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Black Women------that makes us PROUD
Topic Started: Nov 12 2010, 02:48 AM (48,990 Views)
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Christina Norman Generating Much Success for BlackVoices

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Christina Norman’s stock went up when she was first hired by Oprah Winfrey to head her cable network OWN. Soon thereafter, however, Norman’s name became even more popular in industry circles when news broke that she was asked to leave OWN in the face of dismal ratings.

Norman followed up her CEO gig with a surprising position: that of executive editor of Huffington Post’s Black Voices. For many, it seemed like a step down for the woman who was once the president of MTV and credited with turning VH1 around. But she has proved to be a secret weapon for HuffPo and its monstrous momentum as a top content site. “At the heart of it, I’m a content person. I just needed to wrap my head around content for an online audience,” Norman told AdWeek.

Since joining the team in October, BlackVoices has registered some strong numbers according to AdWeek. “Daily visitors have surged by 73 percent to 318,000, while monthly pagesviews have spiked by 19 percent. And much like the mothership, BlackVoices has embraced being a social publisher, with referrals from social networks climbing by 42 percent.”

Since BlackVoices is such a stronghold in the online Black news sphere, it is primed to grab up the dollars dedicated to African-American marketing and advertising. And that’s where Norman’s impact is most felt.
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Behind the Click: Silicon Valley Lawyer Cheree McAlpine

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Current Occupation: Vice President and General Counsel, Wyse Technology Inc.

Favorite website: Economist.com

Favorite read: Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

Recent read :? Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

2012′s ultimate goal :? Getting my 13 year old daughter into a good high school this fall

Quote Governing Your Mission or a Quote that Inspires You :? Carpe Diem

Twitter handle:? @chereemcalpine

Ready for another profile on women making moves in the tech space? If so, you are in for a treat. So far I’ve profiled entrepreneurs and VP’s, but I have yet to zero in on one of the most important areas of the game, until now. With new terrain being carved out daily, those with legal expertise are key in moving the industry along. I was fortunate enough to connect with Cheree McAlpine, a key attorney in Silicon Valley, who will give us a peek at what it’s like to be part of the inner legal circle of the tech world. Get ready for some hot insights from the General Counsel at Wyse Technology, a leader in cloud client computing:

LDC: I’d love to know when did you first become interested in law?

SM: I’ve always loved advocacy, speaking , and debate (my mother would say arguing), but at some point law just became a natural and obvious choice if you want to do what you love.

LDC: There are probably not too many Black female attorneys in your field. Do you find your gender/race a challenge in Silicon Valley?

SM: I have experienced a wonderful 17-year legal career in Silicon Valley where technological innovation is key and knowledge is a premium. I am currently the General Counsel and head lawyer at a global company. I understand and can appreciate the uniqueness of my situation as an African American woman in this position and I certainly can’t say that I haven’t experienced conscious or unconscious biases in my profession. My focus professionally has always been on understanding my value as a lawyer and businesswoman in the Silicon Valley business community and having the confidence to pursue the positions that are suitable to me without personal regard to race and gender.

LDC: Good to hear. So knowing that, what is a typical day like?

SM: I’m the General Counsel of a global company–there is no such thing as a typical day. I advise the executive management team on corporate strategy, corporate governance and other legal matters, so there are meetings, presentations and management of global legal issues each day. For example, one day the issues may be in China and the next it could be France. My focus is to make sure that legal issues don’t interrupt the business, the innovation or the vision.

LDC: Just to jump back to your previous position prior to Wyse, I read that you started the diversity program at Sun? What inspired you to do that?

SM: I always want to work at a great company. Diversity is part of building that greatness. Diverse companies have broader viewpoints and are more adaptable. This results in better execution and more success. My commitment to diversity is about promoting an unrestrained perspective about qualified people and what they can contribute to building a great organization.

LDC: How interesting. However, I find that diversity programs don’t typically address interaction between the company and outside firms/individuals with projects.? Since so many of us are entrepreneurial, how would you suggest, for example, working with Sun via its diversity program when seeking partnership, client-based relationship, etc?

