YoLadies | Featured

Muslim Women, Choice, and the Current Political Climate

2010-09-08T20:46:07Z

There seems to be a renewed evil spirit of violence against Muslim Americans, in recent days. From the initial misreporting of a planned mosque at Ground Zero, which caused the reactionary to start screaming and spewing (when the fact is that it is not "at" Ground Zero, but blocks away), to the freakish pastor planning "Burn a Koran Day" to increased vandalism of Muslim communities throughout the country. The fear that faced almost any brown-skinned American in the days after 9/11 is returning.

Women of every nationality and faith have to be on guard for discrimination and violence, but Muslim women are forced to be more wary of their surroundings than non-Muslim women, even here in the US. From job discrimination to the threat of physical and emotional violence, Muslim women in America aren't getting the fair shake that our country's values demand they get.

For some Muslim women in America, the problems go beyond racism, sexism, and xenophobia. Many are discriminated against and made to feel out of place not only by men and by the Christian Right, but by women as well. We have the idea that the hijab is a symbol of repression and male domination, and in many countries, that may be the case. Here in the west though, many Muslim women are making it known that they prefer to wear the hijab as a reminder of their devotion to Islam, or simply because they find it attractive. It is a choice, not a mandate.

It's ironic that while we rightfully rage against the atrocities committed against women in many Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan, we tend to treat Muslim women with another form of disrespect in our own free country. We tell them that they need to dress in more western fashion and behave as if their veils are as equally degrading to women as a stripper's costume. As we look at the current crop of anti-Islamic activities popping up, it would make sense that as liberated, modern women, we extend our ideas of pro-choice to not only abortion rights or stay-at-home-mom-vs-working-woman rights, but to wear-what-we-want-rights, as well.

The fact is that due to the political climate, it's more important than ever to be more accepting and welcoming to our Muslim sisters. There are indeed many Muslim women here who cover themselves to avoid retribution from their husbands, fathers, brothers, or other male family members. It's just as true that many cover themselves by their own choice. And what about Muslim women who do not cover? Same story, only different. Their dress might not freak people out, but their skin, names, and religion do. We, as women who promote and support the rights of all women, should provide a welcoming open door to all - to those who cover by choice and maybe especially to those who don't. Where else are they going to go when they need to be lifted up?

Since this post is written mostly out of frustration, and admittedly using only online research, we'd love to hear any other thoughts on this. Please add to this info via the comments.

Women Labor Heroes

2010-09-02T16:24:02Z

As we look forward to enjoying this upcoming Labor Day Weekend, we pay tribute to just a few of the many women in history who have not only fought against inhumane, unfair, and discriminatory work places and policies for women, but for men and children as well. It wasn't that long ago that American workers faced many of the dangers that we think of now as a third-world country problem, and we can thank these women and other activists for helping to make workers' rights something that we can be grateful for, today.

Jane Addams co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889. Hull House provided shelter, education, daycare, counseling, recreation and more, and is still in operation today. Addams fought for 'the first juvenile-court law, tenement-house regulation, an eight-hour working day for women, factory inspection, and workers' compensation. She strove in addition for justice for immigrants and blacks, advocated research aimed at determining the causes of poverty and crime, and supported women's suffrage.' She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her work helping to improve the lives of the disadvantaged.

Mary Harris, later known as Mother Jones, was called by some "the most dangerous woman in America." She was a tireless supporter of workers' rights, organizing men, women, and children into unions and demanding fair wages and safe working environments. She famously fought for mine and mill workers, and was especially devoted to fighting against child labor, organizing child marches to showcase the danger these children faced, such as lost fingers and denial of education. After the Ludlow Massacre, she met with John D. Rockefeller and worked with him to introduce a better working environment for the miners in Colorado.

Esther Peterson was a catalyst for both labor and consumer rights that we still talk about on a regular basis today. She fought for equal pay for equal work, truth in advertising, and nutrition labels and sell by dates on food products. She worked as a union organizer for the American Federation of Teachers, worked with the Activities of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, was vice president for consumer affairs at Giant Food Inc., and served as a labor and consumer advocate under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton.

Addie L. Wyatt was first female board member of the United Packinghouse Food and Alliance Workers Union, and the first black woman labor leader of an international union. She worked with Eleanor Roosevelt on the Status of Women in the workplace, and served President Kennedy in his Status of Women committee. She also was heavily involved with Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights movement, and was a founding member of the National Organization for Women, fighting for equal rights for women in the workplace. Ms Wyatt was Time Magazine's Woman of the Year in 1975, and thirty years later, her footprints became part of the Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta.

Gloria Steinem is still a force for women's rights in the workplace. Although she is primarily known for her journalistic feats and for her work in the Women's Rights Movement, labor is naturally tied into both of those as she and others in her generation fought for equal rights in the workplace. She co-founded the Coalition of Labor Union Women and more recently, co-founded Women's Media Center, a non-profit devoted to not only increasing the number of diverse women's voices throughout the media, but to increasing the number of women employed by traditional media and new media.

Six months of Fab

2010-08-24T15:51:25Z

As summer comes to an end and YoLadies comes up on our big old six month anniversary, it seems like now would be a perfect time to look back at the amazing women we've featured, so far, before we look ahead to the next six months and the amazing women we plan to feature this fall.

We've met fashion designers, teachers, philanthropists, journalists, novelists, wild life rescuers, mompreneurs and more, and are so thrilled to be able to tell their stories and to be at least a small part of their missions.

Scroll down and bow down to the fabness we've featured so far, and read up on any you've missed!

The Online Woman - it's all about communication

2010-08-13T00:57:34Z

Since the 1600's, the women's magazine has been a staple in our lives in one form or another. Back in the day, the two-way communication was one key. Not only could a woman hear from other women around the country, they could communicate with them. Getting a published response from a writer or editor to your letter about Article X was probably one of the few forms of validation that a woman could get. In more modern times, we've expanded the subjects of women's magazines to accommodate all different kinds of women - from the consummate Ladies Home Journal to Ms to Vogue, Essence, and more, and the conversation has gone from two-way to almost universal.

As the internet becomes second-nature to more people and as the number of women online rises, not to mention that print isn't what it used to be, the women's mag is facing a major evolution. While there have been plenty of women's online communities and niche websites, more women are seeing the need to downscale heavily financed and sponsored sites, like iVillage and Oprah, in favor of smaller, friendlier online magazines. Make no mistake - we love iVillage and Oprah, but there isn't exactly a feeling of intimacy on those sites. The intimacy and support thing is important - read this Harvard Medical School study that concludes that social relationships and support are directly influential in a woman's health.

