Word of Wisdom: Iyanla Vanzant

Morning ladiesssss! :)


So, I'm journaling this morning ... yes. it can be a verb. -_- ... and I go to my daily act of faith from Iyanla Vanzant's book of ALL books, Acts of Faith ... and I come across this ...

Background information
Birth name	Ronda Eva Harris
Born	September 13, 1953 (age 55)(1953-09-13)
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Occupation(s)	Inspirational Speaker Spiritual Teacher Writer Scrapbooker
Website	Inner Visions World Wide

"The bell rings loudest in your own home."

and thennnnn ... this ...

"The world I want begins with me."

OMG, Pretty girls (cuz you know you are right, you are all beautiful! and we love you for it!)!

This put my world into all SORTS of perspective this morning. My face was all o_0 ... my mind was like "true ... true ... double true." lol.

But really, we all know there are things we want changed ... this is why we do what we do right? But we have to start at home first ... if only but to quite that nerve-wracking bell ... the alarm that something is out of place ... the thing that disturbs us ... but it disturbs us so bc we believe it is outside when it is always within. Whatever it is, it is us.

Namaste, beauties.

Stay peacefully changing today. Remain gracefully AUTHENTIC.

Word of Wisdom

whattttt?!? we give em to you late ... why cant we give em to you early?!?



Ladies ... I'm pretty moved this week ... and completely short on words.

Why?!? Because I've experienced so much in so little time. I mean that as far as life in general. And really ... just this last weekend. I went to the WOC Conference ... look for a blog about that soon ... and on TOP of that ... AUTHENTIC has been making some really awesome moves... JUST FOR YOU! ... You already know about The F*IX* ... Wait until you hear what's up for the REST of April and May!

In the words of a fave of a ll faves .... Angela Bassett

“I'm just so blessed to be able to do what I just love and have loved since I was a teenager, since I first found it, and to be encouraged by others for it.”

Are YOU Ladies?
Let us know! Be Real. Be AUTHENTIC.

Tonight in Philly: Staceyann Chin

AUTHENTIC is pretty excited about this event ... WHY?!?  Because there are some pretty awesome women behind and ALL UP IN IT!  The committee has been planning for while ... and they are bringing you A LOT of awesome treats.  I think should be an awesome time of awesome networking and ideas for both the LGBTQ (and all the other letters) community as well as its allies.

2009 LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference in Philadelphia - April 3-4

**FORWARD WIDELY**

Please join us for the 2009 LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference in Philadelphia. This conference will bring over 100 LGBTQ Womyn of Color from the Philadelphia region and across the U.S to a 2-day event filled with thought-provoking discussion, art-making, healing, and networking among different generations!

The Details:

April 3, 2009 - OPENING NIGHT (5pm-8:30pm): Feature Performance by Staceyann Chin with *Exclusive Booksigning* of her new memoir, The Other Side of Paradise. Other Performances include 3XLadyCrew and Nzinga Arts Collective Feat. Vocalist Fatimah Loren. Location: Christ Church Theate (2nd Street Between Market and Arch) Phila,PA)

(meanwhile ... we know all of our ladies are only of the highest most brilliant caliber ... BUT ... in case you've been living under a rock .... and DON'T know who staceyann is ... just check below.)

April 4, 2009 - INTER-GENERATIONAL BRUNCH AND WORKSHOPS (10am-5pm): Workshop themes include Relationships, Sexual Practices, Spirituality, and Body/Health. Location: William Way Center (1315 Spruce St. Phila, PA)

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST!!!

REGISTER ONLINE ASAP: FIRETICKETS.EVENTBRITE.COM

*** SPECIAL OFFER: $40 for Adult Registration; $20 for Youth (16-18) ***

***Limited Scholarships Available, please contact LGBTQ.WOMYN@gmail.com***

If you have never been moved by anything ... come out ... I guarantee you you will sway tonight.  And tomorrow.  And everyday after you leave this event. remember ... nothing is not your issue.  Think on that.

p.s. "all oppression is connected, you d*ck!"

whaaaat? she said it.  not me.

Get Real. Get AUTHENTIC.  Get to Philly tonight.

WORD OF WISDOM .... ON THURSDAY!!!

"I'm learning to accept the lack of privacy as the real downer in my profession."

