Women's Empowerment Archives

Women’s Empowerment Weekend Revisited

My Women’s Empowement Weekend kicked off with the Queens & Cocktails “Women of Unity” Event at Noir Bar & Lounge in Raleigh. Our Host Mir.I.Am from K97.5 kept everyone engaged and ready for all the festivities. There was food, live music, networking, cocktails, live performances and giveaways. I really like the mission behind “Women of Unity” being to inspire and empower women by providing the opportunity to support, promote and networking with other women. The speakers for the evening were phenomenal and really gave everyone something to think about. Natasha Lake spoke about “OWNing Our Empire” She touched on being supportive and asked what “WE” as entrepreneurs think is important to be successful in our businesses. There were so many great answers but, I think the number one answer was SUPPORT. She also shared to “STOP telling your BIG ideas to people with small minds!” Let that marinade and let me know how you receive it and what that means for you. Karen Bonner spoke about “Trust in the Process”. Karen shared her journey to entrepreneurship with us and she has gone through some trials but came out successfully on top. I’m so inspired by her testimony.

I also must share that these are women of GOD. It was so refreshing to see women openly giving glory to GOD for sustaining them and giving them strength through their personal journeys. Lashonda Stone-Minor spoke about her G.L.O.W Girl organization which is faith based and empowers women of all ages. Lashonda talked about the importance of following your dreams and of course NEVER losing your G.L.O.W! I left Women of Unity feeling refreshed and I had the opportunity to network and meet some new people that I truly connected with. I honesty can’t wait for the next event and the opportunity to support women in my community. Rae, the organizer and founder of Queens Unlimited said to “Collaborate instead of compete!” I truly believe there is enough out here for everybody and we can be so much more powerful working together vs. working against each other. Think about it! Fast Forward to Saturday… I had a great time at Women’s Empowerment with TheMrsTee who accompanied me. When I tell you that I hung on to EVERY word that was spoken that day! Everyone that graced the stage had a message and I was there for it! I will tell you that my favorite moments were Tina Campbell’s performance, she was giving me life with her words in between her songs and was very transparent.

David & Tamela Mann made me tear up at least three times! Two were from laughing so hard and the 3rd time was when Tamela took me to the King with her beautiful voice. I jut LOVE that song. They have a beautiful testimony to share and I admire their love for one another and marriage. Viola Davis took us back to her childhood where she grew up in poor conditions and shared the moment and vision that changed her life. She had a plan and it worked! She mentioned it always starts with a vision. Viola Davis also shared that “failure is a big part of your success as anything else.” Also, to “tell your story!” “Shame can’t exist when you tell your story and share your testimony.” She also shared “When in fear, when in doubt, when frozen… JUMP!” I was so inspired by Viola Davis. I thoroughly enjoyed the Teddy Riley and Black Street performance. That man really knows how to put on a show. Monica took us back to the nineties and I was okay with that. She also performed a couple of songs off of her current album. I really admire her as an artist who has been around and stood the test of time since she was twelve years old. Jazmine Sullivan had an awesome performance and I love all her songs. That voice is amazing! Women’s Empowerment was phenomenal! Can’t wait for #WE2017!

Bonus: We had an opportunity in between panels and performances to visit ALL the vendor booths and shop local! I got a new PURPLE Lip Gloss from MoniB Cosmetics that I can’t wait to rock. I had an ongoing battle with TheMrsTee all day long. She purchased a new PINK lipstick. She’s on Team Pink and I can’t stand Pepto Bismol. Lol! Nothing is Pinktastic about that! Purplicious Everything! This battle is ongoing and will play out on social media. #TeamPurple & #TeamPink Stay Tuned…

Women’s Empowerment 2016 at PNC Arena

Disclosure: I am excited to be partnering with Radio One on the promotion of Women’s Empowerment 2016 at PNC Arena. I’m receiving two complimentary tickets to attend the event as well as an opportunity to give away two tickets to a lucky winner. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

