Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Family Assistance Center is located in Whittier, CA at the St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church. They are an all volunteer run organization that provides food and clothing for low income families. They service families in need in unincorporated areas of South and East Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, La Mirada, Pico Rivera and Downey. It is open to people in need of all faiths. The volunteers are all women and NHN helps many women that are supporting their families on their own.
clothing and toys for a few months. We held food drives through a couple of our studios, In the Flow Studios Arts and Kadan Martial Arts, and were not prepared for the overwhelming gratitude upon delivering our donations. Sadly their pantry was almost empty before we brought the food we had collected. Many families would have needed to make it on a can of food for the day. It was difficult to believe that an organization dedicated to helping so many in need would be suffering in this way. My family and I decided that day that while we may not have much extra cash at the moment we would find ways to help this heart-run organization.
Our next donation was personal. We began with clothing. Over the years we've accumulated our fair share of clothes that are still new but we've outgrown, our tastes have changed, our lifestyle has changed, etc. Suffice to say we will not use these clothes, shoes, hats again. We gathered everything we could washed and cleaned the items and delivered our next donations. Again we we met with genuine gratitude and joy for all the people that would be helped. But as we walked back into the food pantry again we were met by empty shelves.
My heart fell to my stomach when I realized the people we had passed on the way in would have no proteins to bring home, or bread, or fresh vegetables. They would not leave empty handed as all in need are given food but they would not have enough to provide the basics needed for a nutritional meal, especially if they needed to feed growing children.
I'm writing this post because I know that while many of us may not be able to afford extras or luxuries at the moment we know there are others that are less fortunate and we want to help. One of the noblest ways to express our gratitude for what we have is to be charitable with those that have less. There are many ways we can be a light for another human being without much sacrifice. We can spare useful household items that we are not using. We can donate jackets, shoes, clothes that we no longer wear. We can donate money, no amount is too small and it's tax deductible. We can donate a few extra cans of food we buy in bulk at warehouse stores.
Providing food is Neighbors Helping Neighbors' primary mission. They are committed to never allowing anyone in need leave empty handed but they can only fulfill their commitment with our help. Beans, bread, rice, canned beef, vegetables and fruits are needed staple items in their pantry. They also try to buy fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible. They accept and appreciate fresh produce donations from your own backyards.
While fixing all the world's problems seems a monumental task we can take our first steps towards it by helping our neighbors get through the day with a meal and a warm coat. I urge those that are local and inspired to reach out to Neighbors Helping Neighbors and find a way to lend some help. And please stop by inperson to see for yourself the good they are doing.
A special note for the months of October, November and December they collect food, clothing and toys for Thanksgiving and for Christmas.
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a non-profit community-based organization working to strengthen individuals and families in Whittier and surrounding communities.
About NHM Food Pantry: The principal service is the provision of food. Among the items provided on a weekly basis to families in unincorporated areas of South and East Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, La Mirada, Pico Rivera and Downey are bread products and two or more shopping bags, including produce and non-perishable items.
An average of 30-50 families and 188 individuals are assisted on a daily basis.
NHN does not require a social security number thus serving a population that might otherwise go hungry."
NHN Contact info: Located: St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 13935 Telegraph Road (Convent), Whittier, CA 90604, USA Phone: (562) 777-2475 Service Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00AM - 2:00PM Director: Rosana Javier Ly Email: neighbors@sggcatholic.org If you're inspired to visit NHN I'd be grateful if you would please leave a comment and or picture about your experience below. Thank you.
Thank you for honoring the feminine.
You can find more information about Aurora's Women's Empowerment Organization at:
Life can be challenging especially when we feel we are all alone in the struggle. This special song collection celebrating women is to remind us that we are not alone. It is to remind us that we are powerful, courageous, creative and resilient. We hope you'll find songs that inspire you, relate to you, speak to you or that make you get up and dance. If there is an inspiring song that lifts your spirits please share it with us in the comments so other women can enjoy it too. We hope you'll visit often and share this post with the women that you love.
(We apologize for the commercials on many of the videos but we wanted to honor the artist's work so we tried to use the song's official link whenever possible.)