Born Maria Halle Berry

August 14, 1966 (age 42)

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Years active 1989-present

Spouse(s) David Justice (1992–1997)

Eric Benét (2001–2005)

Domestic partner(s) Gabriel Aubry (2005–present)

The words above, from one of my MOST favorites ... Halle Berry of course! ... are so indicative of what I have been feeling the last three weeks ... forget that ... the last THREE MONTHS ... or years ... whatever's most honest! lol.  Between being completely violated in the airport .. to feeling like everyone knows your every move on myspace, facebook, ning, and twitter (p.s. follow us at www.twitter.com/authenticfamc), to feeling like day in and day out you are making yourself completely available to artists, managers, friends, family, students, colleagues, etc, I REALLY CRAVE THAT KHOLI QUALITY TIME.

But you know what?  I daily realize, that although I think ... "kholi ... do it anyways ... this is what you were chosen to do" ... it's really not about what I've chosen at all.  THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN CHOSEN TO DO. And this is why it matters.

I have honestly realized that sometimes, we complain about our greatest blessings.  

"I have too much work to do. ... I can't believe this flight is taking this long ... I can't believe this line is this long ... I wish I didn't have to go to this meeting."

Honestly, in this economy, when people are losing jobs, homes, cars, families, LIVES, when people have not even been given the opportunities that we have, let alone the opportunity to complain about them ... WE SHOULD TAKE THESE TOUGH DAYS ... and BE GRATEFUL ... not for struggle ... but for the fruit of the struggle, for the gift of what sometimes feels like a curse ... even for the lack of privacy ... because it means that somewhere ... in the masses of those that just want to be nosey ... there is someone that genuinely wants to know if you are ok ... if you are safe ... wants you to know that you are loved.

because it just feels right ... NAMASTE.

Get Real.  Get Right.

Stay AUTHENTIC.

The Saartjie Project

ok babes ... new addition... you BETTER know we love you to let you in on this!!!

here's what we found out from our loves @ The Saartjie Project ... which we cannot get enough of!!! They are the newest addition to AUTHENTIC and the collective pretty much speaks for itself ... I mean ... all we can say is ... DON'T ACT LIKE WE NEVER TOLD YA!

SAARTJIE HOMECOMING 5.2.09 - We Want You!

Calling all Women Visual Artists, Singers, Poets, Dancers & Musicians!!


To celebrate the anniversary of Sara Saartjie Baartman’s homecoming to South Africa and to support our growing programs and performances, The Saartjie Project is pleased to put out a call for Women Artists -- visual & performing -- to participate in our Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop in Washington DC.


Since The Saartjie Project's August 2008 debut, we have performed in sold out shows extending into 2009. This year, we are scheduled to perform in upcoming venues including the Capital Fringe Fest in DC and The International Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed Conference in Minneapolis.


Email a link to your work and a bio to homecoming@thesaartjieproject.org for consideration.


Deadline to submit your work for consideration is April 1, 2009.

WORD OF WISDOM .... x2!!!

Hey Ladies!  As always!  Mikey's ON IT!  Clearly he had your W.O.W. wayyyyy before I could even get myself away from grading papers and reading 400 pages of 2oth century Black Radical thought to think about you!  But come onnnnn ... WHO LOVES YOU BABY?!?

Soooo ... ok.  I fold.  Maybe Mikey loves you more today. :(

But Look what I brought you!  

Toni Cade Bambara

loves you too!

(so ya ... pay attention!  take notes. -_-)

Sister Warrior,

You called me up without knowing. Through repetition, through attraction. I saw people putting my name on your door. Saw you holding onto that old copy of the The Black Woman. Saw you mis-spelling “irresistable” everywhere you went.

What asha says about you and Audre is true for us. I would have loved you. And I do, through the sisters and daughters who I have sent into your life, who have carried me to you with love. Cheryll, Nikky, Kai and Aishah are the living doorways for our ongoing love. Of course we would love each other, and hear me when they tell you of their love, and I will be listening when you remember to tell them.

Now listen. The most urgent thing to tell you is that your health and the future of this world are caught up intimately. Center your wholeness. Start your day with feeding your spirit, feeding yourself before you get to everyone else you want to feed. And use our examples to truly understand what it means for this culture to be cancerous, and yet to still be the place we live. Grapple with that as you love yourself, as you love your community, as you make choices as to what and who your time and energy will embrace, and as you notice the limits of your body young one, remember your spirit, because we are all here, cheering, laughing, remembering and waiting for you to practice and fulfill being whole and at home.

With all the urgency of morning,

Toni Cade

(source)

I mean DO NOT ACT like you can't use TWO Words of Wisdom this Wednesday.  COME ON!

Stay Real.  Stay AUTHENTIC.

AUTHENTIC Events: Savannah Urban Arts Festival

Hey hey hey! Did you miss me?!?

Awww ... I BET YOU DID! Oh come on now ... stop ::smiles:: you're making me blush!

