This year my 26th birthday was very special. I decided to give up my birthday in the name of charity. I invited friends to celebrate by donating to Charity:Water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations, instead of buying me gifts or taking me out.
I told all my guests what Charity:Water was all about, how a $20 donation can do a lot of difference for people deprived of water all over the world and the motivation behind the idea, founder Scott Harrison, After welcoming all my guests and I had to thank all sponsors who supported my birthday charity event including: International Garden, Omni Wines, Nuchas, The Pelican Hotel, Hulbert Waldrouop, Marlo Weinstein, Ruth’s bakery, Carly Ivan Garcia, Go Green, Smart Energy cocktails, Federico Bergomi, Jerry Jack, The Hugh Bell Studio, No More Tears and Danyelle Demchock. Check it out! You can make a donation to my charity water fundraiserHERE.
KARIMA N. ROEPEL is a life coach for teenage girls. She creates a step by step plan for a deeper self awareness and acceptance for themselves. She is the Visual Life Coach & creator of www.campcaya.com (CAYA means: Come as You Are). This camp organization (on of 2) were created to work with teenage girls to boosting their self-esteem so that they become healthy and productive young women, equipped to handle the pressures of the world.
Below are some questions for Karima to know a little about her:
1. Why have you decided to create this Facebook fanpage?
I wanted a networking page where girls (of all ages) could meet and exchange information, tips, and a sense of togetherness, meet friends, help, support, and guide our young(er) girls to a successful life.
2. What new experiences have you had as a result of creating the page?
The connections I’ve made with wonderful women from all over the world. Being int
erviewed from women who have similar goals and desires is priceless. Some of these women I lean on for guidance and support on this journey. We are trekking together.
3. Where are you from?
Philadelphia, PA, USA
4. What would you say to someone who is interested in creating their own Facebook fanpage?
Create the fanpage based on the outcome not the name of your company or organization. For instance my company name is Camp CAYA—I knew no one would know or recognize it, so I decided to make it a name that many can resonate with, “healthy self-esteem for girls”.
5. Do you have a story to share about something you have posted up on their wall…or what hassomeone else posted on theirs?
I love when I have an original quote and people love it. They ask me can they re-post or re-tweet it. I can always detect a winner because the “likes” are plentiful. I am going to release a calendar in December based on the most popular quotes.
6. What do you do for a living?
I am a Creative Life coach for teenage girls and their supporters. I created an organization, Camp Come As You Are, (CAYA) We work with Teenage girls on boosting their self-esteem so that they become healthy and productive young women equipped to handle the pressures of the world. I provide a proven step-by step blueprint on self-acceptance and love.
7. How do you handle adversity?
I meditate and allow the answers to come. Many times I create a mind map full of next action steps and solutions. I need to get my thoughts out of my head to reduce stress so I can move forward in the best possible way. What does not kill us makes us stronger. I am believer of enjoying the journey, its not always about the destination!
Yoga helps me too. Moving Meditation
In continuation of Part 1 “Beliefs”, Justin explains the factors that influence our beliefs. He shares that in 3 stages of our life, different internal and external factors either influence or encourage us. Like from childhood to adolescence and adulthood, this is where our nature of framework that structures the foundation of our ideas begin. It could be our environment, parents, our peers, schools and others.
“We are born in this with world with no instructions, no road map and no idea how me got here. The only thing I know for sure is that we are responsible for our choices. Our choices can either be our best friend or worst enemy.”excerpt from Justin-Tillman.com.
Shaun Neblett, pen name MC SNEB, is a Harlem based playwright and founder of Changing Perceptions Theater. In this video, he accounts his journey to become a playwright starting from the age of 17 when he was in high school. He wanted to write something different for the youngsters of his age who are into poetry, and decided to follow this passion.
With the help of his father who found a youth theatre company al the local YMCA. With a new mentor and the support from his dad, Shaun began writingplays. At the end of high school, he recieved an opportunity for one of his writings to be adapted into full play production in New York City.
In his writings, it is evident his love for music and hip hop culture hence his reason to self produce HOMAGE 3:ILLMATIC. It is the first installment in his 7 Homages for 7 MC’s, a cycle of plays Neblett is designing in the spirit of 7 classic Hip-Hop albums and their individual themes. HOMAGE 3: ILLMATIC is the third piece in the cycle and the first piece to be produced. He feels that the time to present inspirational stories of people of color is NOW. “America seldom sees characters of color that win, especially in the theater,” says Neblett. “I couldn’t wait any longer to see a play that people I know, value and can relate to. Hip-Hop culture has and continues to influence the entire world.. It’s about time that we pay honor and further investigate the motivational merits of the culture.”
The play is dedicated to Rapper NAS, one of New York’s leading rap voices who expressed an outspoken, self-empowered swagger that rallied the streets of his city and elsewhere. The play is about the journey of one man to find himself.
The production was done in Harlem because his love for Harlem is reflected in his works: its spirit, its rhythm, its people. The play will be shown in Black River Dance Center for Performing Arts.
So here in the final episode, Suncear continues to share how to treat some minor problems we encounter in our bathrooms using nature friendly, non toxic, chemical free and moneysavers ingredients.
4. Drain Cleaner - you can use peroxide and baking soda. Just pour the baking soda down the drain followed by the peroxide and leave for a 20 minutes before rinsing it. It doesn’t cause abrasion to your pipe and takes care of MINOR drain problems.
5. Mildew cleaner - use 50-50 peroxide and water and spray on to the area with the mildew problem and leave it to air dry.
So there you go, the ingredients are not harsh to the skin, hands and nose and are money savers as well.
Suncear Scretchen has had a life long interest in natural and organic products. After a bout of Graves Disease over 10 years ago, Suncear Scretchen has had a life long interest in natural and organic products. After a bout of Graves Disease over 10 years ago, and she is now a Health Coach helping clients lead healthier lifestyles. Her passion for achieving awareness in everything we put on and into our bodies is chronicled in her blog Conscious Chick
On my third day, I went to Ghetto di Roma, one of the oldest ghettos in the world as well as stopped over at the Roma Farmers’ Market. It was very similar one to New York’s Union Square Farmers’ Market where you can find organic fresh vegetables, fruits, natural products such as Bio-Nutrici.
I took a walk though Palatine Hill where the Roman Emperors once live and now you will find mostly ruins of palaces and homes of some Rome’s richest familes. From there, it was a stones throw away to the Roman Forum, which originally was a marsh, but the Romans drained the area and turned it into a center of political and social activity. The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts. It is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the world.
The Colloseum was built in the center of the city of Rome between 70-72 AD, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. It can seat 50,000 spectators and it was used to be a place for gladiatorial contest and public spectacles.
After a very long day, I capped off the evening at Hotel Locarino where I relaxed over an apperitivo with some friends.
Shaun Neblett, pen name MC SNEB, is a Harlem based playwright and founder of Changing Perceptions Theater. In this video, he accounts his journey to become a playwright starting from the age of 17 when he was in high school. He wanted to write something different for the youngsters of his age who are into poetry, and decided to follow this passion.
