The Evolving Woman Spring 2022 Edition

SPRING ISSUE 2022

E EVOLVING WOMAN MAGAZINE

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

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2022 THE YEAR OF THE ROCKSTAR PERSONAL BRAND

Odaz Lightbourne

TABLE OF CONTENTS —

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E D I TO R ’ S N OT E

CONTACT US

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T H E E V O LV I N G WOMAN

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E AT W E L L E M OT I O N A L LY

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BRINGING READING TO LIFE

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WWW.DUQUESADEAN.COM — E D I TO R I A L DUQUESA D. DEAN EDITOR CO N T R I B U TO R S Anessa Theron Sharlene King Stephanie McGregor Erica Rena Castillo Shanae Sweeting

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CO V E R S TO R Y W I T H ODAZ LIGHTBOURNE

D E A R AU N T M A E

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THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD INSPIRES KIDS TO READ MORE, WRITE MORE AND CHANGE THE WORLD

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STILL I RISE: BEAUTY FROM ASHES

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THE POWER OF HER LIFETIME LEGACY HONOREE

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SWEET AFFIRMATIONS

EDITOR’S NOTE Happy Spring! Spring is the season of new beginnings! It’s when things sprout and bloom!

How exciting is this! This is our season now, to spring forth, pursue our dreams; to bloom into the amazing women we have been created to be.

During the month of March, we also observe International Women’s Day. Everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world.

The rise of women is not about the fall of men.

Advocacy, inclusive mindsets and tangible action are needed from everyone. Gender stereotypes are being challenged and diverse representation of women is more evident. However, there is still a continuing need worldwide for more progressive mindsets and inclusive behaviors to be forged.

Imagine, you’re out on a sunny afternoon leisurely walking and enjoying your me time when suddenly… You hear someone yelling profanity at you, catcalling, harassing you. You immediately walked away, abruptly ending your peaceful afternoon! When you got home, you told your friends about the incident and they asked you “what were you wearing?”

Isn’t this a very familiar scene, ladies?

Generations after generation, we women have become a victim of victim-blaming. Instead of being helped when we are harassed or when we get raped, people judge us. They question our lifestyle, they point out that we deserve it because of the way we walk, dress, speak… But enough is enough!

We must #BreakTheBias that has been forcibly attached to our gender. We must teach future

generations that gender-based violence is not dependent on women’s lifestyles but instead it is dependent on the lifestyle of the perpetrators.

We will be silenced no more!

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, women activists fought hard for equality. The focus was largely on securing the right to vote and equal pay for equal work. These two issues - women’s voice and participation in government; and the gender pay gap - largely remain key priorities well over a century later.

Now the world expects inclusivity: And so here we are. Movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and the significant global rise in International Women’s Day activity in every corner of the world - along with the many female-focused days and initiatives around the world - mean gender is firmly on the agenda.

In this edition of The Evolving Woman Magazine, we salute a pioneer of the women’s equality movement in The Bahamas who was presented with The Power of Her LifeTime Legacy Award . It is largely due to her efforts that women in the Bahamas are more “included”.

I invite you to use your voice and your power to forge the gender agenda further and to make positive gains for women and girls worldwide.

Sincerely, Duquesa D Dean Editor

g n i r p S o ll

THE EVOLVING WOMAN Written by: Anessa Theron

My childhood memories are mostly not pleasant; however, every experience was training ground and preparation to craft a new life journey for myself. My world was centred around survival. I lived with guardian parents in an environment often referred to as previously disadvantaged. I chose to later modify this description to express it as previously differently advantaged, as I acquired invaluable life skills to become buoyant & self-sufficient.

God’s light upon my life was powerfully evident, albeit I never knew or understood this initially. There were many times I questioned God. WHY ME? What have I done to deserve this life and being raised in these terrible and traumatic living conditions?

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On the other hand, I believe my strong belief and faith in the Almighty is how I was able to remain centred regardless of the chaos. I was in middle school when I found solace in my faith, practising multiple pillars of my religion. My unwavering faith also prompted me to enrol myself in afternoon classes to better understand the fundamentals of my religion.

I was a bright student, a curious learner and this held me in good stead. My teachers took a keen interest in me, as I excelled with my schoolwork. They were not oblivious to my challenges, as this was evident with the minimal school friends I played with. It was also apparent with my poor looking school uniform, lack of stationery supplies and often minimal lunch snacks for the day. There was no support at home with school projects or homework, which is where I discovered the library. Reading books became my escape which gave me the freedom to imagine a new world with each magical story I immersed myself into. My love for words and language was born, and I started keeping a diary to reflect my feelings, emotions, my dreams and aspirations.

I instinctively believed without a shadow of a doubt there was more to life, thus this belief became a stepping stone for me to escape my adverse situation to venture on my own. I knew the toxicity of my surroundings and being harshly labelled on what my future would become, I had no choice to leave.

