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April – June 2012

©

I am persuaded to change my view, focus and outlook – in

and on life. I may not have the power to single handedly

change the entire world, but I can do everything in my

ability to make a big difference. This is my New Direction!

As a young woman, I never understood the “Power of

Humanity”, what it really means to God or my amazing

place in this sensitive spectrum called Love. But one thing I

can not deny and will always be reminded of – is you’re

never too old to start, too young to get it right or too distant

to reach out.

WOW – what an Epiphany!

As a Nation, we have taken soooo much for granted, instead of living in a humble place of gratitude and true thankfulness. Our

hoarding, selfishness or need for more has caused a common tread of hatred, jealousy and division among the only species on

this planet, given the authority of Empowerment – We The People!

We have abused our God given gifts, talents, anointing and craft for self-elevation and personal gain, leaving no room for a

Philanthropy Movement, caused by the Fruit of Humility and the Spirit of Giving – Who have we become.. but better yet.. What

legacy are we leaving?

I’ve learned – we’ll never know our greatest distance, until we start reaching beyond ourselves. I believe it is there where God

performs His extraordinary works. I’m not calling myself a guru on the status of people, just a state of awareness that I have a

core responsibility to pay it forward.. with love, on purpose - every chance I get..

As always..

pg. 3

Send us your thoughts: Since our launch in January 2012, we’ve received an overwhelming response from woman

all over the world – how amazing. And although we get to see the love and support pouring in, we would like for others to

see your comments as well by posting them in our upcoming “TLL Voices” column.. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Don’t forget – Please submit..

From tragedy to triumph, Tammy Trent is one of TLL

Women’s Journal most favorite leading ladies. Her incredible

story of personal lost has touched people around the world and

the courage to live, laugh and love again speaks volumes

through her ministry of music.. cont.pg. 13

pg. 4

TLL Features

p. 8 Nancy Alcorn The Woman, The Ministry and Heart of Mercy

p. 11 TLL’s Leading Man The Honorable T.D. Jakes

p. 15 Cookie Johnson A Dream Fulfilled

We’ve discovered that Etsy.com is one of the most inspirational and

creative sites around – from handmade jewelry to out of the box

stationary, Etsy supports unique designers and their unique crafts.

TLL Spotlights

p.6 Robin Roberts My Battle, My Victory

p.14 Desiree Rogers From the White House to the pages of Ebony

p.17 Gloria Mayfield Banks Secrets of Success

p.20 Women on Top – Forbes Best Hillary Clinton, Queen Rania, Ursula Burns,

& Indra Nooyi

p.22 Somaly Mam Saving Humanity

PLUS

Beauty Loft p.12

Makeup by Mally, Eyebrow Queen Anatasia Soare

and Style advise from Rachel Zoe.

Save The Date! p.10

Godz Glamorous Girls Conference

HomeStyle p.10

HGTV’s Design Star Kim Myles

In Every Issue..

TLL’s Bookshelf – p.10

A Woman’s Health – p.19

TLL’s Mommy Boutique – p.16

Tracy: What I’ve Learned & MORE.. pg. 5

’ !!

We all have one – and the world needs to hear it.

Ladies, If you have an amazing story, business or testimony.. We at Today’s Leading Ladies Women’s Journal would love to

share it with our readers. Every quarter we open our platform and provide an opportunity for someone to share a portion of her

world through either an experience, a gift, success, inspirational writings, journal entries, life lessons and leaps of faith.

To be considered, please email your submission to tllwomensjournal_editor@aol.com, along with your full name, email address

and current print ready picture for publishing. Content need to be submitted in word doc form and all pictures need to be in jpeg

format. We all have a voice.. SPEAK!

!

