Women Who Rock with Success- Women of Color

W OM EN
W ho Rock with
A W om an?s
Guide to
Yoga
Success
Febr u ar y 20 18 Ed i ti on
H on or i n g Black
H i stor y M on th
L atest Tr en d in
Fash ion D esign s
W h y an O f f i ce Fl i n g
I s N ever a Good I d ea
even on
Val en ti n e?s D ay
W h at T o N ever Say at
W or k to You r
B oss, Col l eagu e, or
H R D ep ar tm en t
Fr esh Com f or t
Reci p es
A m a Yaw son

09
N ew s f r om th e Pu bl i sh er
21 D or i s H obbs
31
A m a Yaw son Esq. Cover Featu r e
46
W h at N ever to Say at W or k to You r B oss ,Col l eagu e,
H R D ep ar tm en t
53
W h y an O f f i ce Fl i n g I s N ever a Good I d ea even on
Val en ti n e?s D ay

Whaler Sweater
WEATHERED COALITION
ht t p:/ / w eat heredcoalit ion.com

We all want to make some sort of improvement as we head into 2018. And our friends
from Mala Prayer have devised a great initiative to help all of us make the most of the new
year.
This January, Mala Prayer would like to introduce their first self-improvement campaign.
THE FRESH START CAMPAIGN is a simple 20 Day Challenge consisting of small, easy, daily
tasks to kick start your 2018 - like these examples below:
Participants will get insider discounts and opportunities to enter giveaways through out
the challenge.

ht t ps:/ / t abiijust .com
Franny top
Regular price$190

N ancy N T ran
Bloom s

Women Who Rock with Success is a professional
networking digital media for profiled and
entrepreneurial women. Women can brand and
connect with celebrities and business Gurus featured
in the publication. Our team works diligently to make
sure that womens' professional and lifestyle needs are
met through our magazine. Our readers can brand and
market their business from entrepreneurs and also be
able to shop with some downtown from our partners in
the publication media. Go ahead and jump in and get
connected.

D r. Froswa Booker-D rew
ht t p:/ / frosw asrules.com
As a college student, I
was heavily involved
on my campus as
President of the NAACP
to bring more faculty
of color to the
university as well as
increasing the number
of African American
students on campus.
Our efforts resulted in
being awarded
national recognition by
the NAACP two years in
a row in the early 90s.
Those leadership
experiences shaped
my involvement for the
past twenty years in
the Dallas area.
I recently donated my
college papers to the
university because I
became concerned
that millennial only
knew of the struggle in
the 60s and believed
future generations
were apathetic, leaving
them to address issues
that currently plagued
our communities. I
mentor several young
women and this was a
reoccurring theme.
They were unaware of
Rodney King, the role
of African American
college students in
fighting companies
that supported
apartheid and the
many fights for equity
after the era of Civil
Rights. I decided to
donate my papers
during my time as a
college student to
change the narrative
and leave a historical
record of what really
happened. As a college
student, I worked in
the Library's Archives
Department at the
University of Texas at
Arlington. I was in the
first class of the McNair
Program at UTA which
was designed to
encourage students of
color to pursue
graduate studies. . I
remember a local
photographer/socialite
who donated her
papers to the library
and I was responsible
for preparing her
records for viewing. I
realized as a young
woman that her
donation added
another voice to the
history of the local
area. I realized as well
that researchers would
use her papers to
document history.
The donation of my
papers was to do just
that 20 + years later...I
wanted to make sure
that my experiences
and what my
colleagues and I
addressed were fully
represented when
others began to write
and discuss history. I
also hope that by doing
this, it would inspire
others to keep their
papers, to tell their
stories so that those
gems of information
would not be lost or
reconstructed to tell a
different story.
Narratives are
powerful and
important and as
African American
women, we must be
intentional in keeping
our stories alive and
building a legacy for
future generations.

header
Alexis Uni-Seam Skirt
$50.00

Crock-Pot Chicken and
Dum plings By Lauren Miyashiro
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 1/4 lb. Boneless
Skinless Chicken
Breast
- 1 tsp. oregano
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black
pepper
- 2 cans cream of
chicken soup
- 2 c. low-sodium
chicken broth
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 stalks celery,
chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 c. frozen peas,
thawed
- 3 cloves garlic,
minced
- 1 tube refrigerated
biscuit dough
- 1/2 c. freshly grated
Parmesan, for
garnish optional)
- 2 tbsp. chopped
parsley
DIRECTIONS
1. To the bowl of a large
slow cooker, add
onion in an even
layer in the bottom of
the bowl and place
chicken breasts on
top. Add oregano and
season with salt and
pepper.
2. Pour soup and
chicken broth on top
then add the thyme
and bay leaf. Cover
and cook on high for
3 hours, or until the
chicken is cooked
through.
3. Discard thyme and
bay leaf, then shred
the cooked chicken
with two forks. Stir in
celery, carrots, peas
and garlic.
4. Cut biscuits into small
pieces. Top the
chicken mixture with
the biscuits and cook
on high for another
hour, until the
vegetables are tender
and the biscuits are
cooked through and
chicken reaches an
internal temperature
of 170° F.
5. Garnish with
Parmesan and
parsley and serve

Tabitha spent her first 18
years on the Caribbean island
of Trinidad. She moved to NYC
during the winter of 2001 and
immediately wished she had
packed the sun. At 25, amidst
a quarter-life crisis, Tabitha
enrolled in and studied
Fashion Design at the Fashion
Institute of Technology. She
went on to work in the
corporate fashion industry
before launching her brand,
Tabii Just in 2012. With a
beginner?s knowledge of
responsible living, Tabitha
pledged to become a lifelong
student of conscientious living
and surround herself with
women who rock the world
with each step. She often
waxes poetic on panel
discussions about zero waste,
responsibility in consumption
and local production. Follow
her on Instagram @tabiijust.

