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Lioness magazine Shenandoah Sluter takes Getting Down The Big Cross-Over Ask an Entrepreneur and Derby The Road Less Traveled The E-Zine for the Female Entrepreneur September 2011

Lioness Magazine September 2011

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Lioness Magazine is the first e-zine geared toward female entrepreneurs. We deliver sharp and compelling information on a variety of topics that are relevant to female entrepreneurs and professionals. Our mission is to elevate, educate and support female professionals. We celebrate the unique challenges and achievements of women in business. We believe women are multi-dimensional creations who flourish, personally and professionally, when they take time to nurture their spirits.

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Page 1: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Lionessmagazine

Shenandoah Sluter takes

Getting Down

The BigCross-Over

Ask anEntrepreneur

and Derby

The Road Less Traveled

The E-Zine for the Female Entrepreneur

September 2011

Page 3: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Inside theLion’s Denin every issue

Managing MEPage 23

The Stiletto StatementPage 28

Shine on Sista...Illumination

(and Inspiration for theDaily Grind)

Page 26

The Power PositionPage 24

Features

7 Fearless

30 “Ask AnEntrepreneur”

Lioness Magazine talks to Tara T. Brewster, co-owner of Jackson & Connor, about her store

Erin Corriveau tells about participating in “The Warrior Dash”

13 “The Road

Less Traveled”Shenandoah Sluter holds a position of power, butstill takes “The Road LessTraveled”

10 “TheBig

Cross-OverJournalist Mara Hunter is honored to tell the story of Teresa Edwards

19 “GoingH.A.R.D.

Down and Derby”Being a professional business woman doesn’t mean you can’t “Go H.A.R.D.” and put on a pair of roller skates every once in a while

35 “In MyOwn Words”

Jackie Segarra reflects on her past, and shares some deep details

2

Page 4: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Lioness

Social Scene You don’t have to wait untilthe next issue ...

Stay connected on theSocial Scene

Women Around the Globe

Reads of the Week

Behind the Scenes Snap-

shots From this Month’s

Cover Shoot

Songs of the Week

Connect.Share.

Discover.

Page 5: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Editor - At - Large

Copy Editor

Art Director

Jeanne Wroblewski

Scott Sheehan

Feature PhotographerDenise Smith

Columnists

Contributing Writers

Crystal Senter BrownBrenda’s ChildErin Corriveau

Dawn LeaksKatelyn Gendron

Tony Gaskins, Jr.Lamara Hunter

Lioness Magazine is the first e-zine geared toward female entrepreneurs. We deliver sharp and compelling information on a variety of topics that are relevant to female entrepreneurs and professionals. Our mission is to elevate,educate and support female professionals.

Natasha Clark

We celebrate the unique challenges and achievements of women in business. We believe women are m u l t i - d i m e n s i o n a l creations who flourish, personally and professionally, when they take time to nurture their spirits.

We Want to

YOU!Hear From

Do you or someone you know have an

interesting sto

ry?Are you an expert in

your field?

to lionessm

[email protected]

om.

Submit your st

ory ideas

Did you and yourcolleagues justreturn from an inspiring seminar?Is our cover story really speaking toyou? Did you and yoursorority sisters help out at a local nonprofit event?Send us your pictures,letters, thoughts, &suggestions!E-MAIL US!

Lionessmagazine

4

Page 6: Lioness Magazine September 2011

A

TheLetter From

EditorWe all have a story. Our story begins on our day of birth and continues after our death as the impact of our relationships, both good and bad, ripples on in our absence.

In our August edition, you were introduced to a number of women, each of whom is at the helm of her career. These authors, publicists, actresses and lawyers are continuously changing the face of business without having to forsake their womanhood.

Every now and then we meet people whose unique and intriguing personal stories make us stop in our tracks. When I first heard Shenandoah Sluter speak, she caused me to do just that. Here was a beautiful bohemian woman with long brown hair and flowing ankle-length skirts who strolled through the woods barefoot and fought for clean-energy solutions. As a child she had bathed in the river and spent a portion of her life living out of her truck and roving the country, living by her wits and on whatever cash she could muster. But she also dabbled in politics and sat on the Greenfield City Council, working on budgets and chiming in on city-wide decisions. What would seem like two distinc-tively opposite temperaments make up this soulful civil servant.

Then there is Jackie Segarra, a pretty, dark-haired Latina who makes a difference in the lives of our next generation as a non-profit youth coordinator. Her face is innocent and soft. You would never presume that those kind eyes had studied the inside of a prison cell, that her talents had been used for illegal activity, or that her soul had bared witness to the depths of poverty.

These women are champions in their own right. Members of a society that often takes them at face value. We all have heard the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” Shenandoah and Jackie are a testament to that. It’s not where you’ve been but where you’re going.

As I said, we all have a story, a journey. In Robert Frost’s words, these women have taken The Road Less Traveled.

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Page 7: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Call us at 413-567-3339 to schedule your consultation. Mention the word

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85 Maple Rd, Longmeadow, MA denisesmithphotography.com

*this offer good until 10-31-11

Page 8: Lioness Magazine September 2011

FEARLESSFEARLESSFEARLESSOn August 13th, I did it. I put on my Warrior Dash uniform and drove to Windham, New York, where I suddenly felt like I was once again that little girl pretending to be Wonder Woman. My heart was racing as I stood with a couple hundred people in my wave. With my girl friends by my side we took off and never looked back. We forged up the steep mountain, scaling walls and bounding over tires and old junked cars along the way. We walked planks, jumped into chest-high muddy water and rolled over giant logs. We climbed a cargo net wall, ran through a jungle of tires and dove into an adult-sized, muddy slip and slide.

And,finally,thereitwas: the highly anticipated fireleap.Iwasneckandneckwithmyfriend, Dee, when we looked at each other, grabbed each other’s hand and jumped. It was an incredible moment for both me and the little girl inside of me who thought she was Wonder Woman.

In the end we six women stood together laughing, dripping in mud and compar-ing warrior wounds…and although no one could see it, I was Wonder Woman again with a towel “cape” tied around my neck… a symbolic tribute to the optimistic, daring little girl I used to be and the fearless woman I had become. Remember who you were, remember what made you “you” – and let her out once in a while. She just may surprise you .

When I was a little girl, I would pretend I was Wonder Woman. I’d tie a “cape” (which was actually a towel) around my neck and leap in my Underoos from the couch to the love seat, somersault across the room and dive under the dining room table, saving the day (or the cat, whichever needed it the most!). When I was done, I would relinquish my towel to my mother, sit down for some cookies and milk and smile, knowing that there was nothing I couldn’t do.