Robin Roberts, the "Good Morning America" co-anchor was

diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Since then, she has shared

her experience with viewers and women around the world,

becoming a spokesperson for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In June 2007, while preparing a tribute to former ABC colleague

Joel Siegel—who had been an advocate of early screening and

prevention during his own battle with colon cancer—Robin

performed a breast self-exam and found a lump. On July 17, after

undergoing a biopsy, she was diagnosed with an early-stage of

breast cancer. Over the next year, Robin would share many aspects

of her journey with the GMA audience, generating both an

outpouring of heartfelt support and a number of critically important

informative segments on topics related to breast cancer for the

morning news show. Now, more than a year later, Robin is finished

treatment and filled with gratitude for the many blessings that

continue to see her through her experiences and the response her

story has generated. Surviving cancer has given her a different

perspective on her life and career.

Since her battle, Robin provides insight into her personal

history and her appreciation for these blessings in her

inspirational memoir, From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By.

The book, which follows Robin from her childhood on the

Mississippi Gulf Coast, to her present day life.

Its clear Robin understands the power of a message—and the

role the messenger plays in that delivery, but more

importantly the value of her life and foundation

which has always been ruled by principles, inspired

by faith and gratitude. So when asked what

message she would leave with newly diagnosed

women and what they might gain from her

story, she humbly replied “If stories of survival

are not comforting, they will be in time. It’s

okay to be selfish. Give yourself a break.

Those of us who have been through it know

that it is about you, and its okay.”

twitter.com/ROBINROBERTS

pg. 7

Tracy R. Butler - ©

pg. 9

It was during and after college that Nancy Alcorn, a native Tennessean, spent eight years working for the state of Tennessee

at a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls and investigating child abuse cases. Working for the state on a daily

basis gave her direct encounters with secular programs that were not producing permanent results that exemplified changed

lives. Nancy saw many of the girls pass the age of eighteen and end up in the women's prison system because they never got

the real help they needed. After working for the state and recognizing that true transformation would never come as the

result of any government system, she was appointed Director of Women for the Nashville Teen Challenge program where

she worked for two years. Through her experience, she began to realize that only Jesus could bring restoration into the lives

of girls who were desperately hurting and searching for something to fill the void they felt in their hearts. Nancy knew God

was unfolding a plan prompting her to step out in faith to help hurting young women.

In January 1983, determined to establish a program in which lives would truly be transformed, Nancy moved to Monroe,

Louisiana to start Mercy Ministries of America. She knew that there were three principles to which she must always remain

faithful: (1) accept girls free of charge, (2) always give at least ten percent of all donations to other organizations and

ministries, and (3) do not take any state or federal funding or any money that interferes with the freedom to share Christ.

Several years and many changed lives later, Mercy Ministries has established locations in Monroe, Louisiana; Nashville,

Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; and Sacramento, California. The organization has grown beyond the borders of the United

States, including locations in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada. In addition, plans are underway for more sites

in America as well as internationally.

According to Nancy, "It is our belief that if we provide places at no charge where girls can come and receive new life

through Jesus Christ, as well as professional training in other areas, their lives will never be the same!"

Every day, young women across the country are desperately struggling with debilitating life-controlling issues - usually more

than one. Many of them have lost all hope of freedom. The situation is serious. Did you know that…

1 in 3 young women is sexually abused before age 18. (RAINN 2011)

1 in 5 young women struggles with an eating disorder. (National Institute of Mental Health 2010)

Studies find that between 17% and 40% of college students admit to committing self-harm and between 15% and 30%

percent of high school students do. (ABC News Report--University of Mississippi 2011)

34% of girls in America get pregnant at least once before age 20. There are 750,000 teen pregnancies each year with 59%

ending in birth. 82% of teen pregnancies are unplanned. (Guttmacher Institute 2011)

At least 100,000 American children are victims of child prostitution annually; some estimate the number is as high as

300,000. (Ernie Allen, from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death. (CDC 2010)

These hurting young women often spend years in and out of treatment centers, costing their families thousands of dollars. They

are told over and over again that there is no hope for them, and despair easily overtakes their lives. Girls are literally dying in

darkness; lives need to be saved.

God has called Mercy Ministries to respond to the need by providing a safe, Christ-centered environment, free of charge that

helps young women find freedom from life-controlling issues and embrace hope for the future.

Join Dr. DeeDee Freeman as she hosts her annual

God’s Glamorous Girls Conference at the Walter E. Washington

Convention Center located in Washington DC.