Malia Zero Waste Dress
$250.00

Love Me Free Mini
Sugar Scrub
BubblePopBeaut y.com
Recent statistics show that
half of working Americans
said that the demands and
stresses of work interfere
with their sleep.
Approximately two-thirds of
working mothers believe
American businesses and
technology - such as email,
tablets, and smart-phones -
are making it ?nearly
impossible?for them to
juggle work and family
demands. Perhaps worse of
all, the majority of working
parents report missing
important events in their
personal lives due to work
obligations.
Today, the traditional ?9 to
5? workday has been
replaced with increased
expectations to be available
nearly 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. As a
result, spending quality
time with family and
achieving that elusive
work-life balance seems
further out of reach than
ever before. From a
m ult i-cult ural
background, Craw ford is
t he President of Bubble
Pop Beaut y, LLC, an
At lant a-based,
e-com m erce hair and
skincare brand designed
for young fem ale
consum ers. She w as
inspired t o launch t he
brand by her
seven-year-old daught er.
Before launching Bubble
Pop Beaut y, Craw ford
held various posit ions in
m arket ing, branding, and
prom ot ions at various
corporat ions for m ore
t han 13 years. She holds a
B.A., in Com m unicat ions
from New York Universit y
and an MBA from Florida
Inst it ut e of Technology.
Originally from
Washingt on D.C.,

D eligh tf ul & D elicious

Sn i ck er s I ce Cr eam
Cak e
by Lauren Miyashiro
INGREDIENTS
- 2 boxes brownie mix (plus required ingredients)
- 2 quarts vanilla ice cream
- 4 Snickers bars, chopped
- 1/2 c. hot fudge sauce, warmed
- 1/2 c. dolce de leche, warmed
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Prepare brownie batter according to package instructions.
Divide batter between two 8? round baking pans lined with
parchment paper. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick
inserted into the center of the brownie comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert the brownies onto a
cooling rack to cool completely. When the brownies are cool,
freeze for 30 minutes.
3. Put 1 frozen brownie onto a serving platter. Scoop ice cream
on top to form an even layer. Sprinkle with chopped
Snickers. Top with the second frozen brownie. Place the cake
in the freezer and freeze for 1 hour.
4. Top the frozen cake with more ice cream scoops. Drizzle with
hot fudge and dulce de leche then sprinkle with Snickers.
Place in the freezer for another hour.
5. Slice and serve!

Shades of Trinbago infinity
$60.00 scarf

Crock-Pot St uffed
Peppers
By Lena Abraham
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained
- 1 (15-oz.) can diced fire-roasted
tomatoes, drained
- 2 c. shredded Monterey jack
cheese, divided
- 1 c. cooked white rice
- 1 c. frozen corn, defrosted
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. oregano
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 bell peppers, tops and seeds
removed
- 1 tbsp. Chopped cilantro, for
garnish
- Sour cream, for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine beef with
beans, tomatoes, 1 cup cheese,
rice, corn, cumin, chili powder,
garlic powder and oregano. Stir
until all ingredients are fully
incorporated. Season with salt
and pepper.
2. Stuff peppers with beef mixture
and place them in Crock-Pot,
open side up. Cover and cook on
high for 3 hours.
3. When peppers are tender, top
peppers with remaining cheese
and cover. Cook on low for 5-10

Winter Warmest at
the Heilborn House by
D oris H obbs
The winter season is upon us,
which allows many to garnish one
self in our coziest outerwear. For
myself it begins with a chic
vintage fur stole accented with a
heirloom brooch and Lucite
handbag. This particular fur stole
is an elegant piece which to this
day remains stylish, wrapped
around the shoulders of several
dress designs new or old
https://richinlovefashion.com

Fizzy Fruit y Float s
By Good Housekeeping Test
INGREDIENTS
- Fruit sodas
(raspberry, orange
and grape)
- vanilla ice cream
- Decorative straws
(optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Add two scoops of
ice cream to each tall
glass. Pour over fruit
soda to fill glass. Add
straws and serve.

- D oris H obbs
In the past year, we?ve seen a return to
classic beauty with many of today?s Hollywood
actresses taking a cue from silver screen
sirens Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Grace
Kelly, and Rita Hayworth. With classic
silhouettes and a few glitzy accessories you
can also possess a similar appearance of
sophistication and femininity which once
graced the golden age of fashion.

