WOMANIFESTING

WOMANIFESTING (WOMA) hosted “WOMA’S 2nd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon” on May 7, 2011 to support survivors of domestic violence who are clients of the non-profit WEAVE (Women Empowered Against Violence). This event was designed to uplift and encourage the women by providing them with support and encouragement in a relaxed, fun setting. Approximately 25 women and children attended the event. The program included a welcome by WOMA Founder and Executive Director Tracy Chiles McGhee and Deputy Director Lindsay Young, a catered lunch, a presentation of gifts and prizes, and impromptu dancing. And just like last year, everyone of all ages loved the teddy bears donated by Hugs Across America.

One attendee, Maria, stated “Gracias por el opoyo y por darnos fuerzas para sequir adelante y ensenarnos a que la vida es muy linda. (Translation:Thanks for the support and for giving us strength to move forward and teaching us that life is very beautiful.) Another attendee, Sally, added “Thoroughly enjoyed your presentations both last year and this year. Hope you continue to get sponsors for events like this. Thanks for sharing.” At the conclusion of the event, a very pleased McGhee stated that “WOMA will continue to partner with WEAVE and other organizations to produce events that promote self-empowerment, sisterhood, and service.”

WOMA would like to thank the event committee for their fruitful efforts: Lindsay Young (WOMA), Sasha Ariel Alston (WOMA), Liz Harens (WEAVE), and Anna Garcia (Corazon)

WOMA would also like to thank the following for in-kind and/or monetary donations: Africuria (caterer), Naline Salone, Helen Lewinski, Constance Young, Courtney Young, Michelle Morales, Hatshepsitu Tull, Caira Woods, and Samah Elsayed.

Event Photos: http://www.womanifesting.org/apps/photos/album?albumid=11542939

On March 19, 2011, WOMA hosted an event, in conjunction with the District of Columbia (DC) Public Library, entitled WOMANIFESTING IN ACTION, in honor of our 1st anniversary and Women’s History Month. The event was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and brought together local women leaders to share how they use collaboration, community building, and social activism to further their causes and to make a difference. It was a well-attended event with a fair share of men in the audience supportive of the spirit of womanifesting.

The event opened with a welcome from Kathy Jenkins, Manager of the Popular Division, DC Public Library. She spoke of her excitement of partnering with WOMA to bring the event and looked forward with great anticipation of doing more collaborations in the future. Kathy also expressed passionately her vision of the library as a central and neutral meeting place for diverse groups to connect and broaden their circles based on shared interests. Next, Tracy Chiles McGhee, Founder & Executive Director of WOMA, welcomed everyone, explained the definition of womanifesting and promised that several examples would be witnessed at the the event through a conversation with the panelists who epitomize the definition.

One of the highlights of the event came when Yasmine Arrington, a local DC high school student, delivered a riveting "Call to Action" speech to the attendees.Yasmine spoke with great wisdom and clarity of purpose. She uplifted and inspired the audience with her mandate that we not be stingy with our gifts but instead share them by making a difference in the lives of others. As a surprise to Yasmine, Councilwoman Muriel Bowser, Ward 4 of the Council of the District of Columbia presented her with a resolution from the Council honoring her in essence for her outstanding accomplishments, for taking the initiative to establish a scholarship fund for aspiring students with incarcerated parents called ScholarCHIPS, and for being an excellent role model to youth and an inspiration to us all.

After Yasmine effectively set the tone for the event, the moderators, Marita Golden, Acclaimed Author & Master Teacher (pictured to left above) and Nikita T. Mitchell, a young professional and Writer (pictured to right above) introduced the panel and got the discussion going. Both Marita and Nikita did an excellent job in facilitating the informative interchange. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to the table, discussing a range of causes from HIV/AIDS issue advocacy for women to the use of art to promote peace and social justice to "digital sisterhood" to build relationships and deepen impact to the theatrical storytelling of women to claim our place, voice, and awesomeness to the importance of the community coming together to ensure safe places where children can play and learn and have fun. All were passionate and had big dreams for their endeavors. There was a general consensus that in order to realize those dreams, collaboration through a pooling of resources and innovative ideas and unique offerings coupled with a willingness to support one another is crucial.

Members of the audience asked questions and spoke of being inspired to raise their level of involvement and to offer support. One said, "Great event today! I hope that these events continue! I look forward to participating!" Another said, "This was such a moving event. I learned so much and I was touched by these women." Still another said, "The entire panel was very informative. Truly blessed by the knowledge that has been provided here today." Finally, one young lady summed it up, "FABULOUS!"

Tracy closed by offering WOMA as a platform to do just that and invited everyone to become a member of WOMA to continue the conversation and the work. Then to conclude the event, a lucky audience member received a copy of Marita Golden's latest book entitled, "THE WORD: Black Writers Talk About the Transformative Power of Reading and Writing Edited by Marita Golden"and admittance to WOMA's Annual Award event to be held in June 2011.

WOMA sincerely appreciates all the contributors for sharing their brilliance with us and showing us what WOMANIFESTING IN ACTION looks like. We ask that you support the worthwhile missions of WOMA, the moderators, and the panelists. You can learn more about them from their bios below and by visiting their websites. Please check the WOMA calendar for upcoming events. Your presence will be most appreciated.

WOMA would like to thank all that contributed to the event including a lively audience. In addition to the above mentioned participants, a special thank you goes to the following:

CO-PLANNERS, Kathy Jenkins, DC Public Library, Lindsay Young, and Samantha Kirby Caruth; PRESENTER: Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser; SPONSOR: Kimberly A. Woodard;  VOLUNTEERS: Enchanta Jackson, Sasha Ariel Alston, and Takeyah Young & SUPPORTERS: Divine Chocolate, Josephine Bias Robinson and Carolyn Woodson

MODERATORS

Marita Golden (http://maritagolden.com/)

Marita Golden is the award-winning author of 14 works of fiction and nonfiction. As a teacher of writing, Marita Golden has held appointments at George Mason University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where she served as a member of the MFA Graduate Creative Writing programs. She has also taught at Emerson College, The University of Lagos (Nigeria), Roxbury Community College, and American University. She served as Writer in Residence at the University of the Districtof Columbia, in Washington, D.C. Marita Golden has lectured on the topic ofliterature, women’s studies, African-American Studies and African American literature nationally and internationally.