(NOTE: Sun was acquired by Oracle in 2010. McAlpine has been an employee at Wyse Technology, Inc. since 2005. She is answering these questions more broadly)

SM: I’ve been involved in building diversity for many years and I have seen diversity programs evolve over time. Diversity can be about building a diverse internal organization, but comprehensive diversity programs are certainly broader than that. Many diversity programs measure success by how it fosters diversity internally, but also how it engages with businesses and individuals outside its corporate structure. Entrepreneurs should reach out to companies who have developed a more expansive program.

LDC: I am involved with Raise Hope for Congo regarding the conflict minerals that are used in all our phones. How did you get involved with “Stamp Out Violence Against Women & Girls in Congo?”

SM: I have a very personal connection to the people in the Congo. I have traveled there. I have family there. You can’t spend one day in the Congo without recognizing the unbelievable beauty and spirit of its people and the contrasting unimaginable violence that women and young girls face in the Eastern region. As a woman and the mother of two young girls, I could not ignore the plight of the women there. It’s too tragic. It’s too violent. It can’t be ignored. It must stop.

LDC: What do you find most rewarding about it?

SM: I love the grassroots activism of helping and nurturing women who are in a crisis. I love that women in this region have hope. I love that there are people and organizations devoted to sharing the women’s stories and advocating for the violence to end. The rewards will come when the violence stops.

LDC: What is your greatest hope for girls in the US who are becoming involved with the STEM program?

SM: Anything that fosters young girls (and boys) interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math is a great thing. It would be amazing if the next great innovator was from the STEM program.




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Entrepreneur Spotlight: LaShawnna Stanley, CEO of Ethnicity Models

by Darralynn Hutson

Growing up in the inner city of Kansas City, Missouri, LaShawnna Stanley had dreams of being her own boss. Motivated to never accept the status of “Welfare chick,” LaShawnna said the birth of her daughter was the driving force for her to succeed. “I was the only chocolate chip in my family and for a long time, I never could really identify,” expresses Stanley, 42. “I met my family on my dads side for the first time at the age of twelve and it made me feel happy that I was me. It’s so important to know where you come from.” Today, the owner and CEO of Ethnicity Models, a flourishing modeling and talent agency that specializes in ethnic models – is on a mission to motivate other women to do the same.

MN: How did you start Ethnicity Models?

LaShawnna: I initially started the company recruiting models that looked good in my clothes. I owned a clothing boutique on the beach (in South Beach, Miami) and needed girls with curves; we starting doing fashion and modeling shows on the beach. More and more people came, especially celebrities and that’s how it started to grow.

MN: What was your method of raising money?
LaShawnna: I worked for corporate America for 10 years and had profit sharing account that I liquidated to start my business. It wasn’t a great deal of money but I used what I had to get a little start, reinvested what I made until eventually I had a complete business. I think it’s important for aspiring entrepreneurs to know that you do not need lots of money to start a business, you can start with a little and grow from there. Focus on doing what you love and the money will come.

MN: Who were your first clients and how did you close the deal?
LaShawnna: My very first client was a charity event for Magic Johnson’s foundation. Magic had been a mentor of mine for many years. He knew I started the company and gave us the opportunity to gain exposure. After that FUBU was in Miami looking for models for a calendar they were producing. I went to the casting with my models and waited until the end to have a one-on-one conversation with the owner Daymond John and convinced him that FUBU and Ethnicity pretty much had the same meaning and that he should use my models.

MN: How did you find the best models?
LaShawnna: It’s funny, I’ve never really had to find models, they always find me. Once I started out with my first five models and the word got out about how protective and supportive I was with my company; not to mention they call me “the negotiator” when it comes to getting the best pay rate for the girls. I get so many request from models, I had to start a online talent database community website that helps me manage and keep track.

MN: What type of Boss are you?
LaShawnna: I’m fun and playful; most people feel like they’ve known me for years. But when it comes to business, all games are put aside. As soon as the job is complete, I’m back to being my silly lil self. I’m the type of boss that creates other bosses, if you are around me, I will bring the entrepreneur out of you one way or another. You will look up and have created some type of business out of doing what you love. I love bringing that out of people.

