Vicky Christina Barcelona weaves a tale of transformation of two besties who visit Barcelona for the summer unaware that the trip will challenge their current belief systems.
MySavvySisters.Com posted a poll that asked its readers to answer the question: What are your plans for Valentines Day?
Of the women who responded:
14% answered - Spending time with my significant other 14% answered - Spending time with my family 35% answered - I will be home alone- again 35% answered - I hate commercial holidays
Analysis- The majority of My Savvy Sisters are not thrilled about Valentines Day.
Who would be thrilled about being reminded for a whole 24 hours that there is no great love in their lives? Its okay. You are allowed to hate Valentines Day if you want to. But, if you must hate Valentines Day- do it BIG!
Here's how
1. Dress in black AND wear a veil all day long. Tell people that you are mourning the loss of your virginity.
2. Make a sign that reads: I don't love you. Go to the mall and wave it at people.
3. Find every old boyfriend you can on facebook and write them a message demanding to know why the hell they didn't appreciate you.
Recently a deal was struck with 5 of the major banks here in the U.S. over unethical mortgage practices and foreclosure abuse. Ally Financial, Bank of America, WellsFargo, Citibank and JP Morgan Chase agreed to a $26 billion settlement while lowering the principle amount owed on underwater mortgages. For those who have lost their homes to illegal foreclosure practices, they will get a measly $1,800. While the full scope of the deal has not been announced yet, I can hardly say that the banks have been held accountable or that homeowners got any real justice out of this settlement.
This was the largest case involving fraud in the history of the united States, the investigation barely scratched the surface to what could have been monumental and because of this lame duck settlement the true scope and size of the foreclosure crisis may never be known. Banks essentially have gotten away with destroying families, lives and our economy. While we bailed out the banks at over $700 billion for their shenanigans, they got off at paying up a measly $26 billion for their robo-signing and unkempt practices which has left 1 in 5 Americans owing more than their house is worth, by an average of $50,000.
This goes to show the widespread corruption on account of Wallstreet and how they inadvertently control those who we elect to power. Mayor Amschel Rothschild is famous for saying, “Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes her laws.” This quote has never rang so true as it does today. For a crisis that has brought this nation to its knees and has lead to a staggering 23% unemployment rate (when you look at the real numbers), skyrocketing tuition rates, ruined our quality of living and a withing away of social safety nets NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. Especially when it has been proven that this economic crisis we have been facing since 2008 could have been prevented!
I for one am outraged. The banks have gotten away with economic and social murder. The middle class no longer exists in America because of the unethical greedy behavior of Wallstreet and the Banks. America the beautiful no longer exists, we live in America the plutocratic nation for the rich who control the power and wealth in this country. The mainstream media has failed to do its job in reporting the abuse and corruption that is plaguing this nation and our elected officials have failed in their oath to the Constitution and the American people. Fire Congress and throw the banksters in jail! We are the majority and they are the minority, the people can overcome this.
As election season comes into full action, we must be vocal, united and insistent about the leaders we would like to see in office. The leaders that have held incumbent seats in Congress and the career politicians must be replaced by just men and women who swear to protect the Constitution and the rights of the people and when they fail to do their duty, they must blacklisted. We must do our duty as people of a nation to be vocal and take to the ballot box. If we continue to allow Wallstreet and corrupt corporations to continue with their behavior of funding Congress and elected officials than we have lost this nation to those who have the money and everyone else no longer matters. We will continue to fall as a nation and a people until one day the history books will speak of the fall of America just as we speak of the fall of Rome.
Never in time has it been so important for you to be active and vocal on your opposition to what is going on in Politics and Business. You matter and what you do or do not do matters. We all wish for peace on Earth, but it will never come, unless we the people forge the way for that peace to come. If we want the American dream back and we want to live in a nation that is fair, free and just. Where the “pursuit of happiness” is a reality, then it must be that we the people stand up to that right and take charge. Until the masses take to the streets and to the box, marching to the hills of the White House, abuses will never cease to exist and America will eventually implode. Make your voice heard, contact your representative and voice your discontent with the direction of our county. Be someone, do something and express your rights as an individual that is part of the collective.
With a bachelors degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University, Christina Fermin has always cultivated her love for history, politics, sociology, ancient knowledge and teachings, the outdoors, the ocean and the environment. Christina strives to make our world better by helping us all create a new reality and understanding of all taking place here and now. You can reach her at Christina@MySavvySisters.Com.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Bread for the World is pleased that President Obama's fiscal year 2013 budget proposal presents a fairly balanced approach to deficit reduction. The budget also protects important programs for hungry and poor people, creates jobs, and promotes economic mobility.
