Frankly Speaking with Tyra G

Join me in a fascinating, energizing, educational, and empowering discussion about how African American women participated in the battle to the ballot box for all women. Enjoy a personal preamble tribute to the “Notorious” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, including some in her own voice.

Women’s History Month in the United States grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

Did you know? To coincide with Women's History Month 2011, the White House issued a 50-year progress report on the status of women in the United States. It found that younger women are now more likely than their male counterparts to hold a college degree and that the number of men and women in the labor force has nearly equalized.

A few years later, the idea emerged within communities, school districts, and organizations nationwide. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.[1]

“The 19th Amendment had first been introduced in Congress in 1871. But Congress's unwillingness to pass it meant women could only vote in states that had passed woman’s suffrage laws. By 1919 that had come to include 27 states but not New Hampshire. Granite State women would have to wait for Tennessee to become the 36th state to pass the 19th Amendment before they could vote for President in 1920.”[1]And there is so much more to do!

 

[1] https://www.nhhumanities.org/news/unfinished-business-right-vote-and-19th-amendment

{!} [1] https://www.history.com/topics/women'holidays

My question: What took us so long? Click below to get an idea.

First  Corinthians 13: 4-8 says “Love is patient and kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. ... Love never ends”.

Wikipedia says, "Love is considered to be a positive and negative: with its virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection, as "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another"; and its vice representing human moral flaw, akin to vanity, selfishness, and egotism,

Author Glennon Doyle Melton expresses love as a message from God, and I quote: 

“When you were born, I put a piece of me in you. Like an indestructible, brilliant diamond. I placed a part of me inside of you. It is love. Love is perfect, and it is untouchable. No one can take it. It is the deepest, purest part of you, that part that will someday return to me. You are Love. You cannot be tarnished by anything you’ve done or that has been done to you. Everyone carries this piece of me, and I am a part of you, and you are a part of each other. The essence of each of you is LOVE.

Congressman John Lewis speaks of love in action. Take a listen and be blessed.

Broadcast on Radio Fairfax www.radiofairfax.com

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/tyra-garlington/message

When I walk daily, I intentionally “unplug”. There is nothing on my body to indicate how many steps I have taken during my four-mile walk. I listen to the birds singing and ducks honking as they make love to spring. I notice new flowers in bloom. I am at peace. Yet sometimes, today, for instance, unwanted thoughts insert themselves as a result of something I heard on the news. Today it was the concept of “Othering.” I wouldn’t say I like it and I like even less the fact that it is being intentionally used in this season’s political lexicon. It is not good news. When do we begin to respond to differences as negative rather than positive?

What if we all could see and be seen as equal to - unique, not as part of a collective group - be addressed and spoken about, by our name - be encouraged to be ourselves - be given enough time to be culturally competent… be given the time and opportunity to understand - to be listened to, and understood.”

What if we learned to be together, even though we are not the same? What possibilities would we uncover?

Seated at the table today is Ambreen Rizvi, a phenomenal woman who is also passionate about Inclusion and Diversity. Take a listen. Grade yourself.

Over the past three years, Frankly Speaking with Tyra G has been intentionally curating thematic stories across generations, cultures, and genres.

We are learning from and paying tribute to servant leaders, game-changing entrepreneurs, innovative organizations, planting seeds that yield precious harvests, and all who live "despite "rather than "because of." These leaders and organizations have chosen SERVICE to heal themselves and the nation. Service as a way of lighting up the darkness.

Tonight, we are hearing one voice out of 1.4 million members of a 117-year-old international organization called Rotary. Rotary has continued to grow itself into a position of global power, embodying its guiding principle of Service Above Self.  Guided by values of diversity, inclusion, and equity, Rotary globally:

Promotes peace,

Fights disease,

Provides clean water, sanitation, and hygiene,

Saves mothers and children,

Supports education,

Grows local economies,

Protects the environment and responds to disasters.