VDAY is birthed from One Billion Rising, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. VDAY is an opportunity for women and those that love them to stand together, celebrate women and girls and at the same time demand an end to the violence against women and girls worldwide. VDAY has a vision of bringing the world together through song and dance in hopes of strengthening the feminine and raising awareness to her plight. Far too many females of all ages worldwide fall victim to abuse, violence and neglect. But we are many and together we can find the strength, courage and compassion to find our voice and open our arms wide enough to embrace the world. This song makes us get up and dance in communion with our sisters of every age, ethnicity and religion...sisters will you rise!?
Annie Lenox - Women Are Doing It For Themselves
Annie Lenox - Women are doing it for themselves liveat the Make Poverty History Concert Series in 2005. The joy and passion in her execution of this song are infectious. One can't help but want to get up and dance with her as we sing along. Check out this link for more info about, Annie Lennox, the women's rights advocate: "Join us in fighting for women’s rights. There’s still much to do"
Colbie Caillat - "Try"
Colbie Caillat unveils the face of true beauty. The Grammy award winning artist was
not happy about being photoshopped. We applaud her for her authenticity, courage and her talent. In her song "Try", her message is simple yet powerful beyond measure...Colbie and an ensemble of beautiful women show us that we are beautiful without any extra fuss. They show us that our beauty radiates from within once we learn to love ourselves as the imperfectly-perfect beings that we are.
Alicia Keys - Superwoman
In this beautiful song Alicia Keys celebrates the work and struggle of everyday women. She reminds us that we are all Superwomen! "A Superwoman is a woman who has incredible dreams, incredible ambitions, all the things she wants to do, but she also knows how to take care of herself."
~ Alicia Keys
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All
This was written by songwriters Michael Masser and Linda Creed. Linda Creed was recovering from breast cancer when they wrote the song in 1977. Originally recorded by George Benson, his version went to #24 in the US. In 1985, the song was revived by Whitney Houston,
and on May 17, 1986, it went to #1 for three weeks. While the song's lyrics are inspired, Whitney Houston's version gave the song not only new life but new meaning.
Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire
"Before making this record, in some ways I felt like a lion locked in a cage. I felt like a girl misunderstood that no one really knew, I felt like it was time to stop making excuses for any part of my life that I wanted to change. Once I made that choice I became a Girl on Fire, the lion broke free!!" ~ Alicia Keys
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
This song celebrates every young women's right of passage. It shares the yearning for independence, adventure and the courage it takes to act upon those yearnings. Dixie Chicks invite young women to embrace the adventure of discovery and reminds those a bit more mature to rediscover it.
Shaggy - Strength Of A Woman
Strength Of A Woman is one of our favorites songs and music videos in this collection. Shaggy's lyrics are a celebration of all that is woman, strength, courage, kindness, love. The women featured in his video are awe inspiring! They represent the unparalleled spirit that is WOMAN. Extraordinary lyrics and video; a must watch!
India Arie - Strength, Courage & Wisdom
"Strength, Courage and Wisdom", shares an uplifting and inspiring view of what can happen when we face our challenges head on. India asks us to have faith and to hold on because only in doing so will we discover how amazing we truly are. We LOVE India! From the very beginning of her career she's been all about empowering women and inspiring faith.
Helen Reddy - I Am Woman
Helen Reddy began performing at the age of four in her native Australia; by the early 60s she had her own television series. Between 1971 and 1978, Reddy hit the Top 40 fourteen times with singles, including the number ones "Delta Dawn," "Angie Baby," and "I Am Woman." "I Am Woman" became an anthem for the Women's Movement in the 1970's. Her lyrics are timeless and still pertinent and poignant in 2017. This song helped inspire a generation of women and continues to inspire new generations.
India Arie - India's Song
"India's Song" is an elegantly simple melody fill with powerful affirmations about being an authentic woman. India's lyrics ask us to see the beauty in ourselves and to accept ourselves for the queens that we are. She reminds us that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and that being yourself is the most powerful way to experience it.
Jamie O'Neal - 'Somebody's Hero'
'Somebody's Hero' is the anthem for every mother who tries to do it all. "She's somebody's hero / A hero to her baby with a skinned-up knee / A little kiss is all she needs," Jamie sings of the heroine, who proves just as nurturing to the woman who taught her how to be a great mom: "She's somebody's hero / A hero to her mother in a rocking' chair / She runs a brush through her silver hair."
