Tag Archives: Public Speaking

President and First Lady Speak Against Bullying and for Respect of Self and Others

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I just read the following letter from Michelle Obama and something tells me she won't mind that I reprint the entire letter here, along with the accompanying video by President Obama as they both speak out about bullying and encourage an attitude of respect for self and others.
Good morning, As a mother, I can only imagine how devastating it would be to lose a child. So I was shocked and saddened when I heard that several young people had taken their own lives recently after being bullied for being gay -- or because people thought they were gay. No one should ever feel so hopeless or tormented that they take their own life. Bullying of any kind, for any reason, is unacceptable. As adults, it's our responsibility to create a safe environment for our children. That includes setting an example of respect for one another -- no matter our differences. That's why I’m writing to you today. In the wake of these terrible tragedies, thousands of Americans have come together to share messages of encouragement and hope with LGBT youth across our country who might be having a hard time in school or in their communities. And I wanted to share with you the video that Barack recorded to join his voice with all those who have told their own personal stories. Middle school and high school can be tough for any kid. But it can be especially wrenching if you’re taunted or harassed by your peers, if you are made to feel worthless or alone because you don’t look or act like everybody else. And if you’re in that situation, it can be hard to imagine that things will ever change. But they will. If you've been bullied, you need to know that this is not your fault. There are adults -- whether in your family, your school or your community -- who can help. Most importantly, you need to know how special and valuable your life is not just to your family and friends but to the entire country. You truly have a bright future ahead of you. If you’re a parent worried about your child being bullied, or a young person who’s being bullied by their peers and aren't sure where to turn, you can learn more here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ItGetsBetter Please take care of yourselves and of one another. Sincerely, Michelle Obama First Lady of the United States

Domestic Violence Resources in Long Beach

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I am a college instructor at Long Beach City College.  I teach a class about Domestic Violence, among other things.  This week, the lesson plan came to life when a man entered the classroom, looking for his partner and trying to get her to leave class.  I told him "no, she can't leave" and he looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said "who are YOU?" Luckily, no one lost their mind or anything else.  We were fortunate to have two things on our side that day: First we had guest speaker Ismael Zepedadiaz from the Victim-Witness Assistance Program on site delivering a presentation.  Not only does Ismael look like the kind of guy you probably don't want to mess with, he also knows a lot about restraining orders, police reports and how to make sure a person who is being victimized has the resources to get their lives back on track. Secondly, we had the Long Beach Police Department on site.  There are officers assigned to the campus and they patrol it non-stop. Before class was over, a restraining order was served, a police report was made, the student got a ride home and she was hooked up with resources to help her so she does not have to return to her relationship. Perhaps you, or someone you know needs just such a hook-up.  Here are some resources that can help: Ismael Zepedadiaz works for the L.A. County District Attorney as a Victim Services Representative.  You can reach his office at 562-491-6347.  He has provided assistance to a number of my students so they could get necessary help such as counseling and even money to help soften the blow of victimization. For crime victims in Los Angeles County, there is a toll-free number to call for help: 1-877-VINE-4-LA Below is a list of domestic violence hotlines and shelters in the L.A. County area. Interval House (562) 594-4555 Rainbow     (310) 547-9343 Su Casa    (562) 402-4888 Women Shelter    (562) 437-4663 1736 Family Crisis Center  (562) 379-3620 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Domestic Violence Resources Please pass this information on to anyone who needs it.

Positive Hip Hop Podcast Delivered on MP3 and in iTunes

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Positive Hip-Hop PodcastI originally discovered the Positive Hip Hop podcast about 5 years ago. The DJ, Furyus only did a few episodes then moved on to a Mac vs. PC video. I haven't kept up with what he's up to now but the old episodes are still on my iPod. Tonight I went for a walk while listening to Episode 6: "Social & Political Change". This episode is jam-packed with socially aware hip hop with a great beat. Tracks include: KRS-One - "Illegal Business”, Head-Roc - "America!" and Ozomatli ft Common - "Embrace The Chaos". To get all 8 episodes of the Positive Hip-Hop Podcast, visit http://www.theskybeneath.com/podcast/

Time to Galvanize at Enough is Enough Vigil

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I have been asked to speak at the Enough is Enough Vigil on Friday at the Pacific Coast Campus (PCC) of Long Beach City College. I am honored that I can speak on an important topic such as reducing community violence and I hope my speech can be a positive contribution but I am saddened to think of the tragic circumstances that motivated the need for this event. The Friday night vigil is for Omar Brown who was murdered on September 25 at the age of 19 in an allegedly gang-related shooting. Naturally, there will be some strong emotions. Some will be sad, some will be angry, some will be enraged, some will feel hopeless and numb out. Death is not easy for anyone and murder of a young person is always tragic. I want to be able to say the best words possible at such an important event. I want to do my best to communicate the needs and thoughts of the community as a whole. I was asked to speak because I've been told I have an uplifting message that inspires some to push to new heights and also I've heard that the stress-reduction exercises we do in class help people to find inner peace which helps them have more peace in their homes. If you've heard me speak or are familiar with my message, I'd like to hear what you think is most important to say at a time like this. Please leave your comments below and I'll reply. Thanks.