"This is a strong indication of the president's priorities as Congress begins consideration of the budget resolution," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "Now, more than ever, we must ensure funding for those programs proven to alleviate hunger and help poor people move out of poverty. We praise the president's commitment to programs that help vulnerable people gain access to vital resources to help make ends meet."
The White House's proposed budget makes permanent the current Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit benefit levels, which are set to expire at the end of 2012. The budget also restores the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) benefit cuts, funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) at $7 billion, and includes $2.5 million for Hunger Free Communities.
"At a time when so many families in America are facing unemployment or reduced work hours, these tax credits and nutrition programs are more important than ever," said Beckmann.
The president has demonstrated his commitment to reducing hunger and poverty overseas by proposing sustained funding for critical programs that have proven to be successful. In particular, the president's budget included continued funding to help small farmers in developing countries improve and expand local agriculture; address preventable maternal and child malnutrition, especially in the 1,000-day window between pregnancy and age 2, which has measurable impact on the productivity of developing countries; and continuing funding for important operating expenses that ensure U.S. foreign assistance is used effectively.
"We must address our deficits, but we cannot sacrifice our commitment to hunger and poverty," said Beckmann. "This is not a partisan issue; it is a moral one. In the upcoming budget decisions, Congress must form a circle of protection around programs for hungry and poor people."
I was always one to gripe about the fact that men in tight pants holding a ball were paid millions of dollars to run across a field while our public school teachers have to get second jobs while they take on the insurmountable task of educating our children.
I couldn't stand it when people would make a fuss about celebrities, especially rappers, who do nothing but gyrate to degrading lyrics that do not uplift or educate or help anyone in any way.
Then, when I heard the news that songtress Whitney Houston had died, I felt the sting of the announcement in my heart. I cried. Yes, I cried. Her voice walked with me as I grew into the woman I am today. Although I have never met her, I felt like she was a part of me. This confused me until I realized exactly why the entertainment industry is so valuable.
We all have goals and dreams and we work damn hard to achieve them. Day in and day out we either put up with annoying bosses and co workers or we are breaking our backs trying to build our own empires. We know what it means to labor for our dreams and to maintain the lifestyles that we believe we deserve. We understand what its like to hunger, to yearn and to break barriers in business as we attempt to leave our footprint on the world. But even those moments of victory as we achieve our goals aren't nearly as sweet as the moments when we are simply free to 'be'.
During those moments where profit margins don't matter, outsmarting the competition isn't a concern and the bills aren't weighing us down we are free to truly enjoy life. These moments of bliss are often earmarked by a particular song we heard or a comparable scene from a movie. As we write the scripts for our own lives, we take pleasure in the simple things that allow us to experience the essence of 'being'- our emotions.
What do we do during those times when we aren't toiling away at our goals? We take our shoes off, we sit back on the couch and we turn on the television or log on to the internet to be moved by someone else's creative work.
We lose ourselves in the songs that musicians create. We become emotionally invested in soap operas. We root for out favorite sports teams because their victory feels like ours. We visit message boards and type out angry tirades against the decisions of politicians because we believe our opinions are important too.
During those times when we aren't doing what we HAVE to do, we get to do what we want to do and what is that? We want to laugh, to cry, to hate, to cheer- we want to feel emotion. The value of entertainment is in its ability to induce emotion in the spectator. If a woman can belt out a tune that makes us feel her pain, we applaud.
We are always seeking an acceptable outlet for our emotions. In this society we are deemed mentally ill if we express any feeling besides a placated happiness. But we are more than just that fake smile we wear at the office. We are more complex than that happy go lucky image we think people want to see. This is why we are drawn to the drama and the passion of watching the details of the lives of celebrities and this is exactly why we are willing to pay big bucks to be entertained.
And you know what? We deserve it. We work hard for it. We endure. We keep the world moving.
So go ahead, you celebrity puppets. ~clap, clap~ Do something silly.
Whitney Houston's publicist announced that the mega star had passed away. Tributes to her music and her life were shared across every form of media throughout the world.
There is not a person born after 1980 that has not been intimately impacted by her music. Even while she lived it was an ill fated attempt to even try to sing a Whitney Houston song because no one in the world could match her vocal skills.
