WOW! The Experience

It’s time to raise awareness and create opportunities for girls and youth in science and technology.

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m glad to finally see the recent data shared by Google brought to the forefront. At issue is the need to improve efforts to outreach and connect youth of under-represented communities to educational opportunities in technology. Science, math and engineering are included in the discussion.

A “girl-geek” at heart, I’ve always advocated for change in this arena. I look forward to collaborating with groups and organizations that have an interest in moving the agenda forward to help bridge the gap, reduce barriers (perceived and real) and raise awareness for our girls and young teens.

I still believe in the power of opportunities and advocating for our kids, their future and the wonderful gifts unlocked one educational opportunity at a time. Let’s take the initiative and move their agenda forward.

~ Dee | Bio |  My Stylish Attitude | @DeborrahGilbert

By Deborrah Gilbert | Reflections on Father’s Day | June 19, 2011

I’m always intrigued when people ask about the Moretta Economic Development Corporation, and how she got her name. There’s certain meaning and history in a name. To know it invokes the invisible North Star and guiding light I live by each day. I am proud to say that Moretta is more than a name, it is the essence of experiences, reflections of family and the legacy of ideas. It is the name that bears my fathers’ spirit of big ideas and my mothers’ guiding force. It reflects good values and ideals; the ones parents wanted for themselves, dreams for the children they love and the adults the children became.

A righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children. My father, like many, has accomplished this. It’s interesting how on this day I am inspired at the start of this next great chapter; how today, on the calendar, it’s Father’s Day.

My father was a man of vision; a dreamer. He was not a rich man, but he taught his children the value of true wealth; in service, compassion, strength and courage. Yes, he taught me the value of a dollar, but also how to count the stars and dream beyond the moon. He’s no longer with us on this earth, but he was a well-respected man of honor, dedicated, an American Veteran, and he served our country well. I honor the portrait of his life. He lead with commitment and I learned well – From my dad: a respected man; my father; my friend.

I am blessed that my mother is here on this day. Full of life. Living. I’ll call her after I post this post; tell her how much I love her and appreciate all she gives to her family, her children and husband – my dad. I know she misses him. We all do. I’ll comfort her today and remind her that she bears witness to the dreams I dream and to the determination of a daughter they raised. And moms, being mom, she’ll remind me, “along the way, reflect, remember and be well, while also doing good.” That’s my Mom.

Mom is cool. She knows I’m humble; she knows my heart. She keeps the watchful eye – of the aunts, grandmothers and villages before me. I shall not go left, because she raised me right. When I think of dad and his gregarious smile, I know a wonderful woman graced his life. A woman who makes a mean peach cobbler, and always turned her house into a home.

So, yes, there is history in a name. It’s the highest offering of respect and honor by which all good things live. Moretta – Morris and Louetta. My parents, their legacy, the protectors of my dreams; the encouragers of ideas and the vision for our children.

As a man’s house is his castle, a woman’s house is her home, where their children find safety, shelter and rest.

Who Am I?

I am the daughter of dreamers.

I am the sister of my friends.

I am a friend to my community.

I am a fierce, focused finder of solutions.

I am an idea.

My dreams are big, broad and bold. She has to be. She has to work.

She reaches far and wide so that together we can protect and move the future forward.

Cultural diversity describes us.

We are America.

We sing songs.

We build bridges.

We still make things.

It’s a “Green” thing.

It’s a “WE” thing.

I don’t need the credit.

I just want it done.

I am committed. True.

What is my name?

Who am I?

One Woman.  One Idea.  All In.

Stylish Attitudes ^TM Presents A WOW! Welcome

On behalf of the WOW! Event and StylishAttitudes.com team, it is my pleasure to officially welcome you into our online community and hope your experience is positive.

The feedback is super positive, and we will continue to build upon that energy. We’re not perfect, but working hard toward marks of excellence. Thus far, we’re happy you’re happy and are finding the site to be a creative – “Go-To” source online! Thanks team!

As you know, we launched our Empowerment Luncheon Series and will gather June 28, 2008 in Ontario, California. Many of you have already registered and we look forward to extending a special welcome at the day’s event. If you’ve not already done so, please register online. There’s a great time not to be missed in the Spirit of WOW!

Your Home.  Your Health. Your Wealth. YOU!

~Dee -

I declare a the personal commitment to reflect, refresh, and connect to the positive. Often that critical first step is found in the essence and simplicity of an enriching and positive conversation. Lord knows, the headlines are stressful these days, but I find a sense of comfort by pausing once in a while to remember and to rise above the chaos into the thinking of God.

I make it a priority to connect to my Source. However it is for you personally, it’s important to disconnect from the drama, reflect and reset. When things get overwhelming, shake those negative energies and thoughts. Put something positive into action. Here are a few WOW! Tips:

• Acknowledge “it is what it is” – and there are just some things about the times we – by ourselves can not change. ( …but together . . .! I’ll share my attitude about this in another blog)
• Commit to do something you can change – even if it’s to adjust YOUR ATTITUDE, your outlook and perspective. Commit to take action to counter the way the circumstance effects you. (For example: instead of fussing about the price of gas – I’m guilty of this too! Resolve to take the bus, commuter train, carpool or here’s a novel idea: WALK somewhere for a week. I promise it’s liberating!)

• Eat well and exercise – hate to sound like a broken record, but its true! Stress is subtle, deadly and makes your hair fall out. Eat a piece of fruit or drink an extra glass of water in the name of taking care of beautiful you. Besides, your stylist might not want to add to your stress by telling you about the bald spots that are developing.

• Yeah, I said that, “your Stylist”. I know good and well that even though there is a credit crisis and economic crunch, it’s amazing to me how the beauty salons are full each and every week – especially Saturday. I know. I see many of you there! Confess that thing, ‘cause the truth will set you free. And free you of some of that stress you’re carrying around about it. So my financial tip in this moment of confession is to create a personal budget, so the trips to the salon are not a source of guilt or stress; or you don’t have to feel bad about leaving teenie-weenie tips or not tipping your stylist for the wonderful pampering services they provide.

And then, my personal favorite: BE STILL– even if it means you have to find a quiet corner for a well deserved ‘time out’.

My sister’s my best-best friend, so her home and the beautiful busy-ness of home-cooked meals, family and little one’s is actually a restful retreat. One day during the process of designing, and project development , coordinating contracts, the event calendar, budget projections, yada, yada, yada, and trying to figure out why the HTML coding was effecting the algorithmic calculations of the universe (yeah! my point exactly!!) . . .. I hadn’t realized how my glazed over facial look, and suspension of all bodily movement had drawn an audience of two. I looked like Trinity in the Matrix, in that classic “aerodynamic-slow-motion-freeze-framed-suspended pose of super-girl-ninja-jujitsu-did it all by herself-action”!

My nephews are four and six. Although I promise the six year old is going on fifteen.

They were very perplexed when they stumbled into my moment of suspension – in the middle of the living-room. Studying me, they finally asked, “Auntie Dee what’s wrong?” I could only muster up a drooling: “Uhhhh, Auntie Dee is on a time out.” Their little eyes of curiosity turn to abandoned resolve and then they abandon me! I guess they figure, ‘Hey, if she – the grown up is on time out – whatever she did, we really don’t want to be in the area when this thing resumes!

WOW! You moms, with little toddlers, try that one when you’re desperate for a quiet moment to yourself. Let’s talk about that as a wellness strategy later.

In the Spirit of WOW!

Your Home. Your Wealth. YOU!

~Dee -