Roast L eg of L am b w i th
Rosem ar y an d L aven d er
By M el i a M ar d en
INGREDIENTS
- ¼ c. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ c. minced rosemary
- 3 tbsp. minced fresh lavender leaves (see Note)
- 4 clove garlic
- 1 boneless leg of lamb
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 6 medium shallots
- ½ c. pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tsp. honey
- ¼ c. apple cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a small
bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the olive oil with the
rosemary, lavender, and garlic. Season the lamb
all over with salt and pepper. Rub half of the
herb oil all over the inside of the lamb, then roll
up the meat and tie with kitchen string to form a
neat roast. Spread the remaining herb oil all
over the roast and set it on a rimmed baking
sheet.
2. Roast the lamb for about 15 minutes, until just
starting to brown. Reduce the oven temperature
to 375 degrees F and roast the lamb for about 1
hour longer, until an instant-read thermometer
inserted in the thickest part registers 130
degrees F for rare meat. Transfer the lamb to a
carving board and let rest for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the
remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil until
shimmering. Add the shallots, dates, honey, and
a pinch of salt and cook over moderate heat,
stirring occasionally, until the shallots are
softened, about 7 minutes. Add the vinegar and
cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the
liquid has evaporated and the jam is thick, 3 to 5
minutes; season with salt and let cool.
4. Untie the lamb roast and slice the meat against
the grain. Serve with the shallot-date j

On a recent visit to Palm Springs, I
met a gentleman by the name of
Paul, a charming man in his late
60?s. I was at a local espresso bar
reading the Compound Effect by
Darren Hardy as he leaned over in
his chair and stated,?Want to know
the secret in life??With a perplexed
face I smiled and said
sarcastically,?You know the secret of
life, how much will it cost me to
know??I imagined he was a novice.

ht t ps:/ / cprw rap.com /
"As a female
African American
inventor I never
thought I had other
inventors like me to
look up to because
we were never
taught about them
in school. Learning
about Benjamin
Banneker was
when my
inquisitive
mind
began to
grow.
Learning
about
people like George
Washington Carver,
Dr. Shirley Jackson,
and countless
others that did not
let adversities and
prejudices prevent
them from
reaching for the
stars. When I start
feeling down and
conquered by
life I need
only look to
the people
that walked
this path
before me."
Felicia
Jackson,
the inventor
and owner of
CPR Wrap, has
experienced the
trauma of cardiac
arrest firsthand.
She was certified in
CPR but froze when
her toddler son
stopped breathing
in the back seat of
her car. Thanks to
the quick actions of
her husband, their
son survived, but
Felicia
learned a
valuable
lesson and
walked away
with a new
mission. With over
20 years of medical
experience in acute
inpatient rehab,
outpatient care and
home health care,
Felicia is applying
her knowledge to
make performing
CPR less
intimidating and
accessible.

Stel l a Ad am s
As a civil rights advocate I marvel at the courage of Harriet
Tubman, the organizational skills of Rosa Parks, and Ella Baker?s
ability to mobilize those who believed in freedom. I am in awe at
the resilience of the mothers of our martyred children, Emmett,
Trayvon, Michael, Eric, Sandra, Rekia, Shantel and Philando.
I am encouraged by the vision of Arielle Patrrice Scott and others
developing innovative approaches to expanding opportunity and
access through technology for our future leaders.
Stella Adams, is the Chief of Equity and Inclusion for the National
Community Reinvestment Coalition. The Division of Equity and
Inclusion is designed to empower, organize and support
economically vulnerable, individuals, communities and small
businesses. Combining advocacy, organizing, technical
assistance and direct services the Division promotes
economically viable, sustainable, inclusive communities for all
Americans free from discrimination.

"When w e t hink of t he count less cont ribut ions t hat African
Am ericans have m ade in t his count ry, Black Hist ory allow s
us t o celebrat e t he nat ion?s diverse fabric w hile rem inding
us t hat t he bat t le for equalit y cont inues.
Just as w e learn about t he effort s of our w hit e count erpart s
t hroughout t he year, Black Hist ory should be consist ent ly
w oven int o m ainst ream reflect ions on our nat ion?s st ory.
Am erica cont inues t o st ruggle w it h addressing it s biggest
at rocit y against hum an right s in it s part icipat ion in t he
slave t rade. How ever, candid discussions about Black
hist orical figures provide a plat form for addressing
syst em at ic racism and
it s overflow ing ills."
Farrah Parker, Branding Consult ant
FD Parker & Associat es
w w w.fdparker.com
310.350.1984

A major trend for Spring
Summer 2018 is Ruffles.
Because they disrupt the
line on which they lay, the
presence of ruffles on a
garment is there purely as
adornment. And for that
reason, a woman has to be
truly confident to wear
them. Ruffles stand out to
add a dash of drama to any
dress and is not for the
faint of heart. I used ruffles
in my collection to suggest
the fluttering of butterfly
wings and the unfurling of
petals and they bring an
unabashed sense of
romance
Colors are really
important for the season.
Often, designers are
hesitant to delve deep into
colors, especially in a city
like New York where
everyone seems
determined to wear black.
But I?m thrilled to see a
more conspicuous
presence of beautiful
shades on the runways,
including my own ? from
sorbet shades to brighter
tones of pink and yellow.
http://nancytranstudio.com
N ancy N T ran

N ancy N T ran

Am a Yawson Esq.

