Ann Quasman's WomanTalkLive A more conscious conversation

WTL Wrap-Up: “Building Families That Transcend Barriers”

Sarah Hemminger and Ann

My guest this past week had a vision sitting at a stoplight in Baltimore City.  On one side of her was Dunbar High School.  On the other side was Section 8 housing.  Further down the road was Johns Hopkins University where she studied and ultimately earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

That vision had to do with providing young people who, from the outside, appeared to have no chance at success in the world.  They would, most likely, become another statistic.  When she went to talk with the principal at Dunbar, she asked for ten of the most underperforming students in school – the ones who probably wouldn’t make it to graduation.  She got fifteen of them and in 2004, Sarah Hemminger and her husband, Ryan, kicked off the Incentive Mentoring Program (IMP).  Since then, IMP has grown to over 500 volunteers working with 127 ACCE and Dunbar students.

IMP’s mission is to create intentional families for each student in the program providing total support in all areas of life.  And, in that, the program has been more than successful.

In June 2013, these non-traditional families that transcend barriers will celebrate two major achievements. The very first Dunbar cohort will transition from IMP students to IMP alumni. 100% of these students remained in the program for nine years, graduated from high school, and matriculated to college. These incredible young adults have not only succeeded academically, receiving degrees from Purdue University, Bowdoin College, and Trinity Washington University, but also contributed to the lives of others through service to their communities. Their example and leadership set the stage for 100% for the second Dunbar cohort to graduate from high school (or equivalent) in 2010.  And, this year, IMP is thrilled to have history repeat itself as the third Dunbar cohort graduates from high school in June.

This is one of those stories that is about real people making a real difference in the lives of young people, in the lives of the mentors, and in the community.  Futures have been changed dramatically because of IMP.  It’s demonstrating that success doesn’t necessarily come from lots of money being thrown at something…but comes when real people care enough to make a real difference to and for a young person.

The 2013 IMP Commencement is on Monday, June 17^th at 6:30 pm in the Turner Auditorium at the Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD  21205.

Come join the celebration.  Please rsvp by May 31^st. 

And, if you missed the show or you want to share it with a friend, it will be posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’s the May 18^th show.

This Week on WomanTalk Live: “Building Families That Transcend Barriers” with Sarah Hemminger

Sarah Hemminger

In the spring of 2004, Sarah Hemminger, a JHU biomedical engineering graduate student, and her husband, Ryan Hemminger, founded Incentive Mentoring Program (IMP) to create mentoring relationships between university-based volunteers and underperforming high school students who were at risk of failing to graduate.

Starting in the East Baltimore neighborhood in which Sarah attended graduate school, the program began by building relationships between Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Dunbar) students, and volunteers from the JHU East Baltimore Campus. The principal of Dunbar, Roger Shaw, helped identify 15 students who were at severe risk of failing to complete high school.

Through their willingness to customize their approach to the unique needs of each student, volunteers developed close relationships with the students over the next three years.

In the spring of 2007, 100% of this first group of students not only graduated high school, but were also accepted and matriculated to college. As word of IMP’s success spread, what started out as an intimate student group of a few dozen friends, quickly turned into an organization of several hundred volunteers.

The Incentive Mentoring Program is successful because it builds families that transcend barriers by recognizing that everyone brings something of value to the table.  Everyone is a mentor.  Everyone is a mentee.  And, everyone wins.

Tune in this week when I talk with Sarah Hemminger to find out more about this “making a real difference” organization and the people who are making it happen.

Saturday, May 18^th, from 6:07-7:00 pm ET on Talkradio 680 WCBM Baltimore or “Listen Live” online 

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Be sure to check out last week’s show – What YOU Can Do to Tackle Our Nation’s Leading Killer of Women – when I talked with Shannon Winakur, M.D., Medical Director of the Women’s Heart Center at Saint Agnes Hospital, and Debbie Phelps, Director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, about women and heart disease.  Regardless of your age, it’s time to get “HEART SMART.”

If you missed the show or you want to share it with a friend, it’s in the podcast archive now – It’s the May 11^th show!

On My Mind: Keeping the Memory Jar Full

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.” – Unknown

I saw that quote on my Pinterest wall and thought how it matched what I was feeling as I experienced my first Mother’s Day without my mom.

I woke up that morning and remembered right away what day it was.  So, I got busy.  Busy so I wouldn’t have to think about it.  I read the New York Times page by page.  I worked in my garden.  I went biking for a long time.  I did two loads of laundry.  I did some work.  I read.  I cat snuggled.  I husband snuggled.  I watched TV.  All of this to keep from thinking about it being Mother’s Day.

What was I afraid of?  Why did facing this day seem overwhelming to me?

I started thinking about some of the things people had shared with me over the past month about how they felt about losing their mother:

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her… and, it’s been 12 years.  In fact, I think she’s closer to me now than she was when she was living.” 

“Whatever went on between you and your mother can get resolved right now.  She’s listening to you.  That’s what I realized after my mom died.  Sometimes you can have the first real conversation you’ve ever had.  And, if you pay attention and are open to it, you’ll hear her response.” 

“At the very end, I let my mom know it was ok for her to leave.  I could almost see this wave of relief pass through her body.  She was so tired and she was ready to leave.  Perhaps, she was ready to go to the party on the other side.  I know you did that for your mom, too, and that was a gift to her from you and your sister.” 

“One of the strangest parts for me was realizing that I am now the matriarch of the family.  Holy cow.  Not a role that I ever thought I would fit into.” 

I looked through some photos and decided that keeping a special memory jar would be fitting going forward so I wouldn’t let precious memoires be lost.  And, I would talk with her.  Perhaps even more than I had over the past several years.  It would be easier now.  It can happen at any time.

So, I know the tender spot of losing a mom will not be lost… probably ever.  There will always be a tug at my heart just like it’s been since our dad left us 18 years ago.

But, the memory jar will be full.

WTL 5: Meet Gabriella Guglielminotti Trivel

     Five provocative questions answered by an inspiring and fabulous woman  – a woman with something to say.

 Meet Gabriella Guglielminotti Trivel

Gabriella Guglielminotti Trivel was born in Turin, Italy, where she studied English, French, German and Arabic and specialized in interpreting and tourism. She moved to London in 1998 and after several years working in the travel industry, she decided to go back to her love of all time: the human mind and its potential.

She trained in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Time Line therapy in 2006 and went on a breakthrough trip to the extreme and pristine continent of Antarctica and South America in March 08.  She wrote a book about her adventure in Antarctica, Antarctic Odyssey: a New Beginning.

In 2010, Gabriella started running workshops for women called Flying Solo I,  to share her knowledge about the menstrual cycle and help women to feel great in their body and become their own authority in their life. 

People would be surprised to know that: I have been bit by a dromedary in front of the big pyramid of Giza in Egypt in 1997 and survived, walked on fire five times, have broken a wooden board with my bare hands three times, bent a steel rod with my throat twice and broken a wooden arrow with my throat four times. I have jumped from a bridge tied up to a rope and jumped from a crane free-falling, swam in the Antarctic Sea, and am learning to fly at present. 

The WTL 5: 

What’s the conversation that changed your life? 

My life changed dramatically in March 2009 when I listened to a conference call with Alexandra Pope about the wisdom of menstruation and subsequently, went to her workshop. That day I became aware of my life purpose and what I wanted to do in my life: empower women by opening them up to the menstrual awareness. This new awareness made me start seeing things differently – with the feminine eyes –  and I started noticing so many things in me and our society that are the result of millennia of patriarchy and that don’t serve women at all, as we operate in a different way from men. 

What are you most conscious of today? 

I am thankful for everything I have done and ventured into that made me the person I am. I am very aware of how much I am supported all the time by everything that surrounds me, therefore I am extremely appreciative of everything that comes my way!

I am conscious of how much I can help others by sharing who I am and what I am passionate about. I know that I do it for the fun of it and the satisfaction of seeing another human being light up when she/he realizes her/his power. Life is a journey to enjoy! 

What part of you have you yet to give voice to? 

I still have to give voice in a more prominent way to my feminine part which is the more private, intimate, shy and vulnerable. I have been living in my masculine energy for most of my life to be able to fit in the environment and not be wounded too much, but now it is time to change and bring about a new awareness – which is the feminine way of nurturing oneself and others, being truthful to oneself and shining one’s light without shame and fear.

The feminine way also means seeing the world as a playground rather than a battlefield, and others as playmates rather than competitors or enemies. 

What’s the conversation women need to be having collectively? 

Women need to realize their worth and start doing things their way without justifying it or asking permission. They need to see in other women, friends rather than competitors, and feel the desire to inspire themselves and their sisters to have more fun in their lives. The world is still so steeped in the masculine way of living and women need to change that collectively and in joy by stopping their living in fear.

Women have suffered so much for so long and the only way out of this is by becoming aware and being present – without feeling the need for revenge. 

What needs to be said bigger, louder, stronger? 

A woman has a body that operates in a different way than a man’s body; therefore, women have to become aware of that and learn from their body so they can live in a better way. The feminine body works in cycles and this is more obvious during the menstrual years.  However, our society expects women to be the same all the time, which is absurd.

With half of the population on the planet living in an unnatural way – not their feminine way –  they are not doing themselves any favors. If women are in pain, feel dismissed and abused, men can’t feel well either. We are all ONE and as such, we need to come together as ONE.

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 Thank you, Gabriella, for sharing your powerful voice
with WomanTalk Live.

WTL Wrap-Up: “What YOU Can Do to Tackle Our Nation’s Leading Killer of Women”

Dr. Shannon Winakur, Ann and Debbie Phelps

In an effort to educate women of all ages about the biggest threat to our good health,  Shannon Winakur, M.D., Medical Director of the Women’s Heart Center at Saint Agnes Hospital, and Debbie Phelps, Director of  The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, who has a busy, busy life, joined me in the studio this past week to share the facts that heart disease and all it entails is not just a disease for old men.

Why do women need to be aware of this threat and get “heart smart” at an early age?  Because only a minority of women view heart disease as a threat and an overwhelming number of women – of all ages -  are leading lives with big risk factor behaviors.

When stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure are included with coronary heart disease… these diseases kill one woman every minute in the U.S. 

The good thing about knowing the symptoms and your own risk factors?  You can then do something – often, only making some lifestyle changes – that will add years to your life and give you a quality life.  And, that may mean you’re able to walk or ride bikes with your children.  It may mean that you’re able to get up the stairs without huffing and puffing.  It may mean that all of the people who love you get to enjoy you for a long time.

Dr. Winakur and Debbie Phelps encourage women as young as twenty – and, younger, if symptoms are present – to get heart smart.  One way to do that is by scheduling your 60-Minute Heart Check. 

And, after you schedule your appointment?  Get all the women you love to do the same thing.  Spread the word of good heart health.

If you missed the show or you want to share it with a friend, it will be posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’s the May 11^th show.