Tracy Chapman - Woman's Work
Woman's Work is a simple song with a simple message, a woman's work is never done. The video clip has some incredible pictures of women's work in different cultures and eras. And take a moment to check out Tracy Chapman's official website, it's beautiful: http://www.tracychapman.com
Katy Perry - Firework
This inspirational song was released in 2010. Katy Perry calls the song her "epitaph." In Entertainment Weekly in 2013 she said: "Its message has been really profound. I still love singing the song because it's not cheesy but it does its job. I feel like that song has legs."
On MTV News she said that this is her favorite song on Teenage Dream. "People are coming back and almost adopting it as their own anthem, and it's hard, I think, to write an anthem that's not cheesy," she explained. "And I hope that this could be something in that category. I hope this could be one of those things where it's like, 'Yeah, I want to put my fist up and feel proud and feel strong.'
But I also don't want to be cheesy," she added. "It's a fine line, and I think 'Firework' ... would be like the opus or my one song — if I had to pick a song to play — 'cause it has a great beat. But it also has a fantastic message."
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Multiple Grammy winner and "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin is the epitome of strength and resilience! This amazing woman became a mother at the age of 15 and had her second child two years later. After a brief hiatus she returned to performing and went on to define Soul and R&B for decades. In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin won her 18th Grammy Award in 2008, making her one of the most honored artists in Grammy history.
Martina McBride - This One's For The Girls
"This One's For The Girls" lyrics are a salute to women of various ages (early teens, middle twenties and approaching middle age) dealing with the struggles of different phases of life - starting high school and facing new pressures, coping with uncertainty about a career, and reaching middle age - and tells them "You're beautiful the way you are."
Olivia Newton-John - 'Phenomenal Woman'
Olivia was well into her 50s when she recorded 'Phenomenal Woman,' which makes the song all the more meaningful. Singing, "It's the fire in my eyes / And the flash of my teeth / The swing of my waist /The joy in my feet," just beautiful. ' Olivia is cancer survivor and included this song on her 'Stronger Than Before' album, with proceeds benefiting cancer research. 'Phenomenal Women' poem by Dr. Maya Angelou
Pink - F**kin' Perfect
Pink sings this song for those of us that have felt like we don't fit in, have felt misunderstood or wrongly judged. Pink holds nothing back lyrically or visually from her video. She doesn't sugarcoat the pain or the self-destructive actions that come from it. Pink's song then gives us hope that through embracing our imperfections and falling in love with our "ugly" bits we will unlock our hidden talents. Thank you Pink for having the courage to be real and encouraging others to do the same.
Wild Beasts - Alpha Female
The UK band, Wild Beasts’ single, “Alpha Female” combined with the powerful images of the girls' skate scene in Bangalore, India is inspiring and powerful. The song and video transcend the limiting stereotypes historically imposed on females and invite us to celebrate the Alpha Female residing within us all. Director Sasha Rainbow was inspired to follow and shoot India’s first professional female skater Atita Verghese and collectives like Girl Skate India and the Holystoked Skate Crew. “In places like Afghanistan, Cambodia, and India, skating has not been solidified as a male sport and therefore has had a massive cultural impact, teaching values about self-empowerment through skateboarding,” she explains. “Because of the current political climate in the west and attitudes of intolerance and sexism across the world, I wanted to create a video that celebrates everyone who takes the risk to be themselves. The girls that I worked with are an inspiration,” she says. “I wanted to commemorate this incredible moment in India and show how massive cultural change can start with just one person.” excerpt from Dazzed. Wild Beasts singer Hayden Thorpe explains, the song is “a tale of showing yourself, of pushing off the earth to gather momentum, of leaning into resistance and meeting it with bravery and composure. Don’t we all seek the exhilaration of showing ourselves to the world? And when we do show ourselves isn’t it obvious how much we are made of an exquisite clutter of strengths and fragilities undefinable by gender?”excerpt from Dazzed. Follow Wild Beasts: Facebook: http://po.st/WildBeastsFB Twitter: http://po.st/WildBeastsTW Instagram: http://po.st/WildBeastsIN
Thank you for honoring the feminine.