As a literary activist, Marita Golden founded and served as the first president of the Washington-D.C. based African-American Writers Guild. In 1990 she co-founded the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation, which presents the nation’s only national fiction award for college writers of African descent and an annual summer writer’s workshop for Black writers, Hurston/Wright Writers’ Week, as well as the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for published Black writers. She now serves as President Emeritus of the organization. Marita Golden holds a B.A. from American University in American Studies and English and a Masters Degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.

Nikita T. Mitchell (http://nikitatmitchell.com/blog), Twitter: @NikitaTMitchell

Nikita T. Mitchell is a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, providing facilitation, communications, strategic planning, organizational strategy, performance measurement, business case analysis and financial management services to her federal clients. A graduate of Howard University, Nikita earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) in International Business with a concentration in Finance. During her four years at Howard, she held various leadership positions on campus, studied abroad in France and worked in the financial services industry – both in New York City and in London. 

Nikita is a passionate and involved member of her community, dedicating asignificant amount of her time to local non-profits committed to youth and women. As a Board Member for the Cultural Academy for Excellence, a localnon profit committed to the development of youth through the performing arts,Nikita continues her early and engaging leadership. She also works with the DC Rape Crisis Center as a counselor on the 24-hour hotline and as an advocate for sexual assault survivors in local hospitals. 

In her spare time, Nikita can be found with her head in a book. She has aninnate passion for professional and personal development. She loves social media, writing, and traveling. She dreams of one day running a travel program for young women that promotes cultural education, self-esteem building andacademic achievement.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Yasmine Arrington, local high school student credited with starting a ScholarCHIPS for aspiring college students with incarcerated parents. (http://www.facebook.com/scholarCHIPS)

Yasmine Arrington is a senior at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. She was born and raised in Washington, DC. She is a published and award winning poet.Yasmine has recently earned her Girl Scout Gold Award-the highest communityservice award in Girl Scouting! She lives with her grandmother and two younger brothers, Gary and Michael. Her mother died her freshman year of high schooland her father is currently incarcerated. Despite these setbacks, Yasmine has taken life’s challenges in stride. She has launched her own non-profit entitled ScholarCHIPS (for Children of Incarcerated Parents). ScholarCHIPS is raising $30,000 to gift three graduating seniors with incarcerated parents, who wish to pursue a college degree, with $10,000 each.

PANELISTS

Patricia Nalls, Founder & Executive Director, The Women's Collective, 2010 Washingtonian of the Year (www.womenscollective.org)

Patricia Nalls founded The Women’s Collective after several years of living in isolation about her own HIV diagnosis. Patricia committed herself to finding, supporting and organizing women with HIV/AIDS. At first it was from her kitchen table, then from acommunity space and now from offices on U Street with several integral programs for women living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS and families. Unfortunately, her journey, although wonderful, also contains the memories and pain from losing many sisters along the way to the disease. Each day, she recommits herself to the struggle and she is energized by the work she and others have accomplished in combined efforts.

Carrie L. Ellis, Director of Project Management, KaBOOM! & Board Chair, Teaching for Change

Carrie L. Ellis is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta,GA where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.  Following her undergraduate studies, Carrie moved to California to teach middle school English and Mass Media in LosAngeles through the Teach For America program. She was inspired to pursue a master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, where she concentrated in Educational Children’s Media.  Once she graduated, Carrie headed to Washington, DC to work for several years on the national staff of Teach For America.

In 2005, Carrie joined the staff of KaBOOM! as the Directorof Project Management, a national nonprofit that creates play spaces throughthe participation and leadership of communities.  Every year, her team oversees the planningand installation of over 200 community-built play spaces throughout NorthAmerica.  Carrie also serves as the Chairof the Board for Teaching for Change, a nonprofit that provides teachers and parents with the tools to transform schools into centers of justice for students.

Jessica T. Solomon, Founder, The Saartjie Project & ChiefVisionary Officer, Spark Creativity (http://sparkcreativity.info)

As a community artist, Jessica T. Solomon, founded The Saartjie Project,an award-winning theatre ensemble using story and collaborative performance as a vehicle to promote social change. Jessica also serves as a member of the Connectivity Committee at The Woolly Mammoth Theater Company in Washington, DC.She views her work in the performing arts as an extension of her work as an Organization Development practitioner. As a capacity builder and organization development practitioner, Jessica has worked internationally with universities, non-profit organizations, government agencies, creative businesses and individuals to increase impact + uncover solutions. Jessica holds a B.A.’s in African American Studies and Communication Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a M.S. in Organization Development from American University. She is the 2007 Starting Bloc for Social Innovation Fellow and the 2009 American University Hal Kellner Awardee.

Marielle Mariano, East Coast Coordinator, Chalk4Peace (chalk4peace.org)

Marielle Mariano is an art educator, art therapist, East Coast Coordinator of the non-profit organization CHALK4PEACE,Inc., and a fine artist. Since graduating from Georgetown University in ’93, working in the medical sciences and then graduating with a Master of Science in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School in ‘99, Marielle has chosen to commit herself to using the creative process to help heal and better others’experiences. She has encouraged them to do so through her work in art education and art therapy in Fairfax County Public Schools and her work with CHALK4PEACE,coordinating outdoor chalk art events that encourage international peace expression and education in a variety of communities around the world. Marielle is passionate about C4P because she feels it challenges people to not just create a visual representation of one’s idea and wish for peace, but to also make peace an active part of one’s life in the hopes that it will spread to others. 

