose lives are forever changed.

We will remember you and never forget!



Monday, August 27, 2012

Are Your Grandparents Special? Tell Us Why for National Grandparents Day!

Are your grandparents special? Tell us why!


    


Contact us at info@womenatliberty.com, @womenatliberty (Twitter) or Women History Makers-DC, MD, VA.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

An American Debate: Beliefs vs. Rights

by Nona Ogunsula


The recent Chick-fil-A debate that was caused by CEO Dan Cathy's comments about traditional marriage was, for me, another example of how intolerant we are becoming as a nation! There will never be an end to discrimination if people do not learn the difference between beliefs and rights. In America, your right to believe whatever you want to believe is guaranteed by the American Constitution and specifically, the Bill of Rights. Remember those? 

The very First Amendment says, 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."  

These Rights along with the U.S. Constitution, are what make America a country where it is unlawful to restrict a person's, especially American Ciitizens', individual or inalienable rights without due process.  We must not forget the history from which these documents as well as the Declaration of Independence were born. It was an oppressive British government who was unduly influenced by government sanctioned religion. Unfortunately world history including Biblical history, is fraught with too many examples where people in power used religion to commit abuses and atrocities. Remember the Early Christians, The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, etc. (If not, a study of history is in order.)

So now, you have the right to believe whatever you want to believe about religion and issues like marriage, but you do not have a right to force your beliefs on others. Nor do you have a right to discriminate against others in employment, housing, public accommodations, etc. because they believe differently than you. 

The political climate in Washington DC is a reflection of the intolerance running rampant in our country and an inability of people to respectfully disagree on issues. For Christians, take note of Jesus' behavior in the temple. The only time he physically disagreed with anyone was when they were taking advantage of people in the name of God right in the House of Worship. (See John 2:12-23 or view movie clip below for a dramatic portrayal of the scripture.*) For those who are not Christians, you can't change people's behavior or beliefs by "bullying" them. Just take a look at the conflict in the Middle East! 

Lastly, we should stop asking the President of the United States to personally defend or endorse our own religious beliefs. That's not apart of the President's job description. The President takes an Oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". We might instead think about asking the President and Congress to grant full Congressional voting rights to places like Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico where citizens are taxed without full representation.  

As stated in the Voltaire's quote below, we will assuredly disagree on matters of religion and issues of social importance, however we must never control what people believe. Not in this free country! 

*Book of John

Thursday, July 5, 2012

How Do You Feel About The New Universal Health Care Law?


By now you know that the new Health Care Law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. There has been so much tension and debate on both sides of this issue, and now conspiracy theories are beginning to be reported in the media about why Chief Justice John Roberts, who it seems was the deciding vote, may have voted the way he did.  But, the real question is, how will this law affect you and the average American?  If you want to get a quick (cliff notes) summary of the law,visit the Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA Facebook page and see yesterday's (6/28) posting. To get news directly from the horse's mouth, go to the White House's Blog. If you want to read the Court's entire decision, click here.

Here's my take: Seniors seem to be already benefiting from the law's prescription drug provision and covered wellness visits including mammograms, colonoscopies, and other preventive health screenings. Tiffany Lindquist, AARP Maryland Associate State Director, stated that “overall, AARP believes the new health care law vastly improves health care for older Americans”. College students should be happy because they are allowed to stay on their parents/guardians' policy until age 26. Also women will not be charged a premium because they require different health services than the services provided to men. Lastly, but not least, insurance companies can not refuse to cover you because you have a pre-existing condition. Carefirst (one of our sponsors) said in a statement that they were extremely pleased that the Court decided in favor of the Act. They also said that they "have implemented all provisions required in the law and now look forward to implementing the full extent of the law".

YOUR TURN: So what's you're opinion? Have you or do you know someone who has been positively or negatively impacted by the new Health Care Law? Leave a comment here or post a message on our Facebook page here. You can also email info@womenatliberty.com

Monday, May 14, 2012

Crowns For Mother's Days 2012

Here's a photo from Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA's Crowns (Hats) For Mother's Day 2012. It's not too late to add your photo.