Left My Wallet in El Segundo – Agape Toastmasters Remix

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Listening to hip hop as a young girl gave me an education in the power of words and imagery. In this speech from the Toastmasters Storytelling manual, I take the liberty to consider the popular hip hop song, "Left My Wallet in El Segundo" as a folk tale and I retell it in my own words. --------------- 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.

“Business is Booming” for Nazi Killah’s aka ‘The Basterds’

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Certain quotes from the movie Inglourious Basterds galvanize me. One of them is by Aldo the Apache, a Jewish-American, warrior-like soldier with Native-American traits. "You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business. We in the killin' Nazi's business, and cousin business is a booming," he says. Envision these words delivered by Brad Pitt with a thick Tennessee drawl just moments before "The Bear Jew" bashes in the brains of a Nazi soldier to "leave a message for Hitler." Basically this movie is a revenge fantasy about kickin' ass and standing up for what you believe in. Quentin Tarantino did a great job of delivering this message in a mind-bending way that leaves a lasting impact. Listen to the quote below: [caption id="attachment_5615" align="alignleft" width="100" caption="Buy music and movies on iTunes"][/caption] Inglourious Basterds Inglourious

Song of the Week – 9-21-10 – A Triple-Header for the Delay by Rinkrat

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This week has been atypical in many ways. The song of the week, by Michael Zampelli is usually published on Tuesday's. It's three days late. To make up for it, there are three songs this week and they tell a story of what's been going on for the past seven days. It's been life-changing to say the least. Watch the video for each song one after another and see what kind of an effect it has on you. Best Coast "When I'm With You" When When I'm With You - Single - Best Coast Watch the video on YouTube Check out more on their MySpace page. The XX "Islands" Islands Islands - Single - The xx Watch the video on YouTube Check out more on their MySpace page. Pendulum "The Island - Pt. 1 Dawn" Pendulum Pendulum Watch the video on YouTube Check out more on their MySpace page. The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music. Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned. Apple iTunes : : Support Get Galvanized, Visit our Sponsor page.

A Colorful and Hypnotic Day at WordCamp LA

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[caption id="attachment_5453" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Mementos from my day at Word Camp L.A."][/caption] Today I spent more than 10 hours at WordCamp LA, a boot camp for bloggers who use WordPress. To say I learned a lot would be a gross understatement. And, being the compulsive geek that I am, I cannot fight back the urge to post a blog about my day, complete with photo documentation of my mementos. There were a number of great speakers on one of two tracks: Developer or Beginner. I was in the Beginner track. Throughout the day I saw presentations by the following bloggers and designers: Esther Tseng talked about food blogging in Wordpress. Shira Lazar had some interesting stories about her work with CBS.com and showed us interviews she did with Double Rainbow Man and Katie Couric. She's a real go-getter, I'm sure you'll hear her name again if you haven't already. Allison Day talked about web development and HTML, Michael Dorausch talked about installing WordPress and then we went to lunch. Moments before we arrived at the cafeteria the fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated. Still, we all had time to eat and I had a chance to touch base with Tia Dobi briefly. Tia is a hypnotic copywriter and she's not afraid to stand out in a crowd. That's why I decided to include her card in my pile for the day along with my card. I am a hypnotist and I have a free MP3 download called "Create the Life You Want" over at http://icreatehabits.com if you'd like to check it out. After lunch we heard from a young, brilliant group of developers and designers including Marty Thornley, Thom Meredith, Matthew Lawson and Kristin Falkner. After that, David Gadarian, creator of mostmost.net spoke about how to design you own theme. A highlight of the day was our second to the last speaker Alana Joy. Her last name matches her personality and she has done a beautiful job of designing a blog for Suicide Girls, a punk-rock pin up site that's been on the Internet for 10 years and has millions of viewers visiting each month from around the world. The closing speech was delivered by Luke Pilon. He is passionate about keeping software available through General Public License. He loves WordPress because of the way it creates communities and allows us to share information with a worldwide audience. I also love that about WordPress. I didn't go to the after-party but since the event was held at the Loyola Marymount University, I decided to stop in on an art show at the Laband Art Gallery on campus before driving home. I viewed the opening exhibition of Kim Abeles show: Art and Activism. I took a seat and was shortly joined by artist Beth Elliot who I met for the first time. She told me about her upcoming art opening on October 9 at Future Studio Gallery at 5558 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles 90042. Elliot is one of 23 artists who will display their work as part of the Fig Knit-On exhibit. Call 323-254-4565 for details. I ended the evening with a lovely drive home then came home and played several sets on DJHero. If I didn't know it before today, I know it now. I am a geek with a need to create, all the way down to the bone. Even though a lot of the presentations were over my head, I felt like I was in my element and ready to jump into a new level with my blog. In short, I am galvanized.