A Year of Balance

At the end of each year I take some time to write a reflection of the year behind me and I can honestly say that each time is a revelation.

Am I healthy? Not as healthy as I’d like. Have I spent more of 2017 in hospitals than I’d have liked? Yes. Have I had stresses that have completely blindsided me? Yes. Have I lost people I thought were friends? Yes. Have I also said goodbye to some amazing people who departed this year? Yes. Like any year, it’s been full of ups and downs and more than a few surprises.

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our choices. That’s the reason Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is such a memorable tale that has been retold oh so many ways; the story shares a powerful message. Each ghost of past, present and future reminds us of the power of the time and perspective to change the way we see the world around us.

The number of people forced into homelessness is expected to more than double to half a million by 2041 unless the government takes immediate action, a homelessness charity has warned.

It’s not just us, the US population has risen for the first time in years, and last week it was reported that Germany’s homelessness is on the rise.

Thinking about, talking about and working on the homelessness issues helps me to keep things in perspective. On my way home from a meeting this week I saw a homeless woman and talking to her in the freezing cold bought a tear to my eye. As much as I may moan about the rising cost of heating and water, I was on my way home to a warm home. The place I consider my sanctuary; where I work, play, raise kids and curl up with the dogs. So, for everything I may have lost this year, I am so blessed to be able to count my many blessings, growth, change and not just for me but for those I love.

And that’s the balance between loss and gain that forms a positive mindset going into a New Year.

Over the years I’ve learned the hard way how to trust myself more, to act on my beliefs and understandings, to allow myself to try new things based on my journey and how to listen. How to listen to my circle, to my heart, body and spirit.

Looking over my articles I can see the political frustrations I’ve had in 2017; from the cuts in Domestic Abuse refuges to police failings and I haven’t been shy about speaking out. There’s also been some amazing highs with the Education Secretary setting out plans for relationships education in primary schools and relationships and sex education in secondary schools. This was a big one as it was a major success in the hard work of me and the team at S.W.I.M in trying to educate our children about healthy relationships.

Life is too short. That’s why I put me on my own calendar and weigh out my Year because even in my worst years there has been lots to be thankful for. I take time out, so that my life has balance. Taking responsibility for my happiness begins with me.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to mindfully implement a large dose of balance.

Tomorrow is not promised, but leading a life of balance in mind, body and soul is within your reach.

Be balanced, be whole, be you… and shine bright.

Being Bold For Change? Let’s Do It.

If it were possible to celebrate International Women’s day all month, I would.

I love the energy that comes from having a common positive purpose.  It’s powerful and it makes me feel as though we are uniting our voices and being heard and seen by the world.

As a woman, I was ready to celebrate (and be celebrated) on the occasion that I like to think of as ‘International Women’s week’. The title this year said a lot about where we are as a global female community in 2017 as International Women’s Day announced their campaign theme as #BeBoldForChange. Now is the time to foster a bold culture both within ourselves and the next generation. Boldness to me is about having the courage to be you as a complex, authentic and unapologetic woman at a time when we are frankly under attack. A quick read over my Huffington articles for the past year just about say it all, and it’s safe to say that as women we haven’t had an easy time.

I was thrilled to be invited to the brilliantly named event ‘Disrupting The Future: passion, purpose and change’. So I headed over to University Square Stratford, on a sunny International Women’s Day, to join a panel of ground-breaking influencers, change-makers and trailblazers. We discussed our unique journeys and what it takes to create change for tomorrow. I was so inspired to learn from, listen to and share with the incredible Afua Hirsh – Education Social Affairs Editor Sky News and Courtenay Griffiths QC- Barrister (Damilola Taylor case, Charles Taylor ‘Blood Diamonds Case)  as we discussed everything from social change and justice, transforming communities from within, starting a movement, feminism and Brexit to the power of this generation to take charge and transform the future and more. I was asked about how we re-define gender roles and I explained to the excellent audience there that for me, there are some gender roles that in all honesty I don’t have an issue with. I don’t think every single role needs to be re-assigned or re-defined. I think the emphasis has to be on opportunity and equality. I agree that stereotypes must be shattered, but I think gender-roles are adaptable.

