{Greta the Good}

It began when Greta Thunberg wrote an essay on climate change in May 2018 that was published in a Swedish newspaper...read about her brave adventure since then, including, at the age of 16, addressing the United Nations Climate Action Summit...and how she handled being criticized by narrow-minded adults, even the president of the United States...then became Time magazine's 2019 "Person of the Year."

And now Hulu is presenting a documentary about Greta!

Read what Vanity Fair said about its perfect timing....and why Vogue said "why we can't wait for the Greta Thunberg Hulu documentary".... Thank you, Greta!!

{Your Words Matter}

{For the First Time in History.....}

For the First Time in History, Girls Won All Five Top Prizes at the Broadcom Masters STEM Competition

While reading this article on the delightful "A Mighty Girl" website, sign up for their newsletter to stay in touch with girls of the world!

{Day of the Girl}

October 11 is the International Day of the Girl. In a tribute, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, posted a special message, including photos of her teenage self, on the Sussex  Royal Instagram page. The Duchess has long been an articulate advocate for girls and women, including speaking at the United Nations on their behalf.

Enjoy this story by Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in South Africa 2019

{Barbie's "Inspiring Women" Series}

Mattel, the company that owns the Barbie brand, has created an “Inspiring Women” series of Barbie dolls....honoring historic female icons. (I have mixed feelings about this! What do you think?)

Alanna Vagianos wrote an article for HuffPost reporting that the company recently announced that two dolls―honoring Rosa Parks and Sally Ride―were being added to their collection. “Parks, a famed civil rights activist, and Ride, the first American woman and youngest American to travel to space, both come with educational information about their historic contributions so that children can learn while playing.”

“These historical women broke boundaries that made the world a better place for future generations of girls,” a press release from Barbie read.

“The Inspiring Women series, which debuted on International Women’s Day last year, includes dolls based on other legendary figures, including artist Frida Kahlo, aviator Amelia Earhart and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.”

“As a brand that is dedicated to inspiring the limitless potential in every girl, Barbie is shining a spotlight on role models, historical and modern, to show them they can be anything,” Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie, told HuffPost. “Both Sally Ride and Rosa Parks are change-makers, so these dolls celebrate their achievements, while also encouraging girls to challenge the status quo.”

“Barbie has historically been criticized for portraying a singular and unattainable body type. If Barbie were a human woman, she would be 5 feet, 9 inches and have a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist and wear a Size 3 shoe, according to the book Body Wars by Margo Maine, a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. While it’s valuable and important for Mattel to make Barbie dolls in the likeness of powerful women, some critics have pointed out that their body types also need to be as diverse and inclusive as the women they are fashioned after.”

Another criticism from writer and professor of history Angela Johnson relates to the inaccuracies Mattel used to describe Rosa Parks who had been a bold and passionate civil rights activist for many years. Read more here.

There are other historic and current trailblazing women being made into Barbie dolls. If Mattel truly wants to honor women in this way, then be sure to tell their real, deeper story. ~

{Women's Equality Day}

On August 26, 1920, after three generations of an unrelenting, brilliant, courageous, political campaign, women in the United States won the right to vote. 

In 1971, to honor and commemorate this historic event, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced a Congressional Resolution (she had to introduce it again in 1973 when Congress passed it) to ensure that this date would be commemorated with the designation of Women's Equality Day, which is now celebrated on August 26th each year.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi leads a Women's Equality Day
 celebration in 2016

{Harry & Jane}

 “Just one week after Prince Harry and Dr. Jane Goodall shared a dance and ‘chimpanzee greeting’ during an event for young conservationists, British Vogue published an enlightening conversation between the two as part of the September issue guest edited by Meghan Markle,” wrote Carly Ledbetter in HuffPost.

“The prince and the primatologist discussed the environment, slowing down climate change, and not having too many children in the article….”

From the sussexroyal Instagram account: “Roots and Shoots is a global youth service program founded by Dr. Goodall in 1991. She has created and encouraged a global youth community to recognize the power of their individual strength—that each day you live, you can make a difference.”

{I Will Be Your Friend}

A 6-year-old boy named Blake is highlighting the power of kindness and friendship just in time for back-to-school season, wrote Caroline Bologna for HuffPost.  Last week, Blake’s mother, Nikki Rajahn, posted a photo of her son wearing a shirt that says “I will be your friend” on Facebook. She also shared the sweet backstory.:

“I told him that as a back to school gift, I will make him any shirt he would like. It could have anything- a basketball theme, football, etc. which are all his favorites,” she wrote. After thinking about it, Blake asked her, “will you please make me a shirt that says ‘I will be your friend’ for all the kids who need a friend to know that I am here for them?”

The Georgia mom ended her caption with the hashtag #stopbullying and concluded, “Never underestimate your kid’s heart for others! I love my sweet Blake!” The post has received more than 10,000 likes, and the comments section is filled with positive reactions and requests for the mom to make more of these shirts.

Read the rest of the story.

{This post is dedicated to my great-niece Maggie who turns 9 today...and is a great friend! xoxo}

{Forces for Change}

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is the guest editor of the September issue of British Vogue (out today!) titled “Forces for Change” — learn about her empowering vision for women and girls and the world:

From Chevaz Clarke at CBS News:

“To have the country’s most influential beacon of change guest edit British Vogue at this time has been an honour, a pleasure and a wonderful surprise,” the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, said of the historic collaboration. “As you will see from her selections throughout this magazine, she is also willing to wade into more complex and nuanced areas, whether they concern female empowerment, mental health, race or privilege.”