Kim is the CEO of her interior design firm (Kim Myles Design), and

is also a contributing columnist for numerous shelter publications

and websites. As a licensed hairstylist in both NY and CA, she’s

invested in the beauty of both homes, and the people who live in

them. When she’s not actively improving aesthetics, she’s busy

talking about her unique approach to style via speaking engagements

and personal appearances. As a veteran public speaker, she’s spoken

to over 20,000 people to date.

Kim believes that taking a more creative, imaginative approach to

home, style and life can yield giant dividends for almost anyone. It’s

her mission to help people discover their own individual style,

and to celebrate it in their homes, as well as in life!

Where God Took My Soul

Chronicles a journey, that begins with the unearthing of private shame, releasing childhood “secrets”, letting go of guilt, and becoming the mouthpiece of millions of her generation.

She realizes that through forgiveness of others and most importantly herself would prove to be her path to restore and rebuild her life by putting her life in the Master’s hand.

- TLL’s Book & Author of the Quarter -

Brooks J. Young, Author brooksjyoung.com

pg. 10

godsglamorousgirls.com

kimyles.com

T. D. Jakes is a charismatic leader, visionary, provocative thinker, and entrepreneur who serves as senior pastor of The Potter's

House, a global humanitarian organization and 30,000-member church located in Dallas. Named "America's Best Preacher" by

Time Magazine, Jakes' voice reverberates from the world's most prominent stages. Through a nexus of charitable works, T.D.

Jakes extends a hand of help to the needy, heart of compassion to the hurting, and message of empowerment to the oppressed

and disenfranchised. Beyond the pulpit, Jakes ranks among the 25 Most Influential African Americans, Britain's 100 Most

Influential Black People and EBONY's Power150. His worldwide impact can be felt through a media empire that spans film,

television, radio, best-selling books, greeting cards and conference series.

T.D. Jakes is the founder of the for-profit T.D. Jakes Enterprises, through which he employs his aptitudes as author, songwriter

and playwright. A prolific author of more than 30 books, T.D. Jakes has numerous best sellers, including, Before You Do:

Making Great Decisions That You Won’t Regret (Atria, 2009), and Reposition Yourself (Atria, 2008), both of which reached

No. 3 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Reposition Yourself remained on the list for 23 weeks, and spent 20 weeks on

USA Today’s best sellers list. In January 2009, Sony Pictures released Not Easily Broken, Jakes’ second novel to have been

made into a motion picture. Not Easily Broken ranked No. 9 nationally during opening week. His theater company,

Touchdown Concepts, created and produced plays that were popular throughout the nation. Furthermore, Jakes’ music label

Dexterity Sounds, has produced many music projects, including the GRAMMY® Award-winning A Wing and a Prayer.

A father of five with wife Serita, Thomas Dexter Jakes credits his parents as the source of his perseverance and sense of self-

reliance.

After 35 years in ministry, T.D. Jakes continues to be a leading voice of innovation, inspiration, and influence in Christendom

today.

www.tdjakes.org

Tips, Trends and Advice for the Mommy To Be..

Invest in a well-designed pair of jeans. As opposed to former generations, we are fortunate

to live in a fashion-forward age that accommodates styles for every body, size and situation

— pregnancy included. For example, both 7 For All Mankind and J Brand make maternity

jeans (praise the denim gods!), which are a flawless starting point for a prego-chic look.

Explore all free form bottoms. Leggings, maxi skirts or full length dresses are perfect for

pregnancy. Take your pick of the three styles and then you’re ready to tackle the waist up!

For tops, I recommend long tunics, flowy blouses and ponchos to flatter your mom-to-be

figure.

Shift your focus to footwear. You can stay stylish, yet at ease in a pair of wedges or flats.

Try either with any of these combinations — long tunic and leggings, poncho and flare

jeans, tank and maxi skirt — and you’ll be pregnant per-fec-tion!

Accessories are key. Don’t forget to complete your modern maternity look with a big tote

bag and a pair of do-not-disturb oversized sunnies to hide fatigue!