Then I grew up. It happens to the best of us. Instead of leaping over tall buildings, I worked in them. Instead of diving under the dining room table, I sat at it to pay bills. Instead of somer-saulting across the room, I vacuumed it.

From time to time I would catch glimpses of the little girl I used to be. Watching Angelina Jolie play Laura Croft Tomb Raider gave me hope that I would one day open up the Help Wanted section of the newspaper and see an ad for a treasure-seeking, risk-taking, jeep-driving lunatic – complete with ben-efits.Nosuchluck.

Then it happened. My wonderfully nutty friends had participated in a race called “The Warrior Dash.” This wasn’t just any race. It was 3.2 mile course up and down a ski-slope where participants would encounter obstacles along the way, includ-ing having to crawl through mud pits and jumpoverfire.HerewasmychancetobeWonder Woman once again. Sign me up!

Dee Cady-Derose (left) and Erin go for broke at The Warrior Dash in New York.

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Erin Corriveau is the National Sales Manager for ECS Eclipse which provides creative underground and above ground storage tank compliance solutions to tank owners across

the country. An avid writer, Erin has primarily worked in community and public relations adding MassMutual Financial Group and Baystate Health among her previous employers.

Visit www.ecseclipse.com.

LESSFEAR

FEARLESS

Life. Pleasure. Pain. Flirt. Spark. Healing. Business. Open. Health. Laughter. Joy. Fear.Charisma. Faith. Closer. Brains. Beauty. Death. Daughter. Wealth. Friendship. Anger. Sadness.Fun. Defy. Mother. Passion. Simplicity. Sexy.Mindfulness. Excitement. Eating. Abundance.Disappointment. Leadership. Perseverance. Bravery. Dash. Tears. Stop. Dream. Embrace.Appreciate. Tasteful. Love. Hesitant. Crafty. Intelligence. Sacrifice. Analyze. Smile.Crushed. Travel. Lost. Seize. Doubt. Cater. Fall. Unstoppable. Ego. Witty. Strength.Rise. Win. Close. Hide. Create. Forgiveness. Spiritual. Deter. Shine. Explore. Breathe. Dwell.Empower. Innovation. Release. Waiting. Belief. Hope. Fix. Invigorate. Apprehensive.Opportunities. Grow. Dash. Hurt. Balance. Sister. Protect. Strive. Buy. Spring. Nurture.

Did!Ieah,

8

Page 11: Lioness Magazine September 2011

The BigCross-OverCross-Over

The Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony took place on Aug. 12, 2011, and there were many events during “Enshrine-ment Week” in which I was able to partici-pate. Yes, I’m primarily known as a music journalist, but since I’ve been writing for and about people from every background since I was a youngster and since I hail from the birthplace of basketball, (Springfield, Massa-chusetts), I was driven to contribute a article that would encompass the very essence of this publication and my diverse interests as a writer.

As I reflect on women in the world of sports, I note that time and time again, women are getting the job done! These women are not just the players of various sports, but they’re also coaches, analytical correspondents

and team executives. That being said, it’s a privilege to write about Teresa Edwards, a woman who took the game of basketball to another level, someone who has survived the times when women were not seen as equal to their male counterparts in the world of sports. Edwards had the good busi-ness sense and determination to strategize and persevere. Because of her achieve-ments, she now joins the ranks of great “ballers” and coaches inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2011. I felt exhilarated watching Teresa Edwards as she walked with pride and grace down the aisle amongst the members of the 2011 class which included players Artis Gilmore, Chris Mullin, Dennis Rodman, Tom “Satch” Sanders, Arvydas Sabonis and Reece “Goose” Tatum, as well as coaches Tara Vanderveer, Tex Winter and Herb Magee. As Teresa received her jacket and entered onto the stage, she was finally receiving the recognition which was long overdue.

Love & BasketballAs early as Teresa could remember, she was drawn to the game of basketball. “I really never knew that I wanted to be a basketball player, I just loved the game,” she noted. “I was very competitive.” As the only girl and oldest of five siblings, she recalled, “I was never intimidated by my brothers because I was the oldest. They weren’t real competi-tion so I’d look for the older boys who would be playing in the neighborhood and tried to match what they would do and play harder.” Her natural talent and competitive nature made her thrive on winning.

A native of Cairo, Georgia, Edwards is the most decorated U.S. player in the history of Olympic basketball, having won four gold

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Page 12: Lioness Magazine September 2011

medals and one bronze. She is the only American basketball player, male or female, to compete in five Olympics. Edwards was the youngest member of the USA team that captured the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She started for virtually every U.S. national team to enter a major international competition between 1981 and 2000.

In 2000, Teresa co-captained the USA wom-en’s basketball team to the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, giving her the unique distinction of being both the youngest and the oldest women’s basketball player to earn Olympic gold. That same year, Sports Illustrated magazine placed her as 22nd of the “100 Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century.”

Striving for SuccessTeresa enjoyed a stellar four-year run with the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs that turned the university’s basketball program into one of the nation’s finest. She helped lead the team to its first-ever SEC Championship and a Final Four appearance as a freshman in 1983 and then continued

Photo Courtesy of www.espn.com

on to garner them the success of their second SEC title, an NCAA runner-up and a third SEC Championship in 1986.

After college Edwards went on to play in the American Basketball League (ABL), the first league to form after the Atlanta Olympics. She first served as a player, then as a coach with the Atlanta Glory and was a member of their board of directors. She didn’t purse a career with the WNBA as she would have been paid a minimum salary as a rookie , but later Edwards was encouraged to join the Minnesota Lynx, where she played for the last two years of her American career. She went on to enjoy an extremely successful professional career overseas in Italy, Japan, Spain, France and Russia. “Playing international basketball opened my whole world up to possibilities. I was a girl who grew up in Cairo, Georgia, but being in Italy exposed me to different cultures. I thought I could bring a bit of American culture over there, but instead it was I who learned so much. It really changed the game for me,” she said.

To date, Teresa Edwards has been inducted

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Page 13: Lioness Magazine September 2011

into six halls of fame, including the State of Georgia’s Sports Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and Grady County (Ga.) Sports Hall of Fame. She joined the ranks of champions such as Muhammad Ali and Wilma Rudolph in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Just last year, Edwards was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and now, as an inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, she has joined the ranks of such legends as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Charles Barkley, Irving “Magic” Johnson and Michael “Air” Jordan, which she says is the “highest honor” she has received. “I didn’t play this game for the money or fame, but I played ball for the pure love of the game,” said Edwards.