MN: What advice do you have for aspiring models?
LaShawnna: My advice would be do your research first before anything else. Trust your intuition; if something doesn’t feel right, trust that feeling. Last but not least, don’t do anything in this business that you can’t share and be proud of with your mother and grandmother.

MN: What’s your advice for women struggling with being their own boss?
LaShawnna: Take time out for yourself no matter what. Learn balance and realize the business will still be there after your mani-pedi and massage, so don’t neglect taking time out for yourself. The happier you are, the more business and opportunities you will attract. I also recommend reading self help books by other bosses such as Russell Simmons, Oprah and Donald Trump. It will motivate you and also give you new ideas and inspiration.

MN: What is it that sets you apart from other Talent/Modeling Agencies?
LaShawnna: Ethnicity is personable and very family-oriented, which I think people are drawn to. I also set very high standards for the company and will not settle for less. Now, I listen to the lyrics in a song before booking my models. I can turn down a job if it degrades women. I didn’t do that in the past but now I’m taking responsibility for how women are portrayed. The girls have rules and regulations that they must adhere to. And I must enforce them. On set, I’m called the momma bear, a lot of the producers don’t like me. I have to fight all the time to keep respect. I didn’t know that at first, I had to learn that.

MN: How do you maintain and continue to grow in a lazy economy?
LaShawnna:You have to diversify yourself and your business; you have to have more than one avenue of income. In addition to representing talent, I am a casting director, producer, and I still own an online boutique and just started a modeling academy. I do motivational speaking for aspiring models & entrepreneurs, as well as, women’s empowerment life coaching. I believe the universe is abundant and it’s only a lazy economy if you believe it is.
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Head Women In Charge: Tanya Fields, Creative & Executive Director of the BLK ProjeK

Meet Tanya Fields, the Creator and Executive Director of the BlK ProjeK. The BLK ProjeK is a much needed program that seeks to address food justice, public and mental health issues as they specifically relate to under served women of color. Through culturally relevant education, beautification of public spaces, urban gardening and community programming, Fields has set out to empower less fortunate women of color. The BlK ProjeK looks to create easy accessible resources and enrich the lives of women who are routinely overlooked and overburdened yet serve an important and critical role in the larger fabric of society. The goal is to strengthen overall mental and public health, as well as to elevate the collective self esteem of the larger communities they live in.

Turn the page to learn more about this phenomenal women and all the extraordinary work she is doing for us and our community. We had a blast chatting it up with Ms.Tanya, who’s not only informed and intelligent, but also funny as heck and full of charisma!

MN: What motivated you to start the BLK ProjeK?

TF: I could give a really rehearsed and “proper” answer but I am going to opt to keep it real for Madame Noire readers. I was a young mother. At 22 years old I found myself living on my own in the South Bronx with a three month old while going to school full time. I struggled, getting a crash course in the lesson that poverty is rampant among women, particularly women of color because they are women who many times are subjected to policies and services that are created to marginalize them. In a patriarchal society, single mothers are PENALIZED for that “decision” and in turn their children are at higher risk for poor nutrition and poor nourishment. As someone who did not grow up in a cycle of poverty, violence or poor education, I had outside resources. I had educational capital, social capital and cultural capital to continue to propel me forward. I began to think, what about the women who did not? What about their children? These were my sisters and if with all that I still continued to face what felt like impossible odds how were they going to fare? I created the BLK ProjeK for those women. For me, for myself. I am linked to their success because I am inextricably linked to them.

MN: What’s your long-term vision for The BLK ProjeK?

TF: I want to create new opportunities for women centric and mother centric workplaces and communities. I want to be clear that doesn’t mean I want to exclude men but I do realize to create more equitable communities men themselves musty become “feminist.” I want the BLK ProjeK to help create not just jobs, particularly around food but I want to catalyze a more equitable industry where a woman with a low social and economical status can see a real example of pulling one’s self up by the bootstraps or if need be make herself a pair of boots first! I want to eventually get into real estate development, cooperative – family centric homeownership for low-income/working class people of color and I am still marinating on the idea of getting involved with education somewhere down the line. I realize nothing happens in a vacuum. We cannot look at one solution to alleviate poverty because poverty is complex and multi-tiered.

