Tag Archives: women

Empowering & Equipping Women in Medicine & Female Entrepreneurs By Giving Back

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Giving comes in multiple forms. And attending events to support others is one way. Helping women at Michigan Medicine (the University of Michigan) with their commitment to breaking through boundaries to accelerate clinical care, education, and research to benefit women worldwide is one of my passions. I was delighted to attend the first annual Women’s Health Luncheon. Gathered together (on April 27, 2022) in Birmingham, Michigan with physicians, researchers, and supporters of diverse women’s health causes the event delivered inspiration, advocacy and empowerment. Mary Sue Coleman, first female President of the university explained the Women’s Health Innovatin Fund’s goal is to identify challenges facing women on a global level, discuss strategies to overcome these barriers, and support one another as we push for changes that can improve the lives of all women.

Photo Credit: Whole Planet/ Whole Foods Foundation

Photo Credit: Whole Planet/ Whole Foods Foundation

 

And over the past eight years, I’ve dedicated my energy and time to those who impact women across the globe who are living at or below the poverty level. A handful of years ago, I had the opportunity to deeply explore what is unique about the Whole Planet Foundation’s work which is dedicated to poverty alleviation, while empowering the world’s poorest people with microcredit in places where Whole Foods Market sources products.

In Harlem, I met women entrepreneurs, visited their business, and learned from them how a micro- finance loan directly impacted their small business. True micro-financing sustainable success for women demands a talented team. And this team is led by Joy Stoddard. Joy led the three day Harlem trip, complete with a service project (photo above). What I love about the foundation is that it not only empowers  entrepreneurs, mostly women, but it is fully transparent about their funding (all donations go directly to those they serve).

I’m honored to share I’m now a part of the Whole Planet’s Community Engagement Committee.

May the work of these charities inspire you!

 

 

Links to Love

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I’m still feeling love looking at this photo of my mother taken exactly one year ago today on Valentine’s Day. She’s the reason a solo parenting chapter exists in “A Widow’s Guide to Healing”. My mother was the first widow I knew (her husband, my father died in 1979 at age 30 from advanced cancer). She told me in 1979 there weren’t any books for single parents dealing with grief. For this chapter, I spoke with other solo mothers who graciously shared their stories, and I included my own thoughts about being the daughter of a solo mother.

Since February is a bittersweet month, and focusing on love can bring out mixed emotions, taking a pause to think about self- love and examining personal growth can be helpful. I’m honored to be included in this Huffington Post piece written by Anika Nayak.

This month is also an opportunity to offer support to Black-owned businesses, celebrate Black literature, and learn new ways to honor the Black experience. I’m delighted to share how I’m celebrating Black History Month in this Thrive Global piece written by Marina Khidekel.

On a different note- Are you ready for a change (personal and/ or professional)? Check out this piece I wrote for Katie Couric’s newsletter. What a joy to include entrepreneur, keynote speaker, New York Times best-selling author Jesse Itzler’s thoughts in my write-up.

IMG_20220203_103134_133For all those in the publishing world, you know this is a BIG deal. On February 3, 2022, this photo from Publisher’s Weekly was in their newsletter and showcased on one of their their Instagram accounts. This photo (I didn’t pay for the PR) was taken in December 2021 at my favorite indie bookstores in Ann Arbor, Michigan- Crazy Wisdom. I remain grateful to them as they were the one of the first bookstores to host a book signing engagement for me as a debut author.

Empowering Widows Across the World

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Lord Loomba, CBE, receiving his lifetime achievement award from Abid Qureshi, President, UNA-NY Photography by Melanie Quinn Photography; Used with permission from the United Nations- New York


“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Gandhi

Last month, I had the honor of attending the United Nations Association of New York Humanitarian Awards Dinner. The theme of the evening was Empowering Women: Promoting Peace and Progress. Lord Raj Loomba, CBE was honored for dedicating his life to doing just this — empowering women. More specifically Lord Loomba, CBE, has promoted the empowerment of widows and their children across the globe. As Founder and Chairman of the Loomba Foundation, he has personally taken on the plight of widows and their children by shining a light on their challenges and developing initiatives to support their needs.