While niche sites (like Mommy or professional sites) provide that intimacy and support, there are so many that a lot of the best get lost. There is a need for more organization of the niches that work together, with main "portals" providing links, reviews, and organization to interweave the different niches. Today, there are more opportunities to support the vast number of other interests and talents of women today, and we're finding out how the different online communities of women need different news and idea dissemination.

As with other websites that aren't specifically targeted at women, we're also learning that working together by linking out and supporting one another is the only way to survive online. That's another new and wonderful twist in this quest for quality women's content online - the global village is making it easier to work together better. That's some real validation.

There are a few sites in particular that are setting the standard for women's online media - check them out, if you haven't already.

Divine Caroline is a great site - it's like a chilled out, prettier BlogHer without the conferences. It is a platform for women to write about what is important to them in a supportive, educational, positive environment. There is a diverse and talented group of women involved, covering a variety of topics.

Wowowow makes me dizzy when I type it. It's worth it though - what a great site for women, "created, run and written by Lesley Stahl, Peggy Noonan, Liz Smith, Joni Evans, Mary Wells, Sheila Nevins, Joan Juliet Buck, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Reed, Joan Ganz Cooney, Judith Martin, Candice Bergen, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Cynthia McFadden and Marlo Thomas." It is smart, funny, educational and has great conversation going back and forty - check it out!

Is a community of women, founded by Melanie Notkin, who love children but who are - for whatever reason - childless. There are no uncomfortable questions like "why don't you have children?" or assumptions that the childless don't like children - it's all about spoiling, spending time with, and enjoying the children that are in your life. I love that it is appealing to all ages of women, and to those who don't necessarily plan to remain childless, just happen to be at this time. Great site.

We featured A Band of Wives founders, Chris Bronstein and Christina Friedman, back in March of this year, and love it so much that here they are in the Feature section, again. A Band of Wives is a community of women who support each other personally and professionally, give advice, pass along info they learn on their own journeys, and form new bonds. They are based in San Francisco but are expanding into other cities to take the online support into the IRL realm, as well.

So tell us - are there any other fab women's sites we're missing?

B.J. Roche - Stepping up the website for women

2010-08-04T18:48:55Z

The news media has always been known as a tough industry, but things have never been tougher for news outlets as they have been in the past twelve to fifteen years - since the internet began to compete with newspapers and TV as the prime information source. With the ability for anyone to publish these days and with the rise of the blogosphere, many journalists have begun to move from traditional employment to "entrepreneurial journalism" - that is, publishing their own news sites and running them the way they see fit, learning entrepreneurial and business skills along the way.

B.J. Roche, a freelance writer for the Boston Globe and senior lecturer in the Journalism Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is one of the many journalists making the jump to self-publishing online. Along with other writers, B.J. runs a site for women in midlife called FiftyShift.com. While FiftyShift covers some of the topics that are stereotypically (and legitimately) important to women in mid-life, like caring for aging parents and fashion for the "normal" ladies out there, there is also some great tech and career advice, and it's done in a more intelligent way than what's done on many other women's sites. No one gets preachy or talks down - you just get the straight story.

I am so thrilled to have found B.J. and her site. It's great to see other women working together to make our space in the world better, and doing it without following the cookie-cutter shapes that currently make up a big percentage of women's websites. She is also a Chicken Whisperer, which is just plain bad ass. I asked if she would give us some insight into what propelled her to "go off the grid" and start her own thing, and she was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me.

K: What inspired you to make the move and start FiftyShift.com?

B.J.: I had originally considered writing a book for women moving into their fifties, on the different physical, financial, career and relationship landscape they face. But once I started working on the proposal, I got discouraged at the idea of having to circulate a proposal for a year or so, with no real guarantee of ever getting something published.

Also, quite frankly, I was pretty tired of the publishing landscape: the long waits for a response from editors, and, of course, all the rejection! I was just too old to put up with it!

Once you get into your fifties, you realize, if you want to do something, it's now or never. I teach new media and journalism at UMass Amherst, so I thought, well, I can self publish online instead, and try to bring a smart, journalistic approach to a women's website. I've worked for several small weekly newspapers and as a weekly columnist for The Boston Globe, so I knew how to run publications and work on a deadline--I bring all that to this job. And I have a lot of
writer friends who I browbeat to contribute material.

My goal is to have a site that's like sitting down and having a glass of wine with a very smart friend.

Lisa Williams, who runs a site called Placeblogger.com, and who speaks a lot about journalistic entrepreneurship, says you can do anything online with $3,000. That's about what it cost me to get the site up and running, using a drupal theme. Now, two years later, I'm preparing for a redesign. I have no idea whether I can create a successful, financially sustainable business from this site, but that is my goal now. Whatever happens, I have learned a lot from the process of trying to make it all work. And I bring that back into the classroom. So life is a big soup.

K: In your blog post "How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation," you mention "the lackluster evolution of women's websites." Do you see FiftyShift nudging that evolution into something more than what many women's sites offer now? How?

B.J.: First of all, the writing on a lot of these sites is pretty bad, and many are pretty self-centered. It's a delicate dance when you blog because you want some elements of the personal, but you also need the universal, so it's not just about you, and so the reader can engage with the piece, and can see a bit of herself in it.

They are also generally written for younger women. It's like mainstream media: women over 40 or 50 don't seem to exist.

As a journalist, you want to be independent, transparent and credible. You're not the story. You are always thinking of your audience first. Who's going to read this and why? What information can I convey that's going to add value to the reader's day? How do I keep my reader engaged to the end of the piece? You also need to be a ruthless editor, and tighten and polish constantly. I have about a hundred half-written posts that just weren't good enough to publish.

The other interesting (and to me, surprising) thing that's evolved is, through my college student interns, I get voices from 20-somethings speaking to their moms, so we've had some fun stories and posts about intergenerational topics. There are more intergenerational households now than there were in 1980, so that's a big area: how to manage mom, granny and a recent college graduate in one home.

K: In your experience with FiftyShift, so far, what have you found out about what works for women on the web and what doesn't?

B.J.: Readers seem to like real fashion stories written for people who aren't just size 2 and who spend hundred of dollars on a top. I get a lot of hits on my fashion stories, which are written for people who buy their clothes at the mall and from catalogues. This fall, this
will be a regular feature: Fashion For The Rest of Us, with a focus on clothes real people can afford and wear.

I am betting that there is a future in well-written content, and that a site that publishes good writing and has a kicky tone to it will eventually draw readers. I might be wrong about that; the jury is still out, and the guy who does ICANHAZCHEEZEBURGER is a gazillionare.