Ananda Leeke,Founder of Digital Sisterhood Month & Author of upcoming memoir (www.anandaleeke.com)

Yoga+ Creativity + Internet Geek = Ananda Leeke. Leeke is a lawyer turned “Jill ofmany trades”: innerpreneur, author, artist, coach, and yoga teacher. Hermission is “Empowering U2BU through creativity coaching, Reiki, self-care,social media, volunteerism, and yoga.”  She has penned That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’sPoetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (2009) and her debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One(2007). In December 2010, she launched the Digital Sisterhood Network and Digital Sisterhood Month to give women in social media an opportunity to celebrate their connections, conversations, communities, collaborative partnerships, and commerce. She traveled to Haiti as a blogger ambassador for The Heart of Haiti Campaign, a partnership between Macy's, Fairwinds Trading, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund in February. Currently, Leeke is working with wounded warriors as an artist-in-residence for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts at the National Navy Medical Center and writing Digital Sisterhood, a memoir (2011). 

D.I.V.A., INCORPORATED TO PRESENT STAGED READING OF AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT KATORI HALL'S SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING DURING

28TH ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Directed and Performed by Howard University Alumni/Broadway Veterans

Lynda Gravatt, Harriett D. Foy and Gavin Lawrence, with

Special Guest -- Playwright Katori Hall -- to Host Post-Reading Q&A

Friday, March 4th, 7:30pm, Riverside Church, SW, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. (January 24, 2011)─The Ladies of D.I.V.A., Incorporated, The Society for Women in the Arts, is pleased to announce that it will present a staged reading of award-winning playwright-performer Katori Hall's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning on Friday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. at Riverside Church, 680 I Street, SW, Washington, D.C. Playwright Katori Hall, whose new work, The Mountaintop, will premiere on Broadway in 2011 with Halle Berry and Sam Jackson, will host a post-performance audience Q&A. The reading will be directed and performed by Broadway veteran, Lynda Gravatt (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof), and stars fellow Broadway veteran, Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia), and Gavin Lawrence (a recent AUDELCO award-winner for his performance in Off-Broadway's Pure Confidence).

Tickets are $10 General Admission/$5.00 for students/seniors. Tickets may be reserved by sending full name and number of tickets requested to ladiesofdivainc@aol.com before Thursday, March 3rd at 5 p.m. (recommended). Tickets will be held at will-call and payment collected at that time. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. All tickets are payable by cash only. For more information on ticket purchases, patrons may call Lynneisha Ray at 212.569.4618.

Set in a Memphis beauty shop/boarding house during the final days of WWII, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning tells the story of a group of African-American women struggling with the heartbreak of losing their men to the war and with the uncertainty of what the future may hold when, and if, their soldiers return. Rich with humor and history, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning is a story about friendship and finding love in unexpected places.

Serving as a fundraiser for The Howard University Department of Theatre Arts where D.I.V.A., Incorporated was founded in 1983, the production will feature performances by Lynda Gravatt* (Miss Mary), Harriett D. Foy* (Dot), Gavin Lawrence* (Buzz), Araba Brown (Gladys), Candace Hale (Taffy), Jabari A.K. Holder (Bobby), Lydia John (Mabel), Jamil Jude (Radio Announcer/Stage Directions), Chantal Nchako (Leanne), Carla Faye Pardo (Jackie), Zurin Villanueva* (Curlin' Curlin').

About Katori Hall:

Katori Hall is a playwright-performer hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. Her plays include Hoodoo Love, which was produced Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and The Mountaintop, which was recently produced to great acclaim at London's Theatre 503 and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End. It is a recipient of the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2010. Other plays include Remembrance, Hurt Village, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, WHADDABLOODCLOT!?!? and The Hope Well. She is currently an artist-in-residence at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Her awards include the 2009-10 Lark Play Development Playwrights of New York (PONY) Fellowship, Kate Neal Kinley Fellowship, two Lecompte du Nouy Prizes from Lincoln Center, Fellowship of Southern Writers Bryan Family Award in Drama, NYFA Fellowship, Van Lier Fellowship from the Public Theatre and the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award. More about Katori can be found at www.katorihall.com.

About D.I.V.A., Incorporated

On March 2, 1983 at Howard University in the College of Fine Arts, Department of Drama, six women saw a need for an organization for all female fine Art students. Thus, they decided to form the organization D.I.V.A., Incorporated, Divine, Intelligent, Versatile Artists - The Society for Women in the Arts. D.I.V.A., Incorporated is dedicated to the enrichment, encouragement and fulfillment of women of color who have chosen the arts as their career. D.I.V.A., Incorporated boasts more than 100 members who live throughout the United States and abroad. Members have achieved successful careers as performance artists, filmmakers, entertainment attorneys, editors, playwrights, vocalists, publicists, dancers, graphic artists, costume designers, arts educators, directors, journalists and mothers. D.I.V.A., Incorporated members continually strive for excellence in all areas of life and serve as a lifelong network for young women considering a career in the arts. Each year, the women of D.I.V.A., Incorporated reunite in March, in a chosen city for a three-day weekend of activities including productions, workshops, and an annual meeting.

WOMA celebrates the release of  PATRICIA SPEARS JONES' poetry collection, PAINKILLER, (Tia Chuca Press). Jones is January's Featured artist for both her poetry and womanifesting spirit that keeps her grounded in community and able to face her truth whether clothed in beauty or anguish.

Jones Poetic Statement:

Painkiller is to me the final book in a trilogy of collections that started with The Weather That Kills (CoffeeHouse, 1995) and Femme du Monde (Tia Chucha, 1996).   Of these three collections, the poems in Painkiller are the most emotional and intimate, and yet they are also the most universal as they look at the consequences of love found and lost; passions unleashed; terror from human conduct and the awesome power of natural disaster. 