"Every woman needs a little glamour in her life, no matter how busy or tired. It can be as easy as swapping out a loose white tee

for a fitted blouse or adding your favorite statement accessory, either a necklace or a really colorful scarf – it’s the perfect pick-

me-up!"

Anastasia Soare is widely referred to as

“The Definitive Eyebrow Expert”, and that is

for good reason. Over the years she has

achieved iconic status in the beauty industry

for her unique and revolutionary ways of

shaping eyebrows. Anastasia’s Beverly Hills

Salon has built on a steady flow of celebrities

which include Oprah, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna,

Naomi Campbell and many more. Anastasia has

been featured in pages of top magazines such as

Voque, Elle, Allure, People and many more..

Anastasia.net

Rachel Zoe - The most famous

fashion stylist in Hollywood, Rachel

Zoe has become a celebrity in her own

right by dressing movie and television

stars for the red carpet. The New Jersey

native has designed camera-ready looks

for clients like Jennifer_Garner,

Lindsay_Lohan, Nicole_Richie,

Kate_Hudson, and countless others

with a captivating signature fashion-

forward style.

thezoereport.com

Celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal learned at an early age the importance of

accepting – and loving – who you are. Mally

has the ability to create a diverse range of

looks from natural and elegant, to colorful

and ultra-glamorous. Her beauty philosophy

emphasizes healthy, breathable skin that

looks flawless and dewy. According to

Mally, “Makeup is simply the accessory that

allows someone’s true nature and beauty to

outwardly manifest itself.”

Mallybeauty.com

Now, with the introduction of the

Mally Beauty makeup collection,

Mally takes her message, and her

makeup to women everywhere. Both

reinforce the positive energy that is

Mally, who believes that “if you do

what you love, and you follow your

dreams, they can become a reality.”

And that’s a beautiful thing!

pg. 12

with Tammy Trent

Through the Journey..

Beneath her youthful exterior and fresh-faced exuberance,

Tammy is a focused recording artist, author and speaker who

knows exactly what she wants to say. She creates music that

serves as a personal conduit for those seeking to worship God and

also wants to remind others of God's desire to reach them.

Through her own personal journey of love and loss, Tammy

continues to share that theme through her books, her music and

her life.

Tammy's dedication to the ministry was recognized in November

2009 when the Christian Music Hall of Fame handed her the award

for Inspirational Female Vocalist of the Year! Her ministry reaches

all around the world, taking on such platforms as the Women of

Faith and the Revolve Tour as a featured speaker and singer, and

in Tammy's own words, "I commit my resources to outreach,

service and ministry to help others discover a real relationship

with Jesus Christ and to fully understand His promises and the

eternal."

Tammy's story is one of despair and unexpected grace. In

September 2001 she and her husband, Trent (from whom her

stage name comes from), spent a few days in Jamaica - part

mission trip, part vacation. On September 10th, Trent went diving

and never returned. Tammy spent the rest of the day with rescue

divers trying to locate her husband with no success. She woke up

the next morning in the home of strangers to discover that the

whole world had gone mad. As she waited for news of her

husband, she watched the news as two planes plowed into the

Twin Towers in New York - later that day she had to identify the

body of her husband. No one in her family could get to her as

flights were canceled. She was held captive in Jamaica for ten more

days waiting to return to her family. Tammy's story of God's grace

in the midst of such pain, fear and loss touches everyone she

ministers to. It is one thing to call the Lord shepherd - it is another

to be carried by Him when you can no longer stand. Tammy is

constantly amazed by our Lord's commitment to us in the

worst moments of our lives.

tammytrent.com

We Searched – We Found!

Here are some of our favorites.com!