Many sites like Yahoo Shine are trying to draw women readers, but I find the content there to be not so compelling or well written. Yet this site probably gets a lot of traffic. I can't compete with search engine optimization, so I don't try. I think that's a little like competing with Wal-Mart on price. So I try to draw traffic through Facebook and friends and connecting out, and by linking in and out on other sites.

K: Are there other women's sites that you see as contributing to a better women's corner of the web?

B.J.: I like wowowow.com, which has a real robust community and some great
writers. This site has evolved a good deal since it launched and it has some nice fire power, with Leslie Stahl, Liz Smith, and Joni Evans as owners and contributors. It's a lively read, nicely written, and always packed with interesting stories. I also really love The Midlife Gals, published by two sisters down in Texas, who produce very funny videos about life in the fifties. Jezebel is a good read for women's topics. There are also dozens of really fun women bloggers out there
who don't get a lot of traffic, but they are fun to read and connect with.

K: What is the top advice that you give to your students who are looking to start their own journalism-based website?

B.J.: I teach a course each fall called Entrepreneurial Journalism, and I tell them to search for ideas from their own passions, and to just get stuff out there. Don't be afraid to fail. Last semester some great website ideas came out of that process. Also, you really have to "cowgirl up!" and take yourself seriously. Get an understanding of how business works, how to talk about yourself and your ideas without "ums" and "ahs."

I also tell them to get comfortable with the inner workings of technology--most successful web entrepreneurs have a bit of that background. You need to either learn how to do a lot of things, or
build a team of people with complementary skills. And you really need to be able to work collaboratively.

K: What's up with the backyard chickens?

B.J.: Ha ha, as Woody Allen said in Annie Hall, I need the eggs!

Thanks, B.J.!

Amelia Earhart

2010-07-27T04:10:49Z

Amelia Earhart

I don't know if it's requisite or trite to write a story about Amelia Earhart on a woman's blog - what could possibly be said or revealed that hasn't been written before? Ah, I guess there could be at least one major revelation in regard to her that hasn't been made before, but aside from knowing that, it's probably all been said, written, and filmed many times over. Even young girls know who she was, what she looked like, and that even if they don't want to be an "aviatrix," they want at least a dash of Amelia in them.

That's the thing. Amelia Earhart is still a different kind of inspirational woman. We may admire women like Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Gloria Steinem, Sally Ride, Oprah, etc. but there isn't another woman who still captures our sense of adventure the way that the spirit of Amelia does. For a woman who has been missing for more than seventy years, that's something. Since her birthday was this week, why not add a YoLadies tribute to a woman who continues to inspire through her intelligent, tough, glamorous, and adventurous life.

Rather than writing a bio, which you can find anywhere, here is a little something on how she influenced women back in the 20's and 30's, and why she still influences us today.

In Amelia's day, female pilots were relatively rare, compared to today's numbers. Not only were their numbers few, but they had to suffer the fools who denigrated their talents by calling their air races "powder puff derbies" and who waited like told-you-so vultures for the need of a man's help. These bad-ass women wouldn't stand for it, and when Amelia came along, they had just the queen they needed to help pave the way.

Amelia and ninety eight other female pilots formed a group called The Ninety Nines (still going strong), aimed at support and at aviation education for women. Amelia's talent, will, celebrity and access to money and equipment set her as the first president, and she strove not only to do what she loved and was good at, but to help other women do the same thing.

Today, not only does her story and her hard work and love for aviation live on, but her refusal to fall into the stereotypes of her time influences and inspires us all. Looking at pictures of her, she could be someone we might pass on the street at lunch - she is someone we can still identify with. When we are feeling beat up in whatever it is we're doing, whether it's trying to be taken seriously in a still male dominated corporate environment, starting a female-run auto repair shop, a clothing line, or insert anything else here, we can think of Amelia and her hard won fight for the career that she wanted more than anything else.

Happy belated birthday, Amelia - thanks for all you still do for women, and may you be kicking Lindbergh's ass in whatever afterlife flying you continue to do.

Lisa Merrai: Living Life on Purpose

2010-07-06T14:17:21Z

Have you ever, at the end of a long day and with a list of things that still need to be done, dreamed of packing up and going back to basics? Ever realize that you don't really know your neighbors or fellow parents or church members, and wish that you could live in a community that took the time to communicate about more than the weather? I would be willing to bet money that I don't have that most of us have thought about doing just that. Lisa Merrai, along with her husband and four children, are doing it.

Lisa and her family moved from San Francisco to small town Oregon to be surrounded by nature, and take a true break from the frantic pace of life in a large city. She spent last year homeschooling her school age children, taking them on long-term vacations to Mexico and Colorado to teach them about other places, cultures, and languages. It's ended up being a homeschooling experiment for she and her husband, as well, as they learn things about life and family that they wouldn't, had they decided to stay in the city.

Lisa blogs about these experiences in her blog, Life on Purpose. She writes about the challenges of making such a huge lifestyle change, and inspires that little voice deep within that keeps telling all of us to take a look around and ask if this is where we really want to be.

Lisa was kind enough to answer some questions for us, and she has some great things to say.

K: How did you decide to make this huge jump in life?

Lisa: Back in 2008 a series of events triggered a mid-life family awakening. Peter's job in the frenetic financial sector ended and for the first time in his career he was a free agent. At the same time, I was feeling more and more dissatisfied with urban culture and the transient community in San Francisco. I grew up surrounded by mountains, forests, gardens and rivers. I felt a deep yearning to return to the land, to live in closer communion with nature. Observing that our children, while thriving, were also interested in a change, we decided to reinvent our family, beginning with where and how we lived.

K: What do you ultimately hope to attain from this major change?

Lisa: We hope that we will find a small town community where people are truly connected by place, land and each other. This entire year has been about discovering a place that has the key ingredients that we believe create a vibrant, healthy community. Every town will have it's quirks and normal human dynamics but we believe that when people
are invested in a community they have more compassion and kindness towards those around them. We hope that life in a smaller town will be slower and more intentional. We tried to create a meaningful community of friends in the Bay area for 15 years and failed. We were very disappointed by that.

K: Did you blog before starting "Life on Purpose?"

Lisa: No. I have never written publicly before. I have been writing something or another since I was about 7. My first publication was a newsletter for a detective agency I invented. I wrote a lot of poetry as a child and well into high school. In college I lost my confidence for creative writing and shifted into academic writing. My first jobs out of college involved everything from equity analysis for an investment bank to screenplay reviews for a motion picture literary agency. I have a box full of journals which I contemplate burning periodically.

I decided to start a blog as a way of documenting our journey for myself and our family. Everyone wanted to know what we were doing and why. I have tried to walk a line between informational and personal while still keeping our privacy. I did not want to write a blow by blow public diary. I do try to capture some of the drama and reality of our journey but I intentionally keep it cryptic to protect the privacy of family members.

