Posts Tagged ‘freedom of speech’

For Those Who Are Ready to “Come Up” There’s Agape Toastmasters

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Carlos Reynaldo delivered a rousing presentation at Agape Toastmasters in Culver City on Saturday as part of an Open House Celebration. His speech was one of three speeches about the powerful transformations Toastmaster's have experienced in their lives as a result of membership. Reynaldo has taken full advantage of the Toastmasters program and has delivered 12 speeches in a short period of time. Each time, he gets better. If you want to improve your communication and leadership skills look into Toastmasters and see what they can offer you for a very minimal investment of your time and money. Toastmasters is an International, Non-Profit Organization, find a club near you at: http://www.toastmasters.org/ --------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin' things happen in your life. Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life? If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I'm offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about. There's nothing cool about holding back. This post was originally published on September 27, 2010

Toastmasters: What Can It Do For You?

Sunday, November 7th, 2010
Cynthia Lamb, spiritual counselor delivered a powerful speech at Agape Toastmasters describing some of the benefits she's enjoyed as a result of her 2 years of membership. Cynthia started her speaking experience with lots of "ahs" and "ums" in a manner she describes as "all filler, no content". After using the manuals provided by Toastmasters she learned to be a competent leader and communicator. Toastmasters gave her the courage to pursue her larger goal which is to share a message of spiritual healing through forgiveness with an International audience. She recently appeared on a panel of experts lead by Blog Talk Radio host, Michelle Ann Johnson titled "Conscious Kickstart" and did a very powerful presentation which included a guided process for forgiveness. She is kind enough to make this available to the world via this YouTube Video. If you need to heal a broken heart for any reason, you owe it to yourself to check this out. Cynthia Lamb recently earned the highest award Toastmasters offers: Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and to do it in 2 years is an exceptional feat. Agape Toastmasters is that kind of place. I joined 2 years ago and I was shaky and hesitant in my first few speeches. I would get so nervous that sometimes I was practically incapacitated for an entire day. But with practice and support, I became stronger and stronger. I have used the supportive, creative environment to work out some ideas for a character, (my alter ego) Gal Vanized. When I started Toastmasters I had 7 years of experience as a college instructor under my belt. Somehow I had convinced myself or been pressured to believe that I had to "tone it down" and "be professional". Which meant that pink wigs and punk rock gigs were out of the question. To that I say, Why? And this semester I've used music videos in my Introduction to Victimology class to highlight some of the songs that describe the abuse of power and control in our society that leads to crime and therefore victims. I got bold enough one night to put on the pink wig in my Introduction to Domestic Violence class and tell my story of running away from an abuse filled home to find a better life. What Toastmasters did for me is give me the courage to say what I want to say, how I want to say it. What will Toastmasters do for you?  You'll never know unless you check it out for yourself.  Toastmasters is an International, non-profit organization. "The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth." Click here to find a club near you.

The Serious Side of Antoine Dodson and His Family

Sunday, August 29th, 2010
If you spend more time on the internet than you do watching T.V.; if you get a major chunk of your media input from YouTube, you have no doubt heard of Internet sensation Antoine Dodson. Dodson (up until recently) lived in the projects in Huntsville, Alabama called Lincoln Park. One night, while he was minding his own business hanging out on Facebook, he heard his sister scream. He ran to her room and saw her struggling with a bed intruder, a man who was trying to rape her. The rapist was scared away before he was able to carry out his sexual assault. When news cameras arrived at Dodson's doorstep, he was still angry, scared and worked up over the ordeal. He was very animated on camera and it was entertaining to watch. So entertaining that the Gregory Brothers, who are known for auto-tuning the news made a song of it and took it viral. At this point in time the Antoine Dodson Bed Intruder song has about 14.5 million views on YouTube. At one point, it was #3 on the iTunes popularity list. Bed Intruder Song (Remix) (feat. Kelly Dodson) - Antoine Dodson Bed Today I heard a little bit of the story that put a twist on things for me. Dodson's sister has a 2-year old daughter. The daughter is aware of the trauma and tragedy and she is scared. She is scared for herself and she's scared for her mom. I am currently teaching a class about Victimology at Long Beach City College and we talked about sexual abuse just last Thursday. We watched a video by Marilyn Van Derbur called "Once Can Hurt a Lifetime" and we talked about all the ways sexual abuse impacts the survivor. Here's what we came up with (click on image to enlarge): Despite all these known consequences for sexual assault survivors, resources to help people are a very low priority on our list at voting time. The impact of lack of funding is evidenced by the closure of Sexual Assault Crisis Agency in Long Beach. For those who need support with overcoming the impact of sexual assault, a good place to start is RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network). In class we also talked about some of the ways abusers wield power and control over others. Here's our list (click on image to enlarge): We discussed how gaining personal power was a positive step to avoid falling prey to victimizers. If you want help to strengthen your mind, visit icreatehabits.com for a free hypnosis MP3 titled Create The Life You Want. Or, visit Start a Master Mind Group.com to find out how to use group energy to strengthen and improve yourself as a person.

What Are Your Influences?

Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Every musical act has influences. The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest influenced each other. Punk bands from the U.K. influenced garage bands in Southern California and vice versa. Reggae and dub influenced each other. What are your influences? That's what we talked about in Helping and Listening Skills this week. We came up with a great list and I liked it so much I took a picture of it. I asked the students to tell me about the things that influence them. What do they value? Why do they do what they do; love what they love? This is the list they came up with: Parents Environment -Friends -Neighborhood -Peers -Religion Culture Schools Food/Nutrition Media Mental Illness Life Experience -Observation Socio-Economic Status ($$$) Books Music Relationships Friendships Family -Uncles -Aunts -Brothers -Sisters -etc. Role Model -Coach -Minister -Teacher Law Government Health Medication/Drugs Language Sleep Fashion Freedom Travel Pets Sex Arts -Pictures -Painting -Dance Entertainment Perception The point I want to make in this class is that you cannot know any of these things about yourself or anyone else unless you first learn how to listen. A great Master Mind group is one that's committed to honoring and respecting each other and that includes listening unconditionally and without judgment. It is honoring a person to trust that they know what's best for their own life. --------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin' things happen in your life. Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life? If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I'm offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about. There's nothing cool about holding back.

I Spoke ‘Rapper’s Delight’ with My College Students during Oprah Audition

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
I submitted an audition tape to Oprah on Sunday. I'm hoping that you will vote for me to get my OWN T.V. talk show. We taped the audition in front of a live audience. Between takes I did a little dancing, a little rapping and a little jumping up and down. All caught on video. I want a show that's a mix between Soul Train and old school Oprah. You know, when you used to have real-life, everyday people on and they'd tell amazing stories and experience transformation before your eyes. How about if we do that with fun stuff like music and roller derby and stories? That's what I want to do and you can help me by voting today. Voting ends June 3.

Hip Hop and The Law of Attraction

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
This song by Blackalicious is about living in the flow of life which is exactly what the Law of Attraction is. But in some ways it's more enjoyable to listen to this song and feel it than it is to sit around and think about it. Buy Automatique by Blackalicious on iTunes Automatique by Blackalicious Lyrics [Floetry] It's automatique-- now So here bring my speak-- style Show y'all how to freak-- star Is automatique-- now So automatique-- now The sound you gon' keep-- down Come listen and peep-- how It's automatique [Gift of Gab] It's automatic sporadic movements on the brake The moment's magic the last thing that I should do is think I burst the energy that hints that really it's no time At birth you start to think that after death back to no mind A rest that makes you new again now you embrace the planet And stand in all of all the thing you daily took for granted The trees are posin' all unique in form make this perfection The most important time is now tomorrow's a projection A co-creator if you only just believe in that Right here today inside is where I find my freedom at Is simple as a lyric from my soul to yours as felt I didn't write this I just let the pen move by itself It's ART-o-matic [Hook] --------------------------------------------- Get a free Create The Life You Want Hypnosis MP3 at icreatehabits.com, TODAY. --------------------------------------------- [Natalie of Floetry] So blessed we rest in a space over-standin' This breath's so unique we must trace where we landed Magnetizin' minor tracks is subliminal So fiend-in to the evidence is evident I'm bein' true True to the moment the channelin' the callin' True to the heartbeat the passion and the formin' This rollercoaster's the one I stood in line for Hands in the air these upside downs here are paid for Make this relevant and here what you gotta hear I'm recordin' all the secrets of my silent shed Don't think about it just absorb everything you taste If it set you free you gonna find the ways You're who you gonna be unless you choose otherwise If you let it flow the universe will empathize Check your programs they monitorin' your sanity Now close your eyes inside you find the clarity It's automatic! [Hook] [Floetry] Free your body know this ought to be open Then lose control just let it happen then Live at it and set it Move again your clarity start to assume again I know this one twist will feel it in You think you don't know the engine (???) But it's so automatic So so so automatic [Gift of Gab] It's automative, beyond the common logic native Beyond the ball around my drama now I'm divin' waitin So stop and wait this, now operate it on the wavelength A thought of way is presented by true laws of nature Across the nation a lost of patience is cost inflation So caught in waitin', and contemplatin' obligations Read up inaugurations politrations violatin And all the haters all up it cannot invadin' The honest tension, two orders sacred not created Good thought I made it!! I'm born beyond the constellations So concetratin', and follow man we all are awakin' It's automative, you gotta make it follow faith in Come on come on! --------------------------------------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin' things happen in your life. Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life? If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I'm offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about. There's nothing cool about holding back.

Music and the Brain – Free Podcasts on iTunes

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
If you're a music freak like me, you have found that rhythm and beats are more than just a form of entertainment. Listening and dancing to music can be healing to the core. A series of podcasts by the Library of Congress explores the power of music and how it interacts with the brain. Current episodes now available include: Trance Formation: Music, Trance, Religious Experience and the Brain The Mind of the Artist From Mode to Emotion in Musical Communication The Music of Language and the Language of Music Click on any of the links above to go to the entire list of podcasts on iTunes. Use sound and brainwave technology to reach guru-like meditative states, try Holosynch from Centerpointe Research. Apple iTunes

Galvanize Your Mind for ‘The Shift’

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
This video is about a movie being made from a movement. There's some interesting footage of people in action at a grass roots level. I have long wanted to be the kind of person who makes a difference but it seems I was always getting in my own way. I didn't always know that's what I was doing but as I look back on the past with the knowledge and experience I have now, I know..."It was all me, every bit of it me." I proclaim that 2010 is going to be an exception to the rule. If there's a shift going on (and I do believe there is) I want to be a part of it. I have three goodies for you and each one will contribute to galvanizing your mind and preparing you get out of your own way and take action on your dreams and desires: 1) a free hypnosis MP3 titled Create the Life You Want at my iCreateHabits.com blog 2. Songs to Galvanize Your Mind list available here. 3. The Sheri and Erin Show on Blog Talk Radio.

Each of these goodies will give your mind what it needs to live free from fear so you can take part in 'The Shift' if you're ready.