MN: Do you want to take the BLK Projek national, even global?

TF: Absolutely! My plan is to be global and an identifiable household name, within the next 10 years.

MN: How hard is it to balance being a mother and an entrepreneur? What advice do you give to single black mothers who want to pursue their dreams and goals?

TF: I am still struggling. I am a success story in the making, I do not want to give the impression that I have it all together. As I’m speaking to you, my car was towed and I am trying to figure out how to get the money to get it out. There is always something, but I never stop. EVER! My advice to women, you are only as limited as you let people make you believe you are. There is a conspiracy and much investment given to helping to perpetuate our poverty. Times get hard and there will be people that say you can’t do. That’s OK, if opportunity doesn’t knock, educate yourself on how to build a house, then build a house. Take risks, ask for what you want and learn to deal with rejection.

MN: Who are some African American women philanthropists and entrepreneurs that inspire you?

TF: I have so many! African American women are doing our thing! I’ll name a few. There is a sister named Kolu Zigby- she is my biggest inspiration right now. She is a funder and absolutely brilliant, Google her. My former mentor Majora Carter- I admire the level of success she created for herself. Madame CJ Walker - She grinded and made a dollar out of 15 cents did it her own way. Not only did she create wealth for herself she passed that on to other black women and talked all over the country about economic development. Cliché,but of course Oprah.

MN: What other career goals do you have?

TF: I want to write a cookbook and become a TV personality on a show focusing on empowerment and food. I also sing really well, LOL and entertain the idea of doing an one woman show. Don’t mean to toot my own horn, but a sister is multi-talented.

MN: What other projects or charities are you involved with?

TF: I am currently developing an urban farm in the Bronx. We will be opening a community led farmer’s market in the Bronx as well. I envision it becoming a Bronx Flavored cultural and culinary experience. I am also working a lot currently with a plethora of NY based organizations. I don’t do charity. I don’t believe in charity. I believe in liberation.

MN: Well put Ms.Fields! To keep up with Tanya & The BlK ProjeK, follow her on twitter @theblkprojek

Tianna is a NYC girl about town, blogging about beauty and business. Follow her @TeeNecole
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She’s The Boss

Twenty episodes. Twenty phenomenal women. She’s the Boss captures the business savvy, style and spirit of New York City’s most successful black businesswomen. Created specifically to cater to the unique environment of online television viewing, the series features intimate one-on-one interviews and the day-to-day activities of corporate executives, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. She’s the Boss offers practical advice and inspiration to the largely female demographic among MadameNoire.com fans.


http://madamenoire.com/category/shestheboss/
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Behind The Click: Adrissha Wimberly, Co-Founder & COO of Smarteys.com

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In January of 2011, Adrissha Wimberly birthed her baby Smarteys, a paycheck management and personal finance product targeted to millennials. Considering her and her co-founder left lucrative jobs in the finance industry to break out on their own, Smarteys was a labor of love. For this latest installment in our Behind The Click series, profiling Black women in the technology field, we ask the co-founder and COO of this startup about taking the road less traveled.

Current Occupation: Co-founder and COO, Smarteys.com

Favorite website: www.cnn.com

Favorite read: Magazine – ELLE Decor; Book – Steve Jobs by by Walter Isaacson

Recent read: Pillars of the Earth; The Lean Startup

2012′s ultimate goal: Personal – run a 8 minute mile. Business – grow Smarteys to 17000 subscribers.

Quote that Inspires You: Walk the line between the known and the unknown and you will find that courage is not in the absence of fear but in the judgement that there is something more important than fear.

Twitter Handle: @adrissha; @smarteys

How did you decide to not return to go from a high-position of VP at Bear Sterns to founding a personal finance startup?

