Women of Rubies
Author

Women of Rubies

Browsing
In Inspiration By

DANIELLE OUTLAW BECOMES PHILADELPHIA’S FIRST BLACK WOMAN POLICE COMMISSIONER

Philadelphia has hired Danielle Outlaw, making her the first black woman police commissioner hired to lead the city, according to ABC News.

Outlaw was previously the police chief of Portland, Oregon, where she was also the first black woman to hold that position. She had been Portland’s chief of police since 2017. She was appointed to the latest position this week by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

In a press release, Mayor Kenney said, “I think constantly about what it takes to be a police officer. Our men and women in blue leave home each day knowing they are about to put their lives at risk to protect our community, and that even on a good day they are likely to encounter extremely challenging and disturbing situations. I know officers take on this sworn duty, first and foremost, to help Philadelphians. Their devotion to public service is never forgotten.”

“But make no mistake: while I have tremendous respect for our officers, the Philadelphia Police Department needs reform. I am appointing Danielle Outlaw because I am convinced she has the conviction, courage, and compassion needed to bring long-overdue reform to the Department. After meeting and speaking with her at length, I came away confident that Danielle Outlaw possesses the strength, integrity, and empathy vital to the tasks ahead.

Outlaw is taking over the department four months after former police commissioner Richard Ross resigned amidst allegations that his department had engaged in sexual harassment and racial and gender discrimination amongst its ranks.

“I am honored by the faith that Mayor Kenney is placing in me to lead the Philadelphia Police Department. While I am new to Philadelphia, I am not new to the challenges of big-city, 21st century policing,” Outlaw said. “I encountered and dealt with the issues of employee health and wellness, equity, contemporary training, crime, fair and just prosecution, community trust, homelessness, substance abuse, police accountability, and innovation and technology—just to name a few—as I worked various assignments and rose through the ranks in Oakland, California. And I directly addressed these issues while leading the police force in Portland, Oregon.

“Modern policing is data-driven, but the paramount factor is not so easily quantified: trust—the trust residents have that their police force will keep them safe and treat them with respect. I am convinced that trust can be restored, here and across the nation. I am convinced community-police relations can be rebuilt and fortified through dialogue, transparency, and accountability.

“It will be a privilege to serve as Philadelphia Police Commissioner and to serve all who live and work in this great city. I will work relentlessly to reduce crime in Philadelphia—particularly the insidious gun violence that plagues too many communities. And I will do so in a way that ensures all people are treated equitably regardless of their gender identity, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. I am convinced there can be humanity in authority; they are not mutually exclusive. That was true in Oakland and in Portland, and I know it is true here in Philadelphia.”

Outlaw is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Human and Civil Rights Committee, as well as the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

 

Culled from Black Enterprise

by
Keep Reading
In Inspiration By

THIS WOMAN BECAME A NATIONAL ELEVATOR PITCH CHAMPION AND WON OVER $150,000 TO FUND HER BUSINESS

Some people use Kickstarter campaigns and loans to fund their business ventures. But 13-time National Elevator Pitch Champion and 2013 Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition winner Precious Williams used her gift of gab to win more than $150,000 toward her business pursuits.

Precious Williams, bestselling-author and CEO of Perfect Pitches by Precious L.L.C., used her powerful presentation skills to take her business, Curvy Girlz Lingerie, around the world and empower women who wanted to feel sexy in their curvaceous bodies. She used data, stories, and creativity to attract large-scale companies who wanted to partner with her. Now, she’s earned the title of being a nationally recognized pitch master and has been a featured guest on large stages to share her pitching strategies with other business owners.

Recently, Williams sat on a panel at the QuickBooks Connect 2019 conference to share insights on how you can use your voice to attract investors who believe in your vision. Black Enterprise caught up with Williams to discuss the secret sauce for business owners who want to deliver a profitable presentation.

MASTER YOUR STORY

Williams shares that people want to know more about you than what you do. “You have to put together a clear and concise pitch that will knock their socks off,” says Williams. “Who you are is more important than what you do. Telling a story helps people get to know more about you and you become more than just a robot.”

During the QuickBooks panel discussion, Williams talked about how she used her story and statistics to attract investors to her business. “I talked about curvy women and people forgetting that they exist and they need love too. There are over 40 million women who are size 14 or larger in the United States. You have to think about how you dress up all these details into a sexy story that showcases why curvy women need sexy, stylish and fashion-forward lingerie.”