I believe that differences can be celebrated.

For example, men are naturally stronger than women, because we have (on average) less total muscle mass. Men also have denser, stronger bones, tendons, and ligaments. But! As women, we produce more antibodies and at a quicker rate than men AND we have more white blood cells. This means we develop fewer infectious diseases and we are ill for shorter periods (sorry ladies but man-flu is not a myth!).  These are biological differences that fascinate me. Look at the Olympics, we don’t have ‘one race’, we have the Men’s races and the women’s races. This doesn’t mean that women do not excel in sports, far from it. So, if my daughter tells me she wants to be a weight-lifter, I know she absolutely can be and should be. But, she can excel at that without trying to be stronger than a man or even ever competing with a man. I think the bottom-line is there has to be an equal playing field in which everyone can be what they choose to be.

Next stop was Southampton. I will always have a soft spot for universities. I love chatting to the dynamic and bold young people who head unions, and create events and are filled with passion about world issues. Spending a day with them, drinking lemon and ginger tea and discussing the harsh realities of domestic abuse and connecting was an absolute privilege. I discussed my concerns about the newly discovered ‘Flaw in The Law’ that has meant many groomers who meet up with their victims avoiding punishment. Yes, adults cannot currently be arrested or prosecuted for sending sexual messages to children, and although anti-grooming legislation was created two years ago, it is yet to be put into force.

I also explained why and how I believe that self-esteem is crucial to combating the Domestic Abuse plague.  Even if we cannot (yet) change the world; we can change how we respond to it. We can change how we perceive what is around us, how we respond emotionally and mentally. We can fight for our own self-esteem and self-belief so that we can hand it on like a baton to the next generation.  We may never jail every single perpetrator, we may rally against the justice system for a few more decades (although I hope not). By actively working on our own standards for ourselves and creating a generation of empowered women: we will make an impact.

Yes, I know that now the party is over we have to get back to work (as I write this I am on my way to the Houses of Parliament to do just that) and I know we have a long way to go. We probably have more work to do and further to go that we’d like to admit but this year I felt bold. Despite all the issues going on in the world around us and in our own personal lives, I looked into the eyes of the young students at Southampton university who are literally grafting the make the world better; and pioneers like Mariah Idrissi the courageous Muslim model who boldly stands up at a time of Islamophobia and says ‘this is me’ and I saw something important. Hope.

I’m going to take that hope and use it to fuel the fire of change that I’m working on not just for my daughters but for all of us. If we all do the same and take the same positivity away with us, I honestly believe that we will achieve more and more greatness.

So, here’s to boldness and here’s to 2017.

 

 

Something Just ain’t right…

 

Something ain’t right.

You know that feeling when your nose wiggles and your ears prick up? Clammy handed and with baited breath, you become an observer, spying a constant flow of subtle cues that things are happening all around you? Apparently, that is your gut talking. The unnerving but certain stimuli of something approaching before it’s actually, consciously, happening. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that our gut responds to our environment more readily than our brains do.

Here’s my bugaboo: researchers at Cambridge University have just published a study based on 48 different reports from around the world which shows that women are twice as likely to suffer from severe anxiety as men. A few months ago, Dr Diahanne Rhiney penned an article about the menacingly named imposter syndrome which she described as ‘a confidence-zapping mindset believe that those around us have over-estimated our abilities and that our peers, colleagues and loved ones will, at any moment, realise that we are complete frauds.’ I was, on one hand, fascinated to learn of this sapping non-partisan mindset; yet on the other I was crestfallen to discover yet another manifestation of female anxiety.

Recently, Sarah Vine spoke about her own experiences of chronic anxiety, candidly detailing ‘a permanent sense of underlying panic, a multifarious universe of nagging concerns that, periodically, coalesce into a black hole of worry into which I occasionally fall’.

I have written about the issues effecting women for 18-years and I find myself feeling increasingly disquieted that there is so little shift in our dialogues, concerns, and injustices. I feel that now, perhaps more than ever, we are in dire need of empowering conversations.