My decision was based on many things, but the three salient reasons were (1) I was more passionate about the future than I was about the past. Although I enjoyed my career immensely prior to business school, I had an unshakable feeling that my future career was about expressing a passion for helping young people. (2) I no longer wanted to move vertically but instead horizontally. In a corporate gig you move vertically, both higher in title and deeper in skill. In entrepreneurship you move horizontally, covering many different areas. And given the startup culture, where the weak shall parish, you somehow grow in skill across those many areas too. (3) I figured the world would never ben the same again. When I came to business school in the Fall of 2008, the world of investment banking-type finance had changed for the worse. Conversely, the world of entrepreneurship, particularly in Chicago with the rise of GroupOn and GrubHub, was changing for the better. There was just no better time to start; the stars may not have aligned like this again.

How did the idea for Smarteys come about?

We were leading a seminar for graduating college students at the local university and realized that seminars aren’t the most effective way of creating behavior modification for people. The issue is that money is personal so unless an example directly uses your financial situation, you are likely to discount the lesson being exemplified. As the students crowded around us after the seminar to ask their unique money questions and choices for life after school, it dawned on us that what graduating students needed was an easily accessible and simple way to load their financial profile – future income, bills, debt, savings – and see how that, plus other lifestyle choices like having a roommate, effects them. It was clear that these soon-to-be graduates had great educations but little understanding of the money choices they would need to make over the next few months and how it impacts their future.

There are many online financial planning tools being offered in today’s market? How did you seek to define your product? Was “standing out’ even a concern for you?

Product differentiation is important to us. To make sure that we don’t become another “me-too” financial company we devote a bunch of time to understanding our core market – people one year from or after graduation. Our focus on that critical time in a student’s life is what sets us apart. We seek to stand out by sticking to our core beliefs:

Great products are inspired by simple everyday things.
User experience is a technology’s life source.
Security and data privacy are foundational.
Financial software should educate and cause you to do something.
Simple is better.
Understanding should be instant, time is a luxury.
Customer service matters.

Did you start working on the company with your co-founder while you were both still working full-time or did you quit your jobs before building the foundation of the company?

We started working on the company while attending the full-time MBA program at Chicago Booth. So, I’d say it was like starting the company while “working.” Before school, my co-founder had the mission and sense of purpose for the company and we used time in business school to flush out the idea, raise money, and start branding the name.


When did you launch the company?

We launched the website January 2011.

How long did it take between brainstorming the idea for the company and launching the company?

Almost 2 years.

Did it take a lot of personal financial investment to start the company?

Sure did. Not only did it take the direct transfer of personal money, known as founder’s capital, into the company, but also personal money to support our lives outside of the company, which includes food and shelter as well as student loans.

How does the company generate money?

We license our software to colleges; the school pays per student-user.

What was the biggest learning experience you gained from starting this venture?

The biggest learning experience is a very hard question to answer. Founders wear many different hats, so each area has had it’s own ah-ha moment. I would call those tactical learning experiences like “sign contacts with people you want to do business with, not need to do business with.” Similarly, there are personal learning experiences. The biggest for me has been that entrepreneurship is about exploiting yourself – your talents. Most people who work for an institution start off being exploited by their employer – working longer hours for little pay. If things go well, it flips and the employer becomes exploited by the employee – paying well for littler work. Most people get stuck there; happy to be on the winning end of the employee-employer relationship. But entrepreneurs move into a third realm, we exploit ourselves. There is no greater satisfaction then knowing that what you put in you get out. And if things go well, what you get out of it is life changing.

What is the biggest challenge to running this company?

The biggest challenge to running Smarteys right now is evaluating all the exciting opportunities we have. With a small team and being in the weeds everyday, it’s important that we don’t loose focus on our core business. However with many promising things ahead of us, it’s a challenge to quickly pick a path. We want to take advantage of all good roads, but it’s just not possible to do it all at once.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’ll take last Monday as an example for us as co-founders:
8am – Check email for new users, subscribers, or other business.
9am – Prospecting client phone call
10am – Team meeting
11am – Engaging Followers and Fans on all social networks
11:30am – Impromptu meeting with intern to share more details on her project
12 – Email, Email, Email
2pm – Prospecting phone call
3pm – Write the next Blog
4pm – Review financial and investor documents
5pm – Email, Email, Email
6pm – Review Bug Tracker system with CTO to make sure we’re on time for next release
7pm – Start designing a marketing/branding 1 pager
8pm – Read market data, check out what’s going on with others in the industry. Make sure all email is answered for the day

What are your goals for the company for 2012? For the next five years?