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Before you design your elevator pitch, think about what your overall goal is and your purpose. Identify what you would like to achieve and then work backward to manifest that vision.

Williams recommends that you start by asking these questions:

  • Do I want to win a competition?
  • Do I want to get to the movers and shakers in the room who can invest at a higher level?
  • Do I want to get into various media outlets?
  • Do I want to obtain paid speaking engagements?
  • Do I want to get my name, brand, book, or product out there?

“Think about what your overall goal is because that will help you write the pitch,” she says. “If you know what your goal is, your strategy becomes clearer. You know what you are focused on and you can proceed accordingly.”

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

“Know and study your audience,” Williams says. “Find out who you are pitching in front of. For example, if you know you are speaking to finance professionals, you better be dropping statistics in your story.”

Williams also shares how important it is to understand what your audience needs. “Don’t just understand what your audience wants. A lot of people want to be told the same stuff over and over again. But a lot of other people want to learn something new, hot, and fresh. So, if you tell them what they need and want, you’ll knock their socks off.”

Once you have researched your audience, Williams recommends that you “set a scene in the audience’s mind of where you want them to go. It will make you stand out in ways you never dreamed of.”

Source: Black Enterprise

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

AUSTRALIAN COMEDIAN / ACTRESS CELESTE BARBER RAISES OVER $23 MILLION AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS FOR FIRE VICTIMS

 

Barber had put up a Facebook Fundraiser on Friday, to help the New South Wales devastating fire, and by Sunday mid afternoon the tally has reached over $22 million about 48 hour after Barber launched the fundraiser. There were massive support from Australia and all over from as far the UK, US, France and Italy.

“Want to join me in supporting a good cause?” Barber wrote on the Facebook page.

“I’m raising money for The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate a lot or a little.

“Anything helps. Thank you for your support.”

With about 6.4m followers on her Instagram page, she used her huge social media following to draw donations from helpers.In regular updates on Instagram, she has spoken about family members caught up in the crisis in Eden, including her parents-in-law.

“Our family has just been evacuated, so I’m slightly stressed at the moment,” she explained.

Barbers’s fundraiser has prompted several celebrities to offer help and even sharing the donation link.

On Saturday the American singer Pink pledged $500,000 to Australian fire services and also urged her followers to help by making a donation. “I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” she tweeted. Nicole Kidman posted on Instagram that she was also donating $500,000 to the fires services.

Ashleigh Barty a World tennis player said she wanted to dig deep again for families who have been left devastated by bush-fires. On Sunday she pledged to all her Brisbane International prize money if she wins the competition which starts on Monday. The prize take home money is about $250,000 ($A360,000)

“Someone needed to do something and the people did something,” Barber said.She has been receiving significant amount of praise lot of people, sharing her page and posting the successful response she has received and even calling her a national treasure.

 

“#celestebarber raising over $15mill for Australian firefighters is a shining light and true example of how celebrities and influencers can and should be using their influence,” wrote one woman on Twitter.

“Make this woman PM, such a legend,” wrote another on Facebook.

by
Keep Reading
In food and fitness By

Here’s How You Can Become A Healthier, Happier You In 2020

DON’T GET IT TWISTED — THE KEYS TO BEING HEALTHY AND HAPPIER AREN’T JUST ABOUT STEPPING INSIDE A GYM. IT STARTS FROM WITHIN.
DON’T GET IT TWISTED — THE KEYS TO BEING HEALTHY AND HAPPIER AREN’T JUST ABOUT STEPPING INSIDE A GYM. IT STARTS FROM WITHIN.
Here’s How You Can Become A Healthier, Happier You In 2020

We’re only two days into the new year, and already thinking about all of the things we want to accomplish by next December. But as we create our vision boards, and start goal-setting for the year, it’s important to remember one thing — you.

While career, relationship and educational goals often come priority on our lists, it’s important to prioritize the essential things we need to focus on in our life: being happy and healthy. Not only will this help you in all aspects of life, but you’ll feel better overall.