I had to overcome severe criticism being a young Muslim lady, as it was frowned upon living alone before marriage let alone at 16 years old. This all occurred in my final school year, resulting in me not successfully completing grade 12, which devastated me– leaving me feeling like a failure. I was however able to take care of myself, as I gained valuable work experience throughout high school which allowed me to sustain living by myself.

I feared making mistakes and felt bound to become the perfect opposite of what my identity was attached to. I desired abundance and prosperity, yet my energy was not in alignment. I was feeling constrained by my thoughts, and the internal script that I am not good enough played on repeat. I was switching roles between victim to perfect princess, one who would

always need to do the right thing. Even though I was in a delightful new home environment, my internal state was empty, still seeking love and acceptance.

I am often described as magnanimous, enthusiastic, optimistic, compassionate with an unravelled resilience to endure. Friends frequently expressed how I resemble the attributes of the mythical Phoenix bird, rising from the ashes overcoming endless pain and challenging encounters in my life. Whilst these endearing narratives were amazing to hear, I continued to feel like an imposter! My energy field was clouded with negative influences, attachments and blockages.

I knew I had to cleanse and purify my thoughts and sabotaging behaviours, so I opted to fill these deep voids with outside gratifications. Education was vital to me; so, I ensured that I completed my grade 12 equivalent, although only several years later.

I continued to enrich my learning throughout my adult life, and finally formalised my school of life achieving an honours degree at 40.

My resume is a testament to the milestones and infinite successes realised in my career, with monthly income and earnings in the top 1%. My academic accomplishments growing annually with diverse short courses yet still never sufficed, as I yearned to acquire a formal qualification. To me this would be the most pivotal accolade granting me the prestige, respect and credibility I desired.

From adversity to advancement in a world clouded by darkness, I venture towards a new life to elevate myself from being a victim to becoming victorious!

We have a choice, to remain in the shadows or advance towards the light. I now know that darkness represents a hidden beauty and there’s purpose in pain from our wounded journeys!

Defining life experiences can leave us feeling elated or in sorrow, crippling our evolution. How we respond is directly correlated to the relationship we have with ourselves.” It requires radical resilience to go deep within yet honouring all of YOU! Fear, imposter syndrome, past beliefs and conditioning are weeds of our internal gardens.

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We hold onto limiting beliefs, pain, suffering, which become breeding ground to continue growing weeds.

When we nurture the soil, appreciating the role of our internal ecosystem and shadows by embracing its purpose, it creates space for illumination. Enchanting gardens emulating a paradise on earth, all withstand the harshest conditions to bloom to its blissful splendour. It flows with life’s duality of light and dark. We therefore glow into our divinity, through surrender, trust and unwavering acceptance. This was where my quest for self-love began, and I slowly unravelled my need to belong, or to be selfless, instead focused on self-acceptance and self-respect.

Today I continue to flow with the lightness and darkness, to discover joy and wonder of this new exciting life, in a profound way with appreciation. I am privileged to have exposure across diverse roles during my professional career, enhancing my body of knowledge across various industries. My endeavour is to become an innovative professional serving others who are working towards self-leadership and mastery. I am passionately inspired to help leaders cultivate authentic meaningful relationships, connecting value to people and business, for greater good and social impact.

My brand promise as a Coach & Conscious Change Catalyst, is to inspire bravery to accomplish your purpose with clarity, conviction, resilience, and tenacity, always leading with humility and heart. I am an ambassador of inclusive, equitable learning cultures that fosters positive employee experiences, engagement, and curiosity, to execute business strategy and deliver exceptional shareholder value.

Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneesa-theron-b7765718/

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Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Eat Well Emotionally Written By: Coach Sharlene King

It simply means to become a conscious eater recognizing how you feel when you eat and drink.

By doing this, we can then stop eating based on our emotions. The Eat Emotionally Well concept takes into account what you desire for taste and nutrition and what your body needs to work well emotionally and physically. In my opinion, the two most important factors to consider when eating are:

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What we eat? (Taste)

It should be enjoyable. If you feel like something is missing that’s the ideal setup for mindless emotional eating and feeling unsatisfied as well as frustrated with yourself after making poor food choices. “Our priorities have to be self-care”, says Nutritionist Sha King.

We must understand how what we eat and drink affects how we think, feel and look. Our bodies thank us after eating a delicious well-combined nutrient dense meal by thinking clearer, feeling better and simply working better.

Where we eat? (Nutrition)

We need the proper nutrition to fuel our bodies properly. This requires us to consider where we are going to eat each day.

Think about how you feel after eating most holidays. Or maybe you’re just busy at work and you grab what’s available from a fast food restaurant. It’s easy, quiets your hunger, but ultimately it is not where you want to eat. There are some known facts about eating out. In most cases nutrition and food quality are compromised.

We need to consider self-care as eating more of the foods we are cooking at home. Now, yes, I understand it could seem to be a little more effort and less attractive however with

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the right tools and ideas the kitchen can become your favorite place in your home.