I first met Lord Loomba, CBE, at his office in London, England. Lord Loomba is humble despite his vast accomplishments. In 2011, Forbes India presented him with an NRI Philanthropy award, and earlier this year Northampton University bestowed upon him an Honorary Fellowship. Lord Loomba is kind and generous. It was during this meeting that he asked if I would like to be his guest at the United Nations Humanitarian Awards Dinner where he was due to receive his lifetime achievement award.

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Lord Loomba, CBE and I at the United Nations 2014 Humanitarian Awards Dinner; I am wearing a necklace made by a widow in Kenya. Photo is property of Kristin Meekhof

 

We met a few weeks later at this dinner which also honored Mr. Stefan Persson and Dr. Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka. The room was quiet when Lord Loomba shared his own story. He was eloquent in speech and explained how he used his personal loss to transform an entire group of widows and their chidren across the globe. He witnessed his own mother’s grief and suffer with the status of “widow” after his father died from tuberculosis. He was just 10, but still remembers that his mother was blamed for his father’s death, and within hours of his death she was asked to remove her bindi. Equally as troubling was when his mother was asked to wear all white and was no longer able to dress in her colorful clothing. Essentially she was stripped of her dignity.

One of Lord Loomba’s goals is to restore a level of respect and dignity to all widows. His tireless determination knows only the boundaries that governments have established, and even there he worked to bring about change. Lord Loomba spent five years campaigning with the United Nations to have June 23 recognized as International Widows Day. This date was chosen because on this date in 1954 Lord Loomba’s father died from tuberculosis leaving his wife a widow and single mother of seven children.

The United Nations uses the Loomba Foundation’s report, titled “Invisible Forgotten Sufferers” published in 2010, as their handbook to understanding the plight of widows and their children. The publication says, “One of the main reasons why widows continue to be subjected to gross human rights violations is that although they number 245 million, there has been no comprehensive research or attempt to gather information on a global scale about their existence.” Often overlooked are widows for example who are living in Kenya, Rwanda or Uganda. The publication addresses the needs and challenges of these widows.

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Cherie Blair, HE and Ban Ki Moon at the Widows Research Study presentation- United Nations, New York Photograph used with permission from The Loomba Foundation

 

With the Foundation, Lord Loomba, CBE has created a number of initiatives, such the Punjab sewing machine project whereby helping 10k widows. This project has a tremendous reach; it helps 100,000 individuals. In London Lord Loomba, CBE told me that when you help a widow the “impact is tenfold. You empower economically and the widows are empowered socially.” When widows obtain a job or skill, not only do they support their children but often teach others the craft.

The foundation also recognizes the value of education. Lord Loomba said, “Rual India is hardest hit. There the widows are poor and undereducated.” In India alone, the Loomba Foundation has provided educational scholarships, for a minimum of five years or longer, to over 9,000 children of widows, and supported over 50,000 family members.

Equally as impressive are the number of notable individuals who have lent their support to the foundation. Lord Loomba has garnered the respect from political figures and celebrities, such as Cherie Blair, CBE, QC, His Excellency Ranjan Mathai, Sir Richard Branson, Yoko Ono, and Sir James Bevan KCMG.

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Lord Loomba with Yoko Ono; she supports The Loomba Foundation. Photograph used with permission from The Loomba Foundation


There are vey few who have Lord Loomba’s spirit of generosity and passion for those who are first to be overlooked. He has embodied the change he wishes for the world to be.

To Learn More About The Loomba Foundation’s Punjab Sewing Machine Project, follow this link, theloombafoundation.org/helping-5000-widows-punjab-project-goes-live/

You can read Lord Loomba’s blog here theloombafoundation.org/blog/

Published in Huffintington Post Impact on 11/21/2014