From Page Six by Elana Fishman:

“The Forces for Change” issue highlights a “diverse selection of women from all walks of life, each driving impact and raising the bar for equality, kindness, justice and open mindedness,” according to a post from the Duchess and Duke of Sussex’s official Instagram account shared.

Jacinda Ardern

The lineup, photographed for the cover by Peter Lindbergh, includes models/activists Adwoa Aboah, Adut Akech and Christy Turlington, Somali boxer Ramla Ali, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, diversity advocate Sinéad Burke, “Crazy Rich Asians” star Gemma Chan and actress and LGBTQ+ advocate Laverne Cox, notably the first trans person to ever appear on the title’s cover.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

It also features actresses/activists Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek and Yara Shahidi, Royal Ballet principal Francesca Hayward, body positivity warrior Jameela Jamil, feminist author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and teen climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Additionally, there’s a 16th spot on the cover featuring a silver reflective mirror, so readers can see themselves amongst these change-makers.

Also inside the issue? An exclusive interview between Markle, 37, and former first lady Michelle Obama as well one between Prince Harry and legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, along with a guest editor’s letter penned by Markle.

Adut Akech

“These last seven months have been a rewarding process, curating and collaborating with Edward Enninful, British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, to take the year’s most-read fashion issue and steer its focus to the values, causes and people making impact in the world today,” the Duchess of Sussex told the magazine.

“Through this lens I hope you’ll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light. I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the ‘Forces for Change’ they’ll find within these pages.”

Greta Thunberg

Enninful told British Vogue that Markle declined to appear on the cover herself. “From the very beginning, we talked about the cover — whether she would be on it or not,” he explained. “In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a ‘boastful’ thing to do for this particular project. She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires.”

Still, according to Lindbergh, that didn’t stop Markle from being hands-on when it came to photographing the issue’s cover. “My instructions from the Duchess were clear: ‘I want to see freckles!'” the famed photog told the glossy. 

......................

Click here for more about the 15 women and girls featured, link to Huffington Post UK....

{Put a Woman in Charge}

Enjoy this YouTube video of the wonderful Keb' Mo' and Rosanne Cash singing "Put a Woman in Charge" [click here]

.........................................................

PUT A WOMAN IN CHARGE 

Way back when

In the beginning of time

Man made the fire then the wheel

Went from a horse to an automobile

He said, “the world is mine”

He took the oceans and the sky

He set the borders, built the walls

He won't stop ’til he owns it all

And here we are

Standing on the brink of disaster

Enough is enough is enough is enough

I know the answer

Put a woman in charge

Put the women in charge

The time has come

We've got to turn this world around

Call the mothers

Call the daughters

We need the sisters of mercy now

She'll be a hero

Not a fool

She’s got the power

To change the rules

She's got something

That men don't have (Yes we have)

She is kind and she understands

So let the ladies

Do what they were born to do

Raise the vibration

And make a better place for me and you

Put a woman in charge

Put the women in charge

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

We're gonna feel the magic

When the girls take over

It's gonna be fantastic

(We need more women in charge)

Put a woman in charge

Put the women in charge

[Written by John Lewis Parker, Keb’ Mo’ & Beth Nielsen Chapman 

Release Date: September 28, 2018]

.......................................................

[This post is dedicated to artist Jennifer Hawkins Hock with love and appreciation...and birthday wishes!! xoxo]

{Kick Like a Girl!!!}

Congratulations to Megan Rapinoe and...

...Rose Lavelle and...

...all the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team members for winning their 4th World Cup title!!

 {And thanks for kicking like a girl!} 

{What the Constitution Means to Me}

“Fifteen-year-old Heidi Schreck put herself through college by giving speeches about the U.S. Constitution. The Obie Award winner resurrected her teenage self in order to trace the document's profound impact on women's bodies—starting with her great-great-grandmother, a mail-order bride who died under mysterious circumstances. This witty and searingly personal exploration breathes new life into our founding document and imagines how it will shape the next generation of American women.” [from the New York Theater Guide]

“Heidi Schreck’s affecting disquisition on the U.S. Constitution is an eye-opener—and a jaw-dropper,” wrote Marilyn Stasio for Variety. “The big reveal is that the actual word woman is not even mentioned in our Constitution. (Pause here for gasps from the audience.) Not once. Not in the Amendments that filled in the gaps. Not even in the Fourteenth Amendment that validates the equal rights of emancipated slaves. In fact, the Fifteenth Amendment specifically guarantees the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude without acknowledging the inclusion of women in that right.” [Read the entire review.]

Thanks, Heidi, for educating us all!!

[Click here to see Heidi interviewed on the BUILD show]

{Ordinary Angels}

Thanks to those "ordinary angels" in my life...xoxo

{Share & Celebrate}

"Share our similarities, 

celebrate our differences...."

-M. Scott Peck

{Top Feminist Moments in 2018}

The Top 10 Feminist Moments 

That Defined 2018

...enjoy the short video...

{Self-Hatred Goodbyes}

Enjoy an interview with the joyful Katelyn Ohashi, an amazing UCLA gymnast and poet, and her remarkable, awarding-winning coach, Valorie Kondos Field.

In the interview (link below), Katelyn reads an excerpt from her poem, "Self-Hatred Goodbyes" and Valorie shares from her book, Life is Short, Don't Wait to Dance.
Like what people say when watching Katelyn perform now, "I can't help but be joyful," that's also what you'll say after listening to this interview on "Good Morning, America" from early January. It's a '10'...!

(Need to catch up what happened? Read about and watch Katelyn's dazzling gymnastics routine...and learn of her inspiring journey.) xoxo

{Vibrate Love}

...vibrate love...

...vibrate love...

...vibrate love...