2012 goals are to increase site subscribers month-over-month, contract twelve schools to use Paycheck Planner for the 2012-2013 school year, and on-board one more full-time team member. During the next five years, our goal is to become the number one website for financial content and services for recent college graduates.

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How She Built It: Wayetu Moore, Publisher & CEO of One Moore Book


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Wayetu Moore has always been curious about how and why things are the way they are. At age 8, she was so fascinated with the financial and social benefits of product/service trading that she began to sell candy in school as an experiment, not knowing that the experience would kickstart a lifelong pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures.

Now, at 26, Wayetu is the founder and chief executive of One Moore Book, a one-year-old publishing house that develops and distributes books for children in countries with low literacy rates and underrepresented cultures.

Keep reading to learn how she built it.

MN: Launching a business is hard work. Who or what was your inspiration?

WM: My parents are the two most inspiring people I know—both individually and as a team. They are both so selfless but also understand how important their lives and legacies are to the people around them. They have such an inspiring love story and are such brilliant and rare people.

MN: Do you have any business partners and/or employees?

WM: My 4 siblings and I are business partners. They were the first ones I asked to join in this venture. They make up the creative team and assist in writing and illustrating our books. In total, there are 7 employees.

MN: At a time when the print industry is being called an antiquated form of media…you decided to launch a publishing house. Why not just go 100 percent digital?

WM: If I were publishing young adult or adult books, I may have considered that, but I don’t see children’s books or the children’s book publishing industry becoming completely digital any time soon.

New parents and parents of elementary-aged children enjoy the tradition of filling their child’s library with stories they will remember. Children’s books are an opportunity for parents to interact with their children, and to physically chronicle their child’s growth. Also as a writer, I appreciate the emotional and psychological value of holding a book.

MN: How does One Moore Book make money? One Moore Book sells and distributes children’s books. We also partner with non-profit organizations to create culturally sensitive literature for their programs.
Wayetu Moore

(Credit: Wayetu Moore)

MN: Did you have a background in publishing before launching One Moore Book? Was this an industry that you’ve always aspired to be a part of?

WM: I did not have a background in publishing. I actually began in theater and moved to New York when I was 17 to study at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I was a performer but writing was always present. As I matured, my passion for writing consumed more and more of my attention and interest and I eventually decided to study writing full-time.

While in theater I was always interested in what was going on behind the scenes. I wanted to know who was directing, who was writing, how production worked, “why is that light positioned that way and who controls it?” Those are questions I asked even from center stage. So when I began to write full-time, organically I wondered the same things about the literary industry: who packages these thoughts and sells them? And why should someone else make more money than me for my thoughts and stories when all they are doing is packaging?

MN: When did you get your first taste of the publishing industry?

WM: I published an online literary magazine for women of color with a friend while I was in college. It was such an amazing experience because I learned so much about the literary industry. It was one of the first glimpses I had of the integration of art and commerce.

MN: What was the biggest obstacle you faced while you were launching your company?

WM: The biggest obstacle I faced was that I had to juggle multiple roles. I was doing business development, accounting, marketing and heading the creative team on my own because I did not have the resources to hire a team. There is a team in place now, but the initial struggles of wearing multiple hats definitely slowed us down.

MN: What are your short and long term goals for One Moore Book?

WM: As a company, our short-term goals are to publish a set of books for Haiti and Guinea in 2012 and build our online distribution catalog to 1000 books. My long-term goal is to make One Moore Book a nationally recognizable brand for multicultural children’s literature.

MN: Are you writing, creating and distributing books too? Or, are you only distributing books created by others?

WM: Yes. I have written or co-written all 7 books we published last year. Writing is my passion, but being a publisher gives me an opportunity to explore and thoroughly understand how my art is supposed to be packaged, marketed and distributed.

MN: How do you find new authors for One Moore Book?