My storyteller today provides district leadership within this global organization that, since 1905, has provided friendship, fellowship, comfort, resources in turbulent times, and so much more.

Meet my guest, Ms. Rene Laws, Rotary 7610 District Governor Elect.

Listen to her story and be inspired. I was.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like “Santiago” was simply a rebellious kid. At Second Story for Teens in Crisis, however, counselors worked on getting to know him and learning why he was acting out. He opened up and the counselors were there for him, helping him rewrite the narrative for his future.

When Timothy began attending Second Story's Safe Youth Project he was struggling in school. The program coordinator worked to tutor him in the subjects he found especially challenging, and at the end of the school year he won an award for his hard work and progress!

When Marley was kicked out of her home she was almost relieved -- it was her escape from years of abuse. She quickly faced new challenges on her own, though: poverty, anxiety, and homelessness. Now, Marley is a high school graduate. Learn how Second Story helped her get there.

When “Robert” graduated from Second Story for Homeless Youth he felt grateful for the counseling, guidance and help to find a stable place to live. But something stood out even more: he was grateful to know that Second Story staff believed in him, something he hadn’t felt before from the people in his life.

Second Story transforms the lives of children, youth and their families by providing safe havens and opportunities for them to grow and thrive. Second Story transforms the lives of children and youth, helping them stay safe, make positive decisions, achieve educational success, and overcome personal crises.

My guest, Abigail Brougher, Second Story Communications Director, shares the power of Second Story through a podcast with one of the many success stories. Stay close and be inspired.

Broadcast on Radio Fairfax www.radiofairfax.com

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/tyra-garlington/message

My goal in November is to share varied war stories across the spectrum of age, gender, and race to include family impact and cultural legacies. I am celebrating veterans and active-duty military who keep us and have kept us out of constant harm's way, often at high costs. We are reminded that war is a part of human history.

The Vietnam war was my coming-of-age war. I became immersed in and confused by the concurrent war at home about the necessity of US involvement while at the same time grieving over school friends who paid the ultimate price.

There were so many bold and untold stories. Today "s stories are told by women who decided to make history instead of reading about it. The Voices of Women in Vietnam is a replay of a weekly National Public Radio show called With Good Reason.

When I first heard this show, it was such a heart tug that I knew I had to share. It includes stories from wives, widows, nurses, and librarians who took off their white lace gloves and struggled culturally, socially, intellectually, and physically to build a foundation for our continued gender-based struggles today.

So, brew a cup of tea, get comfortable, and be transformed by a story 28 years later after a short break. This show is dedicated to all women, your children, and your children's children.

Journalist and author Isabel Allende reminds us that

 “We don't even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, war, and necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome."

My goal is to provide information about, and exposure to, a diverse set of perspectives about war experiences that breed transformational leadership. We explore the impact on their family, necessary services provided, and social, cultural, and political cohorts.

In this podcast, you hear about transformational leadership from an  African American man, a veteran officer from the Vietnam war. His authentic story will help us better understand war from a racial and cultural lens of the ’60s as well as how his life looks and works for him today. He is joined in the studio by his wife, teammate, and friend!

Stay close!

“America is an idea. It is a culture of tolerance. All different colors and religions can live in coexistence. All can contribute positively. This idea must be a leader in the world. This idea must be preserved. If anything happened to this idea, it would be very bad for the rest of the world.”—Zaheer Iqbal, immigrant from Pakistan

Author Margery Leveen Sher sets the stage for our conversation in the following words. “This book tells some of the continuing stories of immigrants to our country. The American Dream is not dead, and it is certainly not a myth. It is a vision that millions of people work toward every day. It is a vision that gives hope to people around the world who are suffering persecution. The American Dream vision is not something to be cynical about: it is a vision for which to fight and push for everyone who is starting anew as an American immigrant, as well as those who have suffered persistent poverty in this country.”

Meet a few determined, undefeatable, and amazing immigrants through their personal stories. Be inspired! I certainty was.

Click below