Briana Edelman Pillows by Joom Oveja Negra

Sweet Athem Lisa Ashlock

White Owl

In November 2008 Desiree Rogers was selected by Barack Obama's office as the White House Social Secretary, a glamorous, yet

serious position which yielded hard work, attention to detail and strict confidentiality. A Harvard Business School graduate

Desiree got her first taste of the “Woman in Charge” and shot-calling stints as President of Social Networking at Allstate

Financial, President of Chicago’s utility Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas and the Illinois State Lottery, Desiree Rogers embarked

on what would become her most high-profile role yet, as White House social secretary for the Obama administration. On the job

for a little more than a year and credited with the success of more than 300 events, Ms. Rogers left the White House after taking

the heat for the much-hyped "gate crashers" incident in which an uninvited couple managed to slip into a state dinner.

With her business savvy talents and fresh creativity, Desiree plans to boost Internet and mobile initiatives to create new revenue

sources and capitalize on its archive of more than half a century of African-American life. “We’re not just going to do

magazines,” says Desiree in an interview at Bloomberg headquarters in New York, that’s not the end game, Johnson Publishing

has “an authentic voice” that can speak to younger generations while holding on to its traditional audience”.

We definitely believe this visionary is a Woman Worth Watching..

johnsonpublishing.com

Desiree has always been a strong-willed woman

striving for the top, so when we heard she was

appointed CEO of Johnson Publishing Company

in August 2010, we knew she would stand tall

and make yet another mark.. making Johnson

Publishing Co., bigger and better. Desiree has

known the company for over 20 years through

personal relationships with the Johnson family and comes to

the position with an extensive track record in mature brand

rebuilding. In addition she has an extensive network of

relationships built over 25 years and experience working in

both the public and private sectors.

pg. 14

Cookie is also involved in the Successful Young

Women’s Program at her church, the West Angeles

Church of God in Christ, where she teaches a class

directed to bettering the lives of young teenage women.

She is also involved with “Have I Got a Story to Tell” as

a member of All Trees Productions that includes

entertainers who donate their time to tell inspirational

stories through word or song.

As an honorary chairperson for the Children’s Defense

Fund, Cookie helped raise awareness of children who

struggle to overcome tremendous obstacles in life. She

is also chairman of Prototypes, a program that provides

education and care for women and children affected by

HIV/AIDS.

A businesswoman at heart, Cookie launched her

premium denim line - Cj by Cookie Johnson, a dream

comes true for this jean fanatic who couldn’t find jeans

to fit her body type. Realizing her testimony was that of

many women, she created a versatile fit for women with

real bodies. This was the beginning of a new revolution

in the denim industry; Cj is currently sold at Nordstrom,

SAKS Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Cookie is the first spokeswoman for the I Stand with

Magic campaign, joining her husband Earvin “Magic”

Johnson, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott in

their continued fight to end Black HIV/AIDS. She is

instrumental in the five-year effort to help reduce new

HIV infections in the African-American community by

educating minority women about the disease and

providing helpful tools for prevention and testing.

Cookie graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in retailing of clothing and textiles, working in the

industry for seven years. Cookie is married to Earvin Johnson Jr. and is a full-time mother to their children Andre, Earvin

Johnson III (EJ) and Elisa. She is extremely active in her children’s school programs and fundraising events.

As a Devoted Philanthropist, Successful Business Entrepreneur,

Women's Health Advocate, Child Advocate and Wife of Earvin

"Magic" Johnson, Cookie serves as Secretary of the Board of

Directors for the Magic Johnson Foundation. She addresses the

health, social and educational needs of those residing in underserved

communities and is involved in the development of the Foundation’s

overall goals, objectives and programs.

cjbycookiejohnson.com

pg. 15

anntaylor.com

3. Visualize your success. Can you see yourself at your ideal weight? Maybe it’s a physical picture of you before baby. Maybe it’s a better body. You can cut out a picture of someone’s body from a magazine and put your head on it, or even make a virtual you online. Let that visual picture of the new you motivate you to make sacrifices today so you can enjoy that body tomorrow. Picture yourself every day at your ideal weight and imagine how good you will feel in your new and improved body.

You’re walking in a clothing store, pushing your stroller. You catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and cringe. How did you gain so much weight and how in the world are you going to lose it? You feel overwhelmed with your relentless schedule with baby. Finding time to exercise is an utterly depressing thought. How do you lose your baby weight without losing your mind? Take a deep breath mom and relax. You didn’t gain those pregnancy pounds overnight and you won’t shed them overnight either. But you will drop every last pound if you follow these three easy principles until you reach success.