Switching Lanes and Changing the Face of Basketball

For Teresa Edwards, having sports in schools

and as after school programs is very impor-tant. “It garners the creativity of a child, helps build character and teaches them how to gravitate towards society. Basketballis a great team sport and shows children how to work together to get their goals accomplished and that’s very vital in the growth of our children today,” she added.Edwards is an entrepreneur in her own right. She is the head coach for the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock -- a true testament to her competitive spirit as the Shock are looking to regroup af-ter experiencing a losing season. Teresa has been working on developing a winning strat-egy, finding the groove that will work best to get her team motivated and moving toward more wins. With her talent, faith, strong-will and determination, I see her on the brink of another victory!

Mara Hunter, 32, is a multi-talented individual with the gift to create

expressive pieces. This single mother of three is a native of Springfield, MA via

Jacksonville, FL. She’s a Freelance Writer, Staff Music Journalist for Total

Eclipse Magazine, Contributing Writer for Lioness Magazine, as well as a poet

and dancer. Visit www.MaraHunter.blogspot.com.

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Page 14: Lioness Magazine September 2011

T h e R o a dLess Traveled

Most elected officials have a background in politics or law. A great number are familiar with the world of government, the campaign trail and leadership. Shenandoah Sluter knew none of that when she decided to run for public office.

Her journey to Town Councilor of Greenfield, Massachusetts is unique. She has taken a road few women dare to travel. Take a look at the national statistics in women in high-ranking political office positions. According to Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics, only 90 women are in the U.S. Congress. That is 16.6 percent of 535 seats.

Sluter’s passion led her to challenge the status quo. It has even transitioned her into an entrepreneur. She has discovered a funny thing can happen when you follow your heart – your life is shaped into a destiny you could have never predicted. She is now embracing leadership and her desire to change the world.

Sluter worked in high school toward a goal that many students have: attending

college. She dreamed of being a nurse and worked at part time jobs to save enough money to pursue her dream, the dream that changed suddenly when Sluter learned that the nursing program had a two-year waiting list.

Instead of merely altering her aspirations, Sluter took a leap of faith. Using the money she had saved to go to college, she purchased a pickup truck and decided to travel around the country.

A Lotta Hoopla She learned how to hula hoop in her teens. It started off as just a hobby. Little did Sluter know when she started her road trip that hooping would become her life. During a stop in Northern California is where every-thing changed.

When she set out on her national expedition, her travel companion was her beloved hula hoop. During this particular stop she left her hoop behind, if only for a second, but that was all it took.

“I left my hoop and when I went back, it was 13

Page 15: Lioness Magazine September 2011

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gone,” Sluter said. “I was totally devastated. But I knew hoops were handmade so I went around everywhere and found the materials I needed to make a hoop.”

Making that one hoop turned into having enough materials to make 10 hoops. Those first 10 hoops morphed into a steady business as the west coast fell in love with her hula hooping. When she settled into Tucson, Arizona, for a winter, Sluter started involving the local neighborhood kids with making hoops and hooping themselves.

“It brought together the community and inspired people. I found out that doing it with others made it even better,” Sluter said. It was there her business “A Lotta Hoopla” was born and took off like a storm. Sluter not only made hoops to sell but also could be found performing at festivals, parties, weddings and workshops. She brought the hoops out and people fell in love with hoop-ing, just like she had in high school. Sluter attributes some of her success to being open about possibilities.

She continued her travels and one day just knew it was time to return home. Now, 10 years into the business and currently living back on the east coast in Greenfield, Sluter is constantly learning even more about hula hoops. From making different sizes and weights to learning new moves and working with fire and LED hoops, her business has continued to grow exponentially.

She gets LIPIAfter moving back to Massachusetts and settling into a routine of performing with her hula hoop, Sluter wanted to get involved with the community. She came across a news article about how no one was running

for town councilor in Greenfield.

“I didn’t really know what it meant,” Sluter confessed. “I just wanted more community involvement. I knew nothing about city government.”

After running unopposed, Sluter quickly found out the position was more serious than she had initially expected. That was when she found the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts’ Leadership Institute for Political Impact (LIPI). The brand new institute was calling for women to step forward and apply to participate in their year-long program designed to educate, support and empower women in and considering a turn in politics.

Sluter applied and was selected as one of the 40 inaugural women to partake in the program. Carla Oleska, chief executive officer, sees LIPI as the “time and place” that the Women’s Fund offers women to create their own sense of sisterhood and empower-ment.

“I believe that women are deeply seeking a way to belong to something that is biggerthan themselves, but they also want that something bigger to be of their own making,” Oleska explained. “Women choose to participate in LIPI because they care deeply about the challenges as well as the opportunities facing their communities. They already come with a sense of connection, and when these women get together that individual sense of connection grows into this phenomenal, courageous and dedicated sisterhood.”

Sluter changed as a result of the program. Monthly she met with the women who shared their stories and listened to current fe-male mayors and state representatives who encouraged the women to be the change

“I never turned any opportunity down. I’m very open to what I can

do with hula hoops. It’s a lot to take on, but it’s worth it when it’s

your passion,” Sluter said.

Inspired, she went out on a limb and mustered up the nerve to run

for an open seat.

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Page 17: Lioness Magazine September 2011

they wanted to see in their communities.

“Meeting with the group shifted my life and opened up my mind to what our culture runs on,” Sluter explained. “I became more plugged into the news, the world, and NPR (National Public Radio). I started to grasp what it meant to be a leader. The program stressed finding power within yourself and letting your voice carry. It taught me to be confident, do research and go after what I believed in.”

“Shenandoah represents courageous truth - to oneself, one’s family, one’s community. It takes great courage to enter a public arena while remaining true to your deepest values and concerns,” Oleska said. “Shenandoah also represents courtesy and respect, two qualities that appear to be lacking in our current political climate.”

After coming up with a list of environmental concerns that she felt needed to be addressed, Sluter began to focus on sustainable living, such as simplifying and growing your own food. She also realized how a lot of building codes do not allow people to build off grid which does not help the move toward sustainable living.

“I looked at so many things and realized it takes a network, being plugged into the right people, and knowing how to communi-cate and navigate within the system in order to accomplish change. If you really want to go into it, you have to give all your energy to it,” Sluter said.

While “A Lotta Hoopla” kept growing, Sluter found herself looking at a life decision. She was being pulled in two directions. Hooping was her income and livelihood. She decided to leave her position as town councilor and dedicate her personal life to having an impact on others.

“The whole experience of holding public office changed my perspective. I was more aware of the inner workings of the world and what it really means to make change

happen,” Sluter said.

She didn’t want to just talk. She wanted to take action. She continues to use her gift of hooping and her business to work with the community on every level. Sluter wants to expand her business beyond Western Massachusetts. She has traveled throughout the northeast and this winter, she will tour the southwest.

“It’s my passion. It’s my hobby. It’s my work. It’s my play and it’s my community,” Sluter said.

