Do you know a girl who is shaking up things in her community, or a woman whose mentoring has helped to empower others on a consistent basis? Nominate them here by sending us a photo and detailed answers to the following questions:
1. What is the nominee's name and age?
2. In what ways is she impacting her environment, school, peers, or local organization that makes her an 'Earthquake' in her community?
3. What are her future plans for shaking the world up for the better?
Copy and paste questions and answers into a word document along with a photograph of the nominee in jpeg format as a seperate attachment. Email your answers and a photo of the nominee to info@yourgale.com
GOOD LUCK!!! Featured 'Earthquakes' will be notified via email.
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Little Earthquake of the Month: June 2012
1. What is
the nominee's name and age?
Mary-Pat is the founder of Youth In Action a group of teens working to save our world one issue at a time. We are in 8 states at this time. On a national level, she works to end youth violence. She does this several ways. For starters, Mary-Pat facilitates workshops that educate youth as young as preschool, teaching them that violence is anytime you call someone out of their name. Through public service announcements, or PSA’s, Mary-Pat gives an up close look at the result of violence. Lastly her youth summits give youth a chance to voice their opinions and hear from other youth around the country and work to create a plan to take back to their cities.
3. What are her plans for shaking the world up for the better?
Mary-Pat knows that the Shake Off Violence Campaign that she has started is shaking up a lot of people, because of the ads. Some people think that shock campaigns do not work and she is here to tell them they do.
Mary-Pat Hector is truly an amazing Earthquake Girl who is using each day of breath that she has on this Earth to change it at the core. Mary-Pat, your life and work is so very necessary to the hope of generations to come! Continue your inspiring work as a community activist. All of this at the tender age of 14...I only hope to see what you will use your life to do at 41!
Mary-Pat Hector
Author, Speaker, Playwright, Youth
Activist
Creating & Empowering A Generation
of Young Revolutionaries
At 9 years old Mary-Pat learned the
frightening statistics affecting the youth in this country. Mary Pat’s skills
were furthered when she became the youngest playwright and director to ever put
on an all youth SOLD OUT production. Mary Pat Hector excitedly awaits the
return of her most prized production “Easy Street Ain’t So Easy” this
summer (2012), which is also the title of Mary’s first book. The play/novel
explores the topic of child cruelty, sexual abuse and bullying. Mary-Pat Hector knows how to
change the world. She grew a community service project into a non-profit.
Mary-Pat Hector, age 14
2. In what ways
is she impacting her environment, school, peers, or local organization that
makes her an 'Earthquake' in her community?
Mary-Pat is the founder of Youth In Action a group of teens working to save our world one issue at a time. We are in 8 states at this time. On a national level, she works to end youth violence. She does this several ways. For starters, Mary-Pat facilitates workshops that educate youth as young as preschool, teaching them that violence is anytime you call someone out of their name. Through public service announcements, or PSA’s, Mary-Pat gives an up close look at the result of violence. Lastly her youth summits give youth a chance to voice their opinions and hear from other youth around the country and work to create a plan to take back to their cities.
Mary-Pat Hector admits, "When I speak at schools at first
youth think, what I am saying is lame until they see I am just like them, I just
care. I inspire them to be greater than they think they are. Then you see light
bulbs go off and they get it. I think I am an Earth Quake because I believe I
can be anything I want to be and you really do not see that today. I am a
Earthquake because when I see something that is hurting my generation I try to
change it."
3. What are her plans for shaking the world up for the better?
Mary-Pat knows that the Shake Off Violence Campaign that she has started is shaking up a lot of people, because of the ads. Some people think that shock campaigns do not work and she is here to tell them they do.
*****For more information on Mary-Pat Hector's, "Shake The Violence National Youth Summit" to be held in Grove Park Recreation Center in Atlanta, GA on June 28-29th, from 9:00-4:00, please call
678-732-0405. Come on Big Earthquakes let's join the hands of our youth who are taking their communities back through collective, peaceful protests and activism!
Little Earthquake of the Month: May 2012
Arielle King
1. What is the nominee's name and age?
Arielle King is a 14 year old, 8th grade student who attends Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School, in Albany, New York, where she is the President of the Student Government Association. She is a high honors student with a 96 average.
2. What are the ways she is impacting her environment,
school, peers, or local organization that makes her an 'Earthquake' in her community?