My solution is quite simple. We need spaces wherein we can nurture female relationships in a way that feels comfortable, a venue where we design the rules, and an environment that empowers us.
It is a remedy that is too often overlooked and yet having the perspective of other women who have had or are having experiences can be invaluable to our growth.

This year, I attended my very first ‘Be and Beyond’ supper and I was absolutely blown away by its sincerity. I felt refreshed to sit in a space wherein I didn’t feel judged. The energy moved me to the point of tears. I came to realise that this (unexpected) release had grown from a bed upon which I literally could just be.

Afterwards, chatting about this with the green/purple/white-blooded Dr Rhiney, she bashed the nail on the head when she said, ‘At my own events I steer away from focusing purely on the success of women. I do this to avoid imposter syndrome that I know is so prevalent among us. I create authentic environments where we wear our wounds and mistakes on our sleeves in the spirit of empowerment. I want for us as women to slay the beast of imposter syndrome and anxiety, accept our scars and prevail.’

Ah ha! Now there’s an approach to the often-sneered at ‘women’s events’ that I can dig. Of course, my next question was: how can I get involved?

Weeks later we were sat chatting with powerhouse Margaret Carter, CEO of Patchwork pate discussing women in every corner of the world. The rest, as they say, is history. An event was born that is unlike anything I have come across before.

So, in just three weeks, Dr Rhiney and her team shall be travelling to Manchester to host ‘Against All Odds’. Believe me when I say this event is unmissable. Margaret Carter is unarguably one of the most deliciously punchy and perspicacious women I have ever had the privilege of meeting.

Other speakers include the dynamic founders of the interstellar #imnotjohn campaign, Kirsty Day and Grace Dyke and Amanda Brown transformational trainer, and the founder of The Leading Ladies Company. The evenings host is our very own champion, Dr Rhiney.

For one evening in July, let’s come together and be empowered. No flaky showboating or flashy introductions; just a group of women being.

Proceeds go towards Strength With In Me Foundation (S.W.I.M) the charity that has everyone talking (from the House of Commons to Kay Adams) due to its unique approach to Domestic Abuse and young girls. What more could we ask for?

Join me for canapés and tipples by Deansgate Lock on September 8th, to listen to a group of women who will blow you away with their authenticity. I’ll be the one grinning from ear to ear at just how wondrous we truly are and sighing ‘Now, this, feels right.’

Daniella Maison

twitter: @Ladymaison

http://beandbeyond.eventbrite.co.uk
‘I’ve come to believe that the energy and thoughts we put out into the world can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Love yourself, be proud of all you have achieved and face each day with the confidence to believe you are worthy.’ Diahanne Rhiney

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/10160942.html?edition=uk

 

Can We Be Superwomen?

After weeks of planning and excitement, the Be & Beyond team enjoyed another ‘Dine To Climb’ Empowerment Networking Supper set within the chic backdrop of Hoxton. I went along to absorb some positive energies.

The evening opened up with a glass of rose and a brief introductory talk by Be and Beyond’s founder, Dr Diahanne Rhiney. She shared her deep love of connecting with women as she set the tone with: ‘The energy is what makes these events so special. For me Be and Beyond #DineToClimb is one of those priceless milestone events. I truly believe in supporting one another from a place of true transparency, honesty and authenticity. We should all look in the mirror and tell ourselves ‘you are beautiful’.

As an eclectic group of women gathered around to explore the question “Can we be Superwomen?” the synergy was palpable. It was revealed that many of us struggle with maintaining a work life balance and subsequently suffer with feelings of inadequacy and frustration.

The event did not disappoint as our diverse family of guests blended their different experiences and energies throughout the evening. In accordance with Be & Beyond’s ‘Las Vegas’ rule, what is shared and confessed within the four walls of the supper, stays there. Still, it is safe to say that everyone present shared, laughed, debated, and felt moved by the authentic openness and sisterhood in the room. Over a delicious 3-course meal which included a roasted beetroot and mozzarella starter, a blackened salmon main and a fresh fruit and cream trifle, the conversation flowed organically.

