Real Liberation...Carl T. Rowan

“The library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in history.”

 ― Carl T. Rowan, Journalist and Author

Life Is...Louis Armstrong

What we play is life. --Louis Armstrong

My Faith...Halle Berry

"I know that there is a God - the God within me that's always present and will protect me. I'm not afraid to climb any mountain, because I know that I'm protected. Even if I fall and die, I'm still protected. My faith is on that level."

--Halle Berry, Award-Winning Actress

http://www.halleberryfragrances.com

You + God...Vashti McKenzie

"You + God is greater than any crisis you are facing. Believeth thou this?" 

--Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie, Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church

http://www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In celebration of Black History Month and its 2012 theme: Black Women in American Culture and History, this week we feature Reverend Dr. Vashti M. McKenzie who is currently a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. 

Mckenzie is responsible for leading the 13th Episcopal District (Tennessee and Kentucky) and she holds the distinction of being the first woman to be elected to the office of Bishop in the A.M.E. Church. Her leadership accomplishments include leading large church organizations in both the U.S. and South Africa, creating entrepreneurial business projects, starting over 35 local churches, growing a church congregation from 330 to over 1700 members, and managing multi-million dollar church real estate development projects. To view her story, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

Don't Give Up...Ella Fitzgerald

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

--Ella Fitzgerald (1917 - 1996), Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist

My Great Hope...Maya Angelou

"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."

--Maya Angelou, Author and Poet

The American Dream...Barbara Jordan

The American dream is not dead. It is gasping for breath, but it is not dead.  

--Barbara Jordan (1936 -1996), Lawyer, U.S. Congresswoman (D-TX), and Civil Rights Leader

The Small Daily Differences...Marian Wright Edelman

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."

--Marian Wright Edelman

Managing Change Within Its Context...Vashti McKenzie

"What I've learned about change is really being able to look at the change within its context. And so that means your leadership style changes with the context you are facing." 

--Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie, First Elected & Consecrated Female Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Author, former Journalist and Radio Executive.  2011 Woman History Maker-DC, MD, & VA -- Honorable Mention

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In celebration of Black History Month and its 2012 theme: Black Women in American Culture and History, this week we feature Reverend Dr. Vashti M. McKenzie who is currently a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. She is  responsible for leading the 13th Episcopal District (Tennessee and Kentucky) and she holds the distinction of being the first woman to be elected to the office of Bishop in the A.M.E. Church.  Her leadership accomplishments include leading large church organizations in both the U.S. and South Africa, creating entrepreneurial business projects, starting over 35 local churches,  growing a church congregation from 330 to over 1700 members, and managing multi-million dollar church real estate development projects.  To view her story, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here. 

Build Dikes of Courage...Martin Luther King, Jr

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.  

--Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Upheld By His Hand...Jarena Lee

"I have ever been fed by his bounty, clothed by his mercy, comforted and healed when sick, succoured when tempted, and every where upheld by his hand." 

--Jarena Lee, First woman authorized to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church

With Gratitude, Seek Wisdom Each Day

Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom.

 --Psalm 90:12 (God's Word Translation)

The Kind Of Beauty I Want...Ruby Dee

"The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within -- strength, courage, dignity."

--Ruby Dee, Actress, Poet, Playwright, Screenwriter, Journalist, Recording Artist, and Activist.

Don't Give Up!...Josephine Baker

“You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can’t go wrong. The world is behind you.” -- Josephine Baker (1906 - 1975), Singer, Dancer & Actress

Devote Today...Oprah

Devote today to something so daring even you can't believe you're doing it.
--Oprah Winfrey

http://www.oprah.com/own

The Right Person...Andy Stanley

“Become the right person the right person is looking for.” 

--Andy Stanley, Pastor, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Everyone Can Live The Good Life...B. Smith

"I'm practical, but at the same time, I like to spread the word that everyone can live the good life." 

--B. Smith, Restauranteur, Lifestyle Expert, Author, Entrepreneur, and Former Model

http://www.bsmith.com/

Stand For Your Vision...Iyanla Vanzant

"When you have a vision, stand for it, stand in it, stand with it...even if it means you have to stand by yourself. "

--Iyanla Vanzant, Author, Speaker, and Minister

http://iyanlavanzant.com/

Iyanla Vanzant's most recent book is Peace from Broken Pieces.