This will help you to enjoy nutritious meals at home.

Maintaining these concepts help you to feel good in a well-rounded sense. You’ll feel more capable which will allow you to focus on others things rather than thinking always about what to eat and where to eat. It reconnects your subconscious MINDSET and conscious TASTE BUDS to improve your relationship with food.

In the long run, you can stop sabotaging your healthy lifestyle and begin the journey of eating emotionally well.

For support on your journey, connect with me at www.eatemotionallywell.com

Photo by Hana Brannigan from Pexels

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Bringing Reading To Written by: Stephanie McGregor Imagine a world where every child loves reading and can comprehend what they have read.

I was a mother of a child who struggled to read or comprehend what he was reading. This took a tremendous toll on me. I was constantly ashamed as I was called to my son’s school consistently because his GPA was 0.94. Firm measurements and serious bribes were put in place to encourage better academic grades. I am sure he tried to break the cycle.

I wish I could say that Connection to Creativity was birth out of the pain and need to help my son learn how to read. But it was the birth out of my son helping me to help him.

I had to create a jingle for the reading day for an international company. This single assignment showed me that creating fun activities around reading can break a negative cycle and change the concept of reading and that’s where we started from!

We were “bringing the fun back to reading”!

We believe every child deserves the support needed to learn how to read at or above their grade level.

To bring this vision to life, we create engaging programs for readers from Pre-K through Elementary to spark their imagination and stimulate reading comprehension.

On February 8th 2017 our world shattered into pieces with the death of my son, Aliko. How would I continue the fight to bring the fun back to reading while handling everything that comes along with losing a child. This was not an easy period in my life. I left lost. I left anger. I felt disillusioned. The child I created these programs for and helped him to discover joy in reading was gone. But I pressed on.

In 2017, Connection to Creativity partnered with Literacy Inc. with its “Splashing into Summer” reading program that featured international authors

Life!

such as Victoria Kann and many more.

A few months later, Connection to Creativity closed their doors in the Bahamas and opened up in New York City. Since then we have been making a tremendous impact in the New York School District.

Our programs have been featured in various places in New York City such as The Intrepid Museum, Raymond and Flanigan, Libraries, and other countries such as Eindhoven Netherlands, The Bahamas, and Africa.

Our staple program is the Cuddle & Read musical which has been featured all over the country. This program

INCREASES LITERACY READING & SING-A-LONG, BOOSTS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, & CREATES HEALTHY READING HABITS! Our goal is to create a positive mindset in each inschool visit that we book. Cuddle & Read ensures children receive an autographed book from the featured author or a customized activity book fitting for the school curriculum.

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2021 Connection to Creativity launched our Birthday Box – which bring books into the comfort of your home with an unforgettable birthday celebration featuring your favorite children’s authors.

Our fun and engaging approach to books along with our unique support materials offer parents, schools, and the community a number of tools to help young scholars flourish in their reading journey!

This is what I do in memory of my beloved son Aliko.

Connect with us: https://www.facebook.com/connectionstocreativity https://www.instagram.com/connection2creativity/

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Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels

Dear Aunt Mae, I am a 34-year-old single mother of three. My youngest child’s father is not the same as my older two. He is a kind, smart, hard-working man. We have been together for three years and I love the fact that he has accepted all my children as his. We are hoping to get married in Summer 2023 but there is a little thought in the back of my mind that I simply can’t shake.

Last year when I celebrated my 33rd birthday after we had partied earlier that night, he became very physically abusive. While this was the first time he hit me in the face, there were two other occasions he pushed me against the wall and said some extremely hurtful things. I know that he loves me because he treats me like a queen, and he provides for all my needs, but I am a little afraid that once we get married his behavior towards me might change. Do you have any advice for me?

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DearSingle Queen,

Your love story appears to have traces of verbal and physical abuse. Many would call these RED FLAGS and urge you to run. If only matters of the heart are less complicated. You mentioned that there is “a little thought in the back of my mind”. This little thought my dear, may just be your woman’s intuition reminding you that these infrequent occurrences need not be easily dismissed. I am sure it feels great to be loved by a man who is providing for you, but this does not mean you should silence your inner conscience for peace’s sake. Abuse usually starts out infrequent and small, but they can often lead to a very toxic relationship and tragic end.

While no relationship is perfect, abuse on any level should not be tolerated. Marriage should not be entered lightly especially with someone who has already demonstrated abusive traits. Here are a few questions I want to leave you with as you ponder your next steps in your relationship.

• Why can’t I shake those pastimes of physical or verbal abuse?

• Is this the life I want?

• Do I want to raise my children in an abusive home?

• What other behaviors have I ignored or accepted?

• What is the ideal relationship for me? Does it include abuse?

• How would I feel if my children are affected years from now by the abuse in their home?

• How do I feel about the possibility that he may abuse my children?