Co-Founder
of Joojos
Co-Founder of Milest ales Publishing
and Educat ion Consult ing
Aut hor of Sunne's Gift
Harvard College '02
The Whart on School '09
The Universit y of Pennsylvania Law School '09
Wom en Who Rock w it h
Success: What ?s t he
inspirat ion and w hat
inspired you t o
publishSunne?s Gift?
Am a: Sunne's Gift was
actually inspired by a very
terrible incident. I took my
then 3-year-old son to the
barber shop to get a
hair-cut and asked the
barber not to cut off all of
his hair. A very low-cut is
the simplest and easiest
hair-cut for a barber to do
on a fidgety toddler, so
barbers tend to prefer that
style. I wanted to avoid
that. However, the barber
proceeded to shave off all
of my son's hair, starting
from the top and middle.
When I protested, the
barber responded by saying
the following. He is a native
boy from the tribe. This is
the best cut for him.? I was
horrified.
The barber was black
himself. Many black people
have been brainwashed to
believe that our naturally
kinky hair is bad hair. Many
black men shave their hair
really low so that the
texture of their hair is not
visible. Many black women
chemically straighten their
hair or wear wigs and
weaves to cover their hair.
The barber was clearly of
that belief system and
therefore unilaterally
decided that my son's kinky
hair should be shaved very
low. I was deeply saddened
by the barber's perspective
and his use of the racial
pejorative.

I greatly wanted to teach a lesson about self-love that would help people of African
descent to love their kinky hair, while providing a universal message of self-love and
acceptance to people of all races. I did not think that I had creative writing ability. I had
earned a BA from Harvard in Social Studies, an MBA from Wharton, and a law degree
from The University of Pennsylvania. None of those degrees prepared me to become a
writer.
But not long after the incident, I saw Marianne Williamson on Oprah and Marianne
Williamson made a comment that art is no different from prayer and we can always pray
to be a vehicle through which God gives art. I prayed for a story and received the story of
Sunne's Gift. I did a Kick-starter to publish it and raised over $12,000 in 45 days. The book
came out beautifully and I started using the book to do training programs on diversity
and other issues, in my spare time. A little over a year after the book's release, I quit my
job as a corporate lawyer at a major bank to go into publishing and training and
development full time.
Now two years later, my company, Miles tales Publishing and Education Consulting
(www.milestales.com), provides books and training programs on leadership, diversity,
bullying prevention, social and emotional learning, and other topics to corporations,
schools, and universities. Additionally, I have an FM radio show on WBAI Pacifica 99.5FM
called How to Make it in The City (https://www.wbai.org/podcast/program/?id=5).
Wom en Who Rock w it h Success: Nam e som e w ays of creat ing a bet t er
environm ent for racial background.
Am a:
There are so many ways that we all can do the work of creating a better racial
environment.
First, we can examine our own circles of friends and colleagues and make a conscious
effort to get to know people who have different racial and cultural backgrounds. We may
accomplish that by asking a co-worker of a different ethnicity to come to lunch with us or
inviting him or her to a gathering at our home. Many of us have unchallenged
assumptions about people of other races because we have never taken the time to forge
relationships with people of other backgrounds.

Second, we should make it a point to have respectful and candid conversations about race.
When people say that they don't see race, I actually feel insulted. As someone of African
descent, my skin color and hair texture are apart of my beauty and my cultural heritage is
apart of who I am. People should see that. That said, the goal is to speak to one another
about racial and cultural issues in a way that shows genuine openness and vulnerability.
The next time a racially-charged incident occurs and is discussed in the news, actually ask
your friends and colleagues of various racial backgrounds about their thoughts and listen
to them with an open mind.
Third, we should consciously expose ourselves and our children to diverse books and
media. Please read Sunne's Gift with the children in your life and do the questions
surrounding culture in the back. You can watch a foreign film or a film about people from a
completely different background. Perhaps you can read a book about the immigrant
experience. It is very easy to stay in the bubble of our own racial and cultural group, but we
will not be able to move forward with respect to race relations without a conscious effort to
forge better race relations on an individual level and community level.
Last, I believe that institutions should invest in training programs on race and culture. I do
such programs and all of my clients are so thankful after a training program. One of my
most sought-after programs is on unconscious bias and micro-aggressions. The
participants are usually shocked by the stereotypes that they harbor as we uncover them in
the program. Raising this awareness is worth the investment.
Wom en Who Rock w it h Success: What is t he next chapt er for Am a?
Am a:
The next chapter consists of trying my best to expand the depth and reach of my work.
More books are forthcoming as I expand Sunne's Gift into a series of books. Additionally, I
am making my work more accessible to institutions nationwide by doing more training
sessions via SKYPE. Finally, I am also doing more research on issues of financial
empowerment and adding more financial gurus to my team because I realize that on a
societal level many people feel economically disenfranchised. We need to make sure that
more Americans feel better equipped to handle the economy's ups and downs while living
their missions and engaging in entrepreneurship.
Wom en Who Rock w it h Success: How can t he readers connect w it h your brand?:
Am a:
I would love to stay in touch with your readers. Readers can email me ama@milestales.com,
call me at347-886-2026, and follow my company on Facebook by going to
https://www.facebook.com/milestales/.