The impact that news of her death has been compared to that of Michael Jackson. I only hope that Ms. Houston had an inkling how much her music was an integral part of our culture.
We will always love you, Whitney.
Lyrics To I Will Always Love You By Whitney Houston
If I should stay,I would only be in your way.So I'll go, but I knowI'll think of you ev'ry step of the way. And I will always love you.I will always love you.You, my darling you. Hmm. Bittersweet memoriesthat is all I'm taking with me.So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.We both know I'm not what you, you need. And I will always love you.I will always love you.
(Instrumental solo) I hope life treats you kindAnd I hope you have all you've dreamed of.And I wish to you, joy and happiness.But above all this, I wish you love. And I will always love you.I will always love you.I will always love you.I will always love you.I will always love you.I, I will always love you. You, darling, I love you.Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you.
While the majority of relationships developed between workers in comparable job levels, 28 percent of workers who dated a co-worker said they have dated someone above them in the company hierarchy, and nearly one-in-five (18 percent) admitted to dating their boss. Women were more likely to date someone higher up in their organization – 35 percent compared to 23 percent of men.
Which Industries Have the Most Romance?
Hospitality leads the top five industries for office romances, coming in significantly higher than the national average:
Hospitality – 47 percent dated a co-worker Financial Services – 45 percent Transportation & Utilities – 43 percent Information Technology – 40 percent Healthcare – 38 percent How Much Does Your Job Factor into Your Love Life?
More than one-in-four workers (26 percent) reported that what someone does for a living influences whether they would date that person. Five percent of workers said someone broke up with them because either their job required too many hours at the office, they didn't make enough money or the person didn't like their line of work.
Do Opposites Really Attract?
While the majority of workers tended to date people in different professions or functions, nearly one-in-five workers (19 percent) reported that they are more attracted to people who have a similar job.
Where Do Office Romances Begin?
Social settings outside of the office were cited most often in regard to workers connecting on a romantic level. Running into each other outside of work (13 percent), happy hours (12 percent), lunches (11 percent) and late nights at work (10 percent) were among the most popular catalysts for dating co-workers.
Are Relationships Better Kept Secret?
Most workers who have had office romances said they were open about their dating situation. Thirty-seven percent reported they had to keep the relationship under wraps.
"Whether you're dating someone higher-up or a colleague at the same level, office romances are always tricky," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "First and foremost, it is important to know your company's office dating policy. Remember to stay professional and draw a boundary line between your personal life and the workplace."
Women admire me from all four corners of the world. I enjoy the best that life has to offer and I appear to do it with ease.
What you fail to see are the long nights I spent perfecting my craft, skipping the parties, boyfriends and gossip sessions in favor of studying to become the best at what I do.
I know I make it look easy and it is, but that comes after years of fumbling around, making mistakes and beating myself up for not getting it right. I couldn't allow myself to remain stagnant or to waste my talent by not chiseling at it with precision every second that I was awake.
I sculpted the very best version of me through years of trial and error and I continue to dedicate just as much time to remaining at the top of my game. Yet, you see me and you think she is cute and sweet and bubbly, when I'm a beast when it comes to my profession, yet my roar seems more like a hypnotizing purr.
My success is not accidental.
My ability to maintain my status in my own eyes, is what separates me from the women who compare themselves to me.
Flawlessly, instinctively I polish my skills without chipping a nail. I do all that and then I play with the best of them simply because I deserve to sit on this throne that I created.
I know I make it look easy, but even that takes effort, honey.
Life has a way of making us want to measure our success by reaching certain life milestones. By 18, we need to be headed to college. By 25 we should be married. By 30 we should have our first child and by 35 we should be running the PTA and managing our own businesses.
You don't have to succumb to the pressure to keep up with the pace of your parents or friends. They're living their lives on their own frequency and you are allowed to do the same. No, you don't need to own your first home by the time you're 31 in order to feel successful but we often think this is what we need to do in order to feel 'grown up'. This isn't true. You're holding yourself down by tying yourself to an investment that isn't really necessary right now.
In fact, if you still...
Haven't traveled to the place you've been dreaming of visiting
Have yet to save enough to pay off your car
Are drowning in student loan debt
Aren't happy in the city where you live
Daydream about making a career change
Are not thinking about settling down
Are under 35
Have lived in one city your entire life
Have never been placed in a situation where you have to figure a way out all by yourself
Are still depending on your parents to bail you out
Do not have a dependable second stream of income outside of working for a wage
Buying a house will hold you back from being free to chase the opportunities that could lead to the lifestyle of your dreams.
