I love where I work. It’s a great company that takes care of their employees and treats them like family. They have given me great opportunities to grow in my new career, even though I have only been employed there for a few months. I have a career in vehicle service at a car dealership, a field that is mostly done by men. No big deal to me, but I get comments quite often about how “It’s great to see women working here.” I take that as a compliment because it makes me feel accomplished. I get those nice compliments from mostly women. I think that is because they can establish trust easier with another woman versus a man, but I may be mistaken. Most of my male customers have been very nice to me and treated me with respect, minus a select few. Usually I can handle this disrespect from customers no problem, but the other day we had a situation that I will never tolerate: sexism towards me and another one of my female co-workers.

I’ve closely watched the narratives for weeks now, and I’ve noticed the beauty in reimagining what a “hero” is on this virus-ridden planet. The selfless care of nurses, the unwavering strength of some protesters, and the thoughtfulness of teachers have all had an audience willing to thank them for what they are doing for others in need. By these unwritten rules, this should include three Black women who personified care, compassion, and strength before they were killed in a country that failed to fully exchange these same qualities to them. Breonna Taylor, Erica Garner, and Atatiana Jefferson. DISCLAIMER: I am not here to ask for chaos. But, I’m willing to respectfully check people who plead for fairness, while cashing out on forgetfulness when it involves Black people. Remove all racist stipulations and dive into your imagination with me, and imagine a nation, truly consistent in praising people who give their all to bettering our world.

"I believe you."

Helen Blondel is a professional belly dancer and rising entertainer in the Orlando & Miami, FL areas. Working hard toward her goal earned her many opportunities at a young age. Very few people would know, however, that she battled many issues with self-image and confidence growing up.

Is it just me, or does every year feel shorter than the last?

It has been a long time that I have been active in the Women’s Movement. More than 50 years. Along the way I have met, been in meetings with, been in the streets with, read about, heard about, and also imagined the lives of those who were there but without their own stories being known. Many strong, brave and visionary women. But with this call for a story of a woman who has inspired me, one woman stands out, a shining amazon, a woman who has dreamed up the seemingly impossible, trusting her own sense of purpose, trusting that she could make a difference by following her own heart and her own vision of what is possible and what needs to happen. I want to write about Jensine Larsen and how she inspired me. I have read her story, watched her tell it onstage, and was able to learn more when I had the chance to meet her in person. She has shown me what one woman can do to create real change in this world.

I had just heard the phrase yesterday, "If you stab her in the back with a ten inch blade but only pull it out five inches, you can't really call that progress".

Wangari Maathai,

My mom was always in a relationship. She used to say she was in love with the idea of being in love, but never found the perfect man. Lets face in, the perfect man does not exist. She left my father not long after I was born, and married my first Stepfather Kyle. He was the best and treated me like I was his own child. He didn't have kids of his own and wanted to be a father to me, my father didn't come around much. Kyle taught me how to ride a bicycle, and always told me, no matter how many times I fall down, always get back up. I took that to heart and have lived by it most of my life, my life has not been easy.

What goes on in the mind of an 11-year-old girl who is locked up in a kitchen daily by her own mother, who uses a fire-hot stone to burn and press her sprouting breasts?

For me, Black History does not stop when February ends. Black History is American history! Black History is World History! I feel the same way about Women's History. So, for the next month, I'll be doing something special. I will post a series of articles on black women who have made significant contributions to history. I decided to write my first post on a woman you may not know. This woman's work inspires me to better my community. Today, I choose to shine a light on Fredrika Newton.

I don't understand who Howard Stern has paid off? Maybe the King of All Media somehow made a deal with the devil? I just don't get it. After coasting off the talent of Jackie Martling for years and then going to XM where he was somehow less offensive than he was on FM, somehow Howard Stern is now around kids all the time? How is this not setting off radars! How is this not causing huge online unrest! I just don't understand it, try as I might!