N ancy N T ran

NANCY TRAN BLOOMS WITH SPRING
COLLECTION (New York, NY) ? New
York?s exciting new designer Nancy Tran
unveiled her launch collection in a range
of day, cocktail and evening dresses
meticulously crafted from premium silks
in creamy tones and opulent shades of
scarlet, pink, purple, and yellow to
capture the delicate flourish of both
fashion and nature. According to Ms.
Tran, ?The collection is inspired by
rebirth. I wanted to welcome the new
year in homage to blossoming in beauty.
The graceful draping and silhouettes
lend focus to that magical way that
fashion can transform us all. But it?s not
so much about changing into someone
different rather discovering your own
potential, unleashing your own beauty
and finding that reservoir of confidence
and strength in every woman. That?s why
I employed both butterflies and flowers
in the design to illustrate that
emergence from our own cocoons, of
blossoming into someone strong and
beautiful.? The pieces are rendered close
to the body with fitted waists and skirts
tapered like tulips or voluminous roses
in full bloom. The butterfly and floral
motif is further evident in the couture
level details of cascading embroideries,
prints, pleats, and cutouts that add rich
texture and depth. Hemlines range from
asymmetric to at, below the knee, and
floor length gowns
JOSCELINA
ANGELINA

ht t ps:/ / w ellsuit ednyc.com
Well Suited NYC is the creation of two
native New York City girlfriends that met at
the prestigious Fame High School. As
Manhattanites, It was a natural fit, Amanda
Sanders being a celebrity stylist (best
known for her 15 year relationship with
Chris Rock), and Christina Wilson who
developed a fashion handbag and
accessories company targeting edgy
fearless women.
Amanda found the demand in a more
casual environment where men no longer
wanted ties, they needed an accessory to
dress up their suits. Most men feeling
intimidated at folding a traditional pocket
square, felt much more comfortable with
her making pre folded squares for them.
Amanda Sanders and Christina Wilson
Merging together Amanda?s styling
experience and Christina?s expertise in
product development, the perfect ?Ready
to Wear? pocket square was born. True to
its inspiration, Well Suited pocket squares
are carefully handmade in New York City.
How to Style a
Pocket Square
Video

ht t p:/ / w w w.m arit om e.com
At a relatively young age,
Maressa Tosto
Merwarth discovered her
passion for metal-smithing
while studying in Italy. What
she brought back from
Florence was a vision of a
collection that would meld
jewelry with sculpture,
works that would push the
boundaries between
wearable vs. non-wearable,
precious vs. non-precious
and even craft vs. fine art.
After completing her BFA at
Syracuse University,
Merwarth began working at
a small fine jewelry
manufacturer and later
earned her MFA in metals
from the Rochester Institute
of Technology. In these
formative years, she
explored her creative
abilities, fine tuned her
technical skills and began
pushing boundaries in
design. Drawn to
commonplace shapes and
materials and inspired by
nature and architecture, the
designer stretched her
creativity to imagine hidden
stories in her designs. After
several years in the
industry, Merwarth formed
her own company, Mari
Tome, to focus on custom,
unique design and her
art-based jewelry line.
Today, Maressa Tosto
Merwarth draws inspiration
for her jewelry designs from
the nature and the
situations that surround her
at Hermann J. Wiemer
Vineyard, where she and her
family live and work.

A bou t
W eath er ed
Coal i ti on
For us, at Weathered
Coalition. the mission is
simple: To equip men
wanting to experience a
more authentic life. We
know that everyone is
seeking to become a
better version of
themselves. Through
great product offerings,
in store events and
quality content we wish
to bring together guys
pursing this betterment
of themselves. Your
wardrobe and character
is built one piece at a
time, always taking you
a step closer to the man
you strive to be.
Everyday we stand in
your shoes, developing
our own styles and
working hard to be
better people.
Weathered Coalition. is
more than a place to
buy products. It's a
place to make
memories. We look
forward to serving you,
and proudly welcome
you to the coalition.
Phone
512.852.9869

Ph otogr ap h y by Fau zan M ok h tar

ht t p:/ / w w w.w am it conference.com /
WHY CHOOSE W.A.M.I.T?
ACTIONABLE | EDUCATIONAL | INSPIRATIONAL
It's time to take your career and life goals to the next level.
Learn from inspired, experienced speakers and gain the
knowledge you need to succeed.
The purpose of the Women and Minorities in Technology
Conference is to:
- Aid women and minorities to enter and advance in
information technology roles via education on
emerging high tech topics that make them more
employable and promotable
- Enhance corporate and tech community awareness
of how to attract and retain a diverse IT workforce.
- Energize he educational pipeline of diverse workers.
- Connect attendees with companies and staffing
agencies.