You'll get to that home ownership stage later but for now, focus on living the most adventurous life possible filled with those magical events that you never thought could happen in real life. They can and they will if you don't burden yourself with owning 'stuff' that holds you back from experiencing the freedom of life which eventually ends up shackling you to where you are.
Don't miss out on Going Natural.Com's America's Next Natural Model, an annual beauty pageant that celebrates the beauty of the natural state of women's hair. In its 4th year, this pageant is America's Next Top Model meets Naptural Roots as 10 women compete in hair styling and photograph challenges that both stir and inspire women with natural coils to celebrate their beauty.
This year's competitors are symbols of all things naturally beautiful. Meet the 2012 Miss Nappturality contestants, Chassity, CarlieM, Deseray, Kala, Jalita, Justyce Chavez, ReShonda, Nefertiti, Natasha and Jael by visiting Going Natural.Com and checking the results of the weekly competitions. The winner of the 2012 Miss Nappturality competition will receive national exposure as a celebrated natural hair model, endorsement deals and free products from Iman Cosmetics.
Why is it so much easier to label yourself a failure after a loss? This label sticks to our psyche hindering us from moving forward in life when it really doesn't have to.
Instead of applying negative outcomes as the defining labels for our lives, how about we celebrate the victories that may not be as glamorous, but are still deliciously sweet.
Here are 15 ways to measure whether or not you are truly a SUCCESS.
Did you make it through an entire work day without punching your co worker?
Did someone prosper because of your efforts?
Did someone smile after you left the room?
Did you finally throw away those bags of clothes in your garage?
Have you graduated from one stage in life to the next?
Did you make it through the arduous phases of high school?
Do you wake up in the morning smiling?
Do you have friends?
Did you get the laundry done this week?
Did you live through childbirth?
Did someone 'like' or 'plus one' your status update today?
Have you helped someone orgasm recently?
Are your children laughing, playing or fighting in the background?
Did you pay your bills last month?
Do you have the energy to wake up tomorrow and try again?
If you answered YES to at least 3 of these questions- YOU ARE A SUCCESS!
For My Savvy Sisters: Please share your personal modern day success stories in the comments.
By Christina Fermin Politics and Society Columnist
On January 11, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced his Second Bill of Rights during his State of the Union address to Congress. This Second Bill of Rights dealt with what he saw as economic rights for the people. He understood that the Bill of Rights was the citizens political rights and what was lacking in the new industrial century was an economic bill of rights to secure the “pursuit of happiness,” guaranteed by our wonderful Constitution. Roosevelt stated in his famous State of the Union address: “We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.”People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”
This Second Bill of Rights was to guarantee every American the right to employment with a living wage; Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies; Adequate housing; Universal medical care and Education and Social Security. Unfortunately President Roosevelt never saw this implemented and died before he could fully pursue it. President Roosevelt, dealing with the Great Depression and World War IIm understood the future implications if Americans did not have economic security. Without economic security, peace would be short lived. Today we have Social Security which is the only part of Roosevelt’s Second Bill of Rights which were given to the American people. Today, this lone support system for aging Americans is in severe jeopardy because of the carelessness and greed of Congress.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin’s wife, went on an international crusade to ensure these Second Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Today much of Europe enjoys many of these rights because of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Shortly after his death, the Second Bill of Rights fell into the shadows, some hoping it to be forgotten and lost. Michael Moore discovered the black and white video footage in 2008 in South Carolina while filming Capitalism: A Love Story. Now the video can be found on YouTube and other parts of the Internet where it is being remembered and brought back into the political realm.
I cannot help but to speculate as to what kind of America we would be living in today if Roosevelt’s Second Bill of Rights passed after the Great Depression and the war. Today’s America is radically different and unfortunately for us, our wonderful Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights has been under brutal attack in the last decade. The most recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, allowing indefinite detention to any who commits a “belligerent act” is the most recent evidence. Human rights have never looked as dismal as they now appear since the inception of the Constitution. As we look to the Presidential election coming in the Fall of this year, we need a leader who will lead America to the path of glory and freedom. Where is the leader that will give us this Second Bill of Rights and restore our civil liberties?