She has shared hooping with children and adults of all ages. Many people who never thought they could hoop are finding their bodies again with her help. For Sluter, it’s not just a physical experience; it’s also a mental and spiritual one.

“It’s not a contest. It’s not competitive. It’s 16

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an experience,” Sluter explained. She expressed that for her, one of the most difficult aspects of starting her business was drawing up a business plan, especially concerning her target demographic. She finally figured out that hooping draws a lot of children, especially elementary-age students, and female baby boomers who want to get moving and have a good work out while having fun.

Some of Sluter’s advice to women who are just starting out in their own businesses or who are thinking of going for it, is just that: Go for it!

“Go after what you’re passionate about because otherwise you’re not going to be carried through the low times. There’s no point to doing it if you’re not passionate,” Sluter said. “Where do your gifts lie? It’s not about the money. It’s about what you’re doing for the money.” To Sluter, success

means being happy. That happiness for her has come through balancing community with personal time.

“Give yourself the time to reconnect with where you’re coming from. Take care of yourself and then comes the world,” she added.

Oleska mirrors her sentiments when it comes to women changing the world around them.“I do believe that women bring an unparalleled sense of fairness, a sense of responsibility for all with whom they connect and/or represent. I think that women bring a deeply rooted common sense to their endeavors; we may address a challenge from an array of different perspectives, but eventually the conversation turns to what will work best for the greater number and the greater good,” Oleska said. “This is why I believe that we need a critical mass of women in leadership positions across all professional sectors.” -Kaitlyn Schroyer

For more information about Sluter and “A Lotta Hoopla,” please visit www.alottahoopla.com

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Page 20: Lioness Magazine September 2011

Down and Derby!Going H.A.R.D.

Yesterday I spoke to 25 women for over two hours and formed five carefully planned committees, while wearing combat boots, thigh highs and shorts that would make Jane Fonda blush.

I am a businesswoman. I am a roller derby girl.

By day, I tax my brain, my eyes and my key-board to write copy for a large international corporation. After work, when I drop my work clothes into a heap of neglected laun-dry and dig through my overstuffed dresser for ripped fishnets or my favorite pair of Han-nah Montana underoos in lieu of shorts, my second full time job is just beginning.

In April 2011, I began harnessing everything I know about business, and everything I’ve learned in three years of playing flat track roller derby, to establish Hartford Area Roller Derby, LLC.

There are times in our lives when the deci-sion to start a business does not derive from the goal of making money. Founding

H.A.R.D. was one of those moments.

For over a year I had made the lonely trek down the clogged I-90 corridor to work and back. I knew I had to free myself from a three-hour daily commute and move closer to my day job, but there were no roller der-by leagues near my Enfield, Connecticut of-fices. I was torn, but I had to make the best decision for my career, no matter how much my other passions suffered. With a heavy heart, I began the search for a new home.

In the game of roller derby, a strong jammer will make opportunities for success where there appear to be none. Just like a jammer, the point-scoring position that I seem to live for, I had to think and move in a way that overcame this logistical obstacle.

What if I could not only skate in my new hometown, but also give the gift of roller derby to even more women? What would it take? I had to find out and I had to try. After all, our only real limits are the ones we impose on ourselves. At least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m faced with the task-equivalent of Mount Everest.

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I remember thinking that if starting a new league was possible, it was what I had to do. As roller derby always has, that decision continues to remind me that my limits are a lot further than I had ever imagined.

One week after my enormous UHAUL pulled into a new driveway, I stepped into an un-familiar skating rink to begin a strange, new journey.

I exhausted my network of skating peers, neighboring league owners, mentors, friends and family. I wrote and planned until my mountain-sized goal was a dance of calculated steps.

When a business is born from the fires of a passion, you have the strength to work 20-hour days, answer 500 emails, and strategically plan in the shower, in traffic, or everywhere you go. But the best thing about fire is how quickly it spreads.

I recruited at the laundromat, the Starbucks drive-through window, the bank, the gym, Facebook and the mall. Even in the halls of my workplace, where I lured a human resources manager, a graphic designer and an administrative assistant. There is little room for modesty when you’re building a business or an organization from scratch.

Women of every age, shape, size and demographic began trickling into our practice sessions. Teachers, moms, wives, athletes, couch potatoes, artists and even a Vice President have come together to fill our growing ranks of 30 recruits.

Slowly, the pieces began to fall into place. The women that all began as strangers who could hardly stand up on a pair of roller skates are now derby girls who sweat and laugh together. They are working tirelessly alongside me to push their bodies and this business beyond our greatest expectations.

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We began practicing in April 2011. Next April, we will take the track for the first time together once more. This time it will be as a new team debuting in front of hundreds of cheering fans. The path to that day is paved with long nights spent online researching, brutal practices spent soaked in sweat and hours of business decisions made together in the roller rink’s birthday party room and the dark parking lot.

When we step out in front of the crowd for the very first time, to hear names over the loudspeaker, feel the electricity in the

Danielle Paine A.K.A. Diesel N’ Gin is the founding member and Chairwoman of Hartford Area Roller Derby, LLC. For more information, visit hartfordarearollerderby.com or Facebook.

com/HartfordAreaRollerDerby.

atmosphere and begin our first 6-month bouting season, the final destination will have made every second of that journey worthwhile.

In the meantime, I think about the over-whelming joy I’ll feel the moment we take to the floor as a team, while I limp around the halls of my office wincing from the soreness, with dark circles under my eyes and Hannah Montana underoos tucked in my lap top case -- because I am a businesswoman and I am a roller derby girl.

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You worry.

I know, I’ve been there…and didn’t know what to do. Where to turn. Who to talk to. But thanks to the American Cancer Society and the Reach to Recovery program. I found help. A friendly voice. Support. Even a shoulder to cry on.

Reach to Recovery is a free program that puts you in touch with people who understand. People just like me, just like you. I’ve been a breast cancer survivor for more than 4 years. And I know what you’re going through.

Call the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 and get in touch with someone who can help. Someone like me.

Call 800-ACS-2345. You’re not alone.

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vs.M u l t iM u l t iM u l t i -TaskingTime Maximization

There are numerous studies that condemn multi-tasking because apparently it de-creases attention to detail and in the end takes longer. I’m no expert, so if studies show it, then studies show it. I know that being a busy woman myself, I am guilty of multi-tasking. More often though, I believe in and practice what I like to call “time maximiza-tion.”

Time maximization is exactly what it sounds like: making the most of your time. Are you waiting in line? Instead of jumping onto networking sites, try deleting email and text messages. Are you in the doctor’s office waiting room? Don’t be the rude one yap-ping on the phone. Instead try organizing your purse or updating your planner -- or schedule that “Time for My Dream” which I discussed in my August article.

