I know I’m a little late, but in my opinion this still needed to be shared.  So, the biggest, loudest, most enthusiatic ”You Go Girl” goes out to Katie Washington!  She is the first African-American Valedictorian at Notre Dame University in it’s rich 168 year history.  Here’s the press release:

Katie Washington, a biological sciences major from Gary, Ind., has been named valedictorian of the 2010 University of Notre Dame graduating class and will present the valedictory address during Commencement exercises May 16 (Sunday) in Notre Dame stadium.

Washington, who earned a 4.0 grade point average, has a minor in Catholic Social Teaching. She has conducted research on lung cancer at the Cold Spring Harbor labs and performed genetic studies in the University’s Eck Institute for Global Health on the mosquito that carries dengue and yellow fever. She is the co-author of a research paper with David Severson, professor of biological sciences.

Washington directs the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir at Notre Dame, is a mentor/tutor for the Sister-to-Sister program at South Bend’s Washington High School and serves as the student coordinator of the Center for Social Concerns’ “Lives in the Balance: Youth Violence and Society Seminar.”

Upon graduation, Washington plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D program at Johns Hopkins University.

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!  And we at Sistagirlz.com wish you well in all your future endeavors…

SistaGirlz

Entrepreneur, web business and marketing expert, web coach, social networking expert, and THE stay at home mom: LaShanda Henry is living her dream.  10 years ago the New York native decided to turn her talent for creating websites into a profitable business and she hasn’t looked back.  Currently she maintains several websites and networks, writes e-books and blogs.  Her goal is to show other women that they can be successful web entrepreneurs as well as providing a place where women entrepreneurs can connect with and support one another. 

Most recently she teamed up with multi-million dollar Mompreneur Richelle Shaw and cofounded the Women of Color Coaching Program.  Together they have developed the Small Business to Smart Business Training Program for Women Entrepreneurs of Color. 

We spoke with Mrs. Henry to give you a taste of who she is and what she’s about.  Check it out!

SG: Give me a rundown of the products and services you offer for helping women entrepreneurs online.

LH:  Basically, there are e-books, the websites, e-courses, the Black Business Women Online Network (BBWO), which is a network to connect women entrepreneurs and give them a space to motivate each other.

*Her other networks include the Black Girl Click Ad Network, Black Moms Club, Black Writers Connect, Multiple Shades of You Online,  What Black Women Think, plus her blog and Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and YouTube accounts.

SG: What’s the best thing about what you do?

LH: Working from home…And seeing how much the women online enjoy it.

SG:  And the most difficult thing?

LH:  Getting people aware of what’s out there and trying to teach them at the same time.  I’ve been able to find a balance though.

SG: How important is networking today?

LH: If you want to grow [your business] you have to connect with other people.

SG: What is the most common question you get asked?

LH: How do I get started.  People always want to know where to begin.

SG:  So, what’s the answer to that?

LH: Know what you want to sell.  Know what you want your business to be.  Be sure there is a demand for what you want to sell.  And be comfortable with the audience you want to sell the product to.

SG: What’s the most important piece of advice you can give SistaGirlz trying to follow in your footsteps and be a successful entrepreneur?

LH: You must have some “keep it steady money.”  Starting a business is not easy and it’s not going to happen overnight. 

For more of LaShanda Henry or if your thinking of getting into the online business arena visit her website.  There are several good products available as well as some good sound free advice.  Good luck!

SistaGirlz

Do you know a SistaGirl that is doin’ her thing? Is she handling her business in the corporate world or the community? Is she a go-getter and fired up? Let us know! We want to spotlight her in our “You Go Girl” Category!  Please send an email with info on this fabulous SistaGirl, so that we can be EMPOWERED by her story! All submission should be sent to deja [at] sistagirlz [dot] com

SistaGirlz

“She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls”

When your in high school you never think about the fact that the people around you have potential to change the world.  I had the pleasure of attending school in St. Louis, MO with Samantha Beck and Dana Townsend, two of the co-founders of an organization for teen girls called Ladies of Virtue and Excellence (LOVE).  I caught up with these two Sistagirlz at the LOVE office and here is what they had to say about their part in making the world a better and more empowering place for young ladies:

SG:  Where did the idea for the organization come from?