• What resources are available to me now if I were to walk away from this relationship?

• Is there a possibility that a better relationship free of abuse is out there for me?

• Do I deserve better?

I trust that in answering the questions above you gain better clarity on your next steps but if it were me, I would be running in the next direction. The kind of love Aunty Mae wants doesn’t include any levels of abuse.

All the best to you queen!

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Photo by Tiger Lily from Pexels

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD INSPIRES KIDS TO READ MORE, WRITE MORE AND CHANGE THE WORLD Writing a book at any age is a significant accomplishment, but in an era where one in four American children grows up without learning how to read, Emily is one of a kind. At just seven-yearsold, she wrote and published her first book.

Emily is an avid reader who loves to create her own stories. She began reading at the age of four, and by six, Emily started writing with the help of her parents and teachers. Emily says, “When I was in kindergarten, I enjoyed the idea of being able to write down my own ideas and sharing them with others. I loved the freedom of writing because I could create a whole new world where anything was possible.” Her zeal for reading and writing grew as she got older.

Emily’s passion and persistence also made her first book, Aqua Tales, a reality. Aqua Tales is a collection of short stories about kids solving problems and overcoming life’s challenges. It offers creative solutions for children and reinforces the importance of love, trust, and honesty. Whether

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you are a “Scaredy Hunter,” a “Talk Mouth,” or a “Victoria Gem,” Aqua Tales will capture kids’ hearts and inspire children to pursue their dreams despite any obstacle.

Emily’s second book, The Fearless Fantabulous Five, was released in November 2018 (Amazon ranked #1 ebook new release during its first week of launch). It is a collection of five original short stories. The stories share a common message of courage, hope, and faith. This book empowers readers to face their fears, overcome obstacles through faith and help those in need. Emily says, “I love the idea that a book can take you anywhere you want to go while you are in the comfort of your home. Reading gives you a new perspective and puts you in someone else’s shoes. It can change your actions, thoughts, ideas, and words for the better.”

Emily is now thirteen-years-old and is currently working on her third book. Emily says, “I find inspiration for my books in everyday situations. For example, one of my favorite stories in my book, Aqua Tales, is called “Perfect Stream for a Girl.”

It is based on a stream located in a forestry area at my school. The first story in my second book, The Fearless Fantabulous Five, is called “London Rescue.” This is a true story that occurred on the last night in London before my family and I returned the States.”

https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Tales-StoriesSolving-Problems-ebook/dp/B01LYR6PP4 The Fearless Fantabulous Five available via Amazon and Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/FearlessFantabulous-Five-Emily-Bastien/dp/173287980X Notable Appearances, Featured Articles and Publications: Emily has appeared on CBC TV “Morning Barbados” show and 94.3 WYBC New Haven “Electric Drum” program. Emily has been featured in The Boston Globe, Worcester Magazine, New Uxbridge Times, and Blackstone Valley Tribune.

Emily’s story “Fallin Robin” was published in Primary Treasures Magazine (May 2018) Emily’s mini saga “Beware of Lola” will be published by Young Writers USA (2Q 2022) CONTACT: Paul and Bridgette Bastien (Parents) 726 NW Main Street Douglas, MA 01516 (301) 928 2370 (cell) hitis@yahoo.comhttps://mail.yahoo.com/

Being a published author and international speaker, Emily proves that age is not an obstacle when kids are determined to achieve their goals. She is sharing her love for books with kids at schools, churches and conferences throughout the United States, Europe, and Caribbean Islands (in person and virtually). She empowers kids to read more, write more, and find their own voice so they can change the world. Emily says, “I want all kids to love reading as much as I do.” She is ensuring that happens by donating copies of her books to schools and nonprofit organizations focusing on improving literacy.

Emily Website: https://www.EmilyVBastien.com Emily Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ EmilyVBastien/ Aqua Tales available via Amazon and Kindle.

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STILL I RISE:

Beauty from ashes Written by: Erica Rena Castillo, MSW

COVID-19 affected the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, but women bear the brunt of this horrific virus, by far. Millions of women suffered the loss of loved ones, economic security, careers, businesses, hopes, and dreams (2021, Center for Global Development).

More women than men lost their jobs according to a report from the Pew Research Center. Women went from working full-time jobs, to being cut to part-time, then only to be laid off a week later. The fear and the worry… How will I pay the rent, the mortgage? How will I put food on the table for my kids?

With the closing of schools and daycares, working mothers grappled with the difficult decision to reduce their work hours or leave their jobs all together to take on childcare duties and newly added responsibilities— homeschooling their children, caring for their elderly family members, or loved ones with the virus. This was a major adjustment and a balancing act for many of us.

According to Society for Women’s Health Research, the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women of color, carrying the burden of lost wages and caregiving responsibilities— compounded by the lived black experience (bias, racism, discrimination, disparities). We witnessed this relentless and aggressive spread of the virus among our people, our community. Many of us educated our family members and friends on the importance of wearing masking and following CDC Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Women in leadership positions were forced to slow down their careers. Placing their career ambitions

on hold. This coronavirus crisis rolled back many gains for women—increased wages, career advancements, and equality in the workforce, according to the Center for American Progress.

