r(E)volutionary Woman

Today, Tes speaks with Sophia Neghesti-Johnson. Sophia is a visual artist, published author, and songwriter originally from Tanzania, now living in the U.S.

Sophia’s photographs and mixed media paintings have been on exhibit in various U.S. cities, and her latest song, So Good, can be heard on all major streaming services.

Having children, being an immigrant, and living far from her family has inspired Sophia to begin writing a children’s book series about the many tribes of Tanzania, with the first book, Koku’s Tanzania – Wahaya, being published on Amazon.

Sophia is an active contributor of World Moms Network, a Forbes Top 100 website for women.

As well as being a speaker in the award winning webinar series – GLOW – Heartfulness Webinars for women, Sophia is also a patron and pioneer of GLOW in its stages of inception and helped it grow and sustain.

Sophia and her husband, Don, own a company, Barefoot Baobab, with which they encourage a love for reading and literacy, through storytelling and music.

To learn more about Sophia Neghesti-Johnson:
IG: Sophiloveslife
IG: Sophi_the_artist (for her music)
IG: Barefootbaobab (for their literacy company)
Website: https://barefootbaobab.com

Twitter: thnksaybesnj

LinkedIn: Sophia Neghesti-Johnson

Today, Tes talks with Bette Levy. Bette has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University and a Masters of Arts & a Masters of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Prior to retiring in 2011, she worked for the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) for 38 years with primary expertise in children/ families and residential care. She was responsible for the development of a family & Youth advocacy movement. She was also responsible for developing national program guidelines for children’s residential care.

Her secondary expertise at OMH was Disaster Risk Reduction. On September 11th, her office was forced into action due to the terrorist attacks and she served for 10 years as the lead disaster mental health & emergency preparedness liaison for NY State OMH to NYC Office of Emergency Management, NYS Emergency Management Office and to US Department of Homeland Security.

After retiring, she became an independent Management & Culture Change Consultant as well as a consultant at the US Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services and the Building Bridges Initiative, where she was responsible for developing and facilitating a National Youth Advisory Council. She has been the author or contributor to chapters in several books, guidelines, tip sheets and articles on working with youth and their families in residential care and Peer movements (youth & family). She also served as a consultant to the US Department of Justice, Fraud Division for Children’s residential care services.

Her role at the UN/NY, is as SI’s Main Representative and serves as Special Advisor to the International President for Relationships & Strategic Planning.

Soroptimist International (SI), a large Women’s Rights organization working to transform the lives of women and girls in all their diversity across the life course. Soroptimist International and their five (5) Federations is a network comprised of over 72,000 club members in 121 countries, located in 3000 communities.

Final thought : a quote from Antoine de Saint Euxpery ..
“A Dream without a Goal is a Wish – A Goal without a Plan is just a Dream’

Today, Tes talks with Valerie Bennis. Valerie is an award winning aromatherapist who created the Essence of Vali line of therapeutic products. She recently started a new chapter with the launch of her company, Fragrant Notes, a lifestyle blog for women over 50. Her mission is to inspire women to love and appreciate ALL that they are through all the phases of their life with purpose, self-care, passion and creativity.

To learn more about Valerie Bennis:
For Fragrant Notes:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefragrantnote
Website: www.fragrantnotes.com

For Essence of Vali:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essenceofvali
Website: www.essenceofvali.com

Today, Tes speaks with Dr. Ada Cheng. Ada is a professor-turned-storyteller, solo performer, and storytelling show producer. She was a tenured professor in sociology at DePaul University from 2001-2016 when she resigned to pursue storytelling and performance full time. She has been featured at storytelling shows and done her two solo performances all over the country. Ada is the producer and the host of five storytelling shows, including Pour One Out, Am I Man Enough?, Talk Stories: An Asian American / Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show, Speaking Truths Series, and This Is America: Truths through My Body. She creates platforms for people to tell difficult and vulnerable stories as well as for communities who may not have the opportunities otherwise. She is an adjunct faculty at Dominican University and a speaker for Illinois Humanities Speakers Bureau Program. She works full time as the Education and Outreach Specialist with Women’s Leadership and Resource Center at UIC. Her motto: Make your life the best story you tell.
Ada Cheng, Ph.D.

Most Recent News:
This Is America: Truths through My Body is part of programming for 2020 Cook County Racial Equity Week
Recipient for Asian Giving Circle Grant with National Cambodian Heritage Museum (2019-21)

Speaking Engagements:
Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, Illinois Humanities (2019-2022)
https://www.ilhumanities.org/program/road-scholars-speakers-bureau/

Storytelling Show Producing/Hosting:
Am I Man Enough?
Pour One Out: A Monthly Storytelling Series
Speaking Truths Series
Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show
This Is America: Truths through My Body

Contact Info and Social Media:
Email: sj.ada.cheng@gmail.com
Website: www.renegadeadacheng.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ada.cheng.98096
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dr.adacheng/
Instagram: sjadacheng
YouTube: Renegade Ada Cheng

Today, Tes talks with Melissa Kuch Lamothe. Melissa is the author of the Amazon bestselling YA fantasy series, The Hypothesis of Giants, and co-author/editor of The MARA Mindshift Guide: A Trading Beliefs Workbook. Melissa co-hosts the cutting-edge new podcast/YouTube show, The Trader’s Mindchat Show, where she, along with her husband Michael Lamothe, explore the full spectrum of ways to improve your trading and your life.

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Melissa is mom to a 5-year-old daughter, Lily, and an advocate for literacy and women’s health. She inspires the next generation of authors through her writing workshop and mentoring programs. She is a contributing writer for The World Moms Network, and a volunteer writer for the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) to assist those challenged by hunger and homelessness.

You can follow Melissa on FB/IG @melissakuchauthor and her website www.melissakuch.com and check out The Trader’s Mindchat Show on Apple Podcasts/Spotify, as well as on YouTube.

Today, Tes talks with Lindsey Turnbull. Lindsey founded MissHeard Media to empower, educate, and inspire young women to feel confident, capable, and connected! Lindsey is building a world where all girls are heard.

To learn more about Lindsey Turnbull:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissHeardMedia
IG: @missheardmedia
TikTok: @missheardmedia