You can find more information about Aurora's Women's Empowerment Organization at:
The Self-Actualization thru Women's Empowerment Basic I Six Week Course is a unique women’s self-defense & empowerment program that views the mind, body, emotions and spirit as equally important components to develop for personal growth and physical safety. Most of us were never taught how to use our bodies effectively to protect ourselves and/or our loved ones. Many of us think that due to our age, physical limitations or fitness level we can't learn to defend ourselves, but nothing is further from the truth. Regardless of our perceived limitations each one of us has the ability to learn how to be more physically self-reliant, effective and confident. There is an important paradigm shift in consciousness that happens when we realize that we are more powerful, resourceful and resilient than we thought.
Our program's goal is to help each participant find a deeper level of authenticity, a better understanding of her true power and the genuine confidence that can only come through self-actualization.
Integration is key. What sets this program apart from other "women's self-defense programs" is that we believe that to create lasting and applicable change we must address the whole of the person: mind, emotions, and spirit, not just the body. What sets this program apart from other "women's empowerment programs" is that we bring connection and practical application to the physical element of personal power. This Six Week Course addresses the body through learning simple/effective self-defense techniques, sensory and proprioception exercises, as well as some light Pilates and stretches. The mind and emotions are addressed through lecture points, campfire talk, workbook exercises and journal work. The spirit is addressed by the individual, in her own unique way, throughout the course. This course is open to women 18 years and older. Younger students may participate only in conjunction with a female parent or guardian over the age of 18 years. The program accommodates for any fitness level or physical limitation(s).
Interview on Spanish television of Aurora Ferrer on the Mabel Katz Show talking about the power of the feminine and how women can use martial arts to further develop self-confidence and independence. Si se puede! Yes we can!
Course Outline Self-Actualization thru Women's Empowerment Basic I
"Who am I and Who do I see?"
4/20/15 - 7:00-8:30PM Week One: Uncovering our subconscious drives and embracing our underlying personality traits. Workbook/Campfire -Review Course Syllabus, "Campfire" Group & Homework -Week One Exercise: Myers Briggs Type Personality Test 4/27/15 - 7-8:30PM Week Two: Love and gratitude are the answers, no matter the question; focusing on the positive. Workbook/Campfire -Review:Myers Briggs Type Personality Test -Week Two Exercise: "Daily Love Test" by Leo Buscaglia 5/4/15 - 7-8:30PM Week Three: Embracing our cracks; finding strength in our flaws. Workbook/Campfire -Review: "Daily Love Test" by Leo Buscaglia -Week Three Exercise: "The Cracked Pot" 5/11/15 - 7-8:30PM Week Four: Awakening deeper authenticity; learning to let our light shine. Workbook/Campfire -Review: "The Cracked Pot" -Week Four Exercise: "Our Deepest Fear" by Marianne Williamson 5/18/15 - 7-8:30PM Week Five: Taking control of our personal stories; being the authors of our lives. Workbook/Campfire -Review "Our Deepest Fear" by Marianne Williamson -Week Five Exercise: "Write Your Own Life" by Chicken Soup for the Soul
5/25/15 (Closed in honor of Memorial Day. Thank you to the men and women that paid the ultimate price in service of our country, and to their families.) 6/1/15 7-9PM
Week Six: Putting what we've learned into practice; honoring the power of the feminine. Workbook/Campfire -Review "Write Your Own Life" by Chicken Soup for the Soul -Week Six Exercise: "Action Plan" by Aurora Ferrer -Graduation Tea, Board Break (optional) and Completion Certificates Course Materials: Provided on first day of classes. Class Take-Home Materials: ~ Empowerment Basic 1 Workbook ~ Basic Self-Defense Techniques and Skills ~ Home Workout & Practice ~ 6 Week Home Campfire Exercises ~ Lecture Points & Notes ~ Empowering Quotes ~ Empowerment Journal ~ Wood Board In-Class Materials: ~ Kicking Shields ~ Hand Boxing Mitts ~ Focus Paddles What to bring: Water, yoga mat and a positive can do attitude.