Time maximization is not about being busy every moment of the day. That would drive anyone crazy. Sometimes it can mean tak-ing a 15 minute cat nap, or meditating for 10 minutes because you have to leave the house at 6:00 p.m. and it’s now 5:45 p.m. As a spoken word artist, taking a shower is my favorite place to rehearse new poems. When my son’s sports practices run late, I catch up with missed phone calls while waiting for him. Then, when he gets in the

car, he has full my attention.

Whatever you choose to do, the key to time maximization is to not get caught in a lazy zone, but to get caught doing something that will add to the quality of your life. Some-times it’s clearing your mind or your spirit. Other times it may be paying attention to your emotional side and spending ten min-utes on the phone with an old friend, or writ-ing in a journal.

Some of things you do may seem minuscule, but in the long run it’s the little things that can save you more time and frustration. For instance, that newly organized purse or work bag will help you locate many things you thought were lost, and finding any loose dollars always makes my day! Knowing that I made my son’s appointments with his doc-tor and dentist while I waiting for a load of clothes to finish drying gives me a small sense of accomplishment for the day.

You may already practice time maximiza-tion, but if not, give it a try the next time you are in the pizza shop waiting to pick up dinner. Ask yourself what area of your life needs some attention and what could you do right now to change that and then do it. Congratulations! You’ve just maximized your precious time.

Brenda’s Child has made it her life’s mission to inspire people through poetry and stories and through leading by example with courage, confidence, and integrity. She emphasizes self-love, worth, and value. She also feels obligated to tell the truth ... even if it hurts. Visit www.brendaschild.com.

ManagingME

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What’s It Worthto You?

One struggle many entrepreneurs face is trying to find a balance between running a business and practicing a hobby. Entrepreneurs can be bombarded with requests for favors or freebies (what I like to call NON-PAYING assignments), and sometimes it’s hard to say no. The problem with doing too many non-paying assignments is this: non-paying assignments don’t pay! Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet, many new business owners find themselves trapped in the hobby category of doing something they love to do and not making any money doing it.

So, why is it so hard to say no?

There are a lot of different reasons people give their services away, but one of the top reasons is fear. Fear causes people to develop very reasonable, believable excuses that keep them from achieving goals. Left unchecked, fear can and will destroy your business. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. As a business owner you have to get comfortable talking about money. You have to be able to set your price and communicate that price to the customer without fear.

Don’t be afraid to move on. If you come across someone who is not willing to pay your price, don’t automatically conclude that your price is wrong. Maybe this just isn’t your customer. Be willing to walk away from a sale rather than compromise your price point. Don’t be afraid to say no. It’s natural to want to please people, but you can’t continually accept non-paying assignments or give product away just because you want people to like you. Learn to say no. They’ll get over it, I promise.

Being an entrepreneur takes a great deal of confidence. It’s not easy to stand up to the world and say “I’m good at what I do – pay me.” But that’s exactly what you have to do. You have to know your worth. When you constantly give your product or service away, you’re telling your customers and yourself that your product or service isn’t valuable. Is that the message you want to send?

Take some time and consider the follow-ing questions. What is your business worth to you? What is your time worth? What is your product or service worth? What are you worth? Can you afford to throw away your time, product, service or business? You should be able to answer all of these ques-tions because, frankly, if you don’t see the value in your business, who else will?

Now that you know your value, don’t go overboard saying no. There are times when it is perfectly acceptable to take a non-paying assignment. Some things to think about as you’re deciding which non-paying assignments to take are: What’s in it for you? Is this a great networking opportunity? Will it put your work in front of potentially major clients? Is it a cause that has special

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meaning to you? Does it tie into your company’s vision or mission? Is it going to stretch you and/or increase your skill?

If taking a non-paying assignment is not go-ing to benefit you in any way, don’t take it. Don’t get stuck doing favor after favor at your own expense. Many businesses have a

budget for charitable giving or in-kind gifts. It’s not a bad idea for you to decide at the beginning of your fiscal year how much you are willing to give away or donate over the next 12 months. The key is finding the right balance. Treat your business like a business and you’ll notice that other people will treat your business like a business, too.

Dawn Leaks is a marketing professional for a major non-profit organization where she spe-cializes in public relations, communications, and special event planning. She also does marketing consulting for small businesses on a freelance basis. An entrepreneur at heart, Dawn is working to open a family-owned and operated fitness studio in the Greater Springfield area. Visit www.curvytalk.com.

PowerThe

Position

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LivingcreativelyIf I asked you today, Who are you?, how would you answer? You would probably start with the standard response: I’m a college graduate (or student), a wife, a mother, an executive, etc. But if someone had asked you when you were a child, What do you want to be when you grow up?, I bet your answer would have been a lot different. As little girls, many of us spent most of our time twirling around in dresses, coloring pictures and making up stories. Tea parties for 30 of our closest teddy-bear friends were a daily occurrence.

So what happened to that optimistic, social, active little girl? As you grew older, you probably inherited the expectations of going to college, getting married, having children and securing a well-paying career that would allow you and your family to live in comfort. Suddenly your days of tea par-ties and dance contests were replaced by endless meetings, carpools and financial planning. The poetry journal you couldn’t put down as a teenager now sits under a pile of books on your bookshelf. The gui-tar you played nonstop in college collects dust in your basement. While the college degree-lined wall in your office whispers the story of a focused and successful woman, your heart screams out for the creative woman you were meant to be.

I am blessed to have been raised by a

mother who was (and still is) in touch with her creative side. She is an artist (a painter) and spends most of her time creating portraits, murals, etc. When my brother and I were young, my mother worked a full-time job that took her out of our home for many hours of the day. But every evening she would spend hours painting. She kept her easel, canvas and paints in the corner of her bedroom, making them easily accessible. She didn’t have the excuse of “it’s too much effort to pull everything out and put everything back.” Her canvas and paints were the first things she would see when she woke up every morning and the last things she would see before she closed her eyes at night.

I am following in her footsteps now that I am a working wife and mother. I never leave home without my journal and pen. As I grow in my professional career, my poetry career grows right along with me. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have poetry in my life.

I encourage you to reconnect with your creative side. There are endless artistic op-portunities right in your community. Open mic nights, art exhibits and dance lessons are wonderful ways to reconnect with your creative side. And don’t wait for a friend to agree to attend with you -- be brave and

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go alone! We all feel unfulfilled from time to time, but every passing moment is another chance to re-start our lives.

Shine On Sista!Illumination (and Inspiration

for the Daily Grind)

Crystal Senter Brown has been a performance poet for most of her life. Born in Morristown, TN she has performed at thousands of events. Her song “Large and Lovely” was nominated for several music awards including the Billboard Music Song Award, Peacedriven Song Award, ASCAP Music Plus Award and the Urban Music Award. Visit www.cystalsenterbrown.com.