But don’t get it twisted, most of the keys to being healthy and happier have nothing to do with stepping inside a gym. “In order to look good and feel good you’ve gotta start from within,” says Rumble Trainer and Degree Deodorant Fitness Expert Aliyah Sims.

And because she’s right about that, and more, we’ve enlisted Sims to share a few tips on becoming a healthier and happier version of yourself this year.

Set realistic goals.

“You don’t know where you are going, unless you know where you’ve been. And the best thing to do after you’ve taken inventory of that, is to create benchmarks for the future. “I think one of the best things to do for yourself and your self-esteem, is to set goals that you can actually achieve in a timely manner,” says Sims. “Think of a few things that you’ve always wanted to accomplish, write them down and most importantly remain accountable! Maybe start small for ex: finish that book you bought a while ago that’s collecting dust, or visit the gym x amount of times etc. You’ve got to make sure that you have a game plan because merely speaking things into existence, talking about it and taking no action will lead to disappointment.”

Move your body.

Moving your body gets your heart beating and your blood flowing. By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Because of that reason, Sims said this is one of the first things you should be doing. “I recently partnered with Degree and Blue Zones on their Made to Move grant program, which aims to encourage more natural, physical movement,” she says. “We have been moving our bodies since we were in the womb kickin’. The benefits of becoming more active are endless. Exercising regularly Decreases the risk of diseases, increased blood flow, and not to mention the reduction of anxiety/depression (something we can all use living in a stressful bustling city).”

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! 

The only time it’s good to be thirsty is when you’re getting the appropriate water intake. And though it can be harder to remember in the winter than during the summer months, you must ensure you’re doing it to keep your melanin glowing, and your insides happy.  “We all need a little reminder to drink more water,” says Sims. “I think if people drank as much water as they do coffee/matcha we’d be thriving. Water helps muscles and joints work better and Water helps cleanse your body — inside and out. Hold yourself accountable and drink more water.”

Incorporate more ME time. 

2020 should be all about you sis. And don’t let anyone tell you anything different! According to Sims, “This a goal I’ve started to exercise more in my personal life.”

She continues, “I am notorious for never saying “No” regardless of how tired I am or what I’m going through because I love making people happy, but what about me? What about you and your happiness? It is so important to take time away from work, friends and sometimes even significant others to make sure that YOU are good. When you’re good to yourself and have that time to TREAT YO SELF it will certainly trickle down into everything else in your life. Me time is not selfish, it is essential. So take a stroll by your lonesome, get a facial or mani/pedi and recharge.”

Eat clean.

“Everything is all about balance,” says Sims. “I think we all know subconsciously what is good for us and what we use less of. I think it’s best to eat to fuel your body but also what makes your soul happy (80/20 rule). One way you can incorporate this, is by packing more lunches so you’re not tempted to eat out at work and meal prepping! This not only saves you money but also encourages you to make better choices and will let you enjoy that well deserved treat guilt free.”

Culled from ESSENCE

by
Keep Reading
Cicely Tyson on Intuition
In Inspiration By

MEET THE LEGENDARY CICELY TYSON AND HER BELIEF ON INTUTION

Cicely Tyson is a long-standing African-American actress, with a career which has lasted seven decades in the American screen. Aside longevity, she is known for her portrayal as a strong black woman in movie roles which in turn has earned her love and respect in the hearts of many, an inspiration to many women both young and old.

Tyson spoke “I am a firm believer in Divine guidance” in an interview with OWN Oprah’s Master Class OWN Oprah’s Master Class.

Several years ago she made similar statements about how she landed her acting career without knowing all what there is but believed that it was part of a divine plan to an inspiring life purpose. And she proves it with her actions because she puts her whole heart at what she does beyond the fame or glitz.

Before she takes on a role she puts it to a test, an instinctual test.

“Either my skin tingles or my stomach turns,” says Tyson “If my skin tingles, I know it’s something that I must do. If my stomach turns, I know it is something that I cannot do. With this “skin-tingling” she accept roles to which she truly feels a connection as a dynamic Award winning actress that she is.

Her many feature credits also include  Diary of a Mad Black Woman,The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Fried Green Tomatoes, Because of Winn-Dixie, Hoodlum,, Madea’s Family Reunion, Why Did I Get Married Too?, The Help and Alex Cross and lots more.