SB:  It came to me in part from noticing there were some girls in my family that needed some guidance and also from my time spent in Mississippi.  I was a manager at a Walgreens in Jackson and there were severalvery young girls under me that had a few kids each and, in talking to them, I found that they really didn’t have any hope.   I thought to myself, “I should start something where I could mentor girls.”  So, when I made it back to St. Louis, I talked with my female family members between grades 6 and 12 to find out what they wanted to do and what things they had questions about.  From those answers we developed many of the programs in place today. 

SG:  How did you come up with the name?

SB:  I wanted it to be built on the Proverbs 31 woman, thus the virtue.  As well, one of our principle teachings of the program is loving yourself, which is where the acronym came from.

SG: How does the program work?

DT: The program is for girls in grades 6 thru 12.  We meet with them weekly on Sunday for 2 hours.  We not only do fun stuff, but there is also a very important mentoring component of the program.  With that we do different lessons and have guest speakers come in to talk to the girls.  So, one month we may do a lesson on etiquette and another month on healthy relationships.  We also do one on one mentoring with the girls as well.  Each girl is paired up with a mentor and they meet once a month.

SG: Will you keep in touch with the participants after they graduate?

DT:  Yes.

SB:  We actually will have our first graduate this May.

SG:  So with all that you do – a regular 9 to 5 and running this organization – it must be hard to find free time.  When you do find it what do you do?

DT:  I just hang out with friends.  Regular stuff.

SB:  Well, as you know I have a side hustle.  I design clothes.

SG:  Yes I remember! How is that going?

SB:  Really well.  I hooked up with a guy back in Jackson named Jhai and he and I are in the manufacturing stages, so it’s good.  Be on the look out for fashions by Samantha Michelle!

SG:  That’s what’s up SistaGirl.  Well my last question is this: If you had one piece of knowledge to impart on young SistaGirlz out there what would it be?

SB:  Always love yourself, always believe in yourself and your abilities, and also never settle.  Good enough should never be good enough.

DT:  Have confidence.  It’s okay to march to your own beat and follow your own path.  Embrace your creativity.  And lastly, be a leader.

The LOVE organization is the only free mentoring program in the St. Louis area for girls.  They always have room for participants and need volunteers as well.  The only major requirement is that you are female.  For more information on their programs or for their contact information, please visit their website.

SistaGirlz

Without a vision, the people perish. Well, we don’t have to worry about with our latest feature in You Go Girl! stepped out on faith & her vision and landed in NY in 2006 to pursue her dreams.  While still in college in  Houston, Texas, Kisha traveled the world with her job for a national airline.  While she journeyed from Paris to Hong Kong on her days off, her wanderlust led to  a desire for  more in her life. When a job opportunity opened up in New York, she leaped  at the chance for a new beginning.

Working in New York is a hustle, and Kisha Mays fit right in as she worked her regular job by day and  got busy planning her first charity benefit with Dress for Success & Vanessa L. Williams by night.  Though she had only put on smaller events, Ms. Mays had the vision for an event that would get donations for Dress for Success and chose to honor Vanessa Williams for her work with the organization.  After that event turned out to be a success, Kisha realized she was on to something. In no time she was planning and executing the second event for Dress for success and working her way to major sponsorship revenue!

Kisha is proud of her success, but admits there have been failures, too. Life lessons and underhanded business dealing could have broken a weaker woman, but this southern belle is taking her tour on the road! With her company Women Empowering Women, Kisha has embarked on a international tour for women, featuring dynamic speakers performers and a swanky networking event all in one day!

I know we’ll be hearing great things from Kisha Mays in the future. She calls herself “A Mogul in the Making”.  I say she’s well on her way! For more info on the WEW Just Fearless Tour log on to www.justfearless.com.

SistaGirlz

I had the pleasure of meeting Erica Watson a few of years ago when she stopped by the Power 105.1 NYC radio studios. She ripped her set during the interview and had me dying with her whip-like cracks on any and everthing! I’ve been a fan ever since! SistaGirlz.com goes inside the sharp, sarcastic mind of a funny diva:

SG:  You’re so funny…when was the first time you remember hearing that?

EW: Thank you girl! I remember as early as 5th grade that my classmates would laugh and tell me how crazy my sense of humor was.  Although I was the class clown, teachers loved me because I was smart and always made the Honor Roll.  So my humor didn’t get me into too much trouble.

SG: What drew you to comedy? Who are your faves in the biz?