Want to SeeYour Ad Here?Shoot Us An Email!

All Inquiries Can Be Sent [email protected]

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STILETTOFar too many women in the workplace maintain a love of frumpy footwear. For those who are under the misconception that flats are fashionable, you’re walking a thin line, lady. Yes, flats can be fashionable and functional but not if your grandmother would wear them as a solution to her osteoporosis. My advice: Forget you ever heard of Birkenstock or Aerosoles and start putting a pump in your step. Pumps are a simple way to elongate your legs, creating an illusion of leanness, as well as putting you at eye level with your coworkers and clients. You don’t want people looking down on you, be it literally or figuratively.

Stilettos should be a staple of your professional wardrobe because this type of heel never goes out of style. If you’re looking to be on trend for fall, however, you’ll want to find a spiked heel or stiletto with reptile skin, buckles or lace while also incorporating this season’s color palette. In short, you don’t want the click-clack of your magenta snake skin stilettos to be heard throughout the corridors of your workplace. Instead, look to the hues of the fall foliage for inspiration.

Those who must shy away from reptile skin,

buckles or lace due to personal preference or to working in an ultraconservative envi-ronment can try simple jeweled embellishments on top of a classic leather or suede stiletto, spike heel or bootie.

The fall also allows you to alternate between peep toe heels, booties and classic stilettos thanks to mild temperatures. And no, this does not mean that you can skip out on pedicures until spring sandal season because if you’re wearing a peep toe sling back with a dress, your clients will recognize unkempt, flakey feet a mile away.

Wedge heels are also big for fall and allow those who aren’t confident walking around in a spike or stiletto to maintain a lean, leggy line without the threat of getting your shoe stuck between sidewalk grates. Designer Jean-Michel Cazabat has a scintillating fall collection of wedges that would make even the most dedicated flat fanatic change her religion.

Another alternative to stilettos is the kitten heel. This type of heel gives the wearer a one- to two-inch lift, perfect for those who aren’t horizontally challenged but who still want to maintain a trendier professional persona than by simply wearing flats.

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Bottom line: Stilettos are taken seriously and make others stand at attention when the woman wearing them comes into the room

Katelyn Gendron is a native of New York, who is currently living and working as a newspaper editor in Western Massachusetts. She is a college-trained journalist and world traveler, who has documented her journeys for various publications spanning five of the seven continents (she plans to visit the remaining two during her lifetime). Her motto: “Life’s a ball. Let’s play!

Jean-Michael Cazabat’s Penny Haircalf Wedge

Pumps.

Anne Klein designs these floral kitten heels called

Pipa.

Jean-Michael Czazabat’s Isola Collared Pumps. These patent

leather heels feature a contrast leather ankle cuff and a notched top line. Hidden elastic gore inset at inner side. Contrast leather-covered stiletto

heel. Leather sole.

because no one is going to mess with the click-clack of the professional power walk!

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Ask AnEntrepreneur

Tara T. Brewster is half of the dynamic duo Jackson & Connor. This feisty entrepreneur is taking a minute out of her hectic schedule (we caught her on her way to Vegas) to answer our Ask an Entrepreneur spotlight.

Lioness Magazine: How long have you been in business?Tara T. Brewster: Since March 15, 2008

LM: Why fashion?TTB: Always Fashion. Why not fashion? Really I have been in the men’s apparel business for more than half of my life at this point. I started in high school at Taylor Men in Northampton for eight years then onto NYC with some wholesale fashion companies as a road warrior. Now this … and after this who knows? I apparently really care about mak-ing men look and feel better.

LM: What makes Jackson & Connor unique?TTB: Jackson & Connor is a diamond in the ruff. It is a specialty store. It carries things that are special. Things you can’t get at most places you go to. We search far and wide to bring you new items, lines and looks season after season. You come to us because we give you all of this plus a great vibe, knowl-edge and attention to detail. Our desire to make each item fit you perfectly gets us praised and you noticed.

LM: You could have worked for anyone and would have been successful, why become an entrepreneur?TTB: It was bound to happen. I have al-ways been such a hard worker that it was exhausting both mentally and physically. I kept running into roadblocks that I deemed incomprehensible and serious barriers to my personal success (and the apparent success

of the companies I was working for). Wheth-er it was the boss/owner who wouldn’t listen or just didn’t want to change or whether I was doing all of this for someone else’s benefit. Being the type of person that I am and always reaching for more, I knew that I would take on this challenge at some point in my life. I just had no idea that it would happen when it did. As with most things in life, opening the business was not the plan but became the plan after I was laid off and couldn’t find a job in Western Mass to save my life. When life throws you a curve ball make sure you have a bat in your hand.

LM: What was your last, “why did I go into business for myself” moment?TTB: Never had that yet and I pray that I never will.

LM: What was your last, “this is why I went

Tara T. Brewster (left) and Candice Connors are the women behind the sophisticated

and edgy, Jackson & Connor.

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into business for myself” moment?TTB: Every day I have my Ah moment. It seems like a dream that it’s my life every day.

LM: You can’t live without ________ when it comes to fashion.TTB: Expression.

LM: Every female professional should have __________.TTB: Trusted friends.

LM: If you could steal some business mojo from another mogul, who would it be and why?TTB: Michael Kittredge Sr. The man kicked ass. He went from making candles in his mom’s basement to Yankee Candle Co. to selling it for a bazillion dollars and now … living the life in semi-retirement while his super fab son Mick opens Kringle Candle.

On top of all of this fabulousness, they are all a really down to earth, normal family. An inspiration right in my own backyard. Go Kittredge’s!

LM: Who are these guys, Jackson and Connor? TTB: Jackson is my “boy name.” If I were a boy I’d call myself Jackson. The same scenario applies for Candice. She is Connor. So that being said, Jackson is more of my personality/style trends while Connor is more on point with Candice.

Jackson is our younger professional who makes up 25 % of our store. He is footloose and fancy free and knows what he wants. He knows the trends and is not afraid to take it to the next level with his look. He is much more adventurous than our Connor man who is the majority customer base for us.

The Jackson Guy

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Connor is an older man established in life and confident in his position and style. He will take fewer risks than Jackson because he has already taken them and knows what works and what doesn’t. He has a family and has sent a kid to college. He likes to golf or hang with the fellas and vacation a few times a year. He likes to look good and sub-tly stand out without attracting too much attention to himself. Connor is our bread and butter but Jackson gets us buzzed about in the local community, on blogs and regionally.

LM: What is your business motto?TTB: How would you want it done? Then do it.