Tyson won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama as well as a special Actress of the year for CBS 1974 telepic The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. she has also received an honorary Oscar at the Governor’s Awards, the latest in a lifetime’s worth of accolades that includes the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NAACP’s Spingarn Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and countless NAACP Image Awards and honorary doctorates.

“I have learned from every single character that I’ve played,” she continues. “Something emotionally, spiritually and psychologically true.”

She therefore ensures to take roles that are transformational for herself, and the world. It is no wonder she stands out as a queen mother to lots of women as she carries herself with grace, confidence and worth.

“I’ve never done a job just for money,” she says. “I could not do anything that would not enhance humanity — especially women.”

She turns 96 this year.

Ladies!! what a Queen.

•Pamela Mbata

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

MICHELLE OBAMA IS ONCE AGAIN ‘MOST ADMIRED WOMAN’ IN 2019 GALLUP POLL

 

In another election, Obama wins again! According to ABC News, former first lady Michelle Obama has been named the “most admired woman” in the world for the second time in as many years. the annual Gallup Poll, Obama earned that title with 10% of the votes and was the only woman on the list to compile a double-digit percentage. She has been named as the most admired woman the past two years after 25 years that saw Hillary Clinton finish first 22 times. Obama has had a higher percentage of the votes the past two years than during her eight years as first lady, never earning more than 8% of Americans voting for her.

Although she finished in the top spot this year with 10%, it was down from 15% last year. Current first lady Melania Trump received 5%, which lands her in second place with the queen of talk Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, and teen climate change activist Greta Thunberg—each named by 3% of U.S. adults who placed votes. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley rounded out the rest of the top 10.

In the same poll, former President Barack Obama, for the 12th time (a record he shares with former President Dwight Eisenhower), was named most admired man, which was a tie with the current president, who appears at the top for the very first time, Donald Trump. Obama’s 18% is in line with his 2018 (19%) and 2017 (17%) numbers, all of which are high for a former president. Eisenhower is the only other former president who received double-digit mentions at any point after leaving office.

As it has been with recent bipartisan politics, the results of the poll are sharply divided along party lines: 41% of Democrats named President Obama, while 45% of Republicans chose Trump. The former president also picked up 3% of Republicans and 12% of Independents while Trump drew 2% of Democrats and 10% of Independents.

  1. Michelle Obama’s most recent book, Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice, was released on Nov. 19. It is a companion piece to her critically acclaimed memoir Becoming.                                                                                                                Source :Black Enterprise
by
Keep Reading
In Entertainment By

Toke Makinwa Wants us to Start Year 2020 with some Positive Energy | Watch Toke Moments

Toke Makinwa is starting the year with loads of positive energy, and she wants us to do the same.

In the first episode of “Toke Moments” for year 2020, Toke shares some lessons she learned in 2019, and she advises that we surround ourselves with people who give us positive energy.

She also sends a special message to online trolls, asking them to tread carefully in 2020 because it’s a “high voltage” year.

She wrote:

Its the 1st of the first month of the year and I am serving energy. Happy new year to all the Toke Moments Lovers out there, hires hoping your year is as beautiful and impactful as you desire. Thank you all for rocking with me, I honestly cannot thank you all enough. Please subscribe to my youtube channel and lets have so much more fun in 2020. The vision is simple, you don’t like something , stop making excuses, quit it and turn up High voltage to the things that feed your soul. I love you all, TM.

Watch the video below:

Source BELLANAIJA

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

NIGERIAN WOMAN BURNS HER WIGS, MAKEUP KIT AND CLOTHES AS SHE GIVES HER LIFE TO CHRIST

A Nigerian lady who burnt her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life, took to Facebook to share what inspired the decision.

Lorritha Ezekiel Olorunda disclosed that she gave her life to Christ after a commercial motorcyclist preached to her while on her way home from the market.

The Facebook user said she disposed her ‘worldly’ outfits after the commercial motorcyclist played a “cassette of revelation” by a lady who God allegedly saved from hell and sent to the world to save souls.

 

She wrote;

 

Good morning brethren, I want to appreciate God for what he has done in my life, it was all about yesterday I went to market as I was returning God used the byke man to minister to me although my husband has been preaching these things to me but the devil never allow me see to it, the byke man God used him to save me and through one cassette of a revelation by one sister that God saved from hell and send her to the world to save souls, my people please am begging all of us there’s no gain in all these things, be urself be natural say no to all these worldly things today and be saved, some people might be surprised seeing this post even my husband was surprised today on the action.