F ash i on abl e h an d bags
Ph otogr ap h y by Fau zan M ok h tar

W EAT H ERED
CO A L I T I O N
B r i ef case - O ak &
T an
- $310
- A rugged Southern Field
Industries briefcase crafted in
heavyweight canvas with leather
trim. Two-way top zip. Unlined
interior with a padded laptop
sleeve and zip pocket. Double
handles and optional, adjustable
shoulder strap.
- Fabric: Canvas.
- Weight: 20oz / 0.57kg.
- Height: 12.5in / 32cm
- Length: 17in / 43cm

Diana Kelly loved
demonstrating her creative side
since she was a toddler and took
up scribbling on walls instead of
paper. Encouraged to further
pursue these writing and
drawing talents, Diana
experienced the thrill of seeing
her name in print above an
article she penned for the
second grade newspaper.
Deciding that continuing to see
her name in print was a worthy
career pursuit, Diana worked on
her spelling, read as much as
possible, and was known for
asking a lot of questions at the
lunch table in high school.
Thinking she?d pursue a career in law or
journalism, Diana attended a New
Jersey State Trooper Youth Week camp
in high school and quickly discovered
that law enforcement ? particularly
driving the New Jersey Turnpike daily ?
wasn?t for her. She studied journalism
at Rutgers, was a staff writer for The
Daily Targum newspaper where she also
had an opinion column, and pursued a
career in magazine journalism. After
internships at Red Book and South Jersey
magazines, Diana high-tailed it to New
York City and has been working for
major media brands ever since.

What Never to Say at Work to Your
Boss , Colleague, or HR Department by
You know better than to say racist comments, blatant sexual
harassment, discuss politics in the workplace, but there are
plenty of places where knowing what to say is a gray area. Here,
psychologists tell you what to never say at work and why.
Never say anyt hing you w ouldn?t w ant t o read in
print in a m eet ing.
?I always advise my clients to talk as if everybody is listening,?
said Ben Dattner, Ph.D., organizational psychologist and
executive coach at Dattner Consulting, LLC in New York City.
?Because in today?s world, pretty much everybody is listening.
So a lot of my clients talked about the Wall Street Journal test,
which is, ?Would you want to read this in the Wall Street
Journal??Whatever you?re saying, however you?re being quoted.
So I certainly think making references to religion, or politics, or
people?s physical appearance, or anything that could be
construed as disrespecting somebody, categorizing them,
stereotyping them, bringing attention to anything
Never say t he phrase, ?This is boring,? in a
m eet ing.
We get it, a lot of the meetings you attend might seem
unnecessary, a waste of time, and quite lame. But don?t ever
say that out loud to another colleague, says Melanie Greenberg,
Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Mill Valley, Calif., and
Life/Business Coach, author of The Stress-Proof Brain (New
Harbinger Publications, 2017)
?That?s insensitive to say,? she said. It could also make your
boss think you?re not being a team player because you find
them boring and think you have better things to do than be in
that meeting.

Never t ell a fem ale colleague ?You look nice,? if you w ouldn?t say it t o
a m ale colleague.
?There?s heightened sensitivity to propriety when it comes to gender relationships,? said
Dattner. ?There could be subjective aspect to that. It depends on context. If a male boss
tells a female subordinate that she looks good? if he does it in ways that can seem
inappropriate, that could be a challenge. So the same statement uttered by different
people or the same people in different context or different people in the same context
can be taken very differently. But you just have to be careful,? said Dattner.
Greenberg agreed that you?re better off not commenting on appearance and weight of
colleagues. ?You shouldn?t say anything to a woman that you wouldn?t say to a man,?
said Greenberg.
When you tell a colleague, ?You look nice today,?or ?Your haircut looks nice,?you have to
consider how it might be taken. Does that mean their old haircut looked terrible? Does
that mean they normally don?t look nice every day? What was intentioned to be an
innocent compliment can get out of hand quickly.
Here?s how to get better paying clients this year. Never t ell your boss, ?It ?s not
m y fault .?
When your boss comes to you with a concern they have about your work, not taking
responsibility is a big no-no, said Greenberg. ?When you?re blaming other people, being
hostile, defensive, and not taking responsibility, it?s like you?re attacking other people on
your team,? said Greenberg. This makes you look like you are a whiner, you blame
others for any performance issues or problems and you don?t take constructive
feedback. These are all qualities your boss will remember when it?s time to add you to
bigger team projects or time for a promotion. Never act like you?re in a realit y
TV show w hen you disagree w it h colleagues.
It can be entertaining (and cringe-inducing) to watch chefs and restaurateurs yell at
subordinates or real estate agents scream at colleagues on reality TV or call to mind
those days of yesteryear when contestants undercut one another on ?The Apprentice
?Just the fact that people turn on TV watch real estate shows with people arguing with
each other and kind of attacking each other because that makes TV more compelling.