EW: When I was in college, I was always asked to host every fashion show, talent show and step show on campus. But during that time my focus was on directing theater and film projects.  Once I moved to NYC, a friend of mine named La Rivers who is an amazing actress encouraged me to take a stand-up comedy class with The Manhattan School of Comedy at Caroline’s on Broadway. I just figured that I would use comedy as a side hustle to make money for my film projects.  Here it is 4 years later, and I am a professional comic, and I love it!  Some of my faves are Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Pryor, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Bernie Mac, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Sherri Sheppard, Joan Rivers and I love Tina Fey!

SG: Is it tougher for a Black women in the comedy business?

EW: Comedy is tough, no matter who you are.  But I do find that black women have a harder time than others.  Many times we are stereotyped to be “sassy” or to “tell it like it is”, when that is not everyone’s personality. I find that most comedy clubs will only put 1 woman on a show at a time, and it’s really hard for black female comics to be “that one”. That’s why I decided to take my career in my own hands and take my 1 woman show “Fat Bitch!” on tour. You can either sit and wait for someone else to give you an opportunity, or you can take your destiny into your own hands!  All the black women that have been successful from Mo’nique to Somore to Moms Mabley have done it their own way! Now, I’m trying to follow in their footsteps.

SG: Is anything off limits? Is there ONE thing you will not joke about?

EW: Nothing is off limits for me.  Even the most sad, horrible topic can probably be explored to find the humor in a situation.  I have a great joke about my experience with abortion, and although some people have been offended by it, it’s my life, it’s my truth…and it’s funny!

SG: How much flack have you gotten for the use of the word Bitch in your show title?

EW: It’s funny.  I’m called a “Fat Bitch!” quite often in life—many times by strangers.  I hear it all the time and have had to deal with it most of my adult life.  But as soon as I called my show that, some people, especially BLACK MEN were offended. To be honest, I personally feel that more people were offended by the word FAT.  See, “Skinny Bitch!” sounds sexy and glamorous.  You picture some skinny chick, dressed in high fashion, sipping on a cosmo with her skinny friends.  But “Fat Bitch!” sounds mad, angry and bitter.  It sounds raw.  It sounds FAT.  And in American culture, Fat is not socially accepted as sexy.  Well, unless it’s behind closed doors!    The feminist and womanist community has also been very supportive of my show title.  Because they see power in the word Bitch! And I do too.

SG: Has it alienated some would be fans?

EW: Actually, it has not. If anything, the title has made more people come and see the show that did not even know what a 1 woman show was all about.  But, I have noticed that some of the smaller black press has refused to write about the show.  One black owned paper in Chicago said that ” we would never write about such trash”. But, if my show was a gospel stage play called “Hot Grits Burn Your Tongue” or “Chitlings Were Made for Hotsauce” it would be on the front page!  This show is an honest look at how my weight has affected my life from the boardroom to the bedroom.  So if the title makes some people uneasy, think about how I feel when I have been called a “Fat Bitch!” on a busy city street by a homeless man!

SG: Do you write your own jokes, or do you have help with that?

EW: Yes! I write all of my own stuff.  Actually, my life writes it for me. Truth is stranger and funnier than fiction.  All I have to do is walk outside my door, and the comedy comes!

SG: Gimme one Tiger Woods zinger…please. LOL!

EW: I heard he has a new porn series coming out called “Crouching Tiger’s Hidden Dragon!”

SG: What’s on deck for 2010?

EW: I am writing a funny advice book about dating for women, and I will be touring my show all across the country.  I have so many amazing things happening right now, and I am excited to see what 2010 has in store.

Check Erica out:

http://www.twitter.com/EricaWatson

http://www.ericawatson.com

http://www.fatbitchtour.com

SistaGirlz

Sophia Lafontant is a young woman fighting for change.  Through Oxfam America she is able to trot the globe putting forth efforts to eradicate poverty and combat injustice.   One might say she always had a world view – her parents are from Haiti and she grew up in Boston, Massachusetts then later in Louisiana.  She first heard about Oxfam America in college through a friend.  She applied to The CHANGE Initiative, got accepted, and began a weeklong training course in leadership and advocacy skills.  After that, she was a fair trade organizer on her college campus. 

Years later she still works for Oxfam International.  She went from a participant in the program to being a leader.  She is now the Senior Organizer Training Specialist.  Her most rewarding moment came when she organized the 10 year anniversary of the CHANGE Initiative program, where 100 of the 550 alumni showed up to reconnect with one another. 