Working women on the frontline of this virus (healthcare workers, maids and housekeeping cleaners, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, warehouse workers, teachers, women of color), placed themselves at risk of getting sick and terrified…Will I bring home this virus to my family?

This life-threatening virus forced us to social distance from family and friends, which led to some of us feeling lonely and isolated. The immense trauma of the pandemic inflicted upon us from anxiety and fear of the virus, being infected with the virus, or unable to see loved ones suffering from the virus impacted many of our mental health. The heartbreaking circumstances— not being able to hold your husband’s hand or be at your parent’s bedside, as they take their last breath. The pandemic disrupted our natural ways we cope with illness, death, and grief (Weir, 2020).

The emotional and mental toll of the virus left us dismayed, mentally drained, grieved, and hopeless.

COVID-19 upended the lives and careers of many women. We were pushed to the brink.

Yet… and still…we survived.

Resilience is in our blood. It’s in our womanhood.

We only need to look to the many women in our history—Harriett Tubman, Rose Parks, Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai, Maya Angelou.

Dr. Maya Angelou endured a traumatic childhood, hardships, discrimination, and tragedies. She did not let life tragedies define her and who she was to

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become. Out of her pain, adversities, and sorrow, she birthed nationally acclaimed poems, songs, essays, and books. In fact, her hardships led to her life achievements of becoming a civil rights activist, poet, educator, and award-winning author that captured attention around the world. She is the essence of resilience.

As Maya Angelou poetically said, “Still Like Dust I Rise.” “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

Rise my sisters! Remember, who you are. Rise from the ashes of devastation with my 4 powerful practices:

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MAKE PEACE WITH THE SIT UAT ION

Adversity is inevitable in life. Accept the things you cannot change, learn from them, and move forward.

SEE THE BEAUT Y IN IT

Adversity is inevitable in life. Accept the things you cannot change, learn from them, and move forward.

GET INSPIRED

Be inspired and learn from others who have dealt with adversity.

BUILD YOUR TRIBE

Build a support system of family and friends or consider getting a counselor or coach that will encourage and help you get through those difficult times.

You have a choice. “She had the choice to sulk in the disaster or find beauty even from the ashes.” -SS. Jubilee.

Out of the heartaches of this pandemic…losing my dear mother, I placed my faith above my fears to pursue my passion—starting my business to empowering women, social workers, and other professionals to live their passion and discover their true purpose in life and becoming a co-author in an women anthology.

I encourage you to reawaken your aspirations and ambitions. Dust off your hopes and dreams. Sisters, despite the hardships and adversities, let your tenacity fuel you to get up again. Let your faith be the guiding force. Let this be an evolution of a new you.

I am a phoenix rising from the ashes of my pain and suffering. Today I am reborn, today begins my growth and change. - Kaitlin Cammie Sources: Center for Global Development. (2021) “Women Bear the Brunt of COVID-19 Crisis, New Analysis Finds” Erickson, Lucy. (2020). “The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Women of Color” Society for Women’s Health Research.

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Kashen, Julie, Glynn, Sarah Jane, & Novello Amanda. (2020). “How COVID-19 Sent Women’s Workforce Progress Backward” Center for American Progress.

Kochara, Rakesk. (2020). “Hispanic women, immigrants, young adults, those with less education hit hardest

by COVID-19 job losses” Pew Research Center.

Spring, Kelly. (2017). “Maya Angelou.” National Women’s History Museum. National Women’s History Museum.

Weir, K. (2020, June). Grieving life and loss. Monitor on Psychology, 51(4). http://www.apa.org/ monitor/2020/06/covid-grieving-life Erica’s social media platformsFacebook: @epowerment21 Instagram: @epowerment21

Cover Queen

2022:THE YEAR OF THE ‘ROCKSTAR’PERSONAL BRAND Personal branding has been a buzzword for years in various business arenas. But, after Covid-19 protocols, the Great Resignation and working from home norms that are all here to stay....a premium, memorable personal brand is essential to your career success now more than ever.

RockStar Branding aka Become Micro-Famous and Well-Known in Your Niche It’s not necessary for the whole world to know who you are to be highly successful. You only need the right people to know who you are. For example, if you’re a realtor in Florida, it won’t matter much if you’re a household name in Portugal. However, being famous to the right population can make all the difference in the world and it’s easier than you think!

Here are some winning strategies: - Specialize. It’s easier to become well-known if you’re extremely good at something. It’s easier to be extremely good at something specific.

- Identify your target audience. Who are you trying to serve? What does your ideal customer look like?

Are they a certain age? Male, female, or both? What income level do they have? What profession are they in? What hobbies do they have?