So we should make sure not to mimic what we see in the public realm in the workplace.
You?re not on Million Dollar Listing, ? said Dattner.
Never say phrases t hat disrespect colleagues and low er-level
em ployees.
You know not to call people something sexist like ?Hon,? or ?Beautiful,? at work. But,
some people of an older generation or baby- boomer might have referred to female
colleagues as ?girls,? without meaning anything negative by it, and in their cultural and
historical context that made sense, said Dattner. But, if you?re at a start-up in Brooklyn or
San Francisco where everybody?s a millennial and you use the term ?girls? to refer to
female employees, people may find that offensive, Dattner said. ?We all need feedback
as we move from industry to industry or level to level or organization or organization or
historical era to historical era or different geographies, different countries, different
corporate cultures,? he said. How you speak and communicate may change in different
workplace environments, so make sure you?re careful in different settings with colloquial
phrases.
Never com plain t o your int ern about st aff and direct report s.
Don?t whine to your intern about other employees, advised Sackett. ?Good interns/
assistants are good listeners, and at times, they may be the only person that makes a
boss feel heard. This can create the temptation to use them as a sounding board for
venting about others in the office, and that temptation must be resisted,? Sackett said.
?Not only can they leak sensitive information, potentially leading to conflicts and
grievances, but this practice also puts the intern or assistant in a terribly uncomfortable
position, often causing good employees to leave.?
Never t ell HR anyt hing t hat you w ant t o be kept in st rict confidence.
?That?s because HR professionals often have mandates to report or investigate certain
information (like sexual harassment and discrimination),? says Jason Sackett, PCC, LCSW,
CEAP, executive coach, author of Compassion@Work: Creating Workplaces that Engage the
Human Spirit. ?They simply may not be prohibited from sharing information with the one
person you desperately don?t want to know your story?and may not have the judgment
or professionalism to keep it private,? he said. If you have any concerns about
information being disclosed, consult first with someone who is bound by confidentiality
laws, such as a therapist, employee assistance professional, lawyer, or clergy person,?
said Sackett.

Waukeshia
Waukeshia D.
Jackson, is a
registered Pat ent At t orney
with
a background in Electrical
Engineering. I have a thriving
intellectual
property law practice, a #1
Amazon Best Selling book,
and I?m invited to
speak at conferences and
workshops throughout the
country. I speak in
order to educate, inspire,
and empower girls and
women of color and people
with disabilities to break
through barriers in STEM,
entrepreneurship, and
the legal profession.
Only 2% of Scientists ans
Engineers are Black Women.
I am
that 2%. This quote stems
from a movement I started
to increase the
numbers of African
American women in STEM
and to have the current
African
American women to be bold
and to no longer be hidden
figures in these
areas. Each of us are raising
our hands and proudly
proclaiming to be a
part of the 2% so that we
can !.) show this country and
the world where we
are and 2.) encourage more
girls and women like us to
pursue careers in
these areas to increase the
number of African American
women in these
fields.

Angela
William son
African American girls still need strong African American heroines, and
this documentary champions the human spirit of Rosa Parks and her cousin,
Caroline Williamson Green.
Cousin Rosie strongly believed that every African American should know
their black history, and she passed this philosophy to all her relatives,
she even told them what book they should read! 1001 Things You Should Know
about African American history by Dr. Jeffrey Stewart.
My documentary gives an in-depth look on Cousin Rosie's activism fighting
Jim Crow in the North.
Cousin Rosie put her whole heart in strengthening her young cousins to
continue her activism after she left this earth. It continues today with
Aunt Carolyn' s activism in Detroit and through my documetary filmmaking.
The story of Rosa Parks and the Williamson family shows America a glimpse
of what it's like to be related to an American icon. Cousin Rosie is more
than a seamstress, she's a woman who believed people should be treated with
dignity - and she fought her whole life to make It happen.

A W om an ?s Gu i d e to
Yoga
march t went y? first t wo t housand sixt een
Fan s
of yoga say it clear s
th e m in d, alleviates str ess,
im proves h ealth an d br in gs th em
on e step closer to in n er peace. So h ow
can you get star ted on your path to n ir van a
an d better h ealth ? L ear n m or e about th e
ben ef its of yoga, which class is r igh t for
you, what ch an ges you?ll see in your
body an d m or e...

W h y an O f f i ce Fl i n g
I s N ever a Good I d ea
even on Val en ti n e?s D ay
by Jodi RR Smith

Forget t he flings
It is one thing to have to do the walk of shame after an ill-considered rendezvous. If
properly executed, you need never see them again. It is a whole other thing to have to sit
next to your one-night stand week after week during the staff meeting. And even worse is
if that person chooses to chat about you to colleagues. Choices of promiscuity aside, save
the wild romps for Vegas.
Know your com pany?s policies
Some workplaces are more conservative than others, yet most have some sort of policy or
practice regarding dating in the office. Even if you work for a super small or very new
business, the harassment laws still apply. Be sure to review your regulations in advance to
make sure you are not putting your career in peril.
Choose w isely
Even if you are within the guidelines, peers are a safer choice. When office romances turn
frosty, it is often the subordinate employee who will need to brush off their resume and
begin a job search. Occasionally it is the supervisor who is let go for fear of a litigious
ex-lover. Being both single and jobless rarely makes anyone?s resolution list.
Track your ?paper ?t rail
Words of love (or lust) are best whispered. Notes can be left behind, misdirected, or pulled
from the recycling bin. Voice mails can be saved, forwarded, or played on speakerphone.
All employees should be smart enough nowadays to keep away from the keyboards. All
company emails belong to the company and can be reviewed at any time with or without
your permission. The same goes for texting on any device owned or paid for by the
company. Also, there are cameras everywhere. Video surveillance is in lobbies, elevators,
supply rooms, etc. Do your best not to titillate the security guards or wind up as a meme
on the Internet. Keep your hands off each other and your clothing on when at work.
St art slow
Yet, even with all of the admonishments, office romances do bloom. Begin by getting to
know the object of your affection as a friend first. Group lunches and drinks as a team
work well to determine whether or not you share interests and values. After a few weeks
of information gathering, then and only then consider spending time alone.