1. Make gradual adjustments. If you try a radical diet, you’ll probably stick with it for a few days or weeks, but after a while, you’ll be back to your old eating and exercise habits. It’s better to make small incremental changes that last. If you love having sugar with your coffee, have one teaspoon instead of two. Maybe you order large fries and a large soda at the drive thru. Switch to small.

Constantly make gradual adjustments and stick with them until they become your new normal. You want to gradually change your lifestyle to line up with healthy choices.

2. Be solution oriented. Prepare to face food temptations, exercise excuses and days where you fall off the wagon. Problems are inevitable. It’s how you face them that will make all the difference. When you’ve got PMS and chocolate on the brain and you eat too much, don’t wallow in your failure. Regroup and make healthy choices the next day. If you have to drop the gym because it’s too expensive, don’t give up on exercise. Get an exercise DVD and work out at home. Be creative and always push for a solution.

4. When you think of losing weight after baby, don’t let your mind dwell on all the obstacles. Focus on making positive changes every day and keep hope alive in your heart. Take some advice from Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” Practice good habits and enjoy the benefits of healthy choices. You’ll lose your baby weight in the process without losing your mind.

By Arlene Pellicane / arlenepellicane.com

pg. 16

A Life Energy Coach and Trainer, Gloria Mayfield Banks speaks to groups all over the world about how to develop the

skills and harness life energy to achieve success. Gloria has shared her secrets of success with national media audiences on

CNN, the Donny Deutsch show, “The Big Idea” on CNBC, ABC-TV, and has appeared in Fortune, Black Enterprise,

Glamour, Working Woman and PINK Magazines. Gloria has consistently beaten the odds to achieve phenomenal success in

her life and business. She defied Dyslexia to earn a college degree and a Harvard MBA, left an abusive marriage and a

corporate career at IBM 20 years ago to sell lipstick – quickly ascending to Elite Executive National Sales Director with Mary

Kay, Inc.

Today, Gloria earns millions in a worldwide networking sales business and travels the globe from her Baltimore home to

speak with audiences seeking her People Building advice on how to create a better life for themselves. Known for her high

energy and skill as a motivator and trainer, Gloria’s message of what it takes to succeed is in demand by audiences from Main

Street to Europe, Russia and China. Gloria’s enthusiasm is contagious and her message is strong.

Success is a choice that once committed to can be achieved! A dynamic

storyteller, Gloria presents her ideas and thoughts in a conversational style and

uses creative humor to impact her audience. One of her best-known workshops

focuses on teaching the people skills needed to attain personal and professional

success. Gloria’s success is all the more phenomenal considering that she has

Dyslexia, a learning disability. She has demonstrated by her own example,

determination and hard work, that any goal can be achieved.

pg. 17

Gloria began her professional career in the computer industry, as sales representative for

IBM and later joined Stratus Computers as a manufacturing marketing manager. She

went on to become Assistant Director for Admissions at the Harvard University School

of Business where she traveled nationally and internationally to recruit students. Faced

with a difficult divorce, Ms. Banks began selling Mary Kay products to supplement her

income and within a year she set the company sales records. A few years later, her business

had grown to over $24 million in retail sales with a sales group of over 6,000 consultants. Over her career with Mary Kay,

Gloria has earned several cars, numerous trips and jewelry; and has broken company sales records. She is among the top 10

in sales in the United States and the number one African-American Sales Director in the world – Phenomenal..

Gloria is married to Kenneth R. Banks, President/CEO of Banks Contracting that provides construction services on some of

the largest projects in the Baltimore region, including the New Clinical Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital, currently the

largest hospital project in America. The Banks Family includes four adult children. They reside in Baltimore, MD.

gloriamayfieldbanks.com

mindyweiss.com

pg. 18

How did you first find out you had cancer?

Always vigilant because of my family’s history I practiced breast self exam diligently. I

discovered a lump in my breast while taking a shower. My primary care physician

assured me there was no reason for concern. Instinctively I knew better and cautiously

sought another opinion.