What to wear: Please wear comfortable clothing that doesn't constrict movement. Space is extremely limited so pre-registration is a must to ensure your place in this course. Pre-register by emailing ManaKeeper@gmail.com or join our Facebook Event and state you are attending https://www.facebook.com/events/476418729194058/
Cost: Paid in full - one payment of $136.00 (Payment must be received prior to or on first class meeting) Paid per class - weekly payment of $25.00 total of $150.00 (Only valid with commitment to complete the 6 week course. Continuity is essential for the optimum class experience, for yourself and for the other students.) We have no make-up classes or refunds for missed days but if you are unable to attend a class you can keep current through completing the course materials for that class at home. Material Fee - $10.00 - (Material Fee waived for returning students) Location: Kadan Martial Arts Studio 11741 Valley View, Suite G Cypress, CA 90630 (one mile from the 22 FWY & 405 FWY Exit)
Thank you for honoring the feminine and thank you for visiting. Wishing you peace.
March 8th is officially International Women's Day. Join us in celebrating the powerful female with this special blog posted dedicated to famous, infamous, little-known and forgotten amazing women.
Women have shaped our personal and global history from the beginning of time yet women still only own 1% of the land in the world and their deeds have been omitted countless times from our collective history. Today we reach out across boarders and times zones to celebrate International Women's Day by sharing images and stories to honor some of womankind's great achievements, remember trailblazing women and inspire our future generations to push past any perceived limitations. There are thousands of incredible women in history and we hope you'll be inspired to learn about all of them. Here are just a few of their stories. We've included links whenever possible for those inspired to learn more about these incredible women. Women in Government, Royalty and Leadership: Queen Liliʻuokalani, first and last queen regnant of Hawaii. Queen Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917) was the first female monarch of Hawaii to reign in her own right. Up until the 1890s, the Kingdom of Hawaii was an independent sovereign state, officially recognized by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Germany. During her reign, the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii took place in 1893, when she abdicated “to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life”. She is also remembered for her many musical compositions, including the famous song “Aloha 'Oe” (“Farewell to Thee”). Many of these were written during her imprisonment after she abdicated her throne, and they express a deep love of her land and people. from AWF (All the Kick-ass women that history left out) “You may not agree with a woman, but to criticize her appearance — as opposed to her ideas or actions — isn’t doing anyone any favors, least of all you. Insulting a woman’s looks when they have nothing to do with the issue at hand implies a lack of comprehension on your part, an inability to engage in high-level thinking. You may think she’s ugly, but everyone else thinks you’re an idiot.” ~ Hillary Clinton
Jeannette Pickering Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973) was the first woman in the United States Congress. A Republican, she was elected statewide in Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. A lifelong pacifist, she was one of the 50 members of Congress who voted against the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917 and the only member of Congress who voted against declaring war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (World War II) in 1941. Princess Urduja, The Warrior Princesses, ancient accounts say, was a 14th century woman ruler of the dynastic Kingdom of Tawalisi in Pangasinan, a vast area lying by the shores of the Lingayen Gulf and the China Sea. Pangasinan was an important kingdom then, and the sovereign was equal to the King of China. Known far and wide, Princess Urduja was famous for leading a retinue of woman warriors who were skilled fighters and equestrians. Women in Science and Medicine: Dr. Ida Rolf spent her life exploring the healing possibilities held within the human mind and body. In 1920, she received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. Despite the resistance she faced as a woman in the field of science, she furthered her knowledge of the body through research in organic chemistry at the Rockefeller Institute. Her ambition to bring Structural Integration to as many people as possible took Dr. Rolf all over the world. Her desire was not simply to help others but to teach future generations the fruit of her life’s work. Dr. Rolf dedicated the rest of her life to developing and teaching the technique that was to later take her name.
Pioneer Molecular BiologistRosalind Franklin made the first clear X-ray images of DNA’s structure. Her work was described as the most beautiful X-ray photographs ever taken. Franklin’s ‘Photo 51’ informed Crick and Watson of DNA’s double helix structure for which they were awarded a Nobel Prize. Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958, aged 37, her contribution to DNA’s discovery story unacknowledged. Franklin was responsible for much of the research and discovery work that led to the understanding of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA. Her work became foundational and and inspired theRosalind Franklin University.