LM: If you could give other entrepreneurs three tips, what would they be?TTB: Tip #1. Create a no free time zone for yourself until your business is “going.” By

this I mean get involved. Join committees, groups, non-profits and volunteer. Whatever moves you, do it. The more involved the faster your learn and the quicker your business will get put on the map. Tip #2. Have GREAT credit. Period. If you don’t, you won’t be able to help yourself out of any jams you may get into. Credit cards are very good friends when you are starting your own business. Tip #3. Support people who support you. Show support for businesses that you believe in by shopping with them. Try to cast a wide net of supporters and they will in turn support you. One hand washes the other in this world. Take care of the people around you and they will repay the favor. Tip #4. I know I’m not supposed to give four, but people WRITE THANK YOU NOTES.

LM: Has there been a piece of technology or software that has been a lifesaver to you?TTB: You need to be the very best tool that you have. There is no replacing the human touch.

LM: What is your goal for the next year?TTB: To come out better than 2010. We had a very solid increase last year. So we are up against a strong number. We are ahead and tracking to catch it. The fourth quarter is where we shine so I am getting my holiday game face on. Thinking some tinsel hair might be the tipping point.

LM: When someone is telling their friend about your business, what do you hope they say? TTB: I hope they say something like this: ‘Have you been to Jackson & Connor, yet? No? Well you need to go check them out. They are a fantastic men’s clothing store on the 2nd floor of Thorne’s in Northampton. It’s owned by two kick ass women who have been in the business forever. They really know what they are doing and have curated an amazing selection of both casual and dress men’s clothing. They have some great items that I have not been able to find elsewhere. They are super involved in the community and work their butts off to

The Connor Guy

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make all the boats in the water rise not just theirs.’ OK, so maybe this is a bit lengthy but I hope that some of this gets into everyone’s elevator pitch about us. Word of mouth is

elevator pitch about us. Word of mouth islike love. It is more precious than anything and you can’t buy it.

For more on Jackson & Connor, visit

www.jacksonandconnor.com.

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Jackie Segarra is a woman who is reshaping her destiny. After serving time in prison, this mother defied the odds and rose to find strength and perseverance. In this month’s Lioness Magazine, Jackie shares her story in a candid, touching account of her rise from poverty, drug use and crime. Some names in this article have been changed to protect identities.

One night in 2001, I was trying to finish cleaning my humble apartment, located in a poor neighborhood in Springfield. As I was mopping I was thanking God that a good friend of mine was lending me a few dollars, enough to buy groceries and feed my two little angels, at least for one more night.

To live one day at a time was an unrealistic phrase for me. Even though I managed to provide a meal for that night, I had to start thinking about how I was going to pay not only for a meal the next day but also for next month’s rent and the electric bill. How did everything go so wrong? I knew the answer; I just did not want to accept it.

Maybe it all began after my second frustrat-ed love relationship. I was devastated when I found myself alone with a three year old daughter and a baby boy on his way. It was a miserable pregnancy. After giving birth, a grudge for life grew inside of me. There wasn’t much left of that humble young lady I was about four years ago when I had moved from Puerto Rico looking for a better life. My second child was only a few weeks old when I had become the leader of one of the most popular Holyoke gangs of the time. That’s when I tried marijuana, alcohol and finally cocaine powder. I became an occasional user, so I thought it was not a big deal. When I was smoking pot and drinking alcohol, I felt like I had no worries. On coke I use to be able to shake my depression, at

least for a few minutes. Still, I was angry and discouraged with my life.

While I was a member of a gang, I got in trouble with the law for the first time, but nothing that couldn’t be resolved by pay-ing a fine and serving probation. Despite my rebellion I retained some of the values and respect for life that I had been taught as a child. I think those values were what helped me decide to move from Holyoke to Springfield after witnessing the death of a companion of one of my own gang mem-ber’s brother.

But not everything changed when I moved to Springfield. I was no longer in a gang and had studied to become certified as a nurse assistant. Still, my criminal record haunted me and every few months I would be fired from working in a nursing home because my CORI results would reveal my history with the justice system.

One day while I was picking up a few toys scattered around my apartment, I realized my friend had left behind a plastic bag which contained small beige pebbles, each individually wrapped and equal in size. Quickly, I recognized what these pebbles were: crack. I had seen it before. It was why my good friend L. always had money and why he could afford to lend me money to buy groceries so my kids were able to eat that night. I also knew his supplier was an-other guy in my circle of friends.

Out of curiosity, I picked up the bag to study it and I asked myself, “is it possible to make people pay $20.00 for one of these small pebbles? Is it possible that so many people squander money that way while I work so hard to keep my little family fed?”

There were 19 stones in the bag, and I35

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quickly sat on the couch to calculate how much they were worth. One hundred ninety dollars! I almost fainted as I visualized my supermarket cart filled with food and treats.

Suddenly I heard the small voices of my little angels. My daughter was about seven years old, and my son was only about four. I went up quietly to the door and was about to yell at them to go to sleep but something-stopped me, and I listened for a minute.

---Christina (my daughter): “Tell mom that we’re hungry.” ---Mario: “You tell her. I wouldn’t dare! Besides, she loves you more than me.”---Christina: “I don’t think so. She loves you more. She already fed us dinner and you know there is nothing in the fridge for snacking. Also, if we say we are hungry, she cries. We better go to bed and sleep our hunger away.”

The innocent but accurate conversation of my children broke my heart. Indeed, there was nothing to give them to snack on, and I sat crying in the hallway. I cried myself to sleep that night and discovered that sleeping actually did seem to relieve hunger.

I woke up the next morning and as usual readied my children for school. I was grateful that their school served breakfast but worried that my children would go to bed without dinner for yet another night! This is when I decided to call my friend who laughed hysterically when I asked him to let me start selling drugs for him. His “connection” also laughed at my proposal. They doubted my ability to run such a business, and they warned me of the dangers. R. offered to buy me groceries and to give me some money, but my mind was made up. I wanted to go into business and if he wasn’t going to help me, then I would find someone else who would.

I was finally able to convince R. to set me up, although he was not convinced that I was up for the task. I remember the first time he brought me the drugs. He said, “I wish

you luck but I’m sure I just lost two hundred dollars.” I asked him how this arrangement would work, and he told me that it would be a 50/50 split. I would keep $100 and give him $100. Once again he advised me of the dangers. But I did not want to listen to his advice.

I started selling the drugs right away and quickly sold out, so I called him for more.

Soon I became his star salesman and a top seller for other drug lords in the city as well. I worked long, hard hours and even learned how to process the cocaine into crack. My income grew along with my bad reputation. I started to buy everything for my children, all the things they never had. That Christmas was my family’s best Christmas ever. I even wrapped up my customers’ drugs in small boxes with tiny bows and put them under the tree.