K: You and your family traveled quite a bit in the first year of your adventure. Is this something you plan to continue in the coming years?

Lisa: I absolutely love travel. We had planned to travel for several years together before settling down in one place. Two things have hampered that plan: homeschooling and four kids. I learned alot about homeschooling this year, which I will write about soon. The short answer is that it's much harder than I expected. It is a full time job even though it doesn't have to be. It really depends on the personality of the children. I have one independent self motivated
learner and one totally resistant learner with two on the way. I saw the writing on the wall in Mexico and very reluctantly decided this would have to be a one year experience of "road schooling." Also,traveling with younger children is quite complicated. It is not like a week vacation where you make due. We are living on the road where nothing is familiar. Young children like and need routines.

We hope to do another year, perhaps in Australia or Europe, but we'll spend the whole year in one home base and take side trips to explore from there so the children can be enrolled in a local school and make some local friends.

K: What advice would you give someone who was considering a similar change in life?

Lisa: I think about our year as a family sabbatical. The chance to break out of our old patterns and assumptions has been so scary and exhilarating at the same time. We have all tried new things and pushed ourselves beyond our comfort zones. It's amazing to find out how little you need! It's also interesting to discover what actually matters to you. Everything comes out! I have met so many others who have taken their families on the road for a specific goal (the Vogel's) or just to listen to the call of Spirit (Jacob Nordby ) and experienced the most magical transformations in their lives. I think if someone is considering a change, it's already happened. It's just a question of when you get started.

Thanks Lisa!

Lady Liberty

2010-07-04T14:43:00Z

Happy Birthday, USA! I hope all fellow Americans, at home and abroad, have a fantastic, happy, safe 4th of July. Lady Liberty - the beautiful and ultimate American Woman - says it best through the words of Emma Lazarus:

La Liberty
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Elena Kagan - What do you think?

2010-06-29T01:01:03Z

Even considering that it's only been a few decades since the Equal Rights Movement, and that women still make less money than men do for doing the same job, and that we have to work harder and explain the choices we make in life, it's hard to believe that we've only had three female Supreme Court Justices. I don't chalk it completely up to sexism - the position doesn't come along very often and when it does, there are plenty of qualified people of both sexes to consider. Still, with the nomination of Elena Kagan and the thought that the highest court in the land could consist of one third women - it's pretty exciting.

So who is this woman and what will this mean for us?

Ms Kagan was born in New York City in 1960, the daughter of a teacher and an attorney. Known at an early age as strong willed and intelligent, she attended Princeton, Worcester College, and Oxford before graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. She worked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, entered into private practice, and then joined academia at the University of Chicago Law School and - after serving as an Associate White House Counsel to Bill Clinton - Harvard Law School. She has an impressive resume, and in my opinion, the argument that her lack of judicial experience would be an impediment to her performance as a Supreme Court Justice is purely political.

What her possible confirmation means is of course something we won't know until and if it happens. For women, it will be another step forward in leadership, and another role model for our daughters to look up to. It's another rock thrown at the glass ceiling, leading to the day when sex won't be noticed in these circumstances.

Policy-wise, she's an enigma. She has virulently opposed hate speech, banned military recruitment at Harvard Law School because of the discriminatory policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and fought to protect flag burning as free speech. Although it's hard to find a lot of info on her views, she appears to be pro-choice, as well. On the other hand, she sought to ban images of animal cruelty, and while we all hate to see those images, they are many times used to promote compassion toward animals, can be avoided, and should be considered free speech. She also supported the idea of "battlefield law," which allows for prisoners of war (specifically Al Qaeda) to be held without trial or representation for indefinite periods of time. Again, a touchy situation but as Americans we should always respect the basic right to trial and representation, lest we sink into the same hole as those we are fighting.

None of that means that she wouldn't be an impartial judge who would uphold the freedoms of our country - I was impressed with her response to the committee in today's Senate hearing. In today's environment, it's more important than ever to keep a varied representation in our judicial system, and adding a moderate woman is something we all should hope for.

What are your thoughts on Elena Kagan's possible confirmation to the Supreme Court?

Jessica Buchleitner and 50 Women

2010-06-14T04:10:11Z

I met Jessica Buchleitner at an event in San Francisco, hosted by A Band of Wives, and instantly fell in love with her. At twenty five years old, she has the energy to change the world. Unlike many at that age, though, she is actually doing her part to make that positive change.

Jessica is working on a book called The 50 Woman Project, which will tell the story of fifty women from all around the world. Through this book, she hopes to not only bring about compassion for women in countries that openly devalue women, but also show the similarities in all of us, no matter where we're from or how we grew up.

Her 50 Women Project Blog tells some of these stories - you can read about Neema, who has survived Congolese genocide, about Va, from the Hmong ethnic group, found in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma, and about the friend who introduced us, Leila Radan, a writer, actress, and model in San Francisco (and a YoLadies Featured Woman) who is a strong voice against the regime in Iran. You can also read about Jessica's adventure in writing this book and, along with Bineta Maaram Diop, starting the 50 Woman Foundation - aiding the needy as they can.

I told Jessica, the night we met, that I had to feature her story on YoLadies, and she graciously accepted the offer to get the word out about her great work. Read what she has to say about it:

K: What was your initial inspiration to start the 50 Women Project?
Jessica: For quite a few years, I knew that I wanted to change the world. I just didn't see the point of existing if my existence was not doing something that elevates humanity. I was searching for something that I could do, I did some volunteer work concerning different causes just to explore some options and help out.
In 2008, after I moved to California, I started watching a lot of documentaries centered on women in the developing world. I also heard stories from some of the refugee women that I met doing volunteer work. I heard about things like the acid attacks on Girls schools in Afghanistan and I was sickened to imagine something as horrific as this happening to girls 12 years old and younger.
I started to become frustrated by what some women were forced to endure: beatings, rape etc... and were still treated awfully. I couldn't imagine what it was like to live like this. Worst of all- there appeared to be NOTHING that I could do to stop it.
I remembered all of my female friends who were at my University from all over the world- different countries, different beliefs/faiths, and different cultures. I remembered how we would all sit down and have meals and parties together, and laugh and joke with one another. Ethnicity, religion, politics and the other fundamentals did not matter to us. WE respected each other, cared for each other and looking back- that sense of global solidarity was so powerful. We were the new generation. To this day we are scattered all over the world, but we still communicate and care for each other at times of need. Even my partner in NY, NY on this project is one of these women.
When comparing these two scenarios- something inside me just broke. I realized the time is NOW to try to change the world. I realized every passing minute was another chance for me to do something meaningful. (Who cared that I was just above broke and 24 years old) That's when I got the idea for 50 Women. It stemmed from that sense of solidarity I got from the young women at the University. I wanted all women to feel that- to identify with one another and to be inspired by one another's stories of strength- differences respectfully aside. I wanted women to be able to understand and support one another. I feel that sharing experiences is one of the best ways people relate to one another. This ideology is what 50 Women is built from.