While this is a collection that responds in part to 9-11, many poems were written prior to that event, to the injury to the city and our psychic well-being.  Those portents and that injury set the collection’s tone.  Painkiller explores one poet’s vision of the city, her friends, her lover, her losses and connects those individual perceptions to a suffering world in turmoil. In the poem “In Like Paradise/Out Like the Blues”, a poem from The Weather That Kills, I wrote “Each of turns to the hunger of stars/and wipes the crumbs from our mouths.”  Painkiller is about that feast.

-------------------

Son Cubano

We are at the genesis of a bolero

eyes, lips, thick, kinky dreads

beds, cars, stars

a singer’s words curve

through memory and shadow

rhythms stumble and stop,

come again, the night air a willing audience.

men huddle near a long, brass bar rail,

shoes gleaming, lips smiling, eyes lit

as women, young and old, stroll pass them

on their way to the powder room

las mujeres motion a dream of sand and waves

a Cuba that only the restaurant owner

and his waiters may have truly seen, heard.

late winter, rains slicking the streets of lower Manhattan,

Son Cubano’s portals reveal a theater of nostalgia

the scent of Havana scripts so well. 

And we play along

mouths flavored with rum, lime, sugar, our tongues playing

the kisses stolen game as the song phrases

a fierce sadness promised

in the wake of lust’s mercurial ascent

We flee these orchestrated memories

our hands in each others, our mouths hungry for each other.

Our song is bluer, harsher, North American

the rhythms African, yes, as dearly measured in drama and depth.

Our exile is internal. There is little longing

for the good old days when Havana was a mean place

for dark people, but a real fascination

for these songs and their makers.

Your arms cascade a trumpet solo, the piano’s

harmonics thrill my back.

My lips are waiting for yours.

This is our bolero 

accidental

lovemaking      Friday night              New York City

Everybody’s exotic. 

Everybody’s from the South.

-------------------

Three Gems

Amethyst for encouragement

Debbie’s kind, tired voice on telephone

early morning, keeping me alive

thankful, am I

the Japanese beetles are passionately swarming

a mating dance in Virginiagrasses.  They bounce against our skin,glinting.

Bergamot, lavender, summer hay perfume my nighttime walk

There is mercy.  It comes when needed like a red moonrise.

Obsidian for power

She said you said you were in control of your life.

Oh really, when did I say that

Well you speak with such confidence, she said.  I laugh. It seems

as if  I have the power to control my sliver of the great cosmic order.

Well, no.  But, what little power have I, is hard won and precious. Black.

Carnelian for security

There has not been one moment in my life that was not compromised.

Lack of money or love or grander dreams, perhaps, strange luck.  And now

as my body radically changes, I am anchored by strong spirit.What’s up

with the sun? 

And when did I turn my cheeks toward heat?

Resolution #1 – Dare To Womanifest Your Dreams Into Reality Through The Power of the Written Word

-Melissa Maddox-Barnes

            At the year’s end, we traditionally take time to reflect upon the year past and anticipate what is in store for the upcoming year. For some, conversations start centering on the infamous concept of “New Year’s Resolutions” as we share and compare our goals with one another. There are others, however, that have completely abandoned the concept and even with a flair of pride believe that they have no need for any tenuous “Resolutions”, resigning that the practice is artificial, illusory and does not effectuate true change.

            Is the writing of resolutions an artificial exercise? Yes and no.  First, we’ll start with the “Yes”. If you do not intend to make any changes, to improve your life or the lives around you,then resolution writing is absolutely an artificial exercise. In fact, I strongly encourage you not to waste time, nor energy writing any resolutions, nor reading anything further on the topic. Resolution writing is not advisablefor those that are content with their status quo.  You would not want to risk the possibility of having one of your resolutions come into fruition, for that would require some additional changes that you may not be ready for. So if you’re not ready for change, put the pen down…and slowly back away. 

            Now as to the “No”, drafting resolutions is an exercise that can lead to some significant changes in your life. On what basis you may ask? Well for starters, the written word is powerful.  The written word forms governments, conveys the laws of the land, begins and ends wars and secures peace in the form of treaties among nations.   On a more personal level, it serves as the foundation for many spiritual beliefs, begins and ends marriages, employment and business opportunities, determines ou rfinancial status and responsibilities and facilitates services for our health and well-being.  Even our educational and professional credentials are validated through degrees, certificates, etc.There are no significant occurrences in our lives that are not based upon some form of a written document.  The written word brings comfort, security and assurance. It can also invoke commitment, obligation and liability (hence, the hesitancy in resolution drafting).  Even in colloquial parlay, we usually do not consider an agreement or arrangement valid until we, “put it on paper.” Overall, documented words provide direction and guidance in how to perform the functions of our daily life.

             Imagine what life would be like if every activity we performed were based upon only word of mouth - if there were no written laws, no contracts, no employee handbooks, no manuals, no prescriptions, no deeds, no street signs, no educational degrees or licenses of any kind.  Of course, we would all like to contemplate life without letters from creditors, but even they have their value, as unbridled consumption with no accountability has a negative impact on personal lives and our economy.  If in all these areas and more, documents and the words that rest upon them bear such importance in determining our welfare, why then do we shy away from or even dismiss the process of writing down goals in order to move our lives in a particular direction? The answer lies in our understanding of how important weare to ourselves and to those around us. It is not that we do not believe written goals are important, for we operate in every other area of our lives around written goals and commitments.  It is more so our belief that we are not important enough to honor ourselves in that manner.

            You are not an afterthought. You matter and what you have to share with the world matters.  You have dreams and goals that will benefit those around you. As caretakers and nurturers, women tend to care for themselves last and not embrace how important their personal goals and dreams are.  In order to continue to serve ,uplift and inspire others you will need to feel inspired within yourself.Capturing your personal goals and vision for your life on paper helps you to stay motivated as you give to others.  It centers you and reaffirms purpose, especially when life’s curve balls arethrown at you.  How is that possible? Once we transcribe our thoughts, dreams or goals onto paper something happens.  The words are solemnized and somehow become official.  The thought then becomes a formalized idea, the idea can turn into plans, plans then can turn into actions and we have thereafter have potentially changed the trajectory of our lives in that particular area. 