I can’t wait for Radio One’s Women’s Empowerment 2016 at PNC Arena. I’ve been going for a few years now and I always leave feeling refreshed and motivated to tackle whatever comes my way. Women’s Empowerment is so much more than entertainment. You get spiritually filled, motivated and inspired to do better! I can’t think of a keynote speaker I didn’t enjoy from Steve Harvey, Mary J. Blige, T.D. Jakes to Tyler Perry in previous years. Every Keynote has a story to tell and I am here for it. This year’s Keynote Speaker is award-winning actress Viola Davis and I can’t wait to see what she shares with us. “Viola has burst through every barrier to become one of the most accomplished and celebrated actors today. She most recently became the first African American woman to win the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as ‘Annalise Keating’ in Shonda Rhimes’s ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder. Her role earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award, an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe nomination.” I loved The Help, Lila & Eve and so many more. I personally can’t wait to see Suicide Squad! I’m a Fan!

“Womenâ€™s Empowerment & Networking Expo was created in 1995 in honor of Womenâ€™s History Month. This event was formed with the purpose of inspiring, encouraging and educating. Throughout this expo style event workshops, seminars and lectures are conducted that focus on physical, mental, spiritual, financial and emotional health. The goal of this entire event is to motivate, inspire and rejuvenate all who are in attendance.” Like I stated before, I’ve NEVER left a Women’s Empowerment and not feel like I was ready to take on anything that came at me. I’ve been in the audience with my phone taking notes and then later transferred it into my notebook. They drop some gems that you are going to want to remember. I love when you can really relate to what the speaker is talking about. We all have pain points but, when they start talking about one that resonates with you!?!?! It makes all the difference. This year the entertainment line up seems to be shaping up to be an event that you don’t want to miss. I’m really looking forward to seeing Teddy Riley, Monica and Jaheim! Yessssss! You can head over to the PNC Arena website for ticket information.

So far it looks like we can expect to see appearance from Jaheim, Monica, Johnny Gill, Charles Jenkins, and Anthony Brown, joining Tina Campbell, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Tamela Mann and more have been announced as musical performers at Women’s Empowerment! I am so happy that I am able to give away two tickets to this POWERFUL event. Oh… I’ll fall flat out if Tamela Mann sings “Take Me To The King” That’s my SONG! I love her music and her witty and funny husband David Mann will be in attendance as well. I love them both! I can’t wait to hear them speak and see them perform. So, do you want to be rejuvenated for the second quarter and rest of 2016? Who would you like to see based on the guests I’ve mentioned. There are so many people I am looking forward to seeing. Please ENTER the giveaway. Tips: Wear comfortable shoes for walking the concourse and seeing all the vendors. I always have my heels and my flip flops in tow. Lol! For more information, including a complete list of speakers, seminars and performers please visit FOXYNC.com I hope to see you there! Good Luck if you enter the GIVEAWAY! It will end on April 14th at Midnight.

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Women’s Empowerment Weekend

Last weekend was filled with inspiration, Real Talk and Empowerment! Radio One did something a little different this year by starting Women’s Empowerment Events on Friday. There were seminars being hosted by different local and national celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, makeup artists, hair stylists and life coaches . This event was FREE to the public and was held at the Hampton Inn & Suites Crabtree Valley Raleigh, NC. Later on that evening Michelle Hargrove with Restoration Weekend stopped by the Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines Headquarters with some of her friends to talk with some Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts. The theme was Restoring The Glam! It was awesome for her to stop by with Lisa Price (Founder of Carols Daughter), Chris Gees (Celebrity Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist) and Toni Acey (Celebrity Master Airbrush Makeup Artist). They talked about self love, being beautiful and embracing your flaws. Sometimes what may we may feel is a personal flaw to us, is envied by someone else. Ex: I have so many people tell me they love my natural hair, texture and curl pattern. I can’t seem to get with it, I don’t love it. I’ll be two years natural in August! I’m super picky when it comes to my hair but, I’m learning to embrace it.