- Rise above the noise. What does your audience need? What is the common problem they all have?

We center your message around this need and your ability to solve it.

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COVER QUEEN: ODAZ LIGHTBOURNE

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- Become an authority. When people want to solve a problem, they want an expert. But how does the average person spot an expert? They aren’t experts themselves, or they wouldn’t need you.

- Go where your clients are. Where are your clients? Are they online or offline? Which platforms are they hanging out in?

Once you know the answer to this you can ‘go all in’ on the relevant platform. Spreading your message too thin is an ineffective strategy that can burn you out and waste precious time.

Being famous has its advantages. This is especially true within your niche. The world within your niche is quite small, so it’s not nearly as challenging to be famous within your niche as it is to be famous in general. A little fame can go a long way toward building your career or business.

If you have difficulty creating your very own authentic RockStar Brand we can help! We offer a simple, streamlined path navigating all of these factors so in as little as 12 weeks you can enjoy: More Impact, More Influence, More Income. You don’t have to be a household name. Just a little fame will do. Here’s to a ‘rockstar’ 2022!

Tell us about you.

I am the ‘real life Olivia Pope’ via Luxury Brand Strategy & Coaching and a Mompreneur.

How has being an entrepreneur affected your life?

It has grown me in ways that I never anticipated: I’ve had to grow emotionally, intellectually and even physically (wellness). I’ve had to refine my public speaking skills and increase certain character traits such as confidence, resilience and consistency.

How do you generate new ideas for yourself and your business?

Thankfully new ideas just seem to come to me. Once I keep myself in a healthy, balanced daily routine…. ideas are just a by-product. I definitely notice that while working out or taking a walk, this seems to be the time that they flow the fastest.

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What is your biggest fear and how do you manage it? what motivates you?

My biggest fear is the lack of growth…..my (now deceased) daddy always said that if we aren’t growing we are dying, and as an adult I now realize that he didn’t mean literally, but rather in all other ways. I’m not very ‘motivated’ to be honest, I used to be-----and that led to burnout and being overworked. These days, what I create/work on is just me doing what I like and not caring about external opinions----I’m grateful that what I like improves my and other people’s lives.

What are some of your life’s passions?

I’m very passionate about intermittent fasting, holistic wellness & therapies, having a happy family and living a fulfilled life. I also enjoy music and art to an almost obsessive degree.

What drives your passion to serve others?

I love to see people grow, evolve and transform. I believe it is my life’s purpose.

Tell us about your journey to entrepreneurship?

My journey began at a pretty young age. (Around 16/17, I made and sold candles). It was definitely what I describe as ‘rocky’ simply because back then it wasn’t a ‘sexy’ thing to do socially. Thankfully I had supportive, positive parents that always loved and encouraged me.

How did the idea for your business come about?

My current business is just an evolution of my Sales and Marketing background. It has always been an industry that I gravitated towards for the creativity and excitement factors.

Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?

I believe the formula is rooted in doing things in a certain way. That certain way being with assuming a successful outcome (confidence) and persistence.

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What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

I love the flexibility and the feeling of living my passion every single day.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

My most satisfying moments are watching former clients grow, evolve and blossom and become the person they always wanted to be.

If you had to start over right now, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t do anything differently because I feel it may alter my current state. The journey has been pretty interesting and I wouldn’t change a thing.

What would you like your legacy to be remembered as?

I want to be remembered as someone that helped people become what they needed to be.

What programs do you have in the pipeline and how can women find more information?

I like to keep it simple so I currently have a course being released soon or clients can work with me One on One (yes, I do have NDA’s). I can be reached at support@RockStarDigitalAgency.com or via the Application form on www.RockStarDigitalAgency.com

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THE HONOURABLE DAME JANET GWENNETT BOSTWICK THE POWER OF HER LIFETIME LEGACY HONOREE

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THE POWER OF HER LIFETIME LEGACY HONOREE

THE HONOURABLE DAME JANET GWENNETT BOSTWICK The Honourable Janet Gwennett Bostwick, counsel and attorney at law, is a pioneer among women in The Bahamas and is well known, admired and respected for the many years she championed the cause for the empowerment and improvement of the status of women in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and in the region.

Mrs. Bostwick has the distinction of having achieved several ‘firsts’ in her career. These include: first female in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to hold the post of Secretary General of The Bahamas Public Services Union; to prosecute in the Courts in The Bahamas; to be elected as President of The Bahamas Bar Association and Chairman of the Bar Council; first female to serve as a Member of Parliament in The Bahamas following her election to the House of Assembly in 1982; first female ever appointed to the position of Attorney General in The Bahamas and in the region in November 1994, and first female to be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs for The Bahamas in 1995. She was also the first female to act in the post of Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Having completed her secondary education at The Government High School, where she served

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as Head Girl, Mrs. Bostwick enrolled in and successfully completed a one year commercial studies course. She was then employed as a stenographer in the Legal Department in 1957 and was promoted to private secretary to the Attorney General and then to administrative officer in the Legal Department until 1971. In 1966 Mrs. Bostwick became articled to the Attorney General and was enrolled as a counsel and attorney of The Supreme Court of The Bahamas on April 2, 1971.