WM: We publish in cycles and feature one country per cycle. For Haiti, we have been communicating with schools and NGOs and plan to collaborate with Haitian teachers who are interested in content development. Through word of mouth there have already been a few Haitian-American writers who have reached out to us. For our Guinea series we are collaborating with a Guinean organization that will provide content and writers–we will provide illustrators.

MN: If an author of a children’s book wanted to pitch a new idea to you, what would that process be like?

WM: The only program we have right now for interested new authors is the Joint Venture Publishing program, which integrates the traditional benefits of mainstream publishing with self-publishing. Writers can submit a proposal that includes a summary of the book and a little about themselves to submissions@onemoorebook.com. Right now our response time is 3-4 weeks.

MN: Why is childhood literacy so important to you?

WM: My family experienced the war in Liberia in 1990 and upon moving here when I was 5, it took a long time for me to adjust – longer than my sisters. My mother would buy books for me and read to us before sleeping so I wouldn’t have nightmares. Reading saved my childhood mind from completely losing my trust for people and life. My mother eventually suggested that I begin to write and I wrote my first poem around 7 or 8 and it provided similar therapy as the bedtime stories my mother read to me. These early experiences stuck and I have always been aware of the power of literature and art in the lives of children, especially children who face adversity. I could not imagine not being able to read then–I’m not sure what would have saved me.

MN: What advice would you give someone who was interested in getting into the publishing game?

WM: Do your research. Know exactly what you want, who you want to reach, and have a reason for doing what you do.

MN: What advice would you give an aspiring author who is looking for a publishing deal?

WM: The same. Research your industry. Research everything from literary agencies to publishing houses and know what you want and what kind of agent you want to represent you. Know your options. Not enough artists understand the commercial aspects of their art. Also, READ. Read as much as you can. Good writing requires good reading.

MN: What do you want people to know about One Moore Book?

WM: We are a new company and we are still growing, and with your continued support we will be here for a long time.

When a child sees something on a page, they believe that thing is definite and they accept the images, names, narratives as a standard of the way the world is supposed to be. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we gave ALL children a chance to see themselves in literature, and further, an opportunity to celebrate their stories as also significant, permanent, and worth telling?

This company is my way of celebrating multicultural stories that are largely missing in the larger industry. One Moore Book has been my way of immortalizing my culture and the cultures of many children who may otherwise borrow other narratives and aspire to the physical appearances and lives of those characters.


Sakita Holley is the founder and CEO of House of Success, where she advises lifestyle brands on social media best practices, branding and traditional public relations strategies. Follow her on Twitter @MissSuccess.

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Simpson Miller is the new president of Jamaica, she's the first woman to become the president of Jamaica.

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Edited by Truth95, Mar 26 2012, 02:34 AM.
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Truth95
Mar 26 2012, 01:56 AM
Simpson Miller is the new president of Jamaica, she's the first woman to become the president of Jamaica.

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Portia Simpson-Miller
Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller, ON, MP (born 12 December 1945) is the seventh and current Prime Minister of Jamaica, inaugurated on 5 January 2012 representing the People's National Party. [1]Along with being Prime Minister, Simpson-Miller also chose to hold the positions of Minister of Defence, Development, Information and Sports.[2] She previously served a term in the office from 30 March 2006 to 11 September 2007, as the first woman in that role. She defeated Andrew Holness of the Jamaica Labour Party in the December 2011 general election. Simpson-Miller is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former female presidents and prime ministers.[3].

Simpson-Miller was first elected in 1976 to the Parliament of Jamaica, for the constituency of South West St. Andrew Parish, as a member of the People's National Party. The PNP boycotted the elections called in 1983. She was re-elected to the same seat in a later election, and served as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sports from 1989 to 1993. She was Minister of Labour and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sports from 1995 to February 2000, Minister of Tourism and Sports from February 2000 to October 2002, and Minister of Local Government and Sport since October 2002.[4]

She was a vice president of the PNP from 1978 to 2006, when she became its president. In the PNP's internal vote to elect P. J. Patterson's successor, held on 26 February 2006, she received 1,775 votes, while her nearest rival, security minister Dr. Peter Phillips, took 1,538 votes.[5] She garnered approximately 47% of the delegates' vote, making her the first PNP president to be elected by less than half of eligible delegates. In July 2008, Simpson-Miller was challenged for the presidency of the PNP by Phillips. The election was held among the party's delegates on 20 September. She was re-elected as the head of the PNP for her second consecutive year, defeating him by an even wider margin that that of the previous election.