Michelle also told the girls to say something positive when they look in the mirror like… “Hey Beautiful!” OR “I’m Cute!” also sharing tips on how to combat when being criticized or mocked by peers. “You Tried It!” or “You Thought!” We had some teen participation when coming up with these terms. Lol! I absolutely LOVED when Chris Gees told the girls to RESPECT their body and not to post risquÃ© pictures on social media, snap chat in particular because that never goes away. There were tips shared about hairstyles, makeup, and fashion. Lisa Price shared her journey to Carols Daughter. We all agreed that you should pursue your passion and live your dream. Go to school of course and have a plan in place before pursuing that dream. Overall, it was a great program. I left feeling inspired and it wasn’t even for me. Ha! Fast Forward to Saturday at PNC Arena for the Women’s Empowerment Main Event. I can’t describe the energy in the building. The vendors were absolutely great even with the massive crowd and long lines at the booths. I got a chance to visit the Lenovo Booth and chat with some of my friends while walking the PNC Arena concourse. I really got my walking in on Friday & Saturday! I had my Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro in tow as I was micro blogging during the event. I’ll share with you some of my absolute favorite moments…

One thing that seemed to be consistent this past weekend was talking about loving yourself completely. Look in the mirror and liking/loving what you see. I really wanted chance to meet Bishop TD Jakes but, I missed him and heard that he spoke a good word. Here are some of his quotes from this past weekends Women’s Empowerment Keynote. “This is your year to do something with what you’ve been thinking about.”, “Your mind is the womb of your spirit.”, “You can’t be FREE until you tell yourself the TRUTH!”, Don’t put a period where God put a coma.”, “You are one thought away from your next miracle.”, “STOP stinking thinking! Give your mind a bath. Your thoughts have value.” – Bishop TD Jakes. I know I needed to hear a few of those things. I really enjoyed all the music Artists that performed. The Black Men Revealed Panel had me giggling because of the humor but it’s real talk coming from men and ladies… We want to know what the men are thinking. Russ Parr was moderator and Damon Dash, Eric Benet, Omari Hardwick and Kem were the panelists. Here are some takeaways from that panel. “Like you and be whole before entering a relationship. A piece of a man and a piece of a woman don’t make a whole relationship.”, There’s nothing more sexy than a woman with self confidence and authenticity.” “Women, stop hating on each other. It’s okay to give another woman a compliment.”

“If you’re cheating, don’t let your girl go through your phone.”, “Women’s attitudes is NOT a race thing, women think complex with emotion. Men think logically, rational and have to evolve to the emotional thinking.” “Ladies, keep those feet looking good. Men don’t like a woman that doesn’t take care of her feet. Funny thing is I agreed with most of what was said. I got to meet a few people up close and personal like Sybrina Fulton (Trayvon Martin’s Mother), Jussie Smollett, Kem, Eric Benet and Neyo. They were all awesome! I can’t wait to see what Women’s Empowerment 2016 will bring!

Restoring Hope: I’m Building A Bridge…

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Restoring Hope event that was hosted by Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines. The celebrity speakers were Michelle Hargrove from Restoration Inc., Michelle Williams accomplished gospel singer, also former Destiny’s Child member and Coach Felecia T. Scott – Certified Empowerment Coach, Speaker and Essence Contributor. Now, this event was definitely for the girls but boy did the adults (which consisted off GSNCCP staff, parents, and Girl Scout Troop Leaders) get a treat when we had a break out session and separated from the girls. We did a short coaching exercise with Coach Felicia that really shed some light on our lives and I think I can speak for everyone that was in that room, it seems like we all had that… “Aha Moment!” when everything was said and done! So what did I learn from Coach Felicia?!?! She definitely showed me that I need to get control of my life! hashtag ——-> #GetYoLife

First thing she said that stood out was”NEVER let anyone’s you are be greater than your I am” Get it?!?! Don’t worry, I did a double take and had to say it again! NEVER let anyone’s you are be greater than your “I AM”! Meaning, you are so invested in who people THINK you are that you lose sight and forget who you are yourself! Did a light bulb go off in your head? I know one did in mine. I need to resurrect Jen, because she somehow got lost in the abyss of her hectic life. She also stated that it’s time to live the life you’ve imagined and where you ARE defines what’s NEXT! So the next thing we did was describe what we would like our ideal day to be like realistically. Welp, I had to grasp some realism and started my list. So below you find a realistic version of what I’d like a regular day to be like in the day and life of Jen!