Can you help us decide who had the most beautiful hat? To view the rest of the photos, go to: Crowns For Mother's Day 2012, and "LIKE" the picture of the most beautiful hat.  Also feel free to leave a comment under the photo.  The winner will receive a special gift from Waterford Crystal. Thanks in advance for your support!



Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day to all moms & those who have played this role in someone's life! Unconditional love is priceless... 








**Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA is sponsoring "Crowns For Mother's Day"! We would love to see you in a "Crown" (Hat). Take a picture by yourself, or with family and friends and share it with us! One of those posting a picture will be selected to win a special gift from Waterford. http://ow.ly/aLIDZ

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Positive Use of Power...Katharine Jefferts Schori

"Power, as human beings exercise power, to me means the ability to change: the ability to change oneself, the ability to change one's community. And the positive use of power is transformation of self and community toward a higher ideal, toward a healed world."

--Katharine Jefferts Schori, 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States




Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is featured. She is the first woman to be elected as the chief bishop or the highest leader of the Anglican Church in U.S. She was elected in 2006.

Bishop Jefferts Schori is responsible for initiating and developing policy for the Episcopal Church and speaks on behalf of the church regarding the policies, strategies, and programs of the church. Before her calling to the priesthood and subsequent ordination in 1994, she was an oceanographer. She has a B.S. in biology from Stanford University, an M.S. and Ph.D. in oceanography from Oregon State University, an M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

In today's video, Bishop Jefferts Schori talks about managing change within her church denomination, how she dealt with discrimination within the church, and the positive use of power. To view the Leadership Tuesdays' feature,
click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Leadership Tuesdays: The Power of Acknowledgment...Kimberly Dillon

http://www.houseofmikko.com
"...Always acknowledge people. Really understand what their story is. And it doesn't matter who they are. Simply saying hello, and how are they doing and really knowing what's going on in people's lives is powerful."

--Kimberly Dillon, Founder of the House of Mikko

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week, we are featuring Kimberly Dillon. She is an entrepreneur and the founder of the House of Mikko, a company that matches women who have similar characteristics and allows them to provides hair and beauty recommendations to each other. She founded the company to address the challenges that women, specifically women of color, face in finding the "right " beauty products that work for them. Although her company is less than a year old, she has been featured in TechCrunch and ReadWriteWeb, named by Huffington Post as one of 25 Female Tech Founders to watch, and is a member of Women 2.0. Kimberly has two undergraduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from University of Michigan.

In this TEDxwomen video, Kimberly talks about the power of acknowledgment in our personal lives and in business. To view the Leadership Tuesdays' feature, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Three Passionate Young Women Making History In Washington, D.C.

Maliaka Mealy, Heather Rasberry, and Megan Goffney

Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA salutes three young women from the Washington, D.C. area who took their passion regarding the shooting death of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin ( Sanford, Florida) and channeled it into a well-attended rally on Saturday March 24th in Downtown Washington. Heather Rasberry, Megan Goffney, Maliaka Mealy along with their friend from Florida, Yolanda Carr, organized the "DC Trayvon Rally" via social media in only four days. Thousands including national and local civil rights leaders, church and student leaders, as well as the local, national and international media showed up on a rainy day at Freedom Plaza in front of the John Wilson Building to show their support for the family of Trayvon Martin and concerned for the justice process related to Martin's death.

Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA recognizes the tremendous ingenuity and social media savvy demonstrated by these women.  They not only moved themselves into meaningful action, but they also engaged an entire metropolitan area in activism about the unfortunate and tragic death of Trayvon Martin and the social ills plaguing the urban communities of the Washington, D.C. area. Kudos to Heather, Maliaka, and Meagan, and a SHOUT OUT to Rev. Tony Lee (Community of Hope A.M.E. Church) and all those who supported these women!!  

For more info on this story, check: Trayvon Martin - Washington, DC Rally For Justice on Facebook and "DCTrayvonRally" on Twitter.

Stay connected to WOMEN AT LIBERTY and Women History Makers-DC, MD, & VA by “LIKING” us on Facebook and/or following on Twitter: @womenatliberty

Resources for those blazing trails, breaking glass and making history!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

3/29 Book Chat: "The 5 Levels of Leadership" by John Maxwell

Next Chat: Thursday, March 29, 12:30 - 1:15 pm
                (218) 632-0550, Code: 647933#

ASSIGNMENT:  Below is a few quotes from our previous reading in The 5 Levels of Leadership. For our call this week, please pick a quote from below and discuss whether you agree or disagree.  Also please discuss one or two leadership observations related to the quote from your experience.

