But Love...Elaine Welteroth

"We live in a world that trains women to believe the only love worth having is the kind that hurts. The love we must bend and shape-shift and perform for. 

But love—in its truest, purest sense—is just the opposite. Love is liberating. It is about expansion, not restriction. It creates even more space within you to actualize each and every part of you. When you give into it, when you GIVE it—to YOURSELF and to your partner—you expand in ways your old self never thought possible."*

--Elaine Welteroth

Elaine Welteroth is a former Editor-In-Chief of Teen Vogue, a speaker, journalist, and upcoming author. She made history twice: 1) She was named the youngest Editor-In-Chief in Teen Vogue history; and 2) In 2012, she was the first African American to hold the position of beauty and health director at a Condé Nast publication.

Her new book, More Than Enough, is due out June 2019. Follow her on Instagram at: http://instagram.com/elainewelteroth.

*This post is an excerpt from Ms. Welteroth's 2/14/2019 Instagram about her fiance, Jonathan Singletary.

Love's In Need Of Love Today

Good morn or evening friends
Here's your friendly announcer
I have serious news to pass on to every-body
What I'm about to say
Could mean the world's disaster
Could change your joy and laughter to tears and pain

It's that
Love's in need of love today
Don't delay
Send yours in right away
Hate's goin' round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it's gone too far

--Stevie Wonder

Anyone Can Make A Difference...Mari Copeny

“Anyone can change the world no matter how small you are.”

--Mari Copeny, "Little Miss Flint"

MariCopeny.com

Mari Copeny is a eleven year who began her work as an activist when she, as an eight year old, wrote a letter to then President Barack Obama about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. The President responded to her letter with a visit to Flint. Since then, Mari has been using her voice to advocate for clean water in her city as well as other projects that inspire and uplift children. You can follow her on social media at @LittleMissFlint.

Picture Credit: 

Lulu Brezzell

via Fortune, http://fortune.com/2017/09/12/include-u-challenge-day-12/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Lead By Example

“Lead by example. Don’t ask your folks to do something that you aren’t willing to do.”

--Rosalind Brewer, COO of Starbucks

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Last week Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks' Chief Operating Officer, was in the news when her appointment to Amazon's Board of Directors was made public. She is only the fourth woman and the second African American woman to become a member of Amazon's Board.

Rosalind has held many leadership positions and had great success at leading at companies like Sam's Club, a $56 billion line of business owned by Walmart, where she was the President and CEO; and Kimberly-Clark where she spent 22 years rising up the ranks. As the quote above suggests, Rosalind believes in a leadership philosophy that incorporates respect, transparency and candour. She says that we shouldn't ask people to do things that we are not willing to do. Ethical leadership is a combination of integrity, respect for the individual, and the willingness to do what you have asked others to do.

Rosalind Brewer has demonstrated over time that she is a leader who is also willing to stand up for what she believes. How she handled the backlash over her comments in 2015 regarding a Sam's Club supplier's lack of diversity, even in the midst of receiving death threats, spoke volumes regarding her commitment to her core values and beliefs. Her skills and experience as well as her commitment to diversity will be a great asset for Amazon. Congratulations to her on this appointment and best wishes for continued success.

Follow #LeadershipTuesdays on Twitter @LeadershipTues to see daily posts with resources that help you develop and strengthen your leadership skills. Happy #LeadershipTuesdays!

Being Black...Leontyne Price

"The way I was taught, being black was a plus, always. Being a human being, being in America, and being black, all three were the greatest things that could happen to you. The combination was unbeatable."

--Leontyne Price, World renowned Opera Singer

On February 10th, Diva Leontyne Price celebrated her 92nd Birthday. Happy Birthday #DivaLeontyne!

Born in Laurel, Mississippi in 1927, Leontyne Price was first influenced by her mother's musical ability. She played the piano and sung at church and school at an early age. When she was nine years old, she heard opera singer Marian Anderson sing in concert; that, Price said, "was what you might call the original kickoff" of her pursuit of a vocal career in opera.

By 1961, her debut as Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City landed her on the cover of Time magazine and made her a bonafide legend. However, she was already well known to opera lovers in major cities in the U.S, such as San Francisco, and abroad. Ms. Price has received numerous awards including 19 Grammys and three Emmys.

For more info on Ms. Price, visit:
https://www.arts.gov/honors/leontyne-price

Somehow, God...Frederick D. Haynes

"Faith means you keep on going anyhow. Faith means you don't feel it, but you do it anyhow. If I go on anyhow, God will handle the somehow.

Somehow God will make a way.

Somehow God will give you peace.

Somehow God will give you strength."

--  Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas TX

Frederick D. Haynes, III

Excerpt from Sermon, "Walk By Faith", see here: http://ow.ly/Ey4V30nE6ZC
Slightly edited for clarity.

My Focus, My Goals...Venus Williams

"I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest."

--Venus Williams

CREDIT: Miller Mobley

In case you're not up to date on what Venus Williams has been up to especially with her business, EleVen by Venus, and her motivation for becoming an entrepreneur, check out this INC magazine profile, "What Made This Tennis Champion Become an Entrepreneur? Her Dad's Cassette Collection".