It was an absolute privilege to listen and share with Heather Melville, Founder of the RBS Women’s Network who was guest speaker for the evening.

 

She shared her incredible journey and revealed how she has learned to maintain a successful work/life balance. It was an eye opener and we were blown away by her candidness and the depth of her life experiences.

With an extensive career in international banking and global sales, Heather truly understands the challenges that women face building careers and. She is genuinely passionate about and committed to empowering women in business which was evident by her keenness to squeeze the ‘Dine To Climb’ supper into her busy schedule so that she could share and explore with us as a group of women.

After her talk, when asked the crucial question, “What advice would you give to a young woman going into business?” by our youngest guest (18-year old business student and charity ambassador) Danielle Vasell, Heather spoke from the heart and emphasised the need for hard work, authenticity and the importance of balance and knowing your worth.

This is just a glimpse into the golden nuggets shared by Heather.

By the end of the dinner, each of us had gained several new sisters, expanding our perspectives, understanding and connections.

 

I for one, am already looking forward to sharing, caring and inspiring together at the next episode. Watch this space!

Daniella Maison

Be & Beyond would like to give special thanks to:
Kasey KupKase http://www.kupkase.com

‘Thank you ladies for a brilliant, inspiring and entertaining evening. Much enjoyed and buzzing from meeting some great ladies, lots of love, Louise’

‘Powerful evening- Diahanne, thank you for starting something to support real women.’ Heather

‘Thank you so much for a truly fabulous evening. I feel inspired and motivated.’ Sue

Thear events were designed for women whom wish to ‘remove the mask’ and absorb from the strength, encouragement and experiences of other women. It’s founder, Dr Diahanne Rhiney created it as a positive platform unlike any other form of ‘networking’ out there, tailored for women to learn, share, discuss, laugh, debate and thrive.

To book your place on our next event or to enquire, email us at: daniella@diahannerhiney.com

Join Us to be inspired & to empower. Be One, Be You, Be and Beyond…

 

A Matter Of Appropriation

Kylie Jenner used the wheelchair to represent her limitations. Which is horrible. Because my wheelchair LIBERATES me. Bethany, Twitter

Last month, 18-year old reality TV star Kylie Jenner caused a furore when she posed for a photo shoot in Interview magazine in a wheelchair. She wore fetish gear with sex-doll hair and makeup. She sat helplessly and sexually objectified, without expression, all in the name of ‘fashion’.

Emily Smith Beitiks, associate director of the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability in San Francisco spoke up to say It’s deeply disturbing,” on CNN. “People with disabilities are already seen as powerless, and this just reinforces that.” The context surrounding Ms Jenner’s stunt isn’t great; according to the English Federation of Disability and Sport, 38 per cent of people believe disabled people are a burden on society and one hundred and eighty disability hate crimes are committed every day in this country.
1.9% of the UK population uses a wheelchair. Why are we still seeing disability being exploited by the media instead of being celebrated?

Gemma Flanagan, 32, from Liverpool was ‘shocked’ by Jenner’s PVC clad wheelchair shoot. She raised an important point when she added, ‘I couldn’t believe the hypocrisy of it. We’re always pushing for fashion houses to represent more disabled women, yet we’re told that it isn’t suitable.’

I agreed with Gemma entirely. As an able bodied woman and a former model, I would never have dreamed of appropriating disability for fashion. No matter how big the pay cheque was.

Living a life of scruples and principles is paramount to me. It is highly underestimated. In the cut-throat world we live in where ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’ is a way of life for many, some are willing to do literally anything in the pursuit of money. I believe treating people well, staying true to your principles and representing people fairly is the key to success. Appropriation is a form of exploitation, a way of drawing on the struggles, hardships, achievements and cultures of other people simply to ‘Get Rich Quick’.

Appropriate verb
əˈprəʊprɪeɪt/
1. Take (something) for one’s own use, typically without the owner’s permission.