On admission to the Bar, Mrs. Bostwick was appointed Crown Counsel and was shortly thereafter given the duties of prosecutor until she resigned from the service in December 1974. In January 1975 she became a senior partner in the family Law Firm, Bostwick and Bostwick, where she specialized in land and family law.

Mrs. Bostwick served as a member of The Bahamas Bar Council in late 70s and was elected President of the Bar in 1980, holding the post for two years.

She led in the amendment of the Legal Profession Act and the promulgation Of The Bahamas Bar Code of Professional Conduct in 1981.

During her presidency she served as a member of The Council of Legal Education (Caribbean). She again served as a member of that Council during her appointment as Attorney General and led negotiations for the establishment of The Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas. For many years prior to the establishment of the Law School, Mrs. Bostwick performed the duties of examiner in Criminal Law and Procedure at the local Bar. Mrs. Bostwick’s activism on women’s issues spans from the mid 1960s, when she served as an Executive Member of The Bahamas Public Services Union, through her entire political career. As a trade unionist, she began her campaign to improve the status of women in The Bahamas primarily because of the inequities women faced in terms of unequal pay scales, non-existent maternity benefits and lack of job security, among others. She sought to address these issues and it was during this time frame that she fought and won the right for ‘on the job training’ to assist women in obtaining the requisite qualifications to retain their jobs.

Additionally, once she was admitted to the Bar, Mrs. Bostwick became even more vocal on women’s issues. She agitated to audiences in churches, women groups and unions for more participation of men in the rearing and caring of children, for an increase in maintenance monies under the Affiliation Proceeding Act and to resolve the inequities associated with children born out of wedlock and the antiquated filius nullius doctrine as well as the primogeniture rule, custody and administration of justice for children and young persons, and for changes in the law relating to sexual offences, domestic violence and matrimonial causes matters. During the period of 1971-1974, these issues would become her platform.

Mrs. Bostwick entered the political arena in 1976 and became a Senator in 1977. This enabled her to broaden the campaign for her platform. In June 1982 she became the first woman elected Member of Parliament in The Bahamas. She was a member of the opposition Free National Movement. Her party won the majority of house seats in August, 1992 and Mrs. Bostwick was appointed to the Cabinet. She has held the portfolios of Minister of Social Services, Housing and National Insurance; Minister of Justice and Immigration; Attorney General, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Throughout her tenure as a Cabinet Minister she has always held ministerial responsibility for women’s affairs.

She is credited with having been instrumental in the establishment of a full time domestic magistrate’s court, the expansion of the Juvenile Panel, the expansion of the grounds for divorce to include desertion and cruelty, the amendment of affiliation proceedings laws to remove limits of maintenance so that a parent contributed proportionately to his level of income, the abolition of the primogeniture law and the filius nullius doctrine, removal of the discrimination against women in inheritance laws, increased maternity leave, increased old age noncontributory pension, modernization of sexual offences and domestic violence laws, promulgation of sexual harassment laws, inter alia.

More importantly, her fierce activism in promoting women’s rights and enhancing the awareness of

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such rights, together with her advancement in the legal profession and in national and international politics have served as an inspiration to women in The Bahamas to seek to attain their fullest potential.

Mrs. Bostwick’s foray into diplomacy began with her attendance at the inaugural Meeting of Women Parliamentarians in Dominica in 1985.

This Meeting gave birth to the Organisation known as Caribbean Women for Democracy.

The principal aims of the organisation were fighting totalitarianism in any form as well as encouraging women’s participation in frontline politics. Later, Mrs. Bostwick served as a President of this organisation.

Mrs. Bostwick is known internationally as an advocate for human rights — especially those of women - and for economic justice for all. In pursuit of the quest for women’s rights, between the years 1992 to 1994 she led the Bahamian delegation at the OAS InterAmerican Commission of Women and served on its Executive Committee. Since 1994 she served on the Executive Committee of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. In 1995 she served as a Regional Vice Chairperson of the Bureau of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing China 4 -15 September. At this Conference she was head of the delegation of The Bahamas and The Bahamas was unanimously selected to coordinate the Caribbean Region. In this capacity, she presided at all Caricom meetings.

As a representative for The Bahamas, Mrs. Bostwick has held executive positions at the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, (CEDAW) chaired the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) on behalf of The Bahamas as well as heading The Bahamas delegation at the Fourth World Women’s Conference in Beijing, China in September 1995.