K: How many women's stories have you written, so far?
Jessica: There are over 30 women so far. The book portion is in the "third stage" of its development. I started the project in July 2009 and almost one year later- I cannot believe how far it has come and all it encompasses.

I have become very close with some of these women and their family members. They have told me very personal things and I have helped some of them with very personal situations. I do not feel this is just some "journalistic" work or research. This is a matter of the heart. I do care deeply about the women who are part of this and any of the causes they may represent.

K: Is there one story in particular that has touched you more than others?
Jessica: Each of the stories I have heard are very vastly different. I feel that they have touched different emotions or shaken different beliefs in different ways. It would be hard for me to single any one particular story out because in my mind- they are all ONE. Like a beautiful and intricate puzzle- each piece makes the overall picture.

K: How has this project changed your outlook on life?
Jessica: WOW. This has been a very spiritual journey. It has challenged every facet of my being. My beliefs, my ways of life, my outlook on life. I have been growing since the beginning of this. I keep an open heart and open mind and very strong faith. Let me tell you, without faith- you have nothing. Faith is everything. I do not know where this project will go. I do not know where I may be expected to travel in the future or what situations I will be faced with. I have no way of knowing this- but my belief in this project is what keeps me going.
50 Women has irreversibly shaken my perception of things. My frames of reference are forever changed and I do not believe will ever be the same.

K: Your project works as a foundation, as well. What other projects do you hope to take part in, in the future?
Jessica: The sky is the limit- LITERALLY. I am keeping a very open mind and heart about where the future is headed.

The reason I am making this into a foundation, is that I promised the women that their stories would help change the world and benefit humanity. That was the promise going into this project and I will never stray from that. It's a "live and let live" mentality. The proceeds are for charity because the idea is to use the book to help keep the cycle of good alive. I hope the proceeds can help with projects and programs aimed at helping women internationally. Ideally- I hope one day it can help build schools for girls, or promote other educational and social programs for women in less fortunate environments.

K: What is the most important thing that you've learned, in meeting all of these women and hearing their stories?
Jessica: I have learned quite a few things! This has forced me to reexamine myself. It has forced me to become a better person. A more patient and less nervous person, that is. It has taught me to have a lot of faith in myself and God (God can have very different definitions and I respect that).
It is an ongoing learning process and this is why I call it a "journey". Each step of the way- there is learning, reexamining, adjustments to make etc.... But I am happy it's this way. If I was just writing about this and was not affected so strongly by it- what would be the point?

Helping to save Gulf Coast Wildlife - Rebecca Dmytryk

2010-06-05T05:25:44Z

Rebecca Dmytryk and Duane Titus working to save birds on a beach.
Photo credit: Rebecca Dmytryk

Rebecca Dmytryk has been in the business of saving wildlife from oil spills and other emergencies for a long time. Until doing research on oil spills as a result of this recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, I'm aghast at how often this happens - it's not as rare as you'd think. Each time, Rebecca, her husband Duane Titus, and their team try to be there.

Rebecca is the Project Director of WildRescue, which provides 24 hour response to wildlife emergencies. At the organization, they "...are committed to improving how wildlife casualties, be it one or thousands, are responded to, setting standards of practice in wildlife emergency response to ensure animals receive that second chance they deserve." Not only does she perform as a first responder to wildlife emergencies for her own foundation, she serves on the board of the EarthWays Foundation, works as a first responder for the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), and also conducts training classes to teach people how to become responders, themselves.

Right now, in the Gulf of Mexico crisis, Rebecca is once again on the scene, saving as much of the wildlife of the gulf as she can. She is working in the Grand Isle area with the Tri-State Bird Rescue and the IBRRC, traveling the oil infested marshes looking for distressed wildlife. They are finding an enormous amount, and it's a long process. Depending on the species of bird, for example, the capture methods are different. Some species are quite delicate, and even more so with oil on their wings. Also, while we're all familiar with the gut-wrenching images of immobile birds soaked with oil, many of us don't know that a lot of birds remain mobile and able to fly, even with toxic oil on their wings. It is just as imperative to capture and nurse them, but obviously much harder to do so.

It was interesting to hear from a first responder what we all know now that images of oil-covered birds have finally made it to the media. This is the greatest oil catastrophe in history, and there is no silver lining here - it doesn't matter that the oil is moving slowly, as one expert put it. It's there right now, killing marshlands and wildlife, homes and careers and lives, and the only thing we can be sure about is that it will keep on moving in for an indeterminate period of time.

So how can you help Rebecca and her team? Even though we all want to nurture the birds and wash them clean, actually volunteering to help wildlife is a rugged and draining job, and of course most can't leave their jobs to get the proper training needed. However, you can help.

WildRescue has a Wishlist of items that they desperately need to operate. They are listed in price ranges, to better let you know what you can give. Some of the more expensive items, like equipment, would be great projects for a school or church or office group - if 200 people gave five dollars, they could purchase a set of transceivers that the team needs to manage their rescues. You can also donate securely through PayPal, to help support their current and future rescues.

Follow Rebecca's blog to keep up with the progress.

Much thanks to Rebecca for talking to me about this situation, and for the work she is doing for the wildlife of our beloved Gulf.

Q & A With Author Allison Winn Scotch

2010-05-30T10:00:00Z

Allison Winn Scotch is one of my favorte modern writers and she has a new book, The One That I Want, coming out this week. Allison is a New York Times Best Selling Fiction novelist, advice blogger and celebrity interviewer. Needless to say, I was thrilled to do a Q&A with her, where I ask about writing, Motherhood, and her twitter crush on Hugh Grant:

Q: You give great advice for both newbies and established writers on your blog . Have you ever thought of writing a Non-Fiction book based on the advice you give there?
Wow, that's a good idea and one that, honestly, I haven't considered. But, that said, I probably wouldn't pursue it. I like the intimacy of the blog - being able to chat with readers - and I also think there are others out there who would be better at publishing a full book about it. Besides, then I'd have to take time away from my fiction, and I enjoy it too much to do that!