I no longer went looking for work as a nurse assistant. I was making good money selling

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drugs. I even shared the money I made and would feed the neighborhood kids and give money to those who needed it.

I first got caught selling drugs about four months after I had started dealing. R. bailed me out but told me he would never deal with me again for my own good and for the good of my children. I went to court for that case and was jailed for less than a month and released with an ankle bracelet monitor.

Even if R. wouldn’t let me work for him, I had plenty of other dealers in the city who wanted me as an employee. When I came out of prison, I already had big drug dealers waiting to provide me with merchandise so that I could get back on my feet. Yes, I was dealing drugs while still wearing an ankle bracelet monitor and while I was on parole and on probation. Dealers used to call me their “little money-making machine.”

I had lost my apartment while in jail, so a drug dealer offered me a job with an apartment included, but I would have to sell from the apartment. At least this time I did not bring my kids with me. A friend agreed to take care of them. I told her it would be temporary until I could make enough money to get my own apartment in a safe area.

My life really became crazy at this point. The little apartment became the biggest drug spot of the area. I sold from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Addicts were constantly knocking at my door. I had to hire security because people tried to rob me on three occasions. I was at the point where I didn’t want to sell any more. I was using drugs more and more and was afraid every night, thinking someone would try to kill me over drugs. Finally the day came when I heard the fa-miliar big thud of my apartment door being smashed to the floor. Again I found myself being handcuffed and taken into custody. This time I was sentenced to a five year man-datory sentence and was sent to a state prison.

Thank God for my friend A. She took good care of my children for most of the time I was in prison, but before she got custody of my kids, they had many bad moments. The Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Framingham became my home for three years. I finally got tired of mourning, crying and beating my fists against the walls. I decided to accept the responsibility of my actions. Now I was forced to live one day at a time and decided to make each day count.

In prison I really got to know myself and to reflect on my life. I discovered my hidden talents. I discovered I have a talent for art and painting. I learned that I had been suffering from major depression and anxiety since my second pregnancy. I am still in therapy and treatment and so far my problems are very well controlled. What most impressed me was discovering that I have a passion for helping others. I dreamed of working in the community. I still dream of someday working at an agency to help women who are going through similar situations to mine.

I enrolled in the courses offered in prison, including a Boston University program called “Behind Bars.” Time in prison passed slowly. I had no visitors and no money in my commissary account to support myself, so I started working as a housekeeper at the prison clinic for two dollars a day. Before I knew it, I was being sent to pre-release where I would have a little more freedom and I was approved to volunteer out in the community. I also worked in a supermarket in the city and was paid eleven dollars an hour. I saved more money from that job than I had ever saved in my life.

I had already heard about a program de-signed exclusively for people like me who had been diagnosed with major depression and who were in recovery. The Howie T. Harp Peer Advocacy Program trains these people to become peer specialists. I felt like this program was designed just for me. The only problem was that the closest center

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am proud of who I am today.

I would like to thank everyone who has been supportive in my new life: my children who still loving me despite my mistakes, my best friend A. (I love you) who did not hesitate to love and care for my children as if they were her own (even though she has four of her own), and everyone who chipped in to help her while I was away. And thank you to my good friend R. who supports me and all of my ideas. He laughed when I told him I was going to be featured in a magazine but it was not the sarcastic laugh he had that very first time I asked him for a job selling drugs. I also want to thank my boyfriend who is always supportive of me and patiently deals with me. Thank you, too, to all employers who give people like me second chances.

But I owe a very special thank you to the man who visited me every single day while I was in prison, who consoled me and who provided for me during those five years of incarceration and who is always by my side ... My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

What I have been through is what made me who I am today. I only

wish I had not hurt so many people – my children, my family

and friends, and my entire community – while learning my

lesson.

offering this program was in New York City.

When I was finally released from prison, I decided not to return to the same neighbor-hood. Instead I collected my children and we moved to the big city of New York. With the high cost of living there, my savings did not last more than two months. My part-time job at a local store did not even cover the phone bill. I ended up moving into a shelter and there I stayed until I graduated from the Howie T. Harp Program as a “Certified Forensic Peer Specialist.” After doing a six month internship at Riker’s Island State Prison, I still could not find affordable housing so I moved back to Massachusetts.

All my efforts were failing until I discovered VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Despite my criminal record, VISTA, along with Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, gave me another chance. Today I am the Youth Coordinator of an amazing group of teenagers working to become leaders in their community.

As for my drug supplier R., well he also served a long sentence in prison. He, too, isnow out of prison. He has become a productive member of society and is the proud owner of his own auto mechanics business. In fact he is the business sponsor of our youth sports teams and now does a lot of good in the community.

My life is far from perfect but I know I am on the right path. I still struggle financially and my fridge is still empty at times. But now, I reach out to community services. I take care of my mental health, and I manage to stay clean and sober. Yeah, one day at a time!

I am not proud of what I did in my past, but I

I thought this time it would not be so difficult to find employment but

I was wrong.

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Presented by Next Level Development www.urnextlevel.com * [email protected] * (888)702-7739 (phone)

Find Info on LinkedIn & Facebook Groups – Next Level Development Look for Updates on Twitter – NextLevelLady

What is it? A personal and professional development conference for women seeking to take their lives to the next level. Why should you attend? YOU! Get inspired, moti-vated and connected! Hear stories of success and tools of the trade from other successful women. Group Registration: $60 - $70 after 9/7/2011 (5 or more people) Single Attendee: $75 - $85 after 9/7/2011 Vendor: $100 Registration includes: Attendance both days, Continental Breakfast, Full lunch & Re-freshments

SCHOLARSHIPS

AVAILABLE Friday, September 30 Friday, September 30 Friday, September 30

5:30 PM 5:30 PM 5:30 PM --- 8:30 PM8:30 PM8:30 PM

Saturday, October 1Saturday, October 1Saturday, October 1 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM --- 5:00 PM5:00 PM5:00 PM

&

Springfield Sheraton Hotel Springfield Sheraton Hotel Springfield Sheraton Hotel ssssssssssss Springfield, MASpringfield, MASpringfield, MA

REGISTRATION & INFO WWW.URNEXTLEVEL.COM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS Career • Efficacy for Women of Color

• So, You Want To Write A Book? How to Get It Written and Published!

Business & Finance • Taking Your Small Business to the Next Level • Investing & Financial Planning • Budget & Credit Management • Leading from a Strengths Based Perspective Home & Life • Mama Knows Best! Being an Educational

Advocate for Your Children - from Birth to 21 • “The Doctors” A Conversation About Your

Health • A Story of Success: The Women of Color

Giving Circle of Berkshire County

Page 41: Lioness Magazine September 2011