In 1995, 1997 and 1999, Mrs. Bostwick was a member of the Bahamian delegation to

the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Auckland. New Zealand; Edinburgh, Scotland and Dublin, Scotland, respectively. Additionally, she has represented the Prime Minister of The Bahamas at meetings, intersessional meetings and Summits of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Caribbean Forum of ACP States, and has headed the Bahamian Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States, Caricom COFCOR, Caricom Legal Affairs Committee, the Council for Legal Education of the Caribbean Community, meetings of the Commonwealth Legal Affairs Ministers, Ministers of Justice/Attorneys Generals of the Americas andnumerous other Ministerial and High-level bilateral and multilateral meetings.

Deeply religious, Mrs. Bostwick is a faithful Anglican and served for many years on the Vestry and as People’s Warden of Christ the King Anglican Church, where she also held the posts of Superintendent of Sunday School and Chair of the Drama Club.

She has served on the Executive Committees of The Bahamas Girl Guides and The Bahamas Girls Brigade and is presently Patron of the Girls Brigade.

Married to J. Henry Bostwick, QC, Mrs. Bostwick is the proud mother of four children, grandmother of five and great grandmother of one.

Although retired from frontline politics, Mrs. Bostwick remains on the Central Council of the Free National Movement, engages in community and national affairs and lends support and assistance to the Women’s Bureau and civic and Christian religious organizations.

She also serves as Consultant in Bostwick and Bostwick.

She has served with distinction nationally, regionally and internationally as a pioneer, activist, politician and diplomat. She will be

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long known for per passion and perseverance in the struggle to bring parity to the status of women and men and remove the inequities faced by women throughout The Bahamas and the region.

In October 2018, she was awarded the Companion of The Order of The Bahamas, and was made Dame of The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2019.

THE HONOURABLE DAME JANET GWENNETT BOSTWICK THE POWER OF HER LIFETIME LEGACY HONOREE

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It’s time that we #BreakTheBias that have been forcibly attached to our gender.

Women’s rights have come a long way and we have fought a good fight… But there are still gender-based biases, stereotypes, and discrimination that exist today.

We should never stop until we have achieved true equality. A world where women are not prevented from achieving their dreams because they choose to start a family. A world where women are not blamed for being a victim of a heinous crime. A world where women’s lifestyles are not dictated by their gender.

We need… No, we will create a world where women are truly and equally free to choose how they want to live their life without judgement, discrimination, and victimization. We should #BreakTheBias and stand by every independent, smart, and passionate woman who aspires to thrive.

Are you in?

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Written By: Shanae Sweeting I am an extroverted introvert who loves working with children. I usually become my extroverted personality and a listening ear when I’m working with children.

I understand the need to want to be seen and heard. Growing up I was told that girls are to be seen and not heard. As an introverted child this accommodated my personality and assisted with me living in a box which led me into a deep place of insecurities.

I had no social life and did not interact much with children, to embrace the normalcy of childhood. I doubted myself, I didn’t think I was smart enough, pretty enough, I didn’t think my opinion mattered. I did not know how to love myself. This is the background of Sweet Affirmations.

The idea of Sweet Affirmations came about through consistently praying and asking God to use me for His purpose. Embarking on the Valentine festivities, I thought about sweet candies, then it came to me, what about sweet affirmations.

We always celebrate love with sweet chocolates and candies, but what about including sweet affirmations; affirmations to remind and to encourage children of how important they are.

The purpose of this initiative is to share the awareness of self-love with children.

Children are often overlooked and not allowed to have or express how they feel. I decided to share the love with children. I selected two children’s homes in New Providence, The Ranfurly Home and BIilney Lane Children’s Home. With the assistance of several donations, we were able to donate 31 jars between both

homes. This 31 is significant as this is my 31st year on August 7th.

I would like to cultivate self-love to a child for each year I did not know how to love myself or neglected to love myself.

Each jar was filled with hand cut hearts with sweet affirmations on each heart. Some of the affirmations were, you are smart, you are loved, don’t give up, I love myself, I am important, my opinion matters. These are some of the phrases we needed to hear as children to boost our self-esteem and help us to believe that impossibility is only a state of mind.

Also, there was a daily declaration scroll which allowed children to understand their purpose, understanding that they were not born to be broke, sick or frustrated, but they are blessed in every area of their lives. They were encouraged to walk by faith and not by what they see and to do all things with excellence.

It is my hope that each child who receives a jar of Sweet Affirmations, will be encouraged and to know that they already have all that they need to succeed. Whenever they are having a bad day, to remember that it is only a season, better days are on the way. They are blessed, are loved and after their storm, the sun will shine again. NEVER GIVE UP! If you’d like to donate a jar to a young boy or girl or if you’d like to create a “Sweet Affirmation” day at your school/organization, let’s connect. Email me at Shanaesweeting@ gmail.com.

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“It is my hope that each child who receives a jar of Sweet Affirmations, will be encouraged and to know that they already have all that they need to succeed.

Whenever they are having a bad day, to remember that it is only a season, better days are on the way. They are blessed, are loved and after their storm, the sun will shine again.

NEVER GIVE UP! “