As the saying goes, controversy sells. I say, at what cost? Historically, people with disabilities have been denied fundamental human and civil rights. In modern societies, there is a huge stigma attached to physical and mental disability. As it stands, the representation of models with disabilities is particularly paltry in the UK. Appropriating disability to sell magazines is simply unacceptable.
These approaches are certainly ‘controversial’ enough to cause a stir. Yet, I have always believed fashion to be an expression. A way of artistically wearing your personality. From daring colours to fabrics and tailoring; I have always been a fan of fashion. To now watch it becoming a platform that is set upon gaining attention by any means necessary is more than disappointing. It’s an insult.

I believe that unless we pave ways for everyone to be fairly represented by the media, the fashion industry, Hollywood, music, and in general daily life, perceptions of minorities will remain closed-minded.

Some time ago, Beauty blogger Sarah Wilson was told by a stranger that she was “too pretty to be in a wheelchair”. Is it any wonder there are such skewed views of disability and wheelchair users when it is still a taboo in the UK?

The Paralympics was truly empowering. This is the representation of disability I would like to see more of. We must speak out and take a stand. Not just when these shameless acts of appropriation effect us directly; but whenever any industry seeks to exploit the plights of others to make more money.

Inspirational figures such as Farida N. Bedwei (a celebrated software engineer with cerebral palsy) or wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan, are proof that ‘Disability doesn’t mean disadvantage’. These are the people I would like to see on magazine covers; examples of strength, endurance, skill and incredible talent. Please let’s see an end to disability being used shamelessly simply because ‘controversy sells’. In the long run, it simply isn’t worth it. There are 9.4 million disabled people in England, which is more than 18 per cent of the population. The majority of those are women and

We have so many positive routes to creating change at our disposal. Ways that promote understanding, positivity and a broader perspective of beauty. Let’s utilise them and raise a new generation that is more clued up, open-minded and in touch with reality than ours is sadly proving to be.

Presenter Ade Adepitan

Making money isn’t hard in itself… What’s hard is to earn it doing something worth devoting one’s life to.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon

#Diahannesdailyrants

 

 

Diahanne’s Daily Tributes: Day 30 Black History Month

Definition of a Miracle

I consider Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott-King and Michele Obama to be incredibly inspirational. However, this month I wanted to take time to pay tribute to our lesser known icons; our unsung heroes who have made strides just with Less publicity. I have had the pleasure of meeting this incredible young lady and I had to include before BHM is over. Her name is Farida Bedwei.

Known as ‘the teenager who defeated her disability through technology’, Bedwei was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one  (Cerebral palsy is an incurable neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination but does not interfere with the ability to learn) and as an adult steadfastly refused to let her disability affect her career.

Bedwei’s most pioneering work is in the development of a cloud software platform that is being used by 130 micro-finance companies globally. These companies issue loans to their customers by sending a code to their mobile phones via text message. That code can then be exchanged for money at any branch, making small loans available immediately.

Today, she is the co-founder and chief technical officer of software company Logiciel.

She is considered one of the most powerful women in financial technology on the continent. In 2013, South Africa’s CEO Magazine named Bedwei the most influential woman in business and government in Africa for the financial sector.

Bedwei speaks publicly on the ways in which technology can transform lives and how she defied the odds to find success.

She is an incredible example of success and achievement and whilst she is acknowledged as an inspiration in the cerebral palsy community, I believe her to be an inspiration to us all.

She has penned a book ‘Definition of a Miracle’ about an eight -year-old girl named Zaara; a child with Cerebral Palsy who finds herself thrust into a society where her disability is misunderstood and stigmatised.

Watch her video ‘What cerebral palsy taught me about life’ here: http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/watch/farida-bedwei-what-cerebral-palsy-taught-me-about-life/vi-AA9dzvf

Join me tomorrow for our final day in Black History Month!

#blackhistorymonth

#rhineysdailyshouts

Diahanne’s Daily Tributes: Day 29 Black History Month

Living Inspirations

With the end of BHM nearing, I’d like to dedicate more time to focus solely on some of our modern day rising stars.