For anyone out there wondering why she has taken such an interest in the world and is not specifically working towards our problems here at home, Ms Lafontant refers to Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  She says, “What happens in the Congo with violence against women, what happens in Iraq, in Afghanistan, shapes our world view.  It reminds us that we aren’t all that different.  Our common humanity doesn’t go away.”

Her future plans involve a family and delving into the political sector.  Ms Lafontant wants be the Senior Advisor to the President of the United States!  I know…this SistaGirl has some serious goals!  Now politics is kind of a dirty game, so I asked her why she would want to get involved in that capacity.  “I’m most interested in policies,” she said.  “Poor people are not usually poor due to their own devices.  There are usually institutions in place to keep them there.  I want to bring my experiences to policy making.”  Ms. Lafontant says she has always had a passion for justice and strives to make sure that whatever capacity she works in she is helping to make the world a better and safer place. 

Her advice to Sistagirlz all over the world is to find a mentor.  Mentors give advice, open doors, and introduce you to people who can help you.  Anyone interested in Oxfam America can visit their website.

SistaGirlz

Born in Bronx, New York to an African American dad and a Latina mom, a veteran in the recruiting game, a networking expert, author, blogtalk radio host and founder and CEO of Empower Me! Corporation – Adrienne Graham says she’s just getting started!   Can you believe this SistaGirl!

A little over seventeen years ago when she started in recruiting she had no idea she would be where she is today.  After working for a firm for a while, she decided to branch out on her own.  At first she was met with resistance from other women in the same field, but with perseverance, a little help, and the internet she started her own recruiting firm and began the building of her empire. 

In 1998 she added to that empire with Empower Me! Corporation.  Born out of her frustration at the lack of women of color serving on boards of organizations, Empower Me! is a media, publishing, and professional networking company for women.  It includes several networks: Empowered Career Woman, Empowered Black Women’s Network, Empower Me Latina’s Network, and Fearless Networking for Women.   Currently she has a radio show called “Views from the Top” on blogtalkradio, which is a forum for women to discuss the ups and downs of working and being successful in corporate America.  Ms. Graham also wrote and self-published Go Ahead, Talk To Strangers: The Modern Girl’s Guide to Fearless Networking.  FYI, I purchased and read the book and I absolutely loved it!  I am the type to keep to myself and my circle of friends, but after reading the book I realized I was doing myself a disservice.  In order to reach the kind of success I want I needed to get out in the world and not only find people that could help me, but also offer my knowledge and expertise to others.  Doing this has already helped me to meet so many valuable new people and learn more about the people who were already around me.  I highly recommend it! 

Now back to Ms. Graham… 

In the future she is looking to expanding her brand.  In January 2010 she is starting “Fearless Woman Magazine.“  She says there is not much out there in the way of professional magazines for women of color, and when there is it doesn’t last very long.  She wants to show the world that there are more successful women of color powerbrokers out there besides Oprah and Tyra Banks.

And SistaGirlz, I did manage to get some advice for you- free of charge- from this knowledgeable lady.  First, Ms. Graham says to remember that not everyone is meant to have the same career forever.  Be open to change and if you decide you want to do something else take action.  Also, boost your skills and continue your education.  Take the time to figure out what skills you have and which of those skills you can use anywhere.  In her opinion, they are all transferrable.  And if you are lacking in a certain skill set, seek out ways you can gain those skills.  As well, you should find a mentor in your chosen career field and don’t be afraid to ask them for advice.  That’s what they’re there for.  As far as networking, don’t rely solely on social networking sites.  Get out there and meet people.  Let them get to know you and see what you can do.  Lastly, ignore the economic down turn.  Continue to strive for success regardless of what the economy is doing.   

I cannot possibly fully explain all the wonderful things this SistaGirl is doing.  So, if you dare to try to keep up with Adrienne Graham, you can check her out at the Empower Me! website, and also take a listen at her blogtalkradio show “Views from the Top” Monday and Friday 9am EST.

SistaGirlz

First there is Epiphany Blue, of which she is founder/CEO, came about back in 2003 under the name Remedy Marketing.  The company she was working for at that time folded and since she had already been doing some consulting work she decided to foster her own entrepreneurial spirit.  She however, decided to dissolve the company in 2005.  But in 2006 Ms. Flowers-Holland came back on the scene with Epiphany Blue – a special events and talent relations firm.  She has worked with companies like Burrell Communications Group, McDonalds, DMG management, Bet networks, and Verizon just to name a few.