How did you react when you heard the news?

In the words taken from my autobiographical stage play ‘Sister, Girl.’ “Surprise jumped

in my mouth, grabbed my tongue, and refused to let my mouth form a response.”

What course of treatment were you prescribed?

M-a-s-t-e-c-t-o-m-why. On Christmas Eve I entered the hospital. On Christmas day I

went home. Radiation and chemotherapy followed with the addition of Tamoxifen.

What most surprised you about your treatment? The concept of a chemical cocktail in my body destroying some cells so that others

could live, if my mind did not allow the acceptance of the chemotherapy, how could my

body respond, nothing can be achieved without belief. After the third round of

chemotherapy I said no more.

What would your advice be to anyone who’s just received a cancer diagnosis? How long have you been cancer free? You are an active participant in your care and

well-being. Miracles happen everyday. Cancer is not an automatic death sentence. See

yourself as whole, every part of mind, soul and body healthy and complete.

What lessons did you learn from the experience? I’m still a student.

If you could send one message to all the Good Enough Mothers out there – what

would it be? Love yourself. Be strong. Be fierce!

Brandyn Barbara Artis, performed her critically acclaimed play 'Sister, Girl' across the United

States and internationally. Her fiction has been published by THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

and in 'The Breast An Anthology.' She is the recipient of a Los Angeles DramaLogue's critic

award as Harriet in 'Letters to Harriet Tubman' with the Los Angeles Music Center on Tour, the

NAACP Image award for 'Shakin the Mess out of Misery' which she also choreographed, and a

Grammy for 'Threshold' a Warner Bros. album. On ABC's General Hospital she played the role

of Dr. Diane Erskine. In April, 2011 Brandyn was the Harper's Bazaar Fabulous at Every Age

Grand prize awardee. She lives and works in Los Angeles and Paris with Tallulah her Yorkshire

terrier. runningbarefootinparis.com

Brandyn Barbara Artis, actress, playwright,

breast cancer awareness advocate, Grand prize

winner of the Harper’s Bazaar/Estee Lauder

Fabulous at every age contest, author of the

soon to be released, RUNNING BAREFOOT IN

PARIS, the novel.

Article by Renee Syler / goodenoughmother.com

Get a BSE (Breast Self-Exam)

Card and information at

Komen.org

runningbarefootinparis.com

On January 21, 2009, Hillary

Rodham Clinton was sworn in

as the 67th Secretary of State of

the United States. She joined

the State Department after

nearly four decades in public

service as an advocate,

attorney, First Lady of the

United States and U.S. Senator.

Hillary became an advocate of

health care reform and worked

on many issues relating to

children and families. She led

successful bipartisan efforts to

improve the adoption and foster

care systems, reduce teen

pregnancy, and provide health

care to millions of children

through the Children's Health

Insurance Program. She’s

traveled to more than 80

countries as a representative of

our country, winning respect as

a champion of human rights,

democracy and civil society.

Her famous speech in Beijing in

1995 - when she declared that

"human rights are women's

rights, and women's rights are

human rights" – inspired

women worldwide and helped

galvanize a global movement for women’s rights – these

among many accomplishments.

Secretary Clinton is married to

former President Bill Clinton

and mother of one daughter.

The Best of Forbes Hillary Clinton Queen Rania Ursula Burns Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer of the

nationally known PepsiCo.

Mrs. Nooyi was named

President and CEO on October

1, 2006 and assumed the role of

Chairman on May 2, 2007. She

has directed the company's

global strategy for more than a

decade and led its restructuring,

including the divestiture of its

restaurants into the successful

YUM! Brands, Inc., the

acquisition of Tropicana and the

merger with Quaker Oats that

brought the vital Quaker and

Gatorade businesses to PepsiCo,

the merger with PepsiCo's

anchor bottlers, and the

acquisition of Wimm-Bill-

Dann, the largest international

acquisition in PepsiCo's history.