Q: I love that you actively use Social Media (FB, twitter, blogging) in your real life! Can we expect your next heroine to be as internet savvy as you?
Ha! No. In fact, she's the opposite. The heroine of my next book, The Memory of Us, which is out in 2011, loses her memory in a plane crash, and she's thus rendered pretty technologically illiterate. One of the themes, in fact, is her catching up on the things, like Friends, that she loved in the '90s. So she's not such a 2010-type of gal. :)

Q: Your last novel Time of My Life, and I gather the new one The One That I Want, require a bit of suspension of disbelief. Is it difficult to decide how far to push those subjects?
It is, and it's something that we've been discussing a lot with The Memory of Us: how far can we push the sci-fi stuff before it becomes more of a distraction and less of an enhancement to the book. That said, with both TOML and TWTIW, these tools (time-travel, flash-forwards) are mostly used to create bigger stakes and to force the heroine to ask those big, life altering questions. What if you're not living the life you want? What if you see your life falling apart? THEN WHAT? So that's why I employed those tools. From there, I try to write as honestly and as intimately as possible. I think you can use those unrealistic plot devices AS LONG as your writing, and the journey of your heroine, is realistic from there on out. So I'm pretty conscious of that.

Q: The title of your new book, The One That I Want, reminds me of a favorite childhood movie with lots of singing, dancing and teenage angst. A coincidence?
Nope. :) Not a coincidence at all. The book is set in a high school, and yes, the senior musical that year is Grease.

Q: Along with your novels, you also do celebrity interviews for a national magazine. Is that job as fun as it seems to be?
Usually. Not always. The fun part is chatting with an actor whom you admire (or perhaps have a mad crush on!). The logistics of setting up those interviews is a lot less fun and can be headache-inducing, to be honest. I've become friendly with some publicists, but not all of them are easy to deal with, and you run into snags and cancellations all the time. And, of course, if one of the celebs fails to live up to your expectations...well...bubble punctured. (Fortunately, this doesn't happen often. I generally only interview folks I suspect I'll already like.)

Q: Logically I'm sure that people in your life understand your characters are fictional. But has a friend or family member ever been convinced a character is based on them? And was it?
Yes and no. It's a tricky situation because people believe what they want to believe, and sometimes, rationality isn't involved. That said, I genuinely DO NOT write with friends and family in mind. In fact, I find that almost limiting because you back yourself into a caricature. So...people will assume what they want to assume (including that these books are about my own life), and you just have to move on from it.

Q: How do you juggle Motherhood with writing, which you primarily do from your home? Do you have set hours? What if inspiration hits right at dinner time or the kid's bed time?
I'm lucky that I have a great babysitter who comes each day to give me some time to get my work done. I truly couldn't be as productive without her. To that end, I treat this job pretty much like any working mom treats her job: when I'm in my office, I'm working (or at least pretending to work!). Of course, I have more flexibility than moms who work outside of the home, and I can do things like hang out with my daughter for lunch or attend my kids' swim classes, but for the most part, when it's work time...I work. I have deadlines, and to be honest, I love being productive, so that part of it isn't too hard for me. As far as inspiration striking, I sincerely try NOT to do any work during dinner or bedtime or what not. The phone gets set aside, the laptop goes into sleep mode. So inspiration doesn't strike too often then...I'm usually to busy cleaning up or hearing about school or settling an argument over who gets to choose what show they get to watch after dinner. But, if it did strike, I'd probably just jot something down and return to it after the house was quiet.

Q: What is on your summer reading list?
I'm really looking forward to Janelle Brown's This Is Where We Live, as well as Kristin van Ogtrop's Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom. I was lucky enough to get an advanced reading copy of Elin Hilderbrand's The Island and highly recommend it too.

Q: Allison is an avid tweeter (@aswinn) and could possibly have a tiny Twitter crush on fellow tweeter, Hugh Grant. Can I be a bridesmaid at your and Hugh Grant's wedding? Just kidding! ;-)
Only if you can get my husband to come as your date! And then...YES. It's on!

When not writing for Yo! Ladies Amber can be found at Me & Jorge where she blogs about her recent weight loss and at Android Mom writing about Smartphones for women and the family.

The Explorers

2010-05-24T18:46:04Z

I've had a very busy couple of weeks. It's been both sad, after a funeral, and happy after my first visit to San Francisco to attend an event presented by A Band of Wives and to catch up with old friends. Out of all of it, one of those friends in particular has inspired this week's featured women, The Explorers.

Fellow YoLady, Amber Allen-Sauer, and I were best friends in the fifth grade. In fact, it had been that long since we had seen each other. We picked up with each other as if thirty years hadn't really passed, and I realized that both of us - two small town girls - are just older versions of the little explorers that we were, back then. We were Laura Croft before she was a glint in her creator's eye, and now here we are exploring the business and writing realm together.

In fact, a lot of the women in my life are explorers - seeking out new experiences and knowledge and friends and secret passage ways - they aren't afraid of the unknown and, in fact, look for it. They've put themselves through college, opened businesses, traveled, given birth, learned new hobbies, talked to people their friends wouldn't dare, and otherwise stretched themselves into new situations and realities. I'm blessed to have such inspiration every day!

Even though all of our Featured women are explorers to the nth degree, I would like to pay tribute to some great explorer role-models, past and present.

Isabelle Eberhardt was born in Switzerland in 1877 and traveled extensively through North Africa, with her mother, until her death in 1904. She often dressed as a man, since women were treated like second-class citizens, back in the day, and wrote extensively in newspapers and books. She traveled through the secret Sufi group, who fought colonial rule, and was even attacked with a sabre in an assassination attempt. She lived a short and adventurous life, did good for the downtrodden, and lived a life that a lot of male adventurers would envy.

Margaret Bourke-White was the first female photojournalist and war correspondent. Her photos were featured in Fortune and Life Magazines, and she published her photos taken at the height of the Depression in the book, You Have Seen Their Faces, together with her future husband, Erskine Caldwell. She photographed war scenes in WWII, and captured Ghandi during the India-Pakistani partition violence.

Barbara Hillary was 75 years old when she became the first African-American woman to reach the North Pole. She took up arctic travel after retiring as a nurse, and still plans further explorations and adventures. She is also active in her community, in Arverne, New York and the Rockaway Peninsula, and was founder and editor-in-chief of the Peninsula Magazine. She has rewards out the wazoo - including the Woman of Courage award from NOW - and is even a lifetime member of the NRA. Talk about boomin' granny! Can't wait to read about her next adventure.

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan explores the areas of life that most of us don't want to think of - the trafficked children in India. She and her team at Prajwala rescue children of prostituted mothers, heal them, educate and train them in carpentry, welding, printing, masonry and housekeeping, and try to ensure that they are not sold into slavery by the mothers. She can't hear out of her right ear any longer and has endured beatings during rescues - yet is determined to remain an unstoppable force for the sake of trafficked children. Go, lady.