This is an area I cannot emphasise enough. It is all too easy to despair with statistics and news channels constantly churning out information on prison numbers, gang members and academic underachievement. These surveys and reports are fundamental to our progress; they offer guidance on where our young most need our support and guidance. However, we have so many bright young people who are doing amazing things in the world.

The Imafidons are Britain’s smartest family and have become international models of academic achievement.They have been frequently dubbed ‘Britain’s smartest family’ and yet we so rarely read about them.

Dr. Chris Imafidon and Ann Imafidon arrived in London from Edo State in Nigeria, over 30 years ago and their children have broken national records in academia.

Anne-Marie, 23 is multi-lingual. She speaks six languages and graduated from college at just 10. By aged-13, she was the youngest person to pass an A-level in computing. She  attended John Hopkins University in Baltimore and received an MA from Oxford University, all before she had even turned 20 years old.

In 2009, twins Peter and Paula became the youngest students to enter secondary school at aged 6. Their elder sister, Christina, was 11 when she was accepted to study as an undergraduate.

 “Against all odds, I passed my A-Levels with flying colors, started my degree at the University of York at 15. I supported myself all through, working. I wrote my final medical examinations at 21, thus emerging the youngest medical doctor in England,” Ola Orekunrin.

Determined to make a tangible difference in medical practice, Orekunrin decided to set up The Flying Doctors, which is the first air ambulance service in West Africa. The service provides critical care transportation solutions to both the private and public sector by selling yearly air ambulance cover plans to states, companies and individuals.

Please let’s continue to honour our young achievers. They are the future of our diaspora. Whilst they may not be recognised by mainstream media, through research we can make them household names in our own homes. This way, our children will never be short on role models to illuminate their paths and serve as their real life examples.

Join me tomorrow for Day 30 of Diahanne’s Daily Tributes

#blackhistorymonth

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Diahanne’s Daily Tributes: Day 27 Black History Month

“Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have, in the place you are.”    

I do not believe that inspiration lies solely in our historical figures. I believe we are surrounded by inspiration everyday and in a myriad of forms. In many cultures children are to be ‘seen and not heard’, but it is my belief that children can inspire us enormously. I have met many young people who have inspired me with their energy, determination and courage. Many of them have inspired me than most adults do!

Nkosi Johnson is one of those children I would have loved to have met. In just 12 short years he impacted the world than most of us do in an entire lifetime. For at just 12, he died as a humanitarian icon.

Born Xolani Nkosi, his mother Nonthlanthla Daphne Nkosi was HIV-infected. Nkosi was admitted to an AIDS care centre in Johannesburg in 1991. His volunteer worker Gail Johnson immediately formed a bond with him and with his mother’s health quickly deteriorating, she agreed that Johnson’s home would be the best place for her son.

She died in 1997 and in the very same year a local primary school opposed Nkosi’s admission because of his illness. He publicly spoke out against the discrimination caused by stigma and immediately he became a key figure in an ongoing South African AIDS awareness campaign. He was considered an AIDS activist and speaker despite his young age.

In July 2000, he bravely stood up to address delegates from all over the world wearing a black suit and sneakers at the World AIDS Conference. His short speech reduced delegates to tears.

He later chided President Thabo Mbeki in front of thousands at the 13th International Aids Conference, for the politician’s ill handling of the epidemic.  Perhaps unable to cope with the raw honesty of this child, President Mbeki left the room half way through Nkosi’s speech.

He was posthumously awarded the International Children’s Peace Price in 2005.

His legacy lives on through Nkosi’s Haven, a care centre in Johannesburg that houses and supports HIV-positive mothers and children.

His legacy lives on. Let’s work to keep it so.

Visit his website here: http://nkosishaven.org/nkosi-johnsons-history/

Join me tomorrow for Day 28 of Diahanne’s Daily Tributes

Diahanne’s Daily Tributes: Day 26 Black History Month

Seeds Of Thought

As a publicist, you might have guessed already that I love a good marketing campaign. Why? Marketing and advertising campaigns are powerful tools. When they are used to raise awareness and effect change, I am in awe of the creativity that goes into making them viral. I have two examples today that are in keeping with the spirit of BHM.

