10/5/11 Apprx 9 am

Greetings My Sistas!!

First let me say that I hope you
all enjoyed your weekend and even got in a lil “ME” time:).  We all do so much, for so many, that it’s
very important to have a personal ‘Selah’ moment or two for yourself. After
all, we can’t give our best to others and not make time to replenish the best within
ourselves first.

With that said, this brings me to
a few matters of significance for us Sistas, particularly going on this month.
Referring back to the ‘Selah’ moment I mentioned, many of you may be aware that
this is a very significant time within certain spiritual communities. It marks
the celebration of a ‘New Year’ and taking quiet times of thought, meditation,
& reflection throughout the duration of the observance. I am personally
taking strides to incorporate these lessons in my life this year. That is one
reason why I am so excited with the launch of SistaStrong this month! (I’m a
stickler for believing that timing is truly everything).

So today is also another occasion
of remembrance, though lesser known (which I feel just adds to the
appropriate-ness of the acknowledgment). Today is “World Teacher’s Day”—Yay!!!!
!! Ok so it’s a little obvious that I’m a bit partial to celebrating this, Lol:
) Yes, I like so many of our fellow sista community are proud Educators! We are
such a vital aspect to our communities both local & globally, we literally have
our hands (and voices) on the pulse of the future. So a day of recognition is
the very least, yet a very sweet gesture that’s bestowed upon us. Again I say:
Yay, Go Teachers!!

Another more popularly known
Observance during this month- which again most directly linked to women is
Breast Cancer Awareness. This is a dis-ease and life altering dilemma that has
affected us ALL on a direct or indirect level. Whether through a personal
survival or support system for another, we ALL can share endless stories of Triumph
I’m sure. With so many events happening across the country, nationally &
locally, we can all find someplace to donate our time, $, or both towards
supporting efforts for research and preventative health procedures. Let’s
continue to take strides (literal & figurative) towards to improvement of
life quality for our Sistas & Sisters around the world.  Let’s continue to make it chic to ‘think’
Pink: )

Lastly, we have another Cause
that also affects many in our Sista community- Domestic Violence/Abuse. This is
something that just the mere mention & thought of the term causes my blood
to boil! The numbers & stories that continue to rise within our communities
about abused women are staggering to say the least. Like the above mentioned,
this too is a subject that directly & indirectly affects ALL of our lives.
Whether experienced first-hand or simply hearing the stories from other women,
we ALL can “lend a hand to take a stand” against this. There are many things we
can do utilizing our natural gifts & passions. I have several friends in
the Arts that donate their time, talents, and voices Literally to bringing
about awareness. I was humbly honored to share some of my work at an event in
Baltimore, MD last October. This event was put together by two African-American
women’s organizations that work towards assisting women throughout the
year.  It is an experience that I was
grateful to be a part of, my heart & soul were truly moved by the resilient
spirit of so many Sistas that I encountered that day.

An important thing to remember
that I want to leave us ALL with is that these awareness causes are extremely
important to support. Like most things that speak to the plight of the woman,
they tend to be overlooked, ignored, under-funded, lack of funding, and just simply
not supported. This injustice is behind the concept of many lines within my
“The Queen” piece that I shared with you. It’s up to US to be OUR OWN best
advocate for issues, Causes, & concerns that mainly affect our sista
communities. If we don’t begin to stand up for one another, then who else will?
Let’s continue to keep our eyes open along with our hearts & minds towards
the improvement and empowerment of ALL our sisters/daughters/mothers in order
to stand in unity --- as SistaStrong!

*Peace, Love, &Light be with
you all*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9y9NgcNItY&ob=av2e

K’