My Ideal Day: Wake up around 10:30 am Mon.-Fri., first thing I do is check my phone, take a shower, eat breakfast (which I usually don’t eat), Work At Home, Wear Sweatpants & T-Shirt (at home) and Business Casual Wear when I need to make public appearances and meet clients, have a rewarding job that fulfills me, work with a great team doing a job I love, a successful small business, run errands during my lunch hour or write a blog post and engage online, eat home cooked meals for dinner every night, have a clean home 24/7, awesome husband & children, Lots of dedicated family time, My vehicles would be a Lexus IS 300 and Honda Passport and I would go to bed at 11:30 pm daily and do it all over again the next day. Also, travel on the weekends and longer periods when I take dedicated vacation time off.

The top three things of importance to me was: Flexible Job, Communication & Family! Now, Coach Felicia asked what’s keeping us from achieving our ideal day and to look at everything we wrote down to see how much of what we wrote is actually happening right now and the things that need to happen, build a bridge from where we are to our ideal day and make it happen! Funny enough I have about 88% of my ideal day happening right now! I need that other 12%! I’m content but, I will always strive to do better and live out my dreams to the fullest. So where do I start… Welp! In the words of Coach Felicia “Don’t give away your life, invest it!” Investments gain returns! How will I invest my time and stop letting people waste my time. Let people and things that are negative and serving you no purpose go! #PreachCoachFelicia

People should be in process! They’re getting what they want out of you! You know what, she’s right! I’m always griping about being taken advantage of and what people are getting out of me and then I get resentful! Tip: The MOST valuable thing you can give someone is your TIME! So, Coach Felicia suggested that we document our time everyday. She also stated that people are the biggest risk takers of all and to make wise decisions. Calculate risk with caution and break down our goals in manageable pieces. In the next SIX months I hope to “Focus” on what it is that I really want, streamline my work life balance and restore myself. I’ve wanted this forever! So, now the question is what will I do differently to achieve everything that I want. The BEST part of this whole thing is that I don’t have to do it alone. We teamed up in groups and exchanged information to be supportive and hold one another accountable to achieve our goals.

“We need community to help change, that’s where the change comes in!” ~ Coach Felicia (That statement is true on so many levels!)

I have already reached out to my partners and am so excited to start this process. I am so thankful for Coach Felicia and to have had the opportunity to meet her and do this exercise. In case it doesn’t seem like it, this exercise took us at total of 15-20 minutes. We were all in our feelings, and making declarations! We were all empowered and motivated! So, yes… I’m building a bridge because I don’t have that far to go from where I am to where I want to be! Visit CoachFelicia.com for more information and you’ll have access to her articles on Essence as well. Check out the video below posted by The Triangle Tribune to see what type of fun we were having and also check out the event recap the Triangle Tribune published.

Ten Quotes To Empower Women

March is Woman’s History Month and I thought it would be inspiring to start out the month with ten quotes that we can reflect to motivate and empower us from some strong leaders, writers, and celebrities. If you have a favorite quote please share it in the comments and I’ll share it!

1.) “The greater your capacity to love, the greater is your capacity to feel the pain.” – Jennifer Aniston

2.) “Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach

3.) ” A woman is like a tea bag. You cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” _ Nancy Reagan

4.) “Don’t compromise yourself, you are all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin

5.) “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” – Judy Garland

6.) “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne

7.) Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.” -Gahndi

8.) “Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation what you intend to do.” – Liz Smith

9.) “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do, where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald

10.) “Positive minds produce positive lives. Negative minds produce negative lives. Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt.” – Joyce Meyer

Let’s celebrate one another this month! What can you do to help empower another woman? I have a few ideas, share yours and a favorite quote.