She holds a B.S. from Madras

Christian College, an M.B.A.

from the Indian Institute of

Management in Calcutta and a

Master of Public and Private

Management from Yale

University.

Mrs. Nooyi is married and has

two daughters.

Ursula Burns serves as Madam

Chairman and CEO of Xerox

and the first African American

woman CEO to head a Fortune

500 company. She’s also the

first woman to succeed another

woman as head of a Fortune

500 company.

When Burns joined Xerox in

1980 as a mechanical

engineering summer intern, the

company was the leader in the

global photocopying market.

As she later assumed roles in

product development and

planning, the company was

securing its leadership position

in digital document

technologies. From 1992

through 2000, Burns, at a

pivotal point in the company’s

history, led several business

teams including the company’s

color business and office

network printing business.

Burns was named chief

executive officer in July 2009

and on May 20, 2010, Burns

became chairman of the

company, leading the 140,000

people of Xerox who serve

clients in more than 160

countries.

In March 2010, President

Obama appointed Burns vice

chair of the President’s Export

Council.

Queen Rania of Jordan is a

strong progressive female voice

in the Arab world and a

powerful advocate for

education, health and women's

rights.

Born in Kuwait and forced to

flee during the first Gulf War in

1991, Queen Rania's early life

was much like thousands of

other Palestinians. Known for

her business savvy, elegance

and outspokenness, Queen

Rania has divided opinion

between those who feel she

should take a more traditional

role and those who see her as a

shining example . "I am an Arab

through and through," she

insists. "But I am also one who

speaks the international

language." Rania never

expected to be queen, but

despite the unexpected change

in her circumstances, the young

queen has taken to her role and

is now known as much for her

progressive social and economic

agenda.

Queen Rania is married to King

Abdullah II of Jordan and mother of four children: “ I

make it a point and find comfort

in tucking them into bed at

night, this is a true woman of

the new millennium”.

pg. 20

pg. 22

I’ve committed my life to fighting this horrible scourge on humanity. Seeing innocent young women and children whose lives have been forever scarred leaves no doubt that they need a champion who is willing to invest all their time and energy towards eradicating the shameful practice of human trafficking.

Somaly Mam was born in the Mondulkiri province of Cambodia. With limited options as a severely marginalized ethnic group,

and living in unimaginable despair, her family often resorted to desperate means to survive. This confluence of dire

circumstances led to the unspeakable horrors that would mark Somaly's early years. Somaly was sold into sexual slavery by a

man who posed as her grandfather. To this day, due to the passing of time and the unreliability of a wounded memory, Somaly

still does not know who this man was to her. Yet his actions set her on an unimaginable path fraught with danger, desperation,

and ultimately triumph. Forced to work in a brothel along with other children, Somaly was brutally tortured and raped on a daily

basis. One night, she was made to watch as her best friend was viciously murdered. Fearing she would meet that same fate,

Somaly heroically escaped her captors and set about building a new life for herself. She vowed never to forget those left behind

and has since dedicated her life to saving victims and empowering survivors.

For her tireless efforts, Somaly has justifiably garnered world-wide respect and is now a renowned leader at the forefront of the

anti-trafficking struggle. Universally recognized as a visionary for her courage, dignity, ingenuity, and resilience, Somaly was

honored as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009 and was featured as a CNN Hero. She is also the

recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child

(WCPRC), Glamour Magazine's 2006 Woman of the Year Award, and has won accolades from the US Department of Homeland

Security.

But Somaly's success has come at a price. She and her family have faced terrifying death threats and violence. Asked why she

continues to fight in the face of such fierce and frightening opposition, Somaly resolutely responds, "I don't want to go without

leaving a trace."

Despite the fact that she is known the world over and has certainly earned a life of luxury and repose, Somaly continues to work

hard in the Cambodian recovery centers, living among the women and children she rescues and staying by their side as they

walk the difficult path to recovery and freedom.

I cannot wage this fight alone and call upon anyone who cares about the innocent victims to donate their time, money and advocacy to this important cause. Each contribution means everything to the victims and know that I will be forever grateful for those who help make such an important difference.”

www.somaly.org