            Are resolutions worth your time? The answer is an overwhelming…YES! Do you need to have goals for your life? Absolutely! The alternative is to have none and to remain subject to the whims of outside factors and persons.  Do you need to write them down? Most definitely! Why? Because you want to see them turn in reality. So let’s start by putting those goals or “Resolutions” on paper and wait and see the great things that are in store for your life.

           For those that need some extra motivation, below are a few practical tips to assist you.Resolution Writing Made Easy The WOMA Way: Choose from areas below and decide upon two goals for each area. One goal should reflect how you intend to develop your brilliance in that area and another goal should reflect how you plan to share your brilliance with those around you in 2011. WOMA is here to support you along the way.

1)      Health & Wellness

2)      Career Development

3)      Financial Literacy

4)      Civic & Cultural Engagement

5)      Empowerment for Girls

Best wishes for optimal womanifesting in 2011!

----------------------------------------

Melissa Maddox-Barnes serves as Interim Chairperson on the Womanifesting, Inc., Board of Directors and is a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and children. Ms. Maddox-Barnes is the General Counsel for the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, SC which administers affordable housing programs for low to moderate income persons.

Greetings! 

WOMA extends our best wishes for a prosperous new year to you! Over the past

year, we have worked diligently on building WOMA. In doing so, we have had the

pleasure of meetingso many people that are concerned about their communities

and are willing to do something to improve them, particularly in the lives of

women and girls.The theme word for 2010 was ACTION! The theme word for

2011 will be FOCUS as we fine-tune our mission and continue to bring

dynamic programming and events that foster womanifesting through service.

This month we celebrate the anniversary of the planting of the womanifesting 

seed. Still in its infancy, WOMA is already making an impact in Washington,

D.C. and beyond and with much needed volunteers and funds, we can do so

much more. Some of the organizations that the WOMA community has

supported in the last year include WEAVE (Women Empowered Against Violence),

Calvary Women's Shelter, Greater DC Cares, Prevention Works, 

Children's Hospital, Chalk4Peace,and Hugs Across America. WOMA believes

that combining ideas,resources, and efforts is the key to making a bigger impact.

Please contact us to partner with us. We’d love to collaborate on a mutual goal.

Do you know the story of Womanifesting?

On December 27, 2009, I would have an "Aha" moment that would change the 

trajectory of my life. It was on that day that I stopped by Facebook to update

my status. After a day of writing in perfect flow, I was going to type "Tracy 

is manifesting." but then in a split second before entering that sentence, I

decided to add "wo" to "manifesting" to create the word "womanifesting." My 

Facebook friends instantly loved the creation and one friend challenged me to

define it. After a few versions, I ultimately defined womanifesting as 

applying to the actions of a self-determined woman - "1. to recognize,

celebrate, and share one's brilliance 2. to use one's brilliance to serve,

uplift, and inspire 3. www.womanifesting.org" WOMA was incorporated as a

non-profit on February 18, 2010. On March 8, 2010, in honor of International 

Women's Day, WOMA was introduced to the world. 

WOMA Circles

WOMA Circle DC, one of many circles we envision,  was launched in November 2010 

and is actively recruiting members. Together,we can make a difference in WOMA's core 

initiative areas: Health & Wellness, Career Development, Financial Literacy,

Civic & Cultural Engagement, and Girls Empowerment. Thank you to those who 

have supported our mission and we invite others to join us.

Become a member today, make a donation in any amount, and volunteer!

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,  

Tracy Chiles McGhee,Esq.

Founder & Executive Director 

tmcghee@womanifesting.org 

WOMA ATTENDS INSPIRING ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE EVENT

By Tracy Chiles McGhee & Simona Noce

Every year, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) brings together a diverse group to educate and learn, ask questions and find solutions, reconnect with old acquaintances and make new ones, and to inspire and take action. Held at the Convention Center in Washington, DC, the 2010 four-day --9/15-9/18-- event was complete with informational sessions, forums, dinners, jazz concerts and more! WOMA was invited to participate in a tribute to Sojourner Truth, “Bridging the Gap: An Intergenerational Gathering of Women” held on Friday, 9/17. WOMA brought members of the community in ages ranging from 12 to 60 plus to add to the forum.

The room was filled with beautiful women who were there to focus on how intergenerational women can connect on a deeper level by sharing knowledge, wisdom, and support. The event began with a reading of the Litany of Truth, written by Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner of the Skinner Leadership Institute. In response to each passage read, the audience declared boldly in unison, “Sisters, we are lifting as we climb!” Dr. Skinner was also part of the planning committee of the event along with U. S. Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick, Dr. Elsie L. Scott of CBCF, and Victoria I. White of CBCF.

The all-women panel, a well-versed and passionate bunch, included both emerging and seasoned leaders. Bishop Vashti McKenzie & Dee Marshall were the co-moderators. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Executive Vice President of General Mills, Ms. Kim Nelson, Georgia State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan and CBCF Executive Staff, Ms Victoria White were among those selected to lead the discussion.

The audience was highly engaged. The social media experts tweeted throughout the event to share the experience with those that could not attend. As Dee Marshall jokingly remarked, she is a member of the generation that speaks four languages: “Twitter, Facebook, Proper English, and Ebonics.”

The panel shared ideas on how mentoring relationships can be developed between younger women and more seasoned women and provided tips on how women can support one another through words and actions. The event also included an innovative activity to bond the participants and to put the concept of mentoring into immediate action. Each woman was asked to pair up with another woman to share something personal about themselves and provide some specific advice that each could take away and apply. The only requirement was the pair should be a seasoned woman and a younger woman. It was a great and effective exercise and one of the most memorable parts of the forum.

Shirley Sherrod was also celebrated, receiving a “Woman of Truth” award. She told her story and shared words of wisdom in the spirit of Sojourner Truth and received a standing ovation.

