Now That's Beauty...Lupita Nyong'o

“You can’t eat beauty, it doesn’t sustain you. What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion for yourself and those around you. That kind of beauty inflames the heart and enchants the soul.”

—Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong'o 

Instagram, 2/12/19

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is currently starring in Academy award winning director Jordan Peele's latest horror film, "Us" , with Winston Duke (Black Panther), Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex. Check out the movie trailer below and get your tickets here. "Us" movie opens today, 3/22.

Are You Being Kind To Yourself?...Christopher Germer

“Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” 

--Christopher Germer

How To Value Your Life...Toni Simone de Beauvoir

"One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion."

— Simone de Beauvoir, author of "The Second Sex"

Never Be Afraid To Take A Stand For Truth...William Faulkner

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” 

--William Faulkner

Good Advice For Life...Eleanor Roosevelt

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” 

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Thirty years ago, I celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington in August 1983. The summer of 1983 was a poignant moment in my life as I finished my first year of college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and witnessed my first college graduation. 

I welcome you to join me in reflection as I look back at the events that led up to my first "Civil Rights" experience in the Nation's Capital. 

Click the link to read, Reflections...30-25-Now! The Summer of 1983.  Feel free to leave a comment.

True Compassion...Martin Luther King, Jr.

“True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Traits of A Great Leader...Nona

Vision, education, intelligence, compassion, accountability and integrity with a strong sense of history are the traits of a great leader. --Nona

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week, a special issue of  Leadership Tuesdays is presented to recognize a major milestone of the oldest African American singing organization in the United States. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) was founded in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey who is credited with creating the genre of black gospel music. On August 6, 2012, the organization inaugurated its first woman as president. Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry was installed at NCGCC's Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. from August 4 -- 10, 2012.

Dr. Gentry talked about the organization's rich history and tradition, the legacy of leadership that was imparted to her, and her vision for the organization. She is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a retired educator who worked in the St. Louis Public School system for 32 years. After her installation services, she graciously agreed to an interview with WOMEN AT LIBERTY/Women History Maker-DC, MD & VA's founder, Nona Ogunsula.

To read the article about Dr. Gentry, click here. 

Also, this past May, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. John T. Delaney, Dean of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, regarding the women empowerment and leadership program I launched in March 2011, Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA and Leadership Tuesdays. (See womenatliberty.com for more information.)

As a Pitt Alum, I was interested in finding out how Katz was addressing this problem in its Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Education programs. Further, I wanted to know if Katz was involved in any partnerships and/or research to 1) explain the cause for the lack of women and minorities in leadership positions; and 2) improve the status quo.

To read about the premise for our discussion and my corporate work experience and background, see "Are We There Yet? My Journey, My Climb".

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.



Make No Judgments Where...Anne McCaffrey

Make no judgments where you have no compassion. --Anne McCaffrey

Love Is An Action Word...Nona

Hate will cause you to do strange and evil things and feel you are justified in your actions. But, love will compel you to look with compassion, heal and restore. Love is an action word.  --Nona

Used with permission. http://www.art4god.com 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

   As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.

    ³¹A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. ³²Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side. ³³A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him ³⁴and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, "Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return." ³⁶Then Jesus asked, "Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?"  ³⁷The teacher answered, "The one who showed pity."

   Jesus said, "Go and do the same!"

Luke 10:30-37 (Contemporary English Version) http://www.biblegateway.com