Roosevelt understood that without economic security, America was set to repeat history and peace would be short lived. As history unfolds today in the 21st Century Great Depression, these economic social nets that were created to protect us from financial uncertainty wither away. Until people of America and the world have economic security we will never be free nor will we have peace. To be in debt or financially uncertain is not freedom, it is a form of oppression and a ways of keeping the people enslaved. So long as the 1% control the market and control the economy, economic security will never prevail. We the people must hold the unpatriotic acts of elected officials accountable for their betrayal against the oath they have taken in office. Without economic security, the “pursuit of happiness” is a mere phrase that may fade into the history books just as Roosevelt’s Second Bill of Rights did. The time has come for the people to liberate ourselves from the hegemonic powers of the 1% and move forward. It is time for the people to say, "Enough, I will not buy your products, nor will I listen to your media or watch your television."
About the Columnist With a bachelors degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University, Christina Fermin has always cultivated her love for history, politics, sociology, ancient knowledge and teachings, the outdoors, the ocean and the environment. Christina strives to make our world better by helping us all create a new reality and understanding of all taking place here and now. You can reach her atChristina@MySavvySisters.Com
Organizing the partnership between The Rebuild Your Life Project and Denny's Restaurant wasn't exactly a smooth process. I had to articulate my vision for a hiring event that would collectively offer job interviews to the South Florida community on a wide scale basis and a 5 member team from Denny's corporate had to revise and refine it.
My goal was to have each Denny's restaurant in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to participate and have community members in need of employment come into the stores on a specified day during specific hours to be interviewed. After I was asked to send in an additional proposal to my district manager, he hosted a conference call with a member of Denny's marketing team and four other people who would offer insight, including his boss.
That morning during the conference call, I shared my ideas and vision and we all went back and forth, offering input and scaling down the project. Denny's suggested that we open up the interviews to everyone so that we wouldn't discriminate based on gender and they reminded me that every Denny's restaurant in South Florida isn't a corporate owned restaurant so getting the franchise restaurants on board would take some time, if it was at all possible.
We set a date for the hiring event - December 20th, 2011- and the public relations specialist asked me to send over a brochure to send to all of the franchise stores so that they would have information about my project.
The next day I drafted another proposal that detailed my idea along with the revisions that we discussed and I emailed it to the marketing manager, Chris Nichols. I didn't hear back from him for another two weeks and I began to get nervous so I contacted the corporate office and was given his direct phone number. He answered promptly and assured me that things were progressing and that in a corporation, things take time to be approved.
I felt better, but was still nervous because I am a complete control freak when it comes to my work. During The Rebuild Your Life Project, I had to do all of the writing for the marketing campaign myself, while I navigated through the homeless lifestyle, organized my job fair, did interviews to learn from the homeless people I met, did research on how to survive homelessness both physically and mentally and shot and edited videos that I posted daily on youtube. A one man band with a million tasks on my daily to-do list, not including dealing with the psychological ramifications of being homeless, I was in over my head during that project but I survived.
The knowledge that I can overcome anything still didn't stop my panic attacks as I checked my email waiting for word that everything was running smoothly with the partnership with Denny's. Just five days before the event was scheduled, I received the unofficial press release announcing the event and I breathed a sigh of relief.
My vision had been adjusted in a few very smart ways. There wasn't enough time to gather participation from the franchise stores so the district manager of the Miami-Dade restaurants and Broward country restaurants pledged their participation. Instead of having the open job interviews inside the 14 participating stores, there would be two locations that offered the hiring event, one in Miami and one in Broward. During the event, the general managers of each restaurant would be present to interview interested candidates.
The press release from Denny's was finally approved and I sent it to my media list. There were several local African American publications that I sent the press release to as well and I was simply shocked by the response I received from one editor.
"This is great and we commend Denny's however what Black american newspaper does Denny's advertise in?" he wrote to me.
"I am not certain. I am certain, however, that your readers will benefit from this news. It's your call of course," I wrote back.
"I know," he wrote back. "We have to have advertising to get information out to our readers. It's a fine line however that's why we believe in relationships and at this point we DO NOT have one with Denny's."
The next day I was pleased to see that this particular publication did indeed run the press release anyway. It was my first clue as to the yet undiscovered racial tensions between Denny's restaurant and the African American community.
The event went on as planned and I made this video to capture the monumental event.
I was shocked that absolutely no one from the local media decided to cover the event. In fact, if I had not made this video there would be no documentation of the turn-out at all. Through a connection I made during The Rebuild Your Life Project, Hot 105FM host Rodney Baltimore announced the event two mornings in a row during the Tom Joyner Morning Show (a long standing radio program with a focus on the African American community) and nearly every person I met that day informed me that they had heard the announcement on the radio.