The first is a campaign I came across recently. This year, during American BHM (which is in February)  photographer Marc Bushelle and his wife Janine Harper came up with an idea to teach their daughter about iconic black women of the past and present.

They set about taking photographs of their five-year-old daughter Lily posed as their African American heroines. They had fun playing dress-up, but used the opportunity to educate Lily about each of the women she was paying homage to.

Speaking to NPR.org, Harper said: ‘We hope that by making these associations early, we will instill a strong pride in her that will fortify her against any discrimination she may face in the future.”

It was a brilliantly conceived idea and its success continued way beyond BHM as the photos went viral and they started to accept requests from parents wanting similar pictures of their own children. View their photography campaign  here:

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/6863668

I recently spoke at Leeds university about the issue of inequality in universities. It was a vital event with a huge amount of ground to cover. One of the areas I focused on was my belief that a progressive academic environ should be an absolute reflection of young modern Britain: diverse, accepting, bicultural and  inclusive. It is perhaps the ‘tick-box’ approach to achieving equality, that leads to failures by some universities when it comes to equality. The Americans, I noted, are a few steps ahead of us on this. Matsuda-Lawrence and other members of the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, cooked up an idea to raise awareness about university equality. 

As part of the campaign, Harvard sophomore Carol Powell, photographed 63 black students holding boards with ‘micro-aggressions’ and racist comments  they have heard on campus. Some opted  to write messages to their peers.

Matsuda-Lawrence said that “I, Too, Am Harvard” is a collective black community project that doesn’t yet reflect that experience of all students of colour.’ The #ItooamHarvard campaign went viral and its impact went from strength to strength with the students writing a play entitled I, Too, Am Harvard. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonvingiano/21-black-harvard-students-share-their-experiences-through-a#.qbO4Aa60X

 

Let’s continue to work on creative and impacting ways to develop and voice our community concerns and hopes. After all, all it takes is one ‘lightbulb moment’…

Join me tomorrow for Day 27 of Diahanne’s Daily Tributes
#blackhistorymonth

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Diahanne’s Daily Tributes: Day 25 Black History Month…

“So I believe that dreams – day dreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain-machinery whizzing – are likely to lead to the betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to create, to invent, and therefore to foster civilisation.” L. Frank Baum

 

Continuing on from yesterday’s list of inventors, I’d like to share a few more with you.

1. Dr. Patricia Bath is an American ophthalmologist, inventor and esteemed academic.  Dr. Bath earned a doctorate from Howard University College of Medicine and was the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. In 1981, she received a patent for the Laserphaco Probe, which is used to treat cataracts. Dr. Bath’s laser probe made cataract surgery faster, more accurate, and she is credited with saving thousands of people from losing their sight.

 

2. This one is little-known but brilliant: Lonnie Johnson, inventor of The Super Soaker.

Lonnie George Johnson  is an African American inventor and engineer who holds more than 80 patents. Johnson is most known for inventing the Super Soaker water gun, which has ranked within the world’s top 20 best-selling toys every year since it was released. The Super Soaker is a child’s toy, but it is a fine example of an invention with a multimillion-dollar impact. The Super Soaker has so far generated $200 million in annual retail sales. Johnson now uses his fortune to develop energy technology.

3. I’d like to End this weekend with a modern star. Introducing: modern day inventor, Ludwick Marishane. 

At age 21 Ludwick Marishane developed a formula that is used to cleanse without water. DryBath is the same as an antibacterial cleanser, but it’s odourless and forms a biodegradable layer that both cleanses and moisturizes the skin. Because ‘DryBath’ cleanses cheaply and easily it is vital to the billions of people who lack proper access to water and sanitation.

Today, DryBath is available to purchase on the market. Marishane was named the Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 by the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Join me tomorrow for Day 26 of Diahanne’s Daily Tributes

#blackhistorymonth

#rhineysdailyshouts