She replaced outgoing Prime Minister Patterson on 30 March 2006, becoming the first female head of government of the nation[6] and the third in the Anglophone Caribbean following Eugenia Charles of Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. In appointing her first cabinet following her swearing-in, she also assumed the portfolio of defence minister.

On 29 December 2011 she was elected as Prime Minister of Jamaica for a second time, assuming office on 5 January 2012.

On 3 September 2007 her party narrowly lost the general election, retaining 27 seats against the rival Jamaican Labour Party's 33 seats. This margin was revised to 32–28 after recounts and an election petition decision concerning the eligibility of a government MP who had dual citizenship.

Simpson-Miller's loss can in part be attributed to a well planned and executed campaign by the JLP. A part of their campaign strategy was a media blitz that claimed to highlight 18 years of neglect under the PNP and the incompetence of Simpson-Miller as a leader. One ad highlighted the deplorable conditions in Simpson-Miller’s own constituency of South West St. Andrew,[7] while others were created from controversial interviews[8] and still others discussed issues surrounding her competence as a leader.[9]

Simpson-Miller initially refused to concede defeat, alleging voting irregularities and the possibility that recounts would change the final result. The Organization of American States issued a statement declaring the election free and fair. "I believe this election can stand international scrutiny," said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin, who led a team of international observers who monitored the election.[10] She conceded defeat on 5 September.[11] On 11 September, Simpson Miller was succeeded as Prime Minister by JLP leader Bruce Golding. In 2011 Bruce Golding had resigned giving way for Andrew Holness to become to 9th Prime Minister of Jamaica.[12]

On 5 December 2011, rival JLP Prime Minister Andrew Holness asked the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament, and call for new elections despite the fact that elections were not constitutionally necessary until September 2012. The date of the early election was set as 29 December 2011, and major local media outlets viewed the election as "too close to call", though as Simpson-Miller campaigned in key constituencies the gap widened to favour the PNP. Days before the election, Simpson-Miller came out fully in favor of LGBT rights in a televised debate, sparking an eleventh-hour controversy ahead of the vote.[13]
Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller walks to Parliament while her team follows.

In early vote counting on 29 December, it was apparent that the PNP was winning a large number of swing constituencies. By evening, the Jamaica Observer had declared 41 of 63 constituencies for the PNP.[14]

The election results were deemed official by the EOJ (Electoral office of Jamaica), Simpson-Miller on the request of the Governor General formed the new Jamaica government in Her Majesty's name for a second non-consecutive term as Jamaica's Prime Minister[15]. She will be the second individual to have served non-consecutive terms, the first having been Michael Manley.[16]

She was named Person of the Year by The Gleaner and Observer in the Gleaner awards 2011.[17]


Republicanism

Simpson-Miller has endorsed replacing the position of the monarchy with an elected head of state.[18] She is the second head of government to openly endorse republicanism after Percival Patterson. Simpson-Miller has reportedly pledged to transform Jamaica into a republic as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the island's independence.[18][19]
[edit] Social policy

After ambivalence during her first term in office, Simpson-Miller became the first head of government in Jamaican history to formally endorse civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens during an election campaign[13].
[edit] Personal life

Simpson-Miller is married to Errald Miller, formerly CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. On 29 May 2006 she was vested with the Jamaican Order of the Nation, giving her (and her husband) the style "The Most Honourable".[20]
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VoiceofReason

Hey! You forgot to post my pic!


First name: Typical
Last name: Black-Female

Accomplishments: Triumph - over adversity

Characteristics: Confidence, Integrity, Tenacity, Beautiful - inside & out.

B-)

Edited by VoiceofReason, Mar 28 2012, 01:43 PM.
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