*If you have not had the opportunity to complete all of the readings, don't worry we will review some the key points. We want to discuss some of your experiences as it relates to a few of the key principles in John Maxwell's book.

I looking forward to your input and participation!!
_______________________________________________________________

  • As a new leader, you must use the authority you are given wisely, to advance the team and help the people you lead. (Pg. 43)
  • The easiest way to define leadership is by position. However, position and titles are very misleading. A [leadership] position always promises more than it can deliver. (pg. 50)
  • Good leadership is about walking beside people and helping them to climb up the hill with you. (Pg. 56)
  • Leadership is an opportunity to serve. (Pg. 87)
  • Good leaders have an orientation toward results. (Pg. 164)
  • If you invest in people, they will never be the same again.  And neither will you. It is impossible to help others without helping yourself. (Pg.174)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Leadership Tuesdays--Stephanie C. Hill of Lockheed Martin newly promoted Executive of non-defense Gov't SBU

 
Our last Leadership Tuesdays for this Women's History Month's of 2012 features Stephanie Cole Hill of leading defense industry contractor, Lockheed Martin.  An engineer by training, Ms. Hill was recently promoted to President of Information Systems and Global Solutions-Civil where she leads the 10,000 employees of this multi-billion dollar business unit. Presently, Ms. Hill is the only African American President at Lockheed Martin and she reports to Ms. Linda R. Gooden, Executive Vice President of Information Systems and Global Solutions and the other African American woman in executive leadership at Lockheed Martin. (Ms. Gooden was profiled and featured in Leadership Tuesdays in September 2011.) 

In March 2012, Ms. Hill has the distinct honor of being profiled for Women's History Month in The Root by her prominent older sister, Harriette Cole, a best-selling author, Today Show/MSNBC contributor, president of her own media company and former editor at Essence Magazine.

To view Ms. Hill's quote "It's The Right Thing To Do" advocating STEM education, click:
http://motivationalmoments-vwo.blogspot.com/2012/03/leadership-tuesdays-its-right-thing-to.html

To view this Leadership Tuesdays' feature on Ms. Hill, click:
http://womenatliberty.com/leadershiptuesdaysmarch2012.html

For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see:
http://womenatliberty.com/leadershiptuesdays.html


Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Women History Month Chat -- 5 Levels of Leadership -- Women Leaders Living Their Core Values



Next Chat: Thursday, March 15, 12:30 - 1:15 pm
(218) 632-0550, Code: 647933#



Women discuss how they approach work and life
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/

In this brief video, professional women discuss some of the philosophies and core values that have made them successful. Featured leaders include Andrea Jung, CEO & Chair of of AVON, Shelly Lazarus, CEO of Ogilvy, Gerry Laybourne, Founder & former CEO of Oxygen Media, Emma Fundira, Managing Director of Finesse Financial Services and more.

Discussion:
1) How can we be more authentic as leaders? Is there a "real" risk in being authentic?
2) Shelly Lazarus gave some strong advice at the end of the video. Is her advice universal?
3) Who are some of the leaders you admire and why?

Trivia: "What is the past tense of "sneak". How do you pronounce and spell it? (Question linked to Shelly Lazarus comments)

For more info:
http://womenatliberty.com/leadershipdevwleadapr.html  (Video)


Thursday, March 8, 2012

Join A Book Discussion TODAY...The 5 Levels of Leadership

Join a chat about leadership--Discussing the "The 5 Levels of Leadership" a book by John Maxwell, 12:30 pm EST Today, 3/8, 218-632-0500, 647933#

Happy International Women's Day!







Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Leadership Tuesdays: "Managing Change" and "How To Succeed"

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. 