I took even my family when they heard it, most of these items you are seeing here cost me a lot but what does it profit a man to gain the world and loose his soul, my dear ladies that can’t do without trouser please read Deuteronomy 22vs5, have you ever asked yourself Where’s all these attachment and weavon coming from?

I was once a victim of this but I don’t want us to be found in hell when God remembers us, have you tried asking your self if I die today where am I going? Please theres still time for us to amend our ways before it’s late, thank you all and God bless you for reading and I pray for the grace for us to enter the kingdom of God on the last day because that day will be terrible.

Nigerian lady burns her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life to Christ (photos)Nigerian lady burns her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life to Christ (photos)

Nigerian lady burns her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life to Christ (photos)

Nigerian lady burns her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life to Christ (photos)

Nigerian lady burns her wigs, makeup kit and clothes after giving her life to Christ (photos)

 

 

 

Source: LIB

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

NIGERIAN-BORN CHINYELU ONWURAH SWORN IN AS MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR NEWCASTLE centralisation

54-year-old British-Nigerian Chinyelu Susan Onwurah has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central.

Onwurah who became Newcastle’s first black MP in 2010 and re-elected in 2019, took to her official Twitter handle to thank the people of Newcastle Central and vowed to represent them properly.

Onwurah Wrote: “Today I was sworn in as Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central. It is an honour & a privilege to represent you, the people of Newcastle Central. However, you voted I am your voice in Parliament & will do all I can to help you.”

 

Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa also sent a congratulatory message to Onwurah, she wrote: “Hearty congrats and best wishes.”  

Onwurah’s mother was from Newcastle. Her father, from Nigeria, was working as a dentist while he studied at Newcastle University Medical School when they met and married in the 1950s.

Onwurah was born in Wallsend, Northumberland, her family moved to Awka, Nigeria, in 1965 while she was still a baby. Just two years later the Biafra War broke out, forcing her mother to bring the children back to Tyneside, while her father stayed there in the Biafran army.

She graduated from Imperial College London in 1987 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was elected to Parliament in 2010 with a majority of 7,466.

 

 

Credit: LIB

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS CHARLIZE THERON OPENS UP ABOUT HOW HER MOTHER SHOT AND KILLED HER DAD IN SELF-DEFENCE

Hollywood actress Charlize Theron has never hidden the fact that her mother killed her father in self-defense when Charlize was a teenager, but she hasnt spoken much about the experience publicly. Now, the Bombshell star opened up to NPR about what exactly happened that night.

During the interview, Charlize said that her father, Charles Theron, was drunk and threatened her and her mother Gerda one night in 1991 when Charlize was 15.

“My father was so drunk that he shouldnt have been able to walk when he came into the house with a gun,” she said. “My mom and I were in my bedroom, leaning against the door because he was trying to push through the door.”

“So both of us were leaning against the door from the inside to have him not be able to push through. He took a step back and just shot through the door three times,” she said. “None of the bullets ever hit us, which is just a miracle.”

Gerda ended up shooting her husband and killing him to save herself and her daughter. “In self-defense, she ended the threat,” Charlize said.

The actress also said her father was a “very sick man” who “was an alcoholic all my life.”

“I only knew him one way, and that was as an alcoholic… It was a pretty hopeless situation,” she continued. “Our family was just kind of stuck in it. And the day-to-day unpredictability of living with an addict is the thing that you sit with and have kind of embedded in your body for the rest of your life, more than just this one event of what happened one night.”

Watch Charlize talk about that fateful night and how therapy has helped her over the years:

However, Charlize also said that, “of course, I wish what happened that night would have never happened. It’s unfortunately what happens when you don’t get to the root of these issues.”

Charlize added that she shares her story of family violence “with a lot of people.”

“I’m not ashamed to talk about it, because I do think that the more we talk about these things, the more we realize we are not alone in any of it,” she said. “I think, for me, it’s just always been that this story really is about growing up with addicts and what that does to a person.”

 

 

Credit: pulse.ng

by
Keep Reading

©2025. WomenofRubies. All Rights Reserved.