In July 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall traveled from England to what is today Tanzania and bravely entered the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. She was equipped with nothing more than a notebook and a pair of binoculars. Today, Jane’s work revolves around inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment we all share. The Jane Goodall Institute works to protect the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park in Tanzania. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is the youth-led community action and learning program of the Jane Goodall Institute. The program builds on the legacy and vision of Dr. Jane Goodall to place the power and responsibility for creating community-based solutions to big challenges in the hands of the young people. Through the program, young people map their community to identify specific challenges their neighborhoods face. From there, they prioritize the problems, develop a plan for a solution, and take action. "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved."-Jane Goodall
A rare vintage photograph of an Onna-Bugeisha, one of the female warriors of the upper social classes in feudal Japan. Frances Clayton was a woman who fought on the Union side during the civil war disguised as a man. More about Frances Clayton and the women soldiers of the Civil War. Feminist and revolutionary Qiu Jin was born in 1875 in China. She was vocal about women's rights and pressed for better access to education for women. At the time it was still customary for women to have their feet bound at the age of five, rendering women crippled and severely dependent on others. Qiu Jin encouraged women to resist oppression by their families and by the government, and to gain financial independence through education. She was beheaded by the authorities at the age of 31.
Nightwitches - Female Russian bombers who bombed Germany during WW2. They had old planes & the engines routinely failed midway through their missions, so they had to climb out on the wings mid-flight to restart the props. They’d climb to a certain height, coast down to German positions, drop their bombs, restart their engines in midair. Their leader flew 200+ missions & was never captured.
Nubian Warrior Women of Kau, also known as the South East Nuba. Nuba mountains, Sudan | Photo taken by Leni RieFenstahl in 1975. Read more about these and other amazing African Female Warriors on Suppressed Histories. net.
Women Pushing Boundaries, Breaking Stereo Types and Making a Difference:
Inspired by intimate conversations with friends, Eve Ensler wrote The Vagina Monologues. The play recounts tender, funny, gripping and horrifying stories she gathered from hundreds of women about their bodies, their sexual experiences, and yes, their vaginas. Since its first staging in 1996, it has been translated into more than 45 languages, performed in more than 120 countries and an HBO film.
Panmela Castro was a 25-year-old graffiti artist in Brazil—using the streets of Rio de Janeiro as her canvas—when she realized she could turn her artwork into a radical public forum for change.
Camille Claudel (1864-1943) “was one of the rare female artists of the 19th century that did compete with the best male sculptors of her time."In 1883, Camille became acquainted with Auguste Rodin. Soon after Camille became his model, assistant and lover. “No other woman had such an intellectual, artistic and erotic impact on Rodin’s life like Camille Claudel.”
Translation: Resist and rise before you're extinct!
Annie Oakley was the first woman Buffalo Bill hired for his Wild West show and was a trailblazer who challenged stereotypes about women of the time. Not only could she out-shoot men, she was out-earning most of them. Oakley also used her celebrity to campaign for a woman's right to paid employment and equal pay.
Today She Rose, Bidding a fond farewell to a Phenomenal Woman...Tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou. Her written words open the minds and healed the hearts of countless souls. She gave a powerful voice to the stories of prejudice, female oppression and social injustice. Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. Maya Angelou became one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. With over 50 honorary doctorate degrees Dr. Maya Angelou became a celebrated poet, memoirist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist.
Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, a native Hawaiian Kahuna Lapa’au, is the creator of Self I-Dentity through Ho’oponopono® (SITH®). As the Master Teacher, she lectured and conducted SITH® classes around the world, including at medical facilities, colleges and universities. Morrnah gave SITH® classes at the United Nations three times. The Hongwanji Mission of Honolulu and the Hawaii State Legislature honored Morrnah for her work and expertise in the Hawaiian language and culture by naming her a “Living Treasure of Hawai’i” in 1983. For more information about Morrnah check out this great blog post at http://www.amazingwomeninhistory.com/morrnah-nalamaku-simeona-hawaiian-healer/
Sheryl WuDunn, the first Asian-American reporter to win a Pulitzer Prize; co-author of Half the Sky. She has journeyed through several industries, from banking to journalism and book writing, pulling together critical insights to bear upon her work. Most recently, she has written a new book, A Path Appears, about spreading opportunity and making a difference in the world. Previously, she was co-author of Half the Sky, about the oppression of women and girls around the world. Sheryl has used her immense talent as a writer, speaker and thought leader to advocate for those without the resources to advocate for themselves. Selected as one of Newsweek’s “150 Women Who Shake the World,” WuDunn has helped raise awareness about the challenges facing women, such as sex trafficking.