In celebration of Black History Month and its 2012 theme: Black Women in American Culture and History, we are featuring Reverend Dr. Vashti M. McKenzie who is currently a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. She is responsible for leading the 13th Episcopal District (Tennessee and Kentucky) and she holds the distinction of being the first woman to be elected to the office of Bishop in the A.M.E. Church. Her leadership accomplishments include leading large church organizations in both the U.S. and South Africa, creating entrepreneurial business projects, starting over 35 local churches, growing a church congregation from 330 to over 1700 members, and managing multi-million dollar church real estate development projects.
http://www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com


Also for Women's History Month which begins March 1, Leadership Tuesdays is featuring Arianna Huffington who is an author, nationally syndicated columnist, President and Editor-In-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group. In 2005, she along with Kenneth Lerer and Jonah Peretti, founded The Huffington Post as a political blog. In 2011, Huffington sold The Huffington Post to AOL for a reported $315 million while still maintaining leadership over the now well-respected internet news source. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington
To view these stories, click Leadership Tuesdays.


Monday, February 13, 2012

Tribute to Whitney Houston (1963-2012)

http://www.whitneyhouston.com

The world was shocked this past Saturday evening with the news of the sudden death of Whitney Houston. She was a superstar and singer, second to no one.  Her gift and talent was exceptional and undeniable. So much of her music, "The Greatest Love of All", "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Every Woman", "Count On Me", her rendition of  "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1991 NFL Super Bowl two weeks into Desert Storm  and more recently, "I Look To You", were songs that touched you in a place that could only be expressed with your head "bopping to the beat", closed eyes and a smile. And how can I not mentioned her gospel songs on the soundtrack for the movie, "The Preacher's Wife"? Her version of Richard Smallwood's "I Love The Lord" is a classic.  She definitely set the standard for vocalists belonging to Generation X and beyond and lovingly many of them call her their mentor.

Over the last several years, we have all watched media reports, shows and interviews showing Whitney struggling in her personal life. However, in a recent recent message on Twitter/Facebook accompanying a posting of one of her songs (I post inspirational songs on Twitter at @womenatliberty and Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA on Saturday mornings every week), I was led to pray that God would keep Whitney. I included words of that nature in the posting. Like many of you, I wanted her to survive, to come back, overcome, and grow old gracefully. Sadly, we will never know an aged Whitney Houston.

So now as we celebrate her life and the gift that she possessed, we pray for the comfort of her daughter, mother, brother, family and friends. Also, I hope that her untimely death causes us to think about the people around us.  There are people who need and deserve our help.  Reach out in love and sincerity.  People know when you really care. You can't really help someone unless you care. If nothing else, pray earnestly for them and the people that are around them. Unfortunately, we will encounter people that mean us no good.  We must pray for discernment and courage to send those people on their way!

Her last impromptu performance with Kelly Price of "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" was so poignant for me. This simple, but powerful song that she had learned as a child in church, was a tremendous and lasting message to leave with the world as she exited the stage of life. And although the world loved Whitney for what she did and how she did it, her Maker loved her for who she was.  The real Whitney. Yes, Jesus did love Whitney.  


Whitney Houston's Last Performance, with Kelly Price--2/9/12:




"Yes, Jesus Loves Me"--Extended Version, performed "Live" by Whitney Houston:


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

2012 Black History Month...Celebrating and Honoring Our Past



African American History Is American History | Celebrating Black History Month!



'The 2012 theme "Black Women in American Culture and History" honors African American women and the myriad of roles they played in the shaping of our United States. The theme, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History urges all Americans to study and reflect on the value of their contribution to the nation.' For more information on Black History and special events, see http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/index.html


Stay tuned to:  Liberty Ink "Quotables" for inspiring quotes and special features.  

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Leadership Tuesdays...Networking and "Nurturing Your Butterflies'

Happy New Year!! This is WOMEN AT LIBERTY and Women History Makers-DC, MD, & VA's first post in 2012 and we're excited. Every Tuesday, we provide a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders.


Today, we are presenting Anita Brown-Graham, Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. In a brief video interview, she talks about the importance of networking and the difference between how men and women network with Judith Dobrzynski at the Salzburg Global Seminar.


Next Kathleen Flanagan, CEO of ABT Associates, is interviewed in The New York Times' column, Corner Office, by Adam Bryant.  She tells us if you "Want To Lead? Learn To Nurture Your Butterflies". It's a great article with a lot of nuggets of wisdom.


Please check out both stories and give us your feedback:  http://womenatliberty.com/leadershiptuesdaysjan2012.html