Of her non-profit, Hip Hop 4 Life, she says “[It] is my purpose for being on this planet.  It’s my baby.”  Also founded in 2003, it offers young people ages 12 – 18 training on life skills combined with the education of important health-related issues against the backdrop of Hip Hop.  Ms. Flowers-Holland says that she wanted to start the organization because she used to volunteer all the time and she noticed that kids weren’t getting life skills and health information.  She wanted to give kids the skills they need to be successful in life as well as provide opportunities for them to venture beyond their neighborhoods and learn new things.  Why did she choose Hip Hop as a catalyst?  Because she thought it would be a great way to not only infuse the culture that we love so much, but also to restore quality to the name and take it to another level.

Through this organization she has worked with many popular entertainers, but she would love to work with Kerri Washington and Hill Harper, who is actually an honorary chairperson but because of his hectic schedule has not been able to do a workshop just yet.  Oh and of course President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.  But I mean, who wouldn’t.

In the future she sees the expansion of Hip Hop 4 Life into a Hip Hop 4 Life Center in Brooklyn, where she would like to have space for a gym, auditorium, studio, and doctor and dentist offices to provide free healthcare.  She would also like to go international with programs in South Africa and London.

As for herself, Ms. Flowers-Holland just wants “to be given the wisdom strength and guidance to continue to grow and to positively influence as many lives as I can” because that’s how she wants to be remembered – as someone who positively influenced as many lives as she could.

Lastly she says “to all my beautiful, outstanding, dynamic SistaGirlz out there, if you create the opportunity for you be your own boss, think about what you have a passion for cause then it won’t be work.  You wake up excited!  Life is too short to be miserable…Learn everything you can about what you want to do.  Think about the different magazines, newspapers, etc [that give information about your

SistaGirlz

She’s not a professional chef, but Karen Taylor Bass has built a solid career on caviar and chitlins.  Well, sort of.  For the past twenty years she has been in public relations and now thru her book and a variety of other mediums she is bringing her expertise to us! So how did this St. Johns University graduate become the CEO/President of her own company, write a book, and the host of her own blogtalk radio show?  She says she has a gift for forecasting her future and it has helped her in so many ways.

Her journey began back in college when she had a friend who was the roommate of Sean “P. Diddy” (then Puffy) Combs.  She saw how he was getting on different magazines and really marketing himself to the public.  She inquired how Puffy was able to do all that and when she got her answer she decided to make a major/career change.  After she graduated she worked for EMI Records, but because she was a newbie they often gave her the campaigns that they thought weren’t going to do much.  She however persevered and was responsible for the writing campaign for D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar album.  “It was my coming out party,” she recalls.

From there she went on to work at various other labels like Electra, Time Warner, and Sony, but she saw that the industry was changing.  At one point people were even losing their jobs.  The company she was working for at the time wanted to keep her and offered her another position, but it was then that she decided she didn’t want her career in someone else’s hands.  She wanted more control over her own destiny.  So, she started her own company – TaylorMade Media, LLC.

Starting her own company opened up so many avenues for her.  With all her experience in the industry she started a small e-book of about 54 pages called You Want Caviar But Have Money For Chitlins: A Smart PR Guide for Those on a Budget.  It was so immensely popular that she had to make it into a full-fledged book 108 paged paperback book.  “The hardest part was actually doing it,” she said.  “Being front and center.  Naked and vulnerable.”

Ms. Taylor Bass is also a motivational speaker, and after a friend of hers suggested she get a radio show she started the Caviar and Chitterlings show on blogtalkradio.com.    

With all that she does, including being a mother and a wife, it’s a wonder how she keeps it all together.  She says she just takes it one step at a time and is grateful for the great team of people she has around her.  “They see my vision.”  She admits that her life is not necessarily balanced, but she lives in the moment and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

In the future Ms. Taylor Bass desires to take her brand to television and beyond.  She wants to go international, work on a project in South Africa and maybe do some boot camps there.  She described it as “world domination with a smile.”   

As for advice for you SistaGirlz out there, she says that her footsteps are her own so there is no need to try to follow them.  What worked for her may not work for others.  But not to worry SistaGirlz she did drop a few pearls of wisdom:   be kind, be authentic, keep your word and if you can’t tell them why, make time with yourself, seek a relationship with a higher power, love and live, get mentored, volunteer, most importantly do you!

Check out Karen Taylor Bass on her Website and you can catch the Caviar and Chitterlings show on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm EST.

SistaGirlz