Harriet Tubman is perhaps the most well-known of all the Underground Railroad's "conductors." During a ten-year span she made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom. And, as she once proudly pointed out to Frederick Douglass, in all of her journeys she "never lost a single passenger." "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going." - Harriet Tubman.
Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The 66-year-old spent most of the last two decades in some form of detention because of her efforts to bring democracy to military-ruled Myanmar (Burma). Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Burma. In the 1990 general election, the NLD won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament .
Irena Sendler got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumber. She courageously smuggled babies in her tool box and carried larger children in her sack. She also trained her dog to bark when the Nazi soldiers were near, which muffled the sounds of the crying children. She helped save more than 2,500 children & was eventually caught & tortured. Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her story has inspired "Life in a Jar", the Irena Sendler Project.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi: linguist, mathematician, and philosopher. She is credited with writing the first book discussing differential and integral calculus. After her father's death in 1752 she carried out a long-cherished purpose by giving herself to the study of theology, and devoted herself to the poor, homeless, and sick. After holding for some years the office of directress of the Hospice Trivulzio for Blue Nuns, she herself joined the sisterhood, and in this austere order ended her days.
Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Helen also did research, gave speeches, and helped raise money for many organizations, such as the American Foundation for the Blind and the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind, which is now called Helen Keller Worldwide. From 1946 and 1957, she went around the world, speaking about the experiences and rights of people who are blind. She wound up visiting 39 countries on five different continents! Helen also inspired many works of art, including two Oscar-winning movies, and received dozens of awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that an American civilian can receive. She died in her sleep in 1968. "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." -Helen Keller
One woman saves a mountain! Mama Aleta an honored recipient of the 2013 Goldman Environmental Prize proves that it just takes one person that cares to make a difference. When the government began issuing permits to mine marble from the mountain in Mama Aleta’s homeland she was moved first to anger and then to action. “The philosophy of our people is that we regard the Earth as a human body, that stone is our bone, water is our blood, land is our flesh and forest is our hair. If one of them is taken away we are paralyzed.” Mama Aleta
Check out the internationalwomensday.com website to see what other people are doing locally and worldwide to celebrate. This website is a global hub for sharing International Women’s Day information, events, news and resources. The website was founded in 2001 as a non-profit philanthropic venture dedicated to keeping International Women’s Day (IWD) alive and growing. Since 2007, IWD has gained considerable momentum due to greater media attention, events, social networking and corporate support. IWD is now celebrated via wide scale activity in almost every country and many world leaders support the day with official statements. This service is proudly provided by Aurora Ventures as a non-profit venture and kindly supported by a number of companies who make it possible for this International Women's Day website to operate.
Happy International Women's Day!
Thank you for honoring the feminine and thank you for visiting. Wishing you peace.
You can find more information about Aurora's Women's Empowerment Organization at:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Family Assistance Center is located in Whittier, CA at the St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church. They are an all volunteer run organization that provides food and clothing for low income families. They service families in need in unincorporated areas of South and East Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, La Mirada, Pico Rivera and Downey. It is open to people in need of all faiths. The volunteers are all women and NHN helps many women that are supporting their families on their own. 
Our next donation was personal. We began with clothing. Over the years we've accumulated our fair share of clothes that are still new but we've outgrown, our tastes have changed, our lifestyle has changed, etc. Suffice to say we will not use these clothes, shoes, hats again. We gathered everything we could washed and cleaned the items and delivered our next donations. Again we we met with genuine gratitude and joy for all the people that would be helped. But as we walked back into the food pantry again we were met by empty shelves. 
My heart fell to my stomach when I realized the people we had passed on the way in would have no proteins to bring home, or bread, or fresh vegetables. They would not leave empty handed as all in need are given food but they would not have enough to provide the basics needed for a nutritional meal, especially if they needed to feed growing children. 
Providing food is Neighbors Helping Neighbors' primary mission. They are committed to never allowing anyone in need leave empty handed but they can only fulfill their commitment with our help. Beans, bread, rice, canned beef, vegetables and fruits are needed staple items in their pantry. They also try to buy fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible. They accept and appreciate fresh produce donations from your own backyards. 