Anyways ... a friend of ours on facebook gave us little tip for GREAT BIG GIANT FUN! ...

wanna know what it is? maybe this is a hint.




maybe not ....



JUST CLICK HERE if you want to find out!

P.S. tell DaVena Jordan thanks, ladies! Tell her she's so real ... so ...


Visit AUTHENTIC



oh. ;) ... aight. you already know, huh?

Word of Wisdom: Oprah Winfrey

You can have it all. You just can't have it all at one time. - Oprah Winfrey

For many here at AUTHENTIC, the newness of 2009 is fading and the crunch of midterms, work, and home are beginning to seem overwhelming…or at least annoying and cringe-worthy. Put on your Oprah Thinking Cap aka your Oprah “Get Money” Hat and be your most AUTHENTIC self. Know that your work, frustration, sleep depravation, creative chills, arguments, stank faces, and bitchassedness are all worth the “ALL” of which Ms. Winfrey speaks.

Get that Hump out of ya’ back…’cause Oprah said so!

Get AUTHENTIC.

P.S. Please excuse the mad tardiness of WoW this week. Folks be testing me and whatnot. Seriously, I just took three exams. *stank face*

So It's a Good Thing ...

our next event is raising awareness around domestic violence. Because AUTHENTIC has held it's words concerning Chris Brown and Rihanna ...



but B. Scott has voiced our opinion so thoroughly. though ignorantly ... but sometimes ... humor is the only thing you have to bring to a subject like this one.

but what we want to know is what you think. so DO TELL.

WORD OF WISDOM

So ... I know it's not Wednesday ... but I NEEDED a word of WISDOM ... ANYWAYS (and ya ... sometimes its hard to get to the computer to blog while in transit from Harlem to NJ ... SUE ME).

(mm. i apologize for that ... it's one of those days, ladies.)

anyways ... our WORD OF WISDOM comes from none other than?!?

JUDITH JAMISON

Judith Jamison was appointed Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December 1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his untimely death. A native of Philadelphia, she studied with Marion Cuyjet, was discovered by Agnes de Mille and made her New York debut with American Ballet Theatre in 1964. She became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great acclaim. Recognizing her extraordinary talent, Mr. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her, most notably the tour de force solo, Cry.

After leaving the Company in 1980, Ms. Jamison appeared as a guest artist with ballet companies all over the world and starred in the hit Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies. In 1988, she formed her own company, The Jamison Project; a PBS special depicting her creative process, Judith Jamison: The Dancemaker, aired nationally the same year.

I could go onnnn and onnn and onnnn... about her ... but what's important ... is what she has to say to us today ...

“Once you've danced, you always dance. You can't deny the gifts that God sends your way.”

and boyyyy, is this true. honestly chicks, today is one of those days i find myself tired ... wondering whether what i'm doing is even DOING anything ... whether i should throw it in.

But I already know that answer ... I can never stop being AUTHENTIC ... it's in my blood. NEVER stop writing ... I'd stop breathing ... NEVER stop critically thinking and appreciating the world around me ... I have no investment in suicide.

Be you, beauties. At your best always.

Love you.

oh ya! click HERE for HAPPINESS!

AUTHENTIC WOMEN: Shawnon Corprew

Soooo ... you know what happens here EVERY THURSDAY!

AUTHENTIC gives all our favorite chicks ... meaning YOU! Yes YOU! ... a little thank you for showing us so much support!

How? We let you hype yourself! duh! (ya'll don't be payin' attention. lol)

So this week, we want to feature one of my favorite HU ... and NOT that other one ... HAMPTON (::crowd roars. chants:: "i love i love i love my H. IIIIIIIII. U!") comrades!

Who? Why NONE other than Shawnon Corprew! Here's what Shawnon had to say about herself:

Basically, I'm a poet coming into my own. I'm participating in the Black Extravaganza at HU (ok now when u click that link ... dont ask any questions ... but u will see kholi standing all prim and poet-like in the background)for the first time and I'm sooo excited about it! I just want people to be more exposed to my poetry and such.

My name is Shawnon and my blog link is http://curiouslovechild.blogspot.com and that's where my newest pieces (as well as ramblings) are.

I BET YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE ELSE YOU CAN CHECK SHAWNON OUT! Don't you?!?

No?!? Well, let me help!


Find more photos like this on AUTHENTIC


Stay Real, chicks. Stay AUTHENTIC.

AUTHENTIC Associates: The Peace and Love Movement

Hey Ladies! A little reminder from a special friend, Semira Fuller.

Peace and Love Day!!!!