Madonna needs no introduction. Love her or hate her, she is definitely an explorer. She's not afraid to explore new music styles, fashion and hair styles, cities, accents, sex - she'll do anything. While I'm not in complete agreement with that sentiment, as there is always a line we should stay above (like chilling on the plastic surgery), I love Madonna. She is still a bad-ass musically, stylistically, and culturally. She can still shake it like nobody's business, and I definitely wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley.

Who else would you add to the list?

One Lucky Rubber Ducky - thanks to Linda McCall

2010-05-10T22:12:03Z

I found Australian artist Linda McCall on Twitter, and after checking out her site, knew that she had to be a YoLadies Featured Woman. Her art is absolutely amazing - stuff I'd love to hang in my home - but she's more than a great talent. She donates 20% of the proceeds from her art sales to the charity of the patron's choice. Her parents and her childhood, spent in the outback on an Aboriginal station, set the stage for her art and philanthropic adventures. Linda doesn't just contribute through art, she gives back through motorbike adventures, hot air ballooning, and all-around living her beliefs.

I sent Linda some questions - if you need some inspiration in this world of greedy bankers and hypocritical politicians, read on. Like all of our YoLadies, Linda is one hell of an inspiration.

K: How long have you been painting?
Linda: Art was my favourite subject at school, and I later took a couple of drawing lessons as a young adult. Only recently did I get back into it and started studying Art in Canberra last year under a well known local artist and teacher Margret Hatfield, experimenting with different mediums.

My passion for art took me off to art lectures at Australia's National Art Gallery and I subsequently became a member of the Gallery as I fell in love with the magic of colour and how artists express on canvas.

I really only started painting to further my passion for charity work. Originally my business Chee-ki (chee = Creating Healthy Equilibrium Easily - Ki = life force energy) was primarily aimed at the Shiatsu massage side of my business.

The Journey - click to enlarge

This year the website became more of a Gallery. I am passionate about all forms of art. I believe we are all artists from the life that we create for ourselves, we choose the colours and the things that influence us and we choose our canvas. It is a gallery we create and move through every day, anyone who says they don't have an artistic bone in their body just has not looked hard enough yet.

At the end of 2009 I moved to Eumundi in semi-rural Queensland and I began painting an impressionist style of dots. I wasn't planning to paint like this, it just came out that way, but it gives me a lot of joy and hope that it excites the peptides for healing in others too. Strangely enough Eumundi has a strong history of Aboriginal settlement as well.

It made me laugh because, it seem to be inspired from my early childhood of living out on an Aboriginal station in the outback in a place called Port Keats (aka Wadeye). My father spent 25 years in the Northern Territory building houses for the Catholic mission and my mother is a nurse, and when they retired they had a three day corroboree ceremony for them and they made the men of our family (my father Ainslie and my brother Glenn who is a Australian Army helicopter pilot) part of the Murrinh Ngarr tribe.

I have a fascination for travel, maps and history so that's where my painting "The Journey" came from. But all of my paintings tell a story of some part of my life and childhood. When my parents saw my paintings for the first time they were not surprised at all. They had a bit of a giggle because the stories are very funny and great memories. I know that I have a lifetime of work ahead just learning and evolving as an artist, and as a person. But I feel I have only touched the tip of the iceburg so to speak, so it's very exciting.

K: You donate a whopping 20% of your proceeds from art sales to charity - what inspired you to do that?
Linda: The decision to donate 20% of the sales proceeds of my paintings to charity was easy. It really was matter-a-fact. I like to give as I receive, and share the love a little! With the art work I create I really want the paintings to remind the buyer of the wonderful gift they have given to help the charity of their choice. So essentially you are giving a nice big lump sum to a charity you choose and you get to keep a gift to.

But the biggest inspiration came from my other venture, www.oneluckyrubberducky.com, which is a little Duck that travels the world raising money for charity. That is my Charity Duck who I rescued from the Thames in London. The idea is that he gets sponsored to travel around the world, and that sponsorship gets donated to charity.

Ducky is really a charity fundraising 'vehicle' and not a charity in itself at this stage but we'd like to grow the concept. We can see how other rubber ducks could get liberated from their humble lives in bathrooms around the world and also go on life saving journeys of their own. In the meantime Ducky continues to travel the world racking up frequent flier miles, adding to this photo collection and of course supporting charities around the world. Our aim is to get people around world really into Ducky fever and make a ducky love difference to those less fortunate. (If there are any computer developer volunteers out there we'd love some help building web applications for Facebook and our website.)

K: You motorbike a lot - is it mainly for fun or is there a charity aspect to that, as well?
Linda: Well both really. Our next adventure is planned for May 2010, when my partner and I hope to ride America starting in Sanfran up to Canada and Alaska in May and June. Mark is involved in tourism and loves adventure riding as well, so this is just for our fun really. But in Sept- October 2010, OneLuckyRubberDucky is planning a fundraising charity motorcycle ride around Australia to support a couple of charities including "Free to Shine" and "cure for life".

"Free to Shine" is a brand new charity about ending sex slavery in Cambodia that I has invited onto the action team of. The ride is 5 girls on motor bikes travelling right around Australia. We are inviting all motorcycle clubs and all motorcyclists and scooters around Australia (or from overseas) to ride with us on sections of our journey as we pass through the towns in support of our fundraising. We hope to get as much support as possible.
But the journey does not end there, we plan to keep taking the Duck on motorbikes around the world, spreading the "LuckyDucky" love of fundraising and helping to raise money for charities.

I always say it's all about the fun factor!

I only ride BMW's because I was brought up on one as a child. To me it feels like home and they are lovely bikes for women. (In fact I am now the proud owner that family BMW, a 1975 R90S). Actually my Dad used to take me to kindergarten on this bike so it is very close to my heart. I will be riding the R90S on the OneLuckyRubberDucky fundraiser this year (unless someone in BMW reads this article and wants to donate a bike to charity).

In 2008, I rode a BMW F650GS twin with Mark on his F800GS through 9 countries in Europe from Germany to Croatia (the Croatian coastline is a must for motorcyclist), through Bosnia (got a little lost there), as well as over the Timmeljock Pass into Italy (another must for motorcyclist) and back through Switzerland . Photos are available on Mark Phillips' Site. Last year in 2009 I rode my old R90S 3,200 miles through Australia.