Arielle is an activist, who
at age 5 attended “The March for Women’s Lives” in Washington D.C. with a
contingent of women and teens. That experience inspired Arielle to continue
activism, and actively work to make a difference in the lives of others. When she was 9 years old, Arielle was
recognized as a News Channel 13 “13 Kid Who Cares” for collecting and donating
to the neediest children in Albany City’s elementary schools, almost 1000 brand
new hats, gloves, and scarves. Arielle has continued that spirit of activism as
a volunteer (and walker) at AIDSWALK, The Crop Walk Against Hunger, and The
American Heart Association’s Heart Walk. Arielle has volunteered at, collected
clothes for, and made donations to the Capital City Rescue Mission. She has
lent her hands and voice to The Music Mobile, a not for profit organization
that uses the traveling Music Mobile van to bring music to children to foster
tolerance, understanding, community pride, and local and global responsibility
through music and arts and crafts projects..
Arielle is a vocalist. She
is called upon to sing The National Anthem at many local events including The
Price Chopper 4th of July Fireworks Display at Empire Plaza, that
had over 40,000 attendees and the
Workforce Team Challenge 5K Race, that hosts over 9,000 runners. Arielle
is a charismatic and pleasant young lady who is beautiful both physically and
spiritually. She exhibits strong leadership qualities, yet works very well as a
member of a team.
Arielle is a member of the Board of Directors
of the Capital Region GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Alliance) chapter,
where she is an ally and an advocate, who has taken a stand against
bullying. She is a member of Macedonia
Baptist Church where she sings in the Young Adult Choir and the Praise
Ensemble, she is also the Vice President of the Hudson River Frontier
Missionary Baptist Association’s Youth Department where she represents youth
from 23 member churches. From her position as Vice President of the youth
department Arielle outreaches to community youth with a message of peace, understanding
and acceptance. Arielle was one of the winners of the Delta Sigma Theta “Black History
Month Creative Expressions Essay Contest”. Arielle was a recipient of Israel
AME’s “Black Women Who Rock! “Award in April. Arielle was a performer and a
participant at the 2012 New York State Education Lobby Day. She sang “The Greatest Love of All” to an
audience that included over 1200 youth, teachers and advocates from all over
the state. She lobbied her local legislators as a part of the Albany City
Schools contingent, for improved schools, and increased school program
funding. Arielle was one of four Black
women who were recognized and awarded The 2012 New York State “Community
Distinction Award” for outstanding community service, the first time a youth
was given the honor.
Arielle
is also an athlete. She has run the 5K Freihofers Run for Women (a United
States Track Association event) for the last 4 years. As a middle school student she is a valued
member of the Albany High School Varsity Track Team (Indoor and Outdoor), and
when she was taken out of Indoor Track early in the season with a hip injury,
she attended all the meets to cheer on her teammates. She was recognized by the
New York State Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance
for ”Leadership and Excellence in Physical Education” and received a “Scholar
Athlete Award” for Varsity Track participation while maintaining an average of
90 or above.
3. What are her future plans for shaking the world up for the
better?
In
the future, Arielle plans to practice law because she feels “that everyone
should have the opportunity to be represented by a competent, trustworthy, and
passionate defender”. She says, “I also
want to be an advocate for the rights of women and children. Communities with large
populations of Black people are historically not well represented in courts and
I plan
to change that”
Arielle is an amazing young
woman. She works tirelessly all year striving to do her best and fulfill all of
her many obligations. She believes that
you cannot allow your race, gender, economics, or where you live, to keep you
from achieving your goals. Arielle knows that with hard work and faith, all
things are possible. She is a young woman who lives simply and by two mottos…”
Wish it, Dream it, Do It” and “When Words Fail… Music Speaks!”
* Arielle King is a "Little Earthquake" with a humble spirit, a big heart, and a luminous path ahead of her. Continue leading Arielle, and surely all that you do will come boomeranging right back to you! Your work is such an inspiration to Little Earthquakes and Big Earthquakes alike. There is no doubt in my mind that your aspirations to become an advocate for the disenfranchised will surely come to pass. Walk in love and live in power. All that you touch and decree shall be beloved!
Check out the vocal talent of Miss Arielle King. Here is a clip of her using that wondrous, God given gift of song that she possesses to open for an SWV concert:
BIG EARTHQUAKE OF THE MONTH: JULY 2011
Tamika R. Guishard - Age 30
What makes Tamika a "Big Earthquake?"
Dynamic, determined, and focused, Tamika is set to turn Hollywood a blaze. Being the only Black woman in her matriculating class atTisch Graduate Film, Tamika is a true example of following your dreams. Having just graduated (NYU '11,) Tamika has a clear vision of what she wants to accomplish and is determined to get it done. She founded B. Good Productions LLC, a holistic media organization with storytelling at its foundation and education as its core, in her first year of film school.
With one foot in community and the other in "industry," Tamika has taught in East New York classrooms (her hometown,) served as a Park Ranger/Education Specialist at Manhattan's African Burial Ground and is currently a Middle School Filmmaking Instructor with the University of Chicago's experimental Laboratory Schools. Her filmmaking has screened at venues ranging from New York City's Automotive High School, to Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, 34th Street Loews Cinema, and the Schomburg Center, a testament that "edutainment" is boundless. Enterainment, art and education can truly coexist.
B. Good Productions breaks ground by exploiting visual media to its fullest potential toward inciting critical thinking and cultivating engaged citizens. Tamika R. Guishard (and B. Good) truly exemplifies an Earthquake in her community.
Tamika's aspirations to "shake the world up for the better":
Tamika’s ultimate goal is to foster a rebirth of the after-school special for today’s urban youth. She aims to incite critical dialog with in communities and generations through her work. She is currently in post-production on her NYU thesis film-short entitled, Jackie(thejackiefilm.com), with future plans to produce the feature film script that inspired it.
*Tamika Guishard, continue to chase your dreams and set the film industry on its heels. Your groundbreaking work in film will surely be your legacy. Continue to give a voice to the voiceless as you share your point of view to the world through film. You are a 'Big Earthquake', and for what that will mean to another earthquake girl, we celebrate you. ---Love, BLJBIG EARTHQUAKE OF THE MONTH: JANUARY 2011
Geneva Farrow –Age 30
What makes Geneva Farrow a 'Big Earthquake?'
Geneva is the founder and director of a mentoring program, A Young Mother’s D.R.E.A.M. The acronym D.R.E.A.M. stands for Determination, Resilience, Excellence, Achievement, and Motivation. The program focuses on mentoring girls who are teenage/young moms (16-23) and helping them complete their education. The girls must complete a series of workshops and mentoring over the course of a year that will give them the tools they need to become better parents, students and contributors to the community. The mentees are required to complete community service where they share their stories with middle school and high school girls to encourage abstinence and prevention of teen pregnancies. The ultimate goal is to have 100% of the participants in the program complete their college education. The programs and workshops are not limited to the mentees, but any mom who has gotten derailed from her dreams because she had a baby. The resources and information are available to everyone.
Geneva's Future Aspirations to "shake this world up for the better" :
Geneva plans to have a chapter of YMD in every state and city that is affected by teen pregnancies. She believes that the program will decrease the teen pregnancy rate nationwide in underprivileged areas. Ultimately YMD will be able to provide a safe haven for girls in emergency situations, provide counseling to help address some of the emotional issues that these girls face as well as give them a blueprint on how to be successful and complete their educational goals.
For information about Geneva Farrow's organization, please forward all emails to:
geneva@youngmothersdream.org
* Thank you, Geneva Farrow. The world is better because of your works, and you are a 'Big Earthquake!'--Love, BLJ
BIG EARTHQUAKE OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY 2011
Seidah Nichols Age 30
What makes Seidah Nichols a 'Big Earthquake'?
Teaching Women confidence through ART... As a makeup artist for the past 8 years she has had the opportunity to meet many women who come to her in hopes of a miracle. Many of these women of ALL AGES believed that their unique features were FLAWS. Seidahs goal at the end of every sit down is that this EARTHQUAKE walks away confident enough to embrace her full lips, freckles, or whatever it is that is uniquely hers and truly beautiful. Seidah has learned that through makeup she can not only transform someones outer appearance but also radiate what’s within. That’s why her slogan is “Beauty Deeper Than Skin”, because she believes that FLAWLESS makeup starts with CONFIDENCE!
Seidah's aspirations to 'shake this world up for the better':
Seidah’s plans to build a website community that educates “earthquakes” of all colors and ages and lifestyles how to be comfortable in their own skin and enhance all of their BEAUTIFUL features through ART!
For more information about Seidah Nichols, check out her website and blog:
*Thank you Seidah Nichols for all that you do to make inner beauty shine through in every hue imaginable. For that, you are a Big Earthquake! Keep using that magical blush brush to spread self-love around the world!---Love, BLJ