At the end of the job fair, which I hosted from the Broward country location, my district manager informed me that 40 people were interviewed in Broward and 62 people had been interviewed in Miami. I was elated and excited about the people who would become employed as a result of our efforts, yet I was confused as to why the local media were not interested in covering a story about an international corporation that was offering employment opportunities 5 days before Christmas.
If I sent out my press release to all of my media contacts and Denny's did their part in marketing the project, at least ONE media outlet should have been interested- right?
I rarely watch television because most of what's on has nothing to do with my personal goals or plans so I don't care, but while visiting my Mom I saw a story on the news about a national chain store giving a woman a free Christmas tree.
Wait. A chain store gives ONE woman a Christmas tree and they get a whole segment on the nightly news and my event wasn't covered by anyone? This doesn't sound right.
I began to blame myself, thinking maybe it's me. Maybe because I have been such a flaming failure at life, some of that energy has tainted my project too. I began to doubt the value that the life lessons I taught as I conquered homelessness and advocated for women would bring to the world.
In my mind, I did something great, but no one in my hometown, at least not the mass media, seemed to care.
Maybe it's me. In my mind, I'm awesome but no amount of effort seems to matter. No matter how much I push, I still get the same result.
An opportunity to shift the blame came when I was invited to participate in a structural organization committee for an African American centered event. During a phone conference I introduced myself and shared my professional experience as a writer and the work that I had done to empower women during The Rebuild Your Life Project.
"You're partnering with who?" one of the committee members asked me.
"With Denny's."
He laughed.
Another phone conference participant chimed in. "If you partnered with an international corporation and actually did what you said you did and it's not on CNN, why do you think that is? You're a WAITRESS, helping people to get jobs. That's national news."
Huh?
"Did you know that Denny's had a class action lawsuit filed against them a while back?" he asked.
A what?
"For racism," he continued. "Denny's doesn't support the Black community."
What? I was confused. "But they said they would support this. We did all of this work together."
"If you say so."
After offering my input to their project, I hung up to draft a proposal for them but as I typed my thoughts were racing. Their words had impacted me more than I thought. The negative energy they passed along had taken root and attached itself to my spirit. I'm already a paranoid person, I don't like fear being added to my mental state by others.
The next day I devised a plan to contact the local media myself and ask them why they weren't interested in covering my event. It would be a report on why good news isn't fit to be news, at least that was my plan. When I shared my plan in an email with the marketing manager Chris Nichols, he told me that he'd call me and we had a 30 minute phone conversation.
I asked him why he thought the media wasn't interested and he said that the press can choose which stories to cover and he didn't think I should be so aggressive in seeking out answers from them.
"They aren't obligated, Te-Erika," he replied softly.
"Well, when we find out how many people were actually hired, can we do another release announcing the success of the event?" I asked him.
"Sure! We can do that," he assured me.
Then I brought up the issue about the racial tensions and he listened and offered his thoughts.
A long time ago Denny's was involved in some racial tensions and there was a law suit but most people don't know that the people who were involved in that don't even work for our company anymore, Chris shared. He said that Denny's had worked hard to gain right standing and had even hired someone to make sure that they have healthy connections within the various ethnic communities.
I hung up feeling more confused than ever. If Denny's did their part in marketing and I did my part in marketing, then how did this fall between the cracks? Does it have something to do with the fact that I am Black?
Wait a minute. I don't think like this. I never allow my skin color to become a reason why I can't have my dreams fulfilled. I never blame my ethnicity for my losses.
This internal debate sparked my creativity as I desperately tried to shake the negativity that clouded my joy.
I made this video that gently urged the African American community to release the mentality of victimhood and take personal responsibility for their own lives. I'd rather blame myself than give anyone the power to say they stopped me from doing what I wanted to do.
And then I waited to hear back from Denny's about the number of people who were actually hired as a result of The Rebuild Your Life Project partnership with Denny's so that I could try to market it again. As I waited, I devised another plan to take this initiative to an even bigger level.
What if I could get other big businesses to partner with The Rebuild Your Life Project to offer a mass hiring event? What if big businesses across the nation decided to take part and people were offered the opportunity of a lifetime, the one break they really needed to rebuild their lives during a time when the average man believes that big businesses don't care about them?
Who could I get to help organize and lead this initiative that would make the biggest impact? Who has already devised plans to create jobs for Americans? Who cares about this topic?
I sat down and drafted yet another proposal. This time it began- Dear President Obama...