Tadpolness - click to enlarge

K: What's the hot air ballooning story?
Linda: A pilot friend of mine asked if I was interested in helping him inflate a hot air balloon back in 1998 when I lived in Hong Kong. From that moment on I was hooked! I started crewing for the Cathay Pacific hot air balloon and was invited to crew for the World Championships in Europe shortly afterwards and it just rolled on from there. Balloons just bring so much joy and makes people smile wherever we go in the world. I am part of and all-girls team called the HE-B-GB's (hee-bee-gee-bees) standing for; Highly Elegant Bunch of Girl Balloonist's ( Quite the opposite really, there is nothing elegant about us especially in competition. It's crazy!). We mainly fly competition and I occasionally crew for the Australian champion, Paul Gibbs (Picture This Ballooning), who gives his time to charities every year by giving balloon rides to children's charities including kids with terminal illnesses.

We went to Wagga Wagga NSW (the largest inland city in Australia) last year to spend the weekend with this charity group and it was fabulous with the kid's big smiles and laughter. The kids had to get up with the birds so there were a few blurry eyes and not so much tweeting at that hour of the day, but once the balloon started inflating all were very much awake, bug eyed and bushy tailed.

It's just so wonderful to be a part of we all had a ball. That day we flew over 70 children, a big day for us all but so much fun.

My 2008 motorcycling trip coincided with the world hot air balloon championships in Austria and I've also been to the Waikato Balloon Fiesta in Hamilton NZ.
I only decided to become a Balloon Pilot recently so I am currently a student pilot, still scary! I have also been lucky enough to fly as a student pilot under instruction in Albuquerque's huge balloon fiesta. You Americans really know how to make the wow factor, it was gob smacking. I have ballooned also in Africa and in the UK, and of course around Australia.

K: You have traveled extensively - has that contributed to your devotion to charity?
Linda: Definitely, travel is where it all began. Going to other countries, particularly developing ones, is confronting at times when you see people at your feet starving and an infrastructure that does not easily support humane living conditions. It can be heart wrenching and frustrating to take in, as you all know. However, from that comes an understanding of not only how other people of the world live but also of the opportunity that exists for their improvement.

Cultures fascinate me and makes you realise how amazing it is to have freedom of choice and the abundance of opportunity that a free democratic society can offer. In Australia we have space, we have beaches and we have sunshine.... with a bit of hard work there is endless opportunity .So that is why today we call our Island down under "the lucky country".

If helping those less fortunate than myself take advantage of their opportunities is something I can do to make the world a better place, then I will do what I can.

K: What is the biggest source of inspiration for you?
Linda: Humanity. What we are all capable of never ceases to amaze me. And Nature, our beautiful vast world and the gifts it holds for us all, if we choose to open our eyes and see its true essence.

Life is beautiful if you choose it - Live life with love laughter and passion, and success and abundance will flow to you with ease.

Yo Woman, this is my gift to you.

Thanks so much Linda!

Pioneer Spirit

2010-05-03T01:57:18Z

Talk about a Busy Lady! We had a chance at Yo Ladies to interview a very influential leader, mother, mentor, creative genius, and all around amazing woman. Andrea Chancellor is a Down-Home lady with Up Town Charm & Style. She is a woman that exudes confidence and some one all ladies could take a few lessons from. Andrea is the Manager of, Corporate Communications, for a Tulsa-based utility called Public Service Company of Oklahoma. She started at PSO in 1989 and currently serves on the PSO Executive Leadership Team. She holds a bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State University and boasts years of career experience you couldn't put a price tag on.

Andrea came from a smaller town in Oklahoma, yet in her 20s, found herself in Washington DC. Her husband's job took her there, but she took it from there and ran with it. She turned the opportunity into a career/life changing experience. She was a reporter for several small newsletters and eventually ended up holding press credentials to cover Congress and the White House. Andrea said, "I interviewed a political activist from South Africa; and, later, in another job, represented my company during a White House news conference!"

The Girl Scouts organization has been a big part of Andrea's life. As an adult Girl Scout, she has talked with members of Congress about issues affecting young women in the world. She is also a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board and has orchestrated news conferences for music icons like Carrie Underwood. Andrea has had a lifetime full of amazing opportunities that probably would make some journalists jealous.

Her career experience and writing expertise has launched her towards a new passion. She is currently preparing to write her first book! She has been studying her grandmother's diaries full of 60 years of history. The diaries will take center stage as Andrea writes about her grandmother's life as an Oklahoma Pioneer Woman. You can visit her Facebook Page, Ione: Oklahoma Pioneer Woman, to read some fascinating bits from the diaries. The excerpts from the diaries will literally walk you through Oklahoma History.The stories range from Ione being a doctor and nurse; living through two World Wars, the Dust Bowl, Spanish influenza, dreaded whopping cough, stock market crash, and life on the prairie as a new state grew.

Andrea is a woman who gives back to her community. She has more than 2 dozen awards for community relations and public relations projects for corporations and nonprofits. She is a member of Leadership Oklahoma and, in 2001, was named Public Relations Professional of the Year by the Tulsa Public Relations Society of America. Andrea is a mover and a shaker and a wonderful role model for women everywhere.

Fast 5 Q & A's With Andrea:

April: Who is your modern day She-ro and why?
Andrea:Does modern day include the past 100 years? If so, it's Ione. She went off to school before statehood, away from her parents as an only child, to become a doctor and a nurse, when other gals were sitting in the swing with the boys. She doctored soldiers when they came to town during the war; she raised girls and had her last one when she was 50; she grew practically a field of iris (and some of those plants still grow today in my yard); she collected keepsakes over the years and created a collection of more than 30 scrapbooks, called by one writer as the most extensive collection of history of the times; and she made her own Christmas cards out of wrapping paper when times were tough. She was a strong lady, at a time when ladies were more worried about Paris clothing styles. I could go on and on.

April: What are your interests?
Andrea: Helping my hometown grow by being active in community activities.

April: What organizations are near and dear to your heart?
Andrea: Girl Scouts and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Girl Scouting is all about leadership and I used my Girl Scouting experiences to build out a career later in life that has provided many opportunities.

April: What is your current passion/mission?
Andrea: My current passion remains fund-raising and building public awareness and appreciation for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, which is based in hometown Muskogee. Also, I 'm studying my grandmother's 60 years of diaries, preparing to write a book about her life. She is on Facebook, Ione: Oklahoma Pioneer Woman, telling stories from the diaries about being a doctor and nurse; living through two World Wars, the Dust Bowl, Spanish influenza, dreaded whopping cough, stock market crash, and life on prairie as a new state grew.

April: What three characteristics do you feel have helped you climb the career ladder?
Andrea: Building partnerships with others; looking beyond today and into tomorrow; always remembering where I came from and how it got me where I am today.