At the conclusion of the event, many continued to network and take in the positive, womanifesting energy in the room. It was truly a worthwhile event that left many feeling inspired to mentor and be mentored, with business cards in hand and the foundation to form new, mutually beneficial relationships.

Nikita Mitchell, a recent Howard University graduate and young professional attended as part of the DC WOMA Circle and had the following to say,

The event was a phenomenal gathering of women at various stages in life. I was provided with the opportunity to learn more about how to gain, develop and sustain mentor relationships. As someone who believes in the importance of mentors and tries her best to take advantage of the individuals in my life who are willing to share a piece of themselves with me, it was valuable for me to hear the thoughts and opinions of women who are willing and able to mentor my generation.

              .

Her sentiments were shared. The forum encompassed the very mission of WOMA -- to serve, uplift and inspire as we climb to greater heights in our womanifesting journey!

More pics...

http://www.womanifesting.org/apps/photos/album?albumid=10000909

WOMA CHALKS 4 PEACE by Simona Noce, WOMA Student Intern 

This year 9/11 was expressed in vibrant, rainbow colors on the corner of 14th & V, NW in Washington, DC. WOMANIFESTING (WOMA) joined the non-profit CHALK4PEACE in creating and promoting messages of peace outside of DC’s cultural and trendy restaurant, Busboys and Poets (B&P). Bright and early Saturday morning, knees were on the ground, old and young, using chalk of different colors to draw images and write words to encourage peace. A large blue peace sign and a beautiful white dove captured the attention of many passing by who were used to seeing the usual gray and dirty sidewalk, typical of a busy urban street. This day there was a  different scene.

The children enjoyed the event the most. They had a much larger space to express their creativity with thick, colored chalk and a concrete canvass. The inner childhood of the “grown-ups” was also tapped as they joined in the fun.

Marielle Mariano, the East Coast Coordinator of CHALK4PEACE, was there to help coordinate the event with the host, B&P. Mariano, who is both an artist and Art Educator, has been a long time advocate of the power of art. “Art is a natural way to learn peaceful responsibility,” said Mariano.

The event was a huge success. A diverse group, some strangers to each other, others family and friends, gathered in remembrance of a day that caused deep hurts and destroyed so many lives. WOMA and other participants of CHALK4PEACE turned the day into an inspiring, uplifting, and fun one. The pain of the memory of 9/11 was quieted by voices shouting messages of peace and hope through colorful art, from the ground, and from the heart.

Mariano offered a special note of appreciation to WOMA, “A million THANKS to the amazing women of WOMA for coming out to CHALK4PEACE at Busboys! They were the force to get everyone started!”

For more information on CHALK4PEACE:

http://www.womanifesting.org/apps/blog/show/4711003-chalk4peace

More pics... 

http://members.webs.com/MembersB/editAppPage.jsp?app=photos&pageID=157346787&token=null#photos/album?albumid=9946322

Recently, WOMA, caught up with Marielle Mariano, the East Coast Coordinator of CHALK4PEACE (C4P), to learn more about C4P’s mission to encourage, inspire, and create peace through art, education, and community.

WOMA: What is CHALK4PEACE?

Marielle: CHALK4PEACE is a non-profit organization that promotes global arts through coordinating chalk art events in communities. Its mission is to promote the arts by bringing together participants of all ages to draw their vision of peace with sidewalk chalk as a scheduled worldwide event; to advocate for peace in a non-partisan manner such that all people may share their visions and messages of peace without regard to their nationality, ethnicity or political beliefs; and to encourage relationships between municipalities and artists so that communities around the world become united in supporting the expression of peace.

WOMA: Who founded CHALK4PEACE and when was the first event held?

Marielle: John Aaron is the founder of C4P. He is an artist, educator and events coordinator who is internationally recognized for his contributions to the art community and for creating the atmosphere conducive to make C4P a global event. John organized the first worldwide C4P event in 2005 starting with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC during the “Arts On Foot Festival”.

WOMA: Congrats on your 5th Anniversary! How has C4P evolved since 2005?

Marielle: Thanks. C4P grows each passing year and spans several continents. The global campaign spread coast to coast across the United States, to Cape Town, South Africa, Bethlehem in the West Bank, and in places in Europe, Asia, and South America. Because of increased support and participation, C4P has gone from being a small, one-day community project to a month long event every September. However, we don't require that an event occurs in September. Many organizations have held events at other times in the year. Most events happen in September because the United Nations International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21st. C4P has grown through the efforts of hundreds of event organizers, teachers, parents, community outreach coordinators, libraries, arts centers, local businesses and other peace-minded individuals and organizations. It has received support by the Arlington Arts Commission, the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities, the DC Mayor's Office, the Humanities Project of Arlington and Whole Foods Markets,

Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace campaign, and the esteemed Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

WOMA: How did you become involved with C4P and what is your role?

Marielle: I initially became involved in C4P in 2006. John and I had met at an art event in 2004 and he

had included one of my works of art in an exhibit at his art studio in Clarendon. He remembered that I am an Art Therapist and Art Educator working with at-risk students with disabilities in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and sent me an email in 2006... or was it a phone call... anyway, he had moved to California by then and asked me if I would be interested in doing a C4P event at my school with my students. I thought it was a fabulous idea for not just my students with special needs but all of the students and even the staff. The C4P event would be a fun activity to get the kids started in discussing their roles in creating peaceful environments. Having the event take place at the start of the school year was perfect for team-building and an opportunity to introduce school rules which help to create a safe and peaceful environment. I incorporated the event into my art lessons for all grades to teach about the theme of peace in famous works of art, to teach about design because the kids draw sketches of their peace ideas, and I even included a little math and language arts. The experience of actively creating, conversing and collaborating with others to express ideas of peace helps to keep the idea of peace alive and in practice. The hope is that these kids will grow up working to increase peace in their homes, communities, and the world.