Keep it out of t he office
Any interaction even remotely resembling a date should be done off company property
and far away from any prying eyes. It is best to start with the activity dates (museums,
comedy shows, history walking tours) first before moving to the more romantic venues.
Set boundaries
As you explore the possibilities of romance, take the time to talk about establishing
boundaries for when you are at work. Will you arrive and leave together? Will you sit near
each other in meetings? Will you meet for lunch? Or will the facade of the cold shoulder
apply during office hours?
Know your exit st rat egy
Before the first kiss, consider what may happen if this does not turn into a long-term
liaison. Would one or both of you need to look for a new job? Or if you both stayed, how
uncomfortable would that be for you to continue to work together? There are times when
relationships come to an end. This can be difficult for even the most mature partners, and
can prove to be disastrous for exs who must still work together. No matter how your heart
is broken, take the high road. Sob at home, call in sick if necessary, binge-watch bad
shows, and gobble your favorite comfort food. Then pull yourself together and get back to
work. Know that this too shall pass and learn from the experience. If you are still
non-functional, take a vacation to center yourself and find your groove again.
Young love
A brand new relationship need not be declared at a staff meeting. But at some point, when
the relationship is clearly not a passing fancy, it is time to follow the proper protocol. Start
with human resources. HR will let you know if you must also notify your manager. If your
company requires you to notify HR when you start dating, chances are you will need to
remember to notify HR when you break up as well.
Be honest
As the Bonnie Raitt song goes, ?We laugh just a little too loud.? You may think you are
giving an Oscar-worthy performance by keeping your romance a secret, but most people
are woeful at being subtle. The pheromones alone will give you away. Be honest when
asked. However, you do not need to become stars of the office drama. Create boundaries
of what you will and won?t share in the office. This is not middle school. Behave
professionally. If others ask inappropriate questions, deflect. Keep any quarrels for
after-hours.

Invit at ions and invit es
And if things go well, you will have
the separate yet equally
challenging task of deciding who
from the office will be invited to
your wedding. The guideline is
either less than a third of
handpicked officemates or the
entire department. Either way,
hopefully there are enough
resources to cover both of your
desks while you are off on your
honeymoon.
If all of this sounds too daunting,
then no parallel processing for
you. Don?t fish in the company
pond. Cast a wider net. If you are
busy, hire a matchmaker, try
online dating, join a club, take a
class, scope out while you work
out, or really listen to grandma and
regularly go to your place of
worship. Most of all, revisit your
work-life balance to allow time to
look for love.
Jodi RR Smith is the president of
Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.

H om e I m p r ovem en t
D I Y T i p s

w w w.h om ead vi sor .com
Tools &
Mat erials You?ll
Need
The tools needed to
replace an old toilet and
install a new one are pretty
basic. However, it?s
important to note that
these tools and the
following instructions
relate only to the process
used when removing an old
unit and putting a new one
in its place. Installing a new
toilet where there wasn?t
one before is a much more
complex process that
involves advanced
plumbing knowledge. In
other words, it?s not a
recommended DIY project,
and it?s often something
that requires permitting
and inspection. Here?s a list
of the basic tools for the
replacement task at hand:
- Adjustable wrench
- Tape measure
- Pliers
- Set of screwdrivers
- Bucket
- Putty knife
- Sponge and old rags
(use a large
car-washing sponge;
these hold the most

T oi l et I n stal l ati on ? L ear n to
D I Y
or H i r e a Pr o
by H om eAdvisor
1. Tools & Materials You?ll Need
2. Measuring & Planning
3. How to Remove Your Old Toilet
4. Installing Your New Toilet
5. What to Consider if You Hire
- Questions to Ask
It?s hard to argue against its utility, but like all household fixtures,
toilets get old, break down and may even crack and leak. Whether you?re
adding a low-flow alternative to save water as part of a bathroom
renovation or you?re taking out a broken unit that has just seen too
many flushes, installing a toilet is not as tough as it may seem. In fact, an
intermediate DIYer with a little plumbing know-how can get the job done
(with a little bit of help) in a couple of hours.
Of course, any time you deal with plumbing and sewage there can be
backups and backlogs, creating huge messes that will definitely require
some professional assistance. In this case, knowing what to ask and
what to expect when hiring a pro to install a toilet for you is equally
important. Read on to learn what you need to know about toilet
installation, from removal to that first flush, and make sure you?re
prepared to get the job done, or at least prepared to hire the right
person to get it done for you.

W om en W h o Rock w i th Su ccess 877-476-6895 con tact@w om en w h or ock w i th su ccess.or g