Welcome to Women's History Month! March highlights the contributions of women but some do extraordinary things day after day! Covid created a new kind of hero - career women, a new version of wonder women, who also played, mom, teacher, wife, employee - and a part of their new normal - juggling kicked up to an unbelievable level. This week we are hosting several women who are willing to share their ups, downs, challenges and frustrations on coping with life during the pandemic.

Queen Latifah sang this back in 1993. This episode spotlights Black History Month. The focus of the observance is to celebrate the African American diaspora – that is the dispersion of any people from their original homeland – and African American history.

U-N-I-T-Y, Queen Latifah sang this back in 1993, while the lyrics may get explicit, it’s the word I’m emphasizing the word – Unity. This is the biggest need for 2021. The second is a return to normalcy. Why do I bring this up in a conversation about Black History Month, as a sub-topic? For a number of us, January 20th inserted the word HOPE back into our vocabulary

Celebrating Black History Month places emphasis on those who might otherwise be ignored. Seek to understand that Black Lives Matter is more than three words.

In celebration of our dear Sweets!
Welcome to a Fireside Chat: Sisterly Love. This week we share memories of our favorite sister and aunt, “Sweets” who passed away in September. In celebration of her birthday, which is February 14, the day we all celebrate “Love”, we’ve gathered together for a virtual celebration.

On this episode, we’ve selected quotes that describe what sisterhood means to us and one last quote that gives us pause and reminds us of our sweet Terri. We’re going to liven it up a bit and have a sister-niece present and then a sister, from youngest to the eldest. 

During Black History Month we celebrate "Black", history, the Arts, Civil Rights. Some find themselves later in life, while others fall into their calling albeit deliberately, passionately in their youth. This week, we meet Matthew Crittenden, a young man from Upper Marlboro, MD.  In addition to his studies, he puts in at least 26 hours a week practicing his craft. Matthew  performed at the Warner Theater in DC, as well as an event produced by Debbie Allen. Hear Matthew share what young people can accomplish when you put your mind to it.

·      Interest – what led him to dance

·      Foundation & Training

·      Performances 

·      Goals – where he sees himself in the future

Brave New Women hosted by Cecilia Poullain 
To borrow her description, it’s a podcast that helps to change the way women are perceived, while inspiring all to do what we want to do. I added, empowering us all to go after our dreams.

Cecilia describes her journey from just being, through discovery, to coaching other women to find their true path. Be sure to log on to the website to retrieve her contact information and Podcast resources.

This week Dr. Ahmed, a family physician and epidemiologist, talks about:

•  COVID 19 and why it is scary;  who is likely to get it and how 
• Including Age, race impact, crowding, etc.
• Why should people be vaccinated? What are vaccines in general
• COVID 19 Vaccines: What is mRNA vaccines and other vaccines under development.
• Some of the common myths about COVID 19 vaccine?
• Address the fears of general population and minorities to consider the vaccine – Past history of vaccines and clinical trials, distrust due to speed of developing and testing the vaccines 
• Touch upon healthcare disparities including access, infection rates and death rates

Welcome back to Season 2! This is the first of a 2-part series that focuses on behind the scenes contact tracking and one on one with an epidemiologist about the vaccine - anxiety, fear and myths.

Not Yet. And Yet. Borrowing the title, “Not Yet” from the December 13 Daily Reflection for Advent & Christmas, it symbolizes a special waiting. Not anxious but hopeful. That place or quiet calm gently building. More like anticipation. To many of us, it feels like the past year has been on hold. And we’ve grown weary. So many unforeseen struggles and challenges. We were not prepared. But now is not the time to look back and beat ourselves up for what we should have done. We must look down the road and prepare for the unfolding – as best we can.

This episode lays a foundation to build your 2021 resolutions by actually sharing my goals/objectives with you. We start with defining SMART goals and share the what; the where and the how with you. We end with helping you to define your why; track and review your progress. This is our last episode for season 1, but we’ll be back on January 12. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!