As you can tell, I am very passionate about C4P. After the first event I organized, I thought everyone should do it so I started emailing other art educators in FCPS and the following year more schools got involved. To date, over 40 FCPS participate. The students look forward to it every year. Organizations have also joined in. One of my students who did it that first year loved it so much she organized her Girl Scout Troop to do an event in their community. She's done it for 3 years now. I am extremely proud of her.

I guess John was impressed by the way I organized my event and how I was able to enlist others to participate. By the next year, he asked me to be C4P's East Coast coordinator. As the East Coast Coordinator of C4P, I contact communities and organizations to get involved in showing the world their peaceful expressions at chalk drawing events. I bring awareness of C4P

and how the chalk events can benefit organizations, businesses, and communities.

WOMA: How does C4P impact the communities where the events are held?

Marielle: I strongly believe in the power of art to encourage learning and understanding on all levels. To engage youth in an event like C4P, one is making an investment in peace for the future. C4P is a great cooperative event to start the school year as it supports the art and character education curriculums. C4P carries the message of peace throughout the rest of the year and beyond.

Essentially, it is a great cooperative event for any group, organization, or community.

WOMA: If someone wants more information about C4P, including a list of scheduled east coast events, or if they would like to coordinate a C4P event, what should they do?

Marielle: They should go to our website at (www.chalk4peace.org) for information about our organization and for photos of the events. Go to (www.chalk4peace.blogspot.com)

 for an updated list of events around the world. They can also contact me directly at (mariellechalk4peace@gmail.com).

I should note that many participating organizations coordinate their own C4P events and create programs that fit within their vision. You may also ask a designated C4P coordinator to be present and facilitate an event with a donation to C4P. We ask that if you are going to connect the C4P organization with your event, please stress that this is a NON- PARTISAN event to encourage peaceful conversations and interactions through the creative process.

WOMA: What kind of support does C4P need?

Marielle: So glad you asked this question. We are in most need of sponsors, participants to come to the events, and DEFINITELY donations!! People can donate through the website (www.chalk4peace.com) or you can join the C4P "CAUSE" on Facebook and donate there too. (http://www.causes.com/causes/401301?m=0d43bb06)  CP4 would really appreciate your support.

WOMA: In two sentences, please tell us why we should support C4P?

Marielle: A picture is worth a thousand words so let's make a statement for today and our future. Let’s get the whole world creating thousands of chalk drawings of peace in their lives and in their communities!

WOMA: Thank you Marielle. You are SO WOMA!

On Saturday, 9/11/10, in honor of 911 National Service Day & CHALK4PEACE & Busboys & Poets 5th Anniversary, we will meet on the patio of Busboys & Poets, 14&V, Streets, NW, Washington, DC to share our messages of peace for the planet. RSVP to woma@womanifesting.org or on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/womanifesting?v=app_2344061033#!/event.php?eid=123608844356437&index=1) and bring yourself, friends, and the whole family.

Photo above: CHALK4PEACE 2009 Waples Mill E.S., Oakton, VA photo: Marilyn Miyamoto

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Don’t Think You Have Time to Volunteer? You May Want to Think Again…

by Melissa Maddox Barnes, Esq.

When we think of volunteering, we usually think that it is a good, right and necessary thing to do. What may hinder us in actually engaging in community service is finding the time to do it. Women are busy, whether we are at work outside or inside of the home. In our efforts to manage our personal lives, professional lives and now even our social media presence and internet lives, when does one actually find the time to volunteer?

Although there seems to be no end to our responsibilities and not enough time to complete them, volunteerism is more crucial in helping you accomplish your goals and managing your life than you may think. There are limitless opportunities for personal and professional growth through volunteer service. Volunteerism may be the missing aspect in your life to help you reach personal fulfillment or to develop the professional skills and obtain the career of your dreams. How can that be possible? Consider the following common issues we face in our lives and the ways volunteerism can help.

Challenge #1 – Finding Balance in Family/Personal Life vs. Career Life through Volunteering

According to the U.S. Department of Labor women today comprise over 46% of the entire labor force in the United States and over 51% in management and professional occupations. There are more women in the workforce than ever before. However, despite the increase in numbers of women that work outside of the home, responsibilities within the home have not decreased. Even in the most cohesive of households, there is simply not enough time in the day nor energy to accomplish all that we would like to for our families, ourselves and for our careers. Regardless of how many hours of sleep you may have missed to tend to a sick child, that project is still due, that meeting must happen, the show must go on. Add to the equation the challenges in assisting a child with different abilities, caring for elderly parents, or single parenthood, managing our schedules ends up becoming an art form in itself. Women that work primarily inside the home face similar challenges in balancing life’s tasks as they carry the responsibility of being an unpaid Chief Executive Officer of their particular Department of Family Affairs (insert your home address, Anytown, USA). Given the demands, lack of time, and constant state of physical and mental fatigue in which we must manage our lives, how can we fit volunteer service into our schedules and, more importantly, why should we?

As for the when, you don’t find extra time to volunteer, rather you incorporate community service activities into your daily routine. For instance, volunteer at your child’s school, your church, local shelter or food bank and bring your family and friends with you. What better way to teach those you love about your core values or discuss solutions to socio-economic problems than by showing them the need and what an individual can do to help. As for the why, whether you are a paid but unappreciated professional or an unpaid CEO of a DFA (see above), staying involved in your local community can help prevent feelings of isolation, lack of appreciation and serve as an unexpected source of inspiration. We all know that on some level our families, friends or maybe even employers appreciate us, but when a perfect stranger tells you they would not have had a meal that day if it weren’t for you or that they are grateful for the bed they can now sleep in because of your help, something magical happens. You experience a new sense of purpose and meaning that you can take back with you to better handle your own affairs. You may even find that some of your stress triggers are not as significant as you think. After all, it becomes difficult to complain about the inconveniences of a temperamental Blackberry after helping someone who has to share a phone with others at a shelter. Volunteerism in this respect offers perspective which can provide meaning to all the other things you must balance in your daily life.