A Legacy That Outlives Me...Tyra Banks

I'm trying to build a strong business. I want to create new stars, new shows and new products for my audience and create a legacy that outlives me. There are so many other ways I want to reach women besides doing a talk show.

--Tyra Banks, CEO of Bankable Productions, Media Personality, Model, Actress, and Author

http://www.typef.com/

Keep Your Eye On The Prize...Cathy L. Hughes

You are going to succeed eventhough it may not come when you think it's going to come or when you want it to come.  It's gonna always be right on time for you and your circumstance. You keep your eye on the prize. 

-- Cathy L. Hughes, Chairperson and Founder of Radio One, Inc.


http://www.radio-one.com/



Cathy Hughes Radio One 30th Anniversary from Radio One on Vimeo.

Standing Up, Speaking Out...Sheila C. Johnson

We must all ask ourselves, what can I do? Where and how can I make a difference? And, beyond that spirit of solidarity, we need to start asserting ourselves, by standing up, speaking out on the issues that affect our lives, and demanding that African-American voices be heard at the tables where decisions are being made.

--Sheila C. Johnson, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, CEO of Salamander Hospitality, LLC, Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, President and Managing Partner of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, Film Producer, Global Ambassador for CARE and founding partner of BET (Black Entertainment Television)

*Quote excerpted from, Remembering Our Past, Taking Responsibility for Our Future, Huffington Post, 8/26/11

Take Your Happiness Seriously...Valorie Burton

"Chronic unhappiness can impact your longevity as much as smoking cigarettes every day, cutting as much as six years from your life." --Valorie Burton, Life Coach, Speaker and Author (@valorieburton on Twitter)

Check out her new book:

http://www.valorieburton.com/

Keeping People Passionate...Lisa Price

I want people to feel passionate, the way that I do, and feel like they are coming to a family and coming to a place that builds them up, and not a place that tears them down. So that’s my leadership style — keeping people passionate, keeping them inspired. 

 --Lisa Price, Entrepreneur, Founder and President of Carol's Daughter

http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In celebration of Black History Month and its 2012 theme: Black Women in American Culture and History, this week we take a look at the incredible story of Lisa Price who founded Carol's Daughter in her home in the early 1990's. 

Ms. Price talks about her challenges and transitions as she grew her home-based business to a multi-million dollar enterprise. To view her story, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

Overcome Barriers and Exceed Expectations...Vivian W. Pinn

Mentorship is important to me, and my two points to young people are: overcome barriers and exceed expectations of those who may not expect much of you; and have a mentor and be a mentor. 

--Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, Director of the Office Of Research On Women's Health (ORWH) at the National Institutes of Health (1991-2011)

For more information on Dr. Pinn, see Celebrating African American Women Making History in Medicine. 

What Makes You Come Alive? Howard Thurman

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."  
--Howard Thurman (1899-1981), Author, Philosopher, Theologian, Educator and Civil Rights Leader

Erase Unnecessary Drama...Thema Bryant-Davis

"Erase the unnecessary drama and write a new chapter to your life story."
--Thema Bryant-Davis PhD,  @drthema on Twitter

http://www.drthema.com/

Achievement...George Washington Carver

"There is no shortcut to achievement." --George Washington Carver, Educator and Inventor

Give People Hope...Dr. LaSalle LeFall

"When you give people hope... you grant them one of the greatest of all human joys: the joy of anticipation."

 --Dr. LaSalle LeFall, Jr., Prominent Physician, Surgeon and Cancer Researcher; Chairman of the Board, Susan G. Komen For The Cure and Charles R. Drew professor of Surgery at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC

Author, "No Boundaries: A Cancer Surgeon's Odyssey"

To learn more about Dr. LeFall, listen to a past interview on the Diane Rehm's Show (WAMU 88.5 FM in Washington, D.C.)    http://thedianerehmshow.org/audio-player?nid=5176. 
A complete biography can be found here. 

Friendship and Love...Viola Davis

"...friendship and love can help us find our way."  

--Viola Davis, Award-Winning Actress

 Acceptance Speech at the Critic's Choice Award:

        

Get More: 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards