Creating Gifts from The Heart -- Dsenyo

Hi Love,

Perfect for the holidays and special celebrations are the well known Dsenyo greeting cards. Today I discovered that these cards are handcrafted by the Umoja Group for members of the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. These cards are not only an income generating project but also a symbol of empowerment for women in Africa. As we know the Dzaleka Refugee Camp was created as a safe haven for women and men fleeing genocide, violence and wars in Africa.

Founded by Marissa Perry Saints these cards are created with 100% recycled paper and colorful African fabrics. Each card comes blank inside perfect for thank yous, birthdays and get wells. In addition to creating greeting cards, Dsenyo also makes a variety of chic fashion accessories. Check out their beautiful work below sold on dsenyo.com.

Zimba Snare wire Leaf Earrings 

http://www.dsenyo.com/products/snare-wire-leaf-earrings

Handmade Greeting Cards

http://www.dsenyo.com/products/handmade-greeting-cards

As a business geared toward handcrafting jewelry and cards, this company is also helping to rebuild the lives of African genocide and war victims. By purchasing items from their website you can help them in their effort toward betterment for an entire nation of people. 

-- Love Rae

Inga Dyer - The Woman Behind Revolt TV & Media

Hi Love,

To my surprise, I discovered a woman working at Revolt TV & Media. Revolt as many may know is one of the creations of Sean Combs, an African American mogul who enjoys working with individuals who are as passionate as him. Throughout history, he has worked with top artists and mangers however his most successful media venture to date besides his own career is Revolt TV. For Combs to place one of his prized possessions in the hands of one woman she had to be powerful.

Inga Dyer is the Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs at Revolt TV & Media. Her job entails overseeing contracts for new business opportunities as well as ad sell agreements. At the age of 43, she has achieved her current status by gaining work experience at a variety of black owned media enterprises such as Magic Johnson Enterprises and BET. She graduated from Howard University and also attended Howard University School of Law. Not only does she have a law degree but she has also achieved becoming a business leader by founding her own law firm which she opened in November 2009.

She's working with the best! Learn about Mr. Combs philosophies in the video below:

It is inspiring to know that more women are joining the entertainment sphere. Besides being on camera there are currently many women in executive positions. All you have to do is apply yourself. 

-- Love Rae

Harmony Zhu - 9 year old Piano & Chess Prodigy

Hi Love,

I saw this adorable girl on The Ellen Show and I wanted to share it with you.

At the age of 9, Harmony Zhu had already played the piano at Carnegie Hall

After visiting The Ellen Show she moved to New York and attend Julliard -- being one of the youngest members of the school.

Not only does she compose her own music but she has become recognized as one of the best young chess players around the world.

Please also check out this original video of her at the Ellen Show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VdwmRxOK1Y

-- Love Rae

The Future of American Money

Hi Love,

This week the U.S Treasury announced that in 2020 a woman will be the face of the new ten dollar bill -- and America gets to choose which one. For a majority vote the top picks are: Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sally Ride, and Oprah Winfrey.


Facts to note:

No living person can appear on the bill.

The 2020 anniversary of the ten dollar bill will also honor the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.

The first woman to grace American currency was Pocahontas on a $20 note in 1865.

Sally Ride

Oprah Winfrey

Harriet Tubman 

-- Love Rae

Megan Smith -- The Chief Technology Officer of America

Hi Love,

As you know, Twitter is looking to replace their current CEO Dick Costolo with a woman so I decided to look into America's top choices. Costolo has served as Twitter's CEO for 5 years but now that his position is open, it would be great to have a woman in leadership.

Meet Megan Smith -- the Chief Technology Officer of the United States. She was previous the Vice President of Google for nine years so of course she could handle Twitter with her eyes closed. Her current job entails on advising the president on patent reform, privacy issues and net neutrality.

Cool Facts:

Besides being a pretty lady, Smith has 2 children and she graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Although she is definitely a leader in technology, Smith is also very respected for creating TechHire -- a company geared toward bringing more women and minorities into the tech world. By reaching out to colleges and other training institutions, Smith is aiming to build a more diverse workforce.

For more information be sure to check out Megan Smith's TechHire initiative.

-- Love Rae

The Solution to Pads and Tampons

Hi Love,

Holy Sponge! A woman has the found the ultimate solution for making your menstrual cycle bearable. Janeen Singer an Ohio born businesswoman has created Holy Sponge to help women embrace their monthly cycle and to stop using harmful/ uncomfortable tampons and pads. This amazing business idea began from Singer's trip to New Mexico when she experienced her " moon cycle" which made her interested in using sea sponges. After having an enjoyable "moon cycle" Singer invested in creating starter kits for her friends. In no time Holy Sponge a natural and easy to use product that fits every woman's shape was born.

Facts to know:

All of the sponges are environmentally friendly.

Every sponge is a sea sponge which can be properly cleaned with tea tree oil.

Singer's sponge business operates out of her home in California -- mainly teaching workshops in the Bay Area.

Her friends were her first clients.



Thinking about starting a business? Take a lesson from Janeen Singer.


-- Love Rae

The Spawn of Perfection: Zoe Kravitz

Hi Love,

Movie star Zoe Kravitz is absolutely beautiful and undeniably talented. With her new movie " Dope" taking over movie theaters world wide, this 26 year old is becoming one of the most prominent actresses of her generation. After starring in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men: First Class, Divergent, Dope and The Road Within, Kravitz has now become the star of Alexis Bittar's Brooklyn based jewelry line. With an admirable sense of self, Kravitz seems to dominate each industry (digital, print, television, fashion, music) one by one. Ideally should could just live with the wealth that her parents Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz have garnered but Zoe has found a way to create her own path and build a net worth of almost 4 million.

Zoe Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz (right) and Zoe Kravitz (left)

Zoe Kravitz wearing Alexis Bittar's Fall 2015 Line

https://instagram.com/p/3wKVHnhVPd/?taken-by=alexisbittar

Zoe talks Family and Career:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4dVr9EfhOM

Her exclusive interview for Dope (Now in theaters!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfb262mBYF0

-- Love Rae