Challenge #2 – Overcoming Personal Loss or Health Problems? Try Volunteering

There is no magic pill to overcoming tragic experiences, circumstances or illness in our lives. Whether the challenge comes through the loss of a loved one, divorce, financial hardship, difficulties in child rearing or dealing with an illness, the challenge itself can leave us feeling as if we are at a standstill. As we try to cope with hardship, the tendency to withdraw and retreat can lead to other more serious issues such as depression, substance abuse and other disorders. Volunteering becomes the furthest thing from our minds as we tend to believe that we have to be at our personal best in order to give anything of value to anyone else.

What if I were to tell you that your hardship or illness is of great value? Sound crazy? Consider this, your personal challenges enhance and increase your capacity for an underrated quality, empathy. What’s so important about empathy? Empathy according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary is, “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.” There is a great deal of power in the ability to understand and relate to the experience of another, and it is often one that is overlooked. This power can be lifesaving and can be quite effective in changing the trajectory in someone’s life and maybe even your own. The lifesaving claim may seem far-reaching, however, each challenge you face can serve as a guidepost or marker for someone else in a similar circumstance. Empathy is the key to opening the ears and hearts of persons in need.

They can receive your help and overcome their challenges because they know you understand.

You also receive an added benefit as you assist others. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, there are documented physiological and psychological health benefits to engaging in volunteer service. There is no more profound salve to assuage the pain of dealing with your own challenges than in providing encouragement and comfort to others in similar circumstances. There are people that only you can reach because of your particular understanding of their situation. Name your hardship; is it physical or sexual abuse, substance abuse, depression or having a different ability or particular illness? Whatever it is, know that at all times you are one step ahead of someone who simply needs a listening ear or just a visual of how they can make it to the next day and eventually move on with their lives. The world is not waiting on you to have it altogether or to have all the answers; rather the world is waiting for you to just give of yourself.

So as you are enduring your trials, don’t wait for the trial to end before you reach out to someone else in a similar circumstance, your difficult moments are extremely valuable to an individual, local organization or a support group. The inspiration you provide by sharing your experiences has a reciprocal effect upon yourself. You might find yourself beginning to feel better mentally and even maybe even physically, as the meaning of your experiences becomes clearer and clearer. Who knows, you might even be inspired to start your own support group in the hardship of your choice.

Challenge #3 – Finding Professional Development and Career Opportunities through Volunteer Service

We are conditioned to believe that our ongoing professional success is contingent upon our personal drive, educational credentials and job experience. All play a major part in ensuring we have the stamina as well as the basic requirements to be a success in our particular field. However, even if all of the above aspects are in order, career advancement requires something more, it requires mentorship. No matter what industry you are in it is difficult to advance without mentorship. Mentorship is the key in finding the individual guidance needed to hone your skill, avoid unnecessary pitfalls, give you the encouragement to keep pushing past failures and provide the honest feedback needed for you to nail that interview, presentation or project. Mentors help introduce you to other persons that can get you one step closer to your dream job or maybe even a job if you’re seeking employment.

But what if your current job doesn’t offer a mentorship program, or even if they do, your mentor is less than enthusiastic about ensuring your professional development? What if you are seeking employment and do not have direct access to training or mentorship programs through an employer? The answer is simple. Find your mentor through volunteer service. Join a club, committee or group in the industry and/or cause of your interest. Seek out tasks and projects that can develop and increase your skill set. As you are serving others, ask fellow volunteers and leaders of those organizations for feedback on your performance. Volunteers are an inspiration to the organizations they serve. Leaders of those organizations are, for the most part, more than willing to provide guidance to you personally as you assist them in reaching their organization’s goals.

What type of job are you searching for? What skills do you need to develop to take your job to the next level? Is it leadership, organizational management, public speaking or presentation skills? Whatever skill is needed, there is an organization in dire need of your time and more than willing to accommodate your learning curve. If you are unemployed or are interested in entering another field altogether and need to test the waters, try volunteering with a company in that field. You will feel more confident as you stay active and gain valuable inside knowledge in order to make a more educated decision on your next move. In addition, nothing impresses interviewers more than an interviewee that not only has prior knowledge and experience at their agency, but has freely given their time and services to further the mission of that organization. It shows investment on the part of the prospective employee and leads to their investment in you by way of employment. Who knows, you may be able to volunteer your way into your dream job.

Conclusion

Opportunities for personal and professional growth abound through volunteer service at no cost to you except in the cost of your time. However, the cost in time is far outweighed by the benefits of personal gratification in knowing you have served and helped others and also now have access to professional development opportunities that did not otherwise exist. In volunteering, your personal and professional growth will never be capped. As long as there is a need (and there always is), therein lies an opportunity, for the betterment of all.

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Melissa Maddox-Barnes serves as Vice Chairperson on the Womanifesting, Inc., Board of Directors and is a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and children. Ms. Maddox-Barnes is the General Counsel for the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, SC which administers affordable housing programs for low to moderate income persons. Ms. Maddox-Barnes' volunteer experience includes fund raising for world mission’s projects, Volunteer Attorney for Pro Bono Legal Services in Charleston, SC, Project Coordinator for the South Carolina Bar's Voices Against Violence Committee and as Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children, the incarcerated and disabled. Ms. Maddox-Barnes has facilitated several workshops on a wide range of topics, including leadership, team-building, corporate governance, social media, disability law, affordable housing law and domestic violence. Ms. Maddox-Barnes also serves on several local and national boards in various capacities. Ms. Maddox-Barnes is most proud of her role as the mother two children, one having an Autism Spectrum Disorder and in serving as an advocate for children with disabilities.

Melissa Maddox Barnes (left), Vice-Chairperson of the WOMA Board of Directors, poses with Tracy Chiles McGhee (right), Executive Director of WOMA, at the

 1st Annual WOMA Awards

For volunteer opportunities at WOMA,

please contact us through the www.womanifesting.org website

to avoid spamming of our email address. Thank you.