Peace and Love would like to announce the creation of Peace and Love day....
Feb. 1st would have marked the day Theresa "Reese" Davis was born. For those of you who are unaware Peace and Love was created by Rochelle Davis, Reese's younger sister. Davis, after many years of working as a community activist for several different organizations felt the need was greater for her to raise the awareness in regards to the violence that plagues our neighborhoods, cities, states, and nation, by creating her own non-profit organization. We ask you that on February 1 that you make our image your profile picture, and spread the word to as many of your friends as possible

Please keep in mind that....
-Every 8 seconds 1 out 4 women is a victim of domestic violence.
-Violence is the #1 killer of African-American men.

By influencing the mind of one, we can ultimately change these facts!!!

Join the MOVEMENT.. www.weneedpeaceandlove.com

(if you would like for me to send you Peace and Love image please feel free to send me a message and I will do so).

Thanks so much,
The Peace and Love Team.

You know AUTHENTIC goes hard for Peace and Love. Not JUST because it's based in Philly! But because anyone DOING THEM while affecting national and international change is worth our support!



p.s. if you click Semira's image ... it'll take you directly to the Peace and Love Cause on Facebook.

DO YOU: Lend a Helping Hand

So ladies! We got a lil' factoid from an AUTHENTIC supporter ...

There's a project called 'Point-In-Time'; it's basically volunteering to go out into your city and count the homeless population. You'll have surveys; some might fill them out, some might refuse. The results are sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development so that they can provide proper funding for shelters and medical care for the homeless and improve ways to keep people off the street. Ideally the goal is to eradicate homelessness.

The date is Jan 28 and Jan 29. It's important that it happens on the same date nationwide to get as accurate a count as possible.

I'm having the darnedest time finding a general website for it, but they have them for a lotta counties, so here's a general overview of it:

http://www.pbcgov.com/communityservices/pointintime.htm

If you're interested you should be able to find out about it through your city's United Way. I don't know a whole lot about it but I figured I'd pass the word on.


Thanks chick! Any of you other ladies have something you really need to get off your chest? You have a super hot artist or musician or generally talented female you feel needs props?

Send them over to AUTHENTIC and email us at authentic.famc@gmail.com.

muah! love you!

The Happiness Chronicles: Service Before Self

Hey, AUTHENTIC!

I'm a bit excited today because we are one step closer…to being AMERICA'S NEXT MODEL! Wait. I apologize. We are one step closer to officially having Barack Hussein Obama as our Commander-In-Chief! Yes We Can/Did/Will Do. However, as we learned every year in elementary school, the calendar is only big enough to include one Monday that is dedicated to one black man and his service and greatness and story. Greatness thy name is Martin Luther King, Jr. And this is where today's history lesson stops. Dr. King did wonders for America. And I am not uninterested in MLK 101, but it's been my experience that people remember and embrace and practice what you preach when that preaching can be enacted in a tangible way. Thus, how will we make change and create progress in our lives? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Obama both encourage a life of community service. Which brings us to our newest installment of "The Happiness Chronicles!"

[INSERT ROARING CROWD  & APPLAUSE HERE].

My ridiculousness aside, AUTHENTIC is dedicated to uplifting women of color and all of the wonder and greatness you possess. Happiness is but a reflection of your efforts made manifest in your works. Thus, community service is three fold: it yields purpose beyond ourselves, connects you to your community, and ultimately makes you (that's right!) HAPPY because of the sense of pride and progress you'll experience as you see your involvment grow and manifest change. And like my girl Kholi says, "There's no small change." At least that's how I think it goes.

With Obama Nation a day away, service is pivotal to aiding our new administration in succeeding and reviving our economy and strengthening the ties of diversity. For many of us who wish to/and do serve our community, the pressure to be part of something big can be overwhelming. Although starting at home may seem small, it is reasonable and more personal. You can really put your stamp on local projects by volunteering at local Boys & Girls clubs, YM/YWCA, Big Brother/BigSister, local nursing homes, youth book clubs, and even soup kitchens. You might even tell your friends to tell their friends about checking out AUTHENTIC and her various connects on Facebook, MySpace, and the Ning network. You may donate money to your causes, but in today's economic  climate,  finances may not be your first choice of service. I advocate volunteering your time before giving your dime.

Here are a few volunteer ideas that make a great difference with little to no charge to you. They may even make someone else happy…and that's the business we're in, at least for January.

1.smile at a stranger

2. hug a friend

3. pay a compliment to someone with whom you rarely speak

4. offer to clean an elder's front yard

5. spend some time with a local youth

Check out the video below. The First Lady in Chief Michelle Obama declares Monday, January 19, 